Technology

Increasing


Percent of Graduates with a STEM Degree

What does this measure?

The number of residents with a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM) degree, expressed as a percentage of all residents 25 and older.

Why is this important?

STEM degrees are an important component of the economy because STEM graduates workers tend to be more skilled and more highly paid than other workers. In addition, a region's future vitality is often tied to the strength of its STEM-related occupations. STEM graduates are in high demand and provide a talent pool for attracting organizations and firms depending on a similar base of scientific knowledge and skilled workers.

How does our county compare?

In 2023, 16% of residents in Lancaster County aged 25 or older had a STEM degree. This was lower than both the state rate of 24% and national rate of 20%, respectively. Lancaster County was tied with Cumberland County for the second-largest percentage of STEM graduates among surrounding counties, behind Dauphin (36%) and just above York (15%), Berks (11%), Lebanon (10%) and Chester (9%).

The percentage of STEM graduates in the area counties has grown by varying amounts since 2010. While Lancaster's rate increased by only two percentage point since 2010, Berks and Chester both increased by three percentage points, York decreased by three percentage points, and Dauphin County grew its number of STEM graduates by 22 percentage points since 2010.

Notes about the data

Certificates and all diplomas are included as STEM graduates. The STEM Designated Degree Program list is a complete list of fields of study that DHS considers to be science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) fields of study.

Percent of Graduates with a STEM Degree
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania15%15%15%16%16%17%18%19%21%21%22%23%23%24%
Lancaster County14%14%13%14%13%14%14%16%16%15%15%14%15%16%
Berks County8%10%10%10%10%10%11%11%13%13%10%10%13%11%
Chester County6%7%7%7%7%8%8%10%9%9%9%9%9%9%
Cumberland County12%12%12%13%15%14%13%14%13%13%14%15%16%16%
Dauphin County14%14%14%15%14%16%19%26%33%35%36%39%40%36%
Lebanon County11%9%9%9%10%10%13%12%12%13%10%9%11%10%
York County18%15%11%14%13%13%12%15%15%17%14%15%15%15%

Source: Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Notes: Degree counts include both first and second degrees.




Number of STEM Graduates
20102011201220132014201520162017201820192020202120222023
Pennsylvania29,07630,26430,75032,31034,10735,19536,40538,32341,59941,83843,29644,19743,96245,549
Lancaster County616639615657667676691777768738782708748785
Berks County375492491503469497522547611596384408594481
Chester County410463487492523533552678622678583636609612
Cumberland County428435467513569499469546458496466481536484
Dauphin County5996036556396366707491,0311,4681,5721,2511,3541,7891,430
Lebanon County7766656080809180898867687976
York County527451335406344369318343285281209233251238

Source: Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System (IPEDS)
Notes: Degree counts include both first and second degrees.




INDICATORS TREND


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