A new statistical analysis by the National Center for Education Statistics sheds some light on why so few Americans pursue STEM subjects (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) in college. “Some 28 percent of beginning bachelor’s degree students and 20 percent of beginning associate’s degree students entered a STEM field at some point during their enrollment between 2003 and 2009. As of 2009, 48 percent of the bachelor’s degree STEM entrants and 69 percent of the associate’s degree STEM entrants had left these fields by either changing majors or leaving college altogether without completing a degree or certificate.”
What really surprised me was that women have more staying power in STEM subjects than men do.
“Bachelor’s degree STEM entrants who were male or who came from low-income backgrounds had a higher probability of leaving STEM by dropping out of college than their peers who were female or came from high-income backgrounds, net of other factors.”
