The National Student Clearinghouse Research Center has published its latest report on undergraduate degree earners for the 2023-2024 academic year. The report reveals that over 59,300 students in New Jersey received an associate or bachelor’s degree during this period, representing a 0.5% decrease from the previous year. This marks the lowest number of undergraduate degrees awarded in the past decade. The peak was in 2020-2021 when more than 65,600 students graduated.
The report indicates a decline in bachelor’s degree completions for the third consecutive year since 2014-2015, with nearly 40,000 students graduating—a decrease of 3.4% compared to the previous year. “First-time bachelor’s earners, who accounted for more than 72% of all bachelor’s completers, experienced a larger drop, with a 4.1% decrease,” while those with a prior degree saw a smaller decline of 1.2%.
Conversely, there was an increase in associate degree earners for the first time in three years during the same academic period. The number rose by nearly 6%, reaching approximately 19,500 awards. This growth was mainly driven by an almost 7% rise in first-time completers. Meanwhile, “the number of associate completers who had previously earned a credential appeared to continue a downward trend—albeit at a slower pace—remaining relatively stable at around 2,500.”
Data and analysis were provided by Angie Nga Le from the New Jersey State Policy Lab.
