Who says the liberal arts are dead? Liberal arts programs from the IPEDS-CIP (Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System Classification of Instruction Programs) taxonomy ranked number one for most completions and for biggest increase in completions in 2016, according to an analysis of IPEDS preliminary data conducted by Gray Associates, a higher education consulting firm.

The associate degree Liberal Arts and Sciences led all 1,400+ IPEDS-CIP programs with 251,393 completions in 2016. In addition, postbaccalaureate certificates in Liberal Arts and Sciences, General Studies and Humanities rose by 56 percent in 2016, the largest increase, according to the data.

Source: Gray analysis of IPEDS 2016 Completions, www.nces.ed.gov