2023-2024 SCHEV Report on Completion Results
Information collected from the Virginia Department of Education and the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia
The State Council of Higher Education for Virginia delivered their annual report on student completion rates, among data statistics, for the 2023-2024 academic year. During that year, the Commonwealth awarded 57,562 bachelor’s degrees – the same amount as the previous year. Including all other degree types, there were a total of 132, 287 awards issued. This was a (2,387).
STEM-H degrees (science, technology, engineering, medicine, health professionals) accounted for nearly 40% (39.7) of the total degrees issued at public universities.
Women
New data from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) reveals that while women continue to make inroads into STEM-H (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics, and Health) fields, stark disparities persist — particularly in traditionally male-dominated majors such as engineering and computer science.
In the 2023-2024 academic year, Virginia institutions awarded over 42,000 degrees in STEM-H fields. Of these, approximately 23,800 degrees (56%) were awarded to women, a figure driven largely by high female participation in health-related disciplines.
Health professions remain the anchor of women’s STEM-H representation. Women earned a dominant over 80% of all degrees in fields like nursing, clinical sciences, and allied health professions. Registered nursing, in particular, accounted for one of the largest pools of STEM-H completions among women.
“Health science continues to be the gateway into STEM-H fields for women,” said Dr. Andrea White, a policy analyst specializing in education and gender equity. “But that also highlights how gender norms still shape career aspirations in science-heavy disciplines.”
Despite progress, computer science and engineering remain disproportionately male. In computer and information sciences, women represented only 22% of degree recipients statewide. Similarly, in engineering and engineering technologies, women accounted for just under 20% of completions.
Notably, these fields are among the fastest-growing and highest-paying in Virginia’s economy. The gender disparity raises long-term concerns about equitable access to future workforce opportunities.
Biological and life sciences degrees remained roughly gender-balanced, with women slightly edging out men at around 52% of completions. Mathematics and statistics also showed promising trends, with women earning approximately 45% of degrees — up several points over the past five years.
Still, the so-called “leaky pipeline” remains an issue: fewer women from these disciplines are advancing to graduate programs or technical roles in research and industry compared to their male counterparts.
Among Virginia’s public universities, Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) and George Mason University (GMU) awarded the largest number of STEM-H degrees to women — largely fueled by their expansive health programs.
Conversely, more engineering-focused institutions like Virginia Tech showed a significant gender gap in tech fields despite a growing number of female enrollees.
State officials see the latest numbers as both a sign of progress and a call to action.
“Women are clearly showing up in STEM-H spaces,” said Dr. Janet Morrison of SCHEV. “But we must do more to recruit, retain, and advance them — especially in areas like AI, data science, and cybersecurity, where the future workforce is being shaped right now.”
As Virginia continues to align its education pipeline with the needs of a 21st-century economy, gender equity in STEM-H remains both a moral imperative and a competitive necessity.
Growth Disparities
In a year marked by post-pandemic realignments, Virginia’s colleges and universities reported modest growth in total degrees awarded, with public institutions increasing completions by 1% and private colleges rising by 3%. Yet beneath the surface, institutional performance varied widely — from soaring growth at community colleges to steep declines at legacy liberal arts institutions.
Central Virginia Community College led all public institutions with a remarkable 59% increase in completions from the previous year — a rebound that also reflects a 43% increase over pre-pandemic numbers in 2018–19.
Other standouts include:
Eastern Shore Community College: +32% from 2022–23, +71% from 2018–19
New River Community College: +18% year-over-year, +62% since 2018–19
J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College: +24% year-over-year
Virginia Military Institute: +12% in 2023–24, +11% over five years
In the private sector, Sweet Briar College delivered a stunning comeback story, increasing completions by 211% compared to five years ago. Averett University also surged, more than doubling its awards (+128%) since 2018–19.
Not all institutions shared in the upward momentum.
Radford University saw one of the sharpest declines among public four-year colleges, with a 14% drop from the previous year and a 17% drop since 2018–19. Similarly, the University of Mary Washington posted a 3% decline from 2022–23, continuing a 19% downward trend since before the pandemic.
Other notable declines:
Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA): -14% from last year, -16% over five years
Piedmont Virginia Community College: -33% since 2018–19
Patrick & Henry Community College: -23% over five years
George Washington University (VA campus): -24% in 2023–24, -49% since 2018–19
Hampton University: -28% over five years
Ferrum College: -26% since 2018–19
Analysts say the sharp recovery among some community colleges may reflect targeted enrollment and credentialing strategies — particularly in health care and workforce-ready fields. However, persistent declines in liberal arts completions and underperformance at historically strong institutions raise long-term concerns.
“The real story here is divergence,” said Dr. Natalie Barnes, a higher education researcher based in Charlottesville. “Institutions that are agile and workforce-aligned are thriving. Those that cling to old models are struggling.”
Forecasting
Across all institutions, Virginia awarded 57,411 degrees and certificates, surpassing the projected 55,820 by 3%. Undergraduate degrees alone came in 4% above projections, signaling strong post-pandemic recovery and improving enrollment retention across both public and private campuses.
Virginia’s public four-year institutions met expectations nearly to the decimal:
Undergraduate degrees: 31,260 (1% above projection)
Total degrees: 38,378 (exactly on target)
Among standouts:
Radford University outpaced its total projection by 12%
Virginia State University exceeded projections by 27%
Virginia Military Institute outperformed by 9%
Community colleges presented a mixed picture. The Virginia Community College System awarded 6% fewer degrees than projected, while Richard Bland College surged ahead, awarding 12% more than expected.
Private four-year colleges overperformed, awarding 19% more undergraduate degrees than projected, and 8% more total degrees.
Top overachievers:
Averett University: +29% undergraduate degrees
Randolph-Macon College: +18% undergraduate degrees
University of Lynchburg: +17%
Virginia Union University: +48% undergraduate, +25% total degrees
Sweet Briar College: +5% undergrad, +2% total — capping off a dramatic turnaround
But not all institutions met their marks. Significant shortfalls included:
Eastern Mennonite University: -21% undergrad, -20% total
Emory & Henry College: -21% and -14% respectively
George Washington University (VA campus): -20% undergrad, -21% total
Hampton University: -48% total degrees — the steepest decline in the state
Randolph College: -31% undergrad, -36% total
Virginia’s colleges mostly stayed on track or exceeded their own targets in 2023–24, signaling resilience and recovery. Still, large underperformances at a few institutions — especially among smaller private colleges — may point to ongoing enrollment or retention challenges that require strategic attention.
The 2023–24 academic year paints a complex portrait of higher education in Virginia. On one hand, the state’s colleges and universities largely met or exceeded degree completion goals, with public institutions remaining consistent and many private colleges — such as Averett, Virginia Union, and Sweet Briar — delivering standout gains. Community colleges showed both impressive recoveries and concerning shortfalls, reflecting the volatility of enrollment and workforce alignment in the two-year sector.
Women continued to make strong advances in health-related STEM-H fields, yet remain underrepresented in engineering and technology, limiting long-term equity in high-growth industries. Meanwhile, a closer look at institutional outcomes reveals clear divergence between schools successfully adapting to shifting demographics and economic demands, and those struggling with enrollment, retention, and relevance — particularly smaller private institutions and legacy liberal arts colleges.
As Virginia continues to invest in talent pipelines and workforce readiness, the data underscores a fundamental truth: progress is possible, but targeted strategies, equity-driven policies, and institutional innovation will be essential to ensure all students — and all institutions — can thrive.