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The number of undergraduate credential earners has started to rise again, continuing the pre-pandemic upward trend. According to this report, a total of 3.7 million undergraduate credential earners in the 2020-21 academic year represent a 1.1 percent increase from the previous year.

The latest rebound was led by non-first-time graduates—students earning stacked credentials—who had the largest one-year growth since 2012-13 (+3.9% or +37,800 students). The growth was more pronounced among bachelor’s degree recipients (+5.1% or +27,700 students).