STEM degree gains, gaps

In 2006-07, Kentucky made a bit of progress in graduating students with bachelor's degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Based on data reported in the Digest of Education Statistics 2008, Kentucky:

• graduated 75 more students with STEM degrees than in 2005-06.
• registered a 3.2% increase in STEM degrees, while the nation improved 0.9%.
• increased STEM as a share of bachelor's degrees slightly from 12.5% to 12.6%, while the country decreased the STEM share from 15.7% to 15.4%.
  
• ranked 42nd in the nation in STEM as a share of bachelor's degrees, improved from 44th in 2005-06.

Continuing at that rate, Kentucky would likely meet the goal of Top 20 by 2020, but we'd do it in part by watching the country as a whole losing ground. Instead, we need to increase Kentucky STEM degrees more quickly, and also cheer on other states' growth in this area.