STEM-Related Degrees Awarded in the County Declines 18% in 10 Years
STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) degrees provide students with the technical skills and specialized knowledge needed in the 21st century workplace. A technically skilled pool of local graduates reduces the need for employers to recruit workers from outside the county and can attract new high-tech jobs. This indicator measures the number of associate, bachelor, and graduate STEM-related degrees completed at local colleges and universities in San Bernardino County.[1]
TREND
Despite overall growth in recent years, the 10-year trend in STEM-related degrees is downward, declining 18%, from 6,503 STEM degrees awarded in 2014 to 5,345 STEM degrees in 2023.
The trend in STEM-related degrees granted has varied by type of degree. Over the past decade, total STEM-related associate degrees have increased by 5%, from 1,722 in 2014 to 1,804 in 2023. Meanwhile, the number of graduate degrees decreased by 25% (from 1,676 to 1,253) and the number of bachelor’s degrees decreased 26% (from 3,105 in 2014 to 2,288 in 2023).
At 71% of all STEM-related degrees, degrees in Health Professions accounted for the majority of total STEM-related degree granted in 2023. However, Health Professions degrees granted since 2014 have decreased by 18%, while Biological and Biomedical Sciences have increased by 78%, Physical Sciences by 45% and Mathematics and Statistics degrees have increased by 13%. Engineering saw degrees granted drop by 73% since 2014 (from 412 to 111 degrees) and Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services declined by 27% during the same time period.
Overall, 30% of all degrees granted in San Bernardino County were STEM-related in 2023, and almost half (47%) of graduate degrees were STEM-related.
STEM-RELATED ASSOCIATE DEGREES INCREASE WHILE BACHELOR’S AND GRADUATE STEM-RELATED DEGREES DECREASE
Number of STEM-Related Degrees Awarded by San Bernardino County Colleges and Universities by Type of Award, 2014-2023
HEALTH PROFESSIONS ARE THE LARGEST SHARE OF STEM-RELATED DEGREES GRANTED
STEM-Related Degrees Conferred by San Bernardino County Colleges and Universities, 2014-2023
[1] STEM-related degrees include the subjects of Biological and Biomedical Sciences; Computer and Information Sciences and Support Services and Communications Technologies/Technicians and Support Services; Engineering and Engineering/Engineering-related Technologies/Technicians; Health Professions and Related Programs; Mathematics and Statistics; and Physical Sciences. Data are inclusive all 2- and 4-year, public and private post-secondary degree-granting institutions in San Bernardino County.