The pie charts compare variations in the proportion of student enrolment across four different types of degree at a Canadian university over a 20-year period from 1980 to 2000.
Overall, it is clear that the bachelor’s degree reached the highest throughout 2 decades despite declining significantly. In contrast, the percentage of students studying for the other three types increased, especially the master’s, with a noticeable rise. The proportions of associate and doctoral degree enrolment presented a slight improvement, while the doctoral degree remained the least popular option.
In 1980, the proportion of bachelor’s degrees reached the 1st position, becoming the most common option of the four. This group accounted for over three-quarters, with 76 percent of the total, leaving a significant gap to the 2nd group. Despite being the second most common programme, associate degrees reached a much more modest position at 13 percent. Master’s degrees and doctoral degrees made up only 9 percent and 2 percent, respectively, ranking the lowest of the student enrolment.
By 2000, the percentage of bachelor’s degree students remained the biggest group, but it sharply decreased to 42 percent. Following closely is the group of master’s diplomas, with a massive jump, nearly quadrupling from only 9 percent in 1980 to 35 percent in 2000. Meanwhile, the share of the other two groups, which students pursuing associate and doctoral degrees, went up slightly from 13 percent and 2 percent in 1980 to 18 percent and 5 percent in 2000, respectively. With the skyrocketing percentage of students enrolled in master’s degrees by 2000, the 2nd position of associate’s was reduced for master’s diplomas, with the proportion of students studying master’s degrees doubled that of associate degrees.