Title page
Contents
DATA, MEASURES, AND METHODS 2
POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTIONS AND CREDENTIALS 3
STUDY QUESTIONS 4
1. What is the scope of subbaccalaureate occupational education, and how has it changed over time? 5
2. What types of institutions award subbaccalaureate occupational credentials, and how have these providers changed over time? 8
3. In what subject fields are subbaccalaureate occupational credentials awarded, and how have fields of study changed over time? 11
TECHNICAL NOTES 16
REFERENCES 19
TABLE A-1. IPEDS POSTSECONDARY INSTITUTION UNIVERSE SIZE, FOR U.S. TITLE IV INSTITUTIONS: 2003-04 TO 2015-16 16
FIGURE 1. DISTRIBUTION OF CREDENTIALS Percentage distribution of undergraduate credentials, by credential level and broad curriculum area: 2015 5
FIGURE 2. TREND IN CREDENTIAL AWARDS Number of undergraduate credentials awarded, by credential level and broad curriculum area: 2003 to 2015 6
FIGURE 3. TREND IN OCCUPATIONAL AND ACADEMIC CREDENTIALS Number of occupational and academic credentials awarded, by credential level: 2003 to 2015 6
FIGURE 4. TREND IN OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS Percentage of all undergraduate credentials that were subbaccalaureate occupational credentials: 2003 to 2015 7
FIGURE 5. CREDENTIALS BY TYPE OF INSTITUTION Percentage distribution of each type of undergraduate credential, by control of institution: 2015 8
FIGURE 6. OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS BY TYPE OF INSTITUTION Percentage distribution of subbaccalaureate occupational certificates and associate's degrees, by control of institution: 2015 8
FIGURE 7. INSTITUTION TRENDS IN OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS Number of subbaccalaureate occupational credentials awarded, by type of institution: 2003 to 2015 9
FIGURE 8. CHANGE IN NUMBER OF FOR-PROFIT INSTITUTIONS Number of closed and new for-profit institutions, and net change in number of institutions: 2006-2007 to 2015-2016 9
FIGURE 9. TRENDS IN INSTITUTIONS' SHARE OF OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS Percentage distribution of subbaccalaureate occupational credentials awarded by each type of institution: 2003 to 2015 10
FIGURE 10. CHANGE IN DISTRIBUTION OF OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS Percentage distribution of occupational certificates and occupational associate's degrees, by control of institution: 2003 and 2015 10
FIGURE 11. OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS BY FIELD OF STUDY Percentage distribution of subbaccalaureate occupational credential awards, by broad field of study: 2015 11
FIGURE 12. OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATES AND ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES, BY FIELD OF STUDY Percentage distribution of occupational certificates and occupational associate's degrees, by broad field of study: 2015 12
FIGURE 13. LEVEL OF OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS IN EACH SUBJECT FIELD Percentage distribution of subbaccalaureate occupational certificates and associate's degrees, by broad subject field: 2015 13
FIGURE 14. SUBJECT FIELDS ACROSS OCCUPATIONAL CERTIFICATES AND ASSOCIATE'S DEGREES Percentage distribution of subbaccalaureate occupational credentials, by credential level and broad field of study: 2015 14
FIGURE 15. NUMERIC CHANGE IN OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS IN EACH SUBJECT FIELD Change in the number of undergraduate credentials awarded in each occupational area: 2003 to 2015 15
FIGURE 16. PERCENTAGE CHANGE IN OCCUPATIONAL CREDENTIALS IN EACH SUBJECT FIELD Percentage change in undergraduate credentials awarded in each occupational area: 2003 to 2015 15