Credential Nation
All degrees conferred by U.S. institutions by level — associate's, bachelor's, master's, and doctorates — annual since 1981. The country now confers about four million degrees a year, 2.3 times the 1981 count, with master's degrees growing fastest and associate's degrees stalling after 2012. Projection years published by NCES are excluded; only reported academic years appear.
What does it show?
U.S. colleges confer about four million degrees a year — double the 1981 count. Master's degrees grew fastest, bachelor's kept climbing until the 2020s, and associate's degrees have quietly stalled since 2012.
Methodology
Degrees conferred by U.S. degree-granting postsecondary institutions by award level, from Digest table 318.10, annual since 1980-81. Projection years published in the table are excluded; only reported academic years appear.