Nation Reaches Milestone for One Million New STEM Graduates

 

In a boost for American education and workforce development, the United States has officially surpassed its goal of producing one million additional STEM graduates over the past decade. This milestone, originally set by the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology in 2012, aimed to strengthen the nation’s competitiveness in STEM. A recent analysis out of the University of California, Santa Cruz confirmed that the U.S. awarded approximately 4.65 million STEM degrees between 2012 and 2022, exceeding its goal by 16% and setting a new path for aspiring students.

The Expansion of STEM Education

This achievement reflects the success of targeted investments in STEM education, including expanded access, improved retention, and increased diversity. The analysis also found that retention rates among STEM undergraduates rose to 52%, surpassing those in non-STEM fields. These gains translate directly into workforce readiness and economic mobility, especially when choosing a university mobility that aligns with this mission to develop career-ready graduates. STEM careers offer some of the highest wages and lowest unemployment rates in the U.S., making them a powerful engine for innovation and opportunity.

Undergraduate STEM education offers a particularly valuable disciplinary domain to assess higher-education outcomes given its importance to national workforce development goals and global economic competitiveness." -- Haider Ali Bhatti, NSF postdoctoral fellow, UC Santa Cruz

STEM education at all levels is both a career pathway and a national imperative. From artificial intelligence and cybersecurity to climate science and biomedical engineering, STEM-trained professionals are driving solutions to some of the world’s most pressing challenges. As industries transform, educational institutions must evolve to prepare students for the demands of tomorrow’s workforce.

A Model for STEM Education

As a leader in STEM education, Capitol Technology University is ranked #1 in Maryland for graduate earnings across all degree levels, according to the Maryland Longitudinal Data System Center (MLDSC). Capitol Tech doctoral graduates working in Maryland earn an average of $176,000 annually, outperforming peers from every other Maryland college or university.

Capitol Tech’s excellence has also earned it a prestigious designation from the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. In 2025, Capitol Tech was named an Opportunity University, a title awarded to institutions that provide high access and high earnings. Only 16% of U.S. colleges and universities received this designation, which recognizes schools that enroll students from diverse backgrounds and help them achieve above-average salary outcomes.

According to Carnegie data, Capitol Tech alumni earn a median salary of $83,027 within the eight years following graduation. These results position Capitol Tech as a national leader in return on investment (ROI) for students pursuing STEM degrees, and as a model for how institutions can align education with economic opportunity.

This success is rooted in Capitol Tech’s commitment to career-focused education. Founded in 1927, its programs continue to be designed with career-readiness in mind, and the university partners with industry leaders and government agencies to ensure students gain hands-on experience and real-world skills that translate directly into high-paying, high-impact jobs. The university’s “Capitol Commitment” also guarantees that undergraduates will receive an employment offer of at least $60,000 within 90 days of graduation.

Expansion of STEM Offerings

Capitol Technology University continues to expand its academic offerings and reach to better serve students across Maryland and beyond. With several new programs recently approved by the Maryland Higher Education Commission (MHEC), the university is broadening opportunities in high-demand, technology-focused fields aligned with workforce needs. Capitol Tech is also expanding its aviation program to new Maryland locations, increasing access to specialized aviation education for a wider population of students. These academic advancements are further strengthened by recent laboratory renovations, made possible through a state grant, to modernize facilities and enhance experiential learning across multiple programs.

Together, these initiatives underscore Capitol Technology University’s role as a model for STEM education at a time when the United States has officially surpassed its goal of producing one million additional STEM graduates over the past decade. For nearly 100 years, Capitol Tech has demonstrated how focused, hands-on, and industry-aligned education contributes directly to national workforce priorities. Its long-standing success shows how mission-driven institutions help drive measurable progress in strengthening the country’s STEM talent pipeline.

Explore what a degree from Capitol Tech can do for you! To learn more, contact our Admissions team or request more information.

 

Written by Jordan Ford 
Edited by Erica Decker