Enterprise AI Analysis
Computing Enrollment and Retention
2019-20 through 2023-24
Authored by Jodi L. Tims (Northeastern University), Cindy S. Tucker (Bluegrass Community and Technical College), and Stuart H. Zweben (The Ohio State University).
Key Executive Impact Points
Analyzing the five-year trends in U.S. undergraduate computing programs reveals significant shifts in enrollment, diversity, and retention dynamics. These insights are critical for strategic planning in academic and talent development.
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CS Bachelor's Enrollment Growth (2019-20 to 2023-24)
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CS Associate's Enrollment Growth (2019-20 to 2023-24)
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Overall Computing Programs Growth (2019-20 to 2023-24)
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Associate's Programs Diverse Enrollment (2023-24)
Deep Analysis & Enterprise Applications
Select a topic to dive deeper, then explore the specific findings from the research, rebuilt as interactive, enterprise-focused modules.
Enterprise Process Flow: NSC Data Consistency & Contract Termination
NSC's Initial Inconsistent Reporting
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ACM Requests Consistent Methodology
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NSC Regenerates & Adds Latest Data
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New Limitations Discovered in Data
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ACM Seeks More Complete Data
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NSC Terminates Contract (August 2025)
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ACER Project Publishes Revised Data
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Of students in a typical term are enrolled in multiple programs; often not fully counted as 'primary' for computing disciplines.
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Of undergraduates complete degrees in July/August; often underreported in completion counts due to summer term handling.
Critical Data Partnership Ends: Implications for Future Talent Analytics
In early 2025, the National Student Clearinghouse (NSC) identified inconsistencies in its past data handling for the ACM. Following data regeneration, new limitations were discovered, prompting ACM to request more complete data to ensure robust reporting. Regrettably, NSC terminated its contract with ACM in August 2025, which will halt future data provisions for the ACER project. This development underscores the critical need for reliable data sources for comprehensive workforce and educational trend analysis.
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Monotonically non-decreasing percentage of women enrolled across all disciplines and institution types (2019-20 to 2023-24).
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Monotonically non-decreasing percentage of diverse students (non-White/Asian/Non-Resident) enrolled across all programs (2019-20 to 2023-24).
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Diverse student enrollment in CS, IT, CY Associate's programs (2023-24).
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CS Bachelor's Enrollment (2023-24)
| Discipline | 2019-20 Institutions | 2023-24 Institutions | Trend |
|---|---|---|---|
| SE Bachelor's | 82 | 96 | |
| IS Bachelor's | 564 | 479 | |
| CY Bachelor's | 279 | 435 | |
| DS Bachelor's | NA | 338 |
Analysis of institutions contributing data highlights rapid growth in Cybersecurity and Data Science programs, with Software Engineering also expanding. Information Systems saw a notable decline in contributing institutions, indicating a shift in program offerings or reporting.
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Strictly increasing percentage of degrees awarded to women in total for associate's and all-bachelor's institutions (2019-20 to 2023-24).
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Strictly increasing aggregate percentage of degrees awarded to diverse students (non-White/Asian/Non-Resident) across all disciplines and institution types.
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Diverse student completions (non-White/Asian/Non-Resident) in Associate's programs (2023-24).
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Growth in CS Bachelor's degrees awarded (2019-20 to 2023-24).
| Degree Level | General Retention Pattern |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's Programs | |
| Associate's Programs |
Associate's degree programs generally exhibit lower retention rates compared to bachelor's programs. Cybersecurity shows the highest retention among associate's, while Computer Science is the lowest, pointing to varying program resilience and student support needs.
Case Study: Software Engineering Retention Decline
A significant decline in Software Engineering (SE) retention from 2021-22 to 2023-24 was observed, particularly in private nonprofit and non-MSI institutions. This decline is largely attributed to the data inclusion of a single, large online institution that began reporting SE data in 2022-23. This highlights how individual institutional characteristics can skew overall discipline trends.
Case Study: Gendered Retention Disparities in SE & DS
Retention of women in SE at nondoctoral institutions was routinely lower than that of men and suffered a greater decline during the recent SE downturn. Similarly, in DS nondoctoral institutions, women's retention was monotonically decreasing over the five-year period. These disparities indicate a need for targeted interventions to support women in these critical computing fields.
Calculate Your Potential AI Impact
Estimate the ROI of AI automation for your organization based on industry benchmarks and operational data derived from this analysis.
Estimated Annual Savings
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Annual Hours Reclaimed
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Your AI Implementation Roadmap
A structured approach to integrating AI, leveraging insights from current educational and workforce trends to ensure sustainable talent pipelines.
Phase 1: Assessment & Strategy Alignment
Evaluate current workforce skills and identify critical gaps based on emerging computing trends (e.g., Data Science, Cybersecurity growth). Align AI strategy with talent development programs, considering diversity and retention insights.
Phase 2: Pilot Program & Skill Development
Launch targeted AI pilot projects in areas identified with high impact potential. Implement specialized training programs, drawing on completion trends to focus on high-demand disciplines like CS and CY, while addressing retention challenges in areas like SE.
Phase 3: Scaled Integration & Continuous Monitoring
Expand AI solutions across the enterprise. Establish continuous monitoring for enrollment, completion, and retention metrics, adapting talent strategies in response to demographic shifts and program performance. Leverage lessons from data integrity challenges to build robust internal analytics.
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