Undergraduate Certificate Programs: Enrollment Statistics and Trends

In the evolving landscape of higher education, undergraduate certificate programs are emerging as a significant and rapidly growing pathway for learners. Recent data reveals compelling trends in enrollment statistics, highlighting the increasing importance of these focused credentials. This article delves into the key findings and growth drivers behind undergraduate certificate programs.

Overall Trends in Undergraduate Credential Enrollment

The 2023-24 academic year witnessed over 3.2 million learners earning an undergraduate credential. Notably, the total number of undergraduate degree earners experienced an increase for the first time in three years, rising by 0.6% (or +20,500) compared to the previous year. This growth is primarily fueled by the increasing popularity of certificate programs.

A significant portion, over a quarter, of all undergraduate awards were earned by students who had previously obtained a credential, indicating a trend of upskilling and continuous learning. While most undergraduate credential earners obtain just one award, 10.4 percent of completers in 2023-24 earned multiple awards within the academic year. Certificates are the undergraduate credential most likely to be earned within the same academic year as another credential.

Certificate Programs: A Decade of Growth

The number of learners earning certificates has been on a consistent upward trajectory, reaching a new 10-year high for the third consecutive year. This growth stands in contrast to the decline observed in both bachelor’s degree and associate degree earners, which have decreased for the third consecutive year. In fact, the number of students earning an associate degree this year is the lowest it has been in the last ten years, while bachelor’s degree earners have declined to their lowest level since 2015-16.

The findings from the latest Undergraduate Degree Earners report underscore the growing importance of certificates in the postsecondary credentialing ecosystem. As learners increasingly turn to these focused credentials, often as a first step or a way to upskill, it signals a potential shift in educational pathways and workforce preparation.

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Growth Drivers for Certificate Programs

Several factors contribute to the increasing popularity of undergraduate certificate programs:

1. Younger Learners

The most significant gains in certificate completion have come from younger learners. The 2023-24 academic year marks the first time that certificate completers aged 24 and younger outnumbered those 25 and older.

2. First-Time Completers

Over the past decade, the proportion of first-time undergraduate completers earning a certificate has grown significantly. Ten years ago, about 1 in 9 first-time completers (11.3%) earned a certificate; in 2023-24, that figure rose to approximately 1 in 7 (15.4%). During the same period, the share of first-time completers earning an associate degree declined from 30% to 26.5%.

3. Stackable Credentials

Learners are increasingly using certificates as building blocks towards further education. The number of completers with a prior certificate earning a bachelor’s or associate degree increased this year (+6.3% and +4.1%, respectively).

4. Workforce Needs

Undergraduate certificates serve as credentials for job openings, particularly in the skilled trades and other areas aligned with workforce demands. The report found certificate completers sought credentials for a variety of reasons, including to launch directly into a career, to reskill in a new field and to kick-start their postsecondary education.

5. Cost and Time Efficiency

Compared to traditional four-year degrees, certificate programs offer a shorter-term, lower-cost alternative, leading to faster employment opportunities. “This report provides yet more evidence that today’s students want shorter-term, lower-cost credentials that lead to faster employment opportunities,” said Doug Shapiro, Executive Director of the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center.

6. Reskilling and Upskilling

Certificate programs provide opportunities for individuals to reskill in a new field or upskill within their current profession, making them attractive to both recent graduates and experienced workers.

Specific Program Areas Driving Growth

Analysis of enrollment data reveals specific program areas that are contributing to the overall growth of undergraduate certificates.

1. Welding Programs

Welding programs are experiencing strong demand among new students. These programs enrolled the most new students (almost 14,000) among all undergraduate certificate programs in fall 2022. They also experienced the second-highest year-over-year (YoY) growth in new student enrollment. Texas had the most new students enrolling in welding programs, as well as the most job postings for welders.

2. Liberal Arts and General Studies

Liberal Arts and General Studies certificates had the second and third-highest enrollment volumes among new students in Fall 2022 and also experienced strong YoY enrollment growth.

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3. Workforce-Focused Fields

Other growing certificate programs encompass a wide range of workforce-focused fields, from Auto Mechanics Technicians to Cosmetology to Early Childhood Education.

4. IT-Related Programs

IT-related programs are also demonstrating strong YoY enrollment growth.

Enrollment Trends: Spring 2022 to Spring 2023

Year-over-year (YoY) enrollment growth in certificate programs this spring, at both the undergraduate and graduate levels. Undergraduate certificate enrollment grew 5.5 percent from spring 2022 to spring 2023 and enrollment in graduate certificate programs was up 4.6 percent.

Graduate Certificate Programs

Mirroring the trend at the undergraduate level but on a smaller scale, enrollment in graduate certificate programs is also trending up. Total enrollment grew 1 percent YoY in fall 2022, and new student enrollment grew 2 percent.

1. Education, Health, and Business-Related Programs

At the program level, growth is observed in education, health, and business-related programs. These disciplines accounted for 12 of the top 15 programs by overall volume of new student enrollment in fall 2022.

2. Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing

In terms of YoY growth in new student enrollments, Psychiatric/Mental Health Nursing was at the top of the list. Given the growing demand for mental health professionals, this is a promising development.

Factors Influencing Enrollment Trends

Several external factors can influence enrollment trends in undergraduate certificate programs.

1. Economic Conditions

Economic downturns can lead to increased enrollment in short-term training programs as individuals seek to reskill or upskill for new job opportunities.

2. Technological Advancements

Rapid technological advancements can create demand for new skills, driving enrollment in certificate programs that provide training in emerging technologies.

3. Policy Changes

Changes in government policies, such as funding for workforce development programs or regulations affecting specific industries, can impact enrollment in related certificate programs.

4. Demographic Shifts

Demographic shifts, such as an aging workforce or increasing diversity, can influence the demand for specific skills and training programs.

5. Impact of the Coronavirus Pandemic

The coronavirus pandemic brought disruptions to education beginning in spring 2020. It is not possible to determine the extent to which the pandemic may have impacted degree completion, because it is unknown how many students would have completed degrees in the absence of the pandemic. Nevertheless, it is important to understand patterns of degree completion before and since the onset of the pandemic. At the certificate and associate’s degree levels, the number of awards conferred in 2019-20 was lower than in 2018-19 but still higher than in 2017-18. In contrast, at the bachelor’s degree level and above, more awards were conferred in 2019-20 than in 2018-19. In 2020-21-during the first full academic year of the pandemic-more awards were conferred at every level than in 2019-20. This pattern continued in 2021-22 for certificates, master’s degrees, and doctor’s degrees.

6. FAFSA Changes

Department of Education made substantial changes to the form’s need analysis formulas and calculation of Federal Pell Grant awards. Though the aim was for the new FAFSA to be simplified and faster, the rollout was plagued by issues including a delayed release, a math glitch that failed to adjust families’ incomes for inflation, and technical issues with the form itself.

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