OKLAHOMA CITY — Officials say Oklahoma public colleges are awarding more science and math related degrees.
The Oklahoman reports more than 6,100 degrees in the STEM disciplines — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — were conferred in the last academic year. It’s an increase of almost 4 percent from the previous year.
A nationwide survey of the class of 2008, by the National Center for Education Statistics and reported last summer, showed that 16 percent of students took home degrees in STEM disciplines, but those who did were paid significantly better — averaging $65,000 a year compared with $49,500 of graduates of other degrees.
Tony Hutchison of the Oklahoma State Regents for Higher Education said at a Thursday meeting that STEM degrees have increased among the state’s public colleges by 28 percent over the last five years.
He also said a record level of degrees and certificates were granted overall in the 2013-14 school year. More than 35,500 of them were awarded.
