Tracking persistence in STEMM, part 2: degree pathways state-by-state

This report examines Common App applicants’ STEMM interests, persistence, and degree completion for all 50 states, D.C, and Puerto Rico. This state-by-state analysis showing outcomes for engineering, health, computer science, and other STEMM fields, reveals that every state faces unique challenges in developing tomorrow's STEMM workforce. The brief narrative examines Virginia applicants interested in engineering as a case study. Additional data tables recreate each analysis for every state and STEMM-interest combination. These data tables ultimately provide 5,500 state-specific data points, empowering readers to track their own pathways of interest.

Key findings include:

• Interest varies by state and field: Biology (19%), Health (18%), and Engineering (16%) are the most popular intended majors within STEMM nationally. Some states have higher than average rates of interest in certain majors - for example, 21% of applicants in Tennessee, Arizona, and Alabama are interested in engineering, higher than the national average (16%)
• Applicants’ in-state enrollment rates vary by state and STEMM interest: nationally, applicants interested in Health have the highest rates of enrolling in state, at 60%, while applicants interested in environmental/life sciences are more likely to leave their home states for college, with 46% enrolling out of state. 
• While most enrolled applicants earn a Bachelor’s degree, many switch majors after enrolling. For example, 50% of Virginia applicants interested in engineering who enrolled in the state earned degrees in other majors, either in other STEMM fields or outside STEMM. In comparison 36% earned a degree in engineering, their initial interest.
• Applicant-to-degree rates provide a snapshot of each pathway: For example, for every 100 Virginia applicants interested in engineering, 33 earn engineering degrees (21 in-state, 3 in border states, 10 elsewhere)

These state-level insights enable stakeholders to diagnose specific bottlenecks in their STEMM pipelines, whether the challenge is generating initial interest, retaining students in state, or supporting them through degree completion. With detailed data across all states and STEMM fields, education leaders and policymakers can develop targeted strategies that reflect their unique circumstances rather than applying one-size-fits-all solutions.

Explore the other brief in the Tracking persistence in STEMM series, Tracking persistence in STEMM: From application aspirations to college degrees.