By Shahabuddin Amerudin
Abstract
This article embarks on a comprehensive exploration of the shifting landscape of undergraduate degree choices in the United States over the past decade, specifically from 2011 to 2021. We draw upon meticulously collected and analyzed data sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), as presented in the insightful article authored by Kashish Rastogi, “The Shifting Landscape of U.S. Undergraduate Degrees: A Decade in Review,” published on September 3, 2023. In doing so, we not only elucidate key trends in higher education but also extrapolate invaluable lessons and critical considerations that should inform the decisions of prospective students, educators, and policymakers for the forthcoming 5-10 years.
Introduction
In an era characterized by soaring tuition fees and the ever-looming specter of mounting student debt, the task of selecting an undergraduate degree program has attained unprecedented significance for aspirants of higher education in the United States. This article builds upon the comprehensive analysis provided by Rastogi (2023), delving deeper into the dynamic interplay of factors that have propelled certain fields of study into ascension while precipitating the decline of others. Moreover, it underscores the pivotal role of data-driven decision-making in shaping the future of higher education.
Methodology
The foundation of this academic inquiry rests upon a meticulous analysis of data harvested from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), an authoritative repository of educational statistics. The study encompasses a rigorous examination of 38 discrete fields of study, as meticulously classified by the NCES, with a specific emphasis on the years spanning from 2010–2011 to 2020–2021, thereby affording us a nuanced vantage point to discern the evolving trends in undergraduate degree choices.
Degrees on the Rise
A conspicuous narrative that emerges from the data is the meteoric ascent of certain fields of study, each endowed with its unique characteristics and appeal:
- Computer and Information Sciences: The field of computer and information sciences stands as a paragon of exponential growth, manifesting a staggering 144% surge in graduates from 2010–2011 to 2020–2021. This meteoric rise can be attributed to the inexorable expansion of the technology sector, coupled with the allure of lucratively remunerative career prospects.
- Health Professions: Experiencing an 87% upswing in graduates, health professions have indisputably claimed the spotlight, drawing in nearly 260,000 graduates in 2020–2021. This surge speaks to the burgeoning prominence of the healthcare sector in contemporary societal discourse, underscored by the exigencies of the global pandemic.
- Engineering: The field of engineering, perennially synonymous with resilience and versatility, has registered a substantial 65% augmentation in graduates, affirming its perennial demand and its potential to offer graduates multifaceted career trajectories.
- Biomedical Sciences: The niche realm of biomedical sciences, distinguished by its integration of biology with health and medicine, has notched a commendable 46% growth in graduates. Noteworthy is the prominence of epidemiology within this field, significantly amplified by the exigencies of the COVID-19 pandemic, consequently accentuating the field’s relevance.
- Business: Despite a relatively modest 7% growth rate, business degrees continue to hold unwavering appeal, consistently commanding a substantial proportion of the graduating class.
Fields in Decline
Conversely, a significant number of fields have borne witness to a disconcerting decline in the number of graduates, evoking questions about their long-term viability:
- English: English, once an undisputedly favored choice of undergraduates, has experienced a staggering 32% decrement in enrollment between 2010–2011 and 2020–2021, emblematic of shifting interests and diverging career prospects.
- Education: Paradoxically, despite the persistent shortage of educators in the United States, education degrees have sustained a significant 14% diminishment in enrollment figures. This paradox may be ascribed to apprehensions regarding stagnating remuneration, unsustainable working conditions, and a dearth of support for essential classroom resources, collectively dissuading prospective educators.
- Liberal Arts: In a paradigm shift emblematic of the modern world’s relentless march toward specialization, liberal arts degrees, characterized by their wide-ranging and interdisciplinary nature, have faced a 10% decline in the number of graduates. This trend underscores the contemporary world’s predilection for specialized skill sets over generalist knowledge.
Lessons for the Next 5-10 Years
The profound implications arising from this analysis crystallize into crucial lessons and discernments that should guide the actions and decisions of prospective students, educators, and policymakers alike over the ensuing 5-10 years:
- Adaptability as a Virtue: Prospective students should champion adaptability as a cardinal virtue, placing a premium on fields that synergize with emerging industries, technological transformations, and societal needs.
- Healthcare Sector’s Resilience: The healthcare sector’s resilience, as exemplified by the exponential growth in health professions graduates, illuminates its status as a perennially promising field, meriting serious consideration from aspiring students.
- Enduring Relevance of STEM Fields: STEM fields (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) continue to stand as bulwarks of career viability, epitomizing job security and dynamic career prospects. As such, students harboring an interest in these domains should decisively leverage the sustained demand.
- Data-Driven Pragmatism: The article’s unwavering reliance on empirical data underscores the imperative of data-driven pragmatism in the domain of education and career choices. Students, educators, and policymakers must be unwavering advocates for evidence-based decision-making.
- Embracing Long-Term Trends: When navigating the labyrinthine landscape of undergraduate degree choices, students should eschew capricious fads in favor of fields underpinned by enduring, long-term growth prospects.
- The Enigma of Economic Factors: Economic factors such as income potential and job security should serve as lodestars guiding students toward fields that align with their long-term aspirations and financial well-being.
Conclusion
In the inexorable march toward progress and societal transformation, the canvas of higher education remains mutable, perpetually evolving to mirror the dynamic tapestry of human endeavor. This article, underpinned by the formidable bedrock of data emanating from the National Center for Education Statistics, imparts not only a retrospective understanding of the shifting terrain of undergraduate degree choices but also a prescient gaze into the horizon.
As the chronicle of higher education unfurls, students, educators, and policymakers must stand as vigilant sentinels, cognizant of the imperatives of adaptability, the allure of resilient sectors, the beckoning bastions of STEM fields, the clarion call for data-driven decision-making, and the wisdom of embracing long-term trends. Through this collective mindfulness, they will etch a transformative and sustainable narrative, ensuring that the hallowed halls of academia resound with the footsteps of those who stride boldly into a future of endless possibilities, fortified by knowledge, guided by insight, and empowered by choice.
Reference
Rastogi, K. (2023). Ranked: Most Popular U.S. Undergraduate Degrees (2011–2021). Visual Capitalist. https://www.visualcapitalist.com/cp/charted-most-popular-u-s-undergraduate-degrees-2011-2021/
Suggestion for Citation: Amerudin, S. (2023). The Evolution of Undergraduate Degree Choices in the United States: A Decade-Long Analysis (2011–2021). [Online] Available at: https://people.utm.my/shahabuddin/?p=6990 (Accessed: 5 September 2023).