Computer Science Has Highest Increase in Bachelor’s Earners

Among the top 10 college major fields for bachelor’s degree earners last year — including popular fields such as business, health professions, engineering — one field showed the largest year-over-year growth: computer and information sciences. The number of bachelor’s degree earners in computer and information sciences rose 4.3% from the previous academic year, although the overall number of bachelor’s degree earners fell 3.0%, or 59,339, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center’s Spring 2024 Undergraduate Degree Earners report.

The number of bachelor’s degree earners increased more in computer and information sciences than any other field.

The number of students earning a bachelor’s degree in computer and information sciences has more than doubled over the last decade, from 51,696 in the 2013-2014 academic year to 112,720 in the 2022-2023 academic year.

The computer and information sciences field also bucked the trend in associate degree earners — which overall fell to a 10-year low last year. The number of students earning associate degrees in computer and information sciences grew slightly (+0.6%). The number of certificate earners in the field grew 5.6%.

This data enables institutions and policymakers to monitor undergraduate credential earner trends, essential for evaluating the efficacy of higher education programs and policies.

The Spring 2024 edition of the Undergraduate Degree Earners report introduces an interactive dashboard, offering detailed insights into demographics, regional trends, and major fields. Discover more about the report findings here.

Additional Resources:

• Read the Undergraduate Degree Earner’s report
• Visit our Research Center