IN-DEMAND HEALTH SCIENCES
PROGRAMS
Prepared for Clarion University of Pennsylvania

July 2015

In the following report, Hanover Research presents findings
from an environmental scan of health sciences programs. The
analysis identifies promising degree programs through an
assessment of labor market and student demand. Trends
discussed in the report draw on data that can be found in an
accompanying supplement, which includes detailed
information on occupational projections, high-priority
occupations, and degree conferral trends.

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Hanover Research | July 2015

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Executive Summary and Key Findings ................................................................................ 3
INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................................3
KEY FINDINGS .............................................................................................................................4
Section I: Labor-side Demand ............................................................................................ 6
LONG-TERM NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK ............................................................................6
Education Data Related to High-Growth Occupations ......................................................6
SHORT-TERM PENNSYLVANIA OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK ...................................................................10
Degree Completions Related to Selected Pennsylvania HPOs ........................................11
Section II: Student-side Demand ..................................................................................... 13
NON-DEGREE AWARDS ..............................................................................................................13
ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES ...............................................................................................................15
BACHELOR’S DEGREES ................................................................................................................17
MASTER’S DEGREES...................................................................................................................19
Appendix A: Methodology ............................................................................................... 21
DATA SOURCES AND INTERPRETATION ...........................................................................................21
Appendix B: SOC-to-CIP Crosswalks ................................................................................. 23
Appendix C: Student Demand Trends ............................................................................... 25

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EXECUTIVE SUMMARY AND KEY FINDINGS
INTRODUCTION
In recent years, the health care landscape has changed significantly as a result of reform,
demographic trends, and technological advancements. These events have also had major
impacts on future demand for health care. As of February 2015, nearly 17 million Americans
had gained health insurance coverage as a result of the Affordable Care Act.1 In addition,
approximately 80 million Baby Boomers are anticipated to age into the Medicare system by
2020.2 With the associated anticipated growth in demand for health care services, the
Association of American Medical Colleges predicts a shortfall of 125,000 physicians alone by
2025, with projected shortages in other health occupations as well.3 To fill these shortages,
new programs will be required to train individuals to work in in-demand health care areas.
This environmental scan will assist Clarion University of Pennsylvania leaders explore
current health care trends and identify areas of growing demand. The following report
examines potential training opportunities for health care occupations from two perspectives
– labor demand and educational demand – and consists of the following:






Section I – Labor-side Demand: In the first section of the report, Hanover examines
trends for health care occupations projected to experience strong future growth, as
well as high-priority professions identified by the Pennsylvania Department of Labor
and Industry. The analysis also links high-growth and high-priority occupations to
potential programs of study.
Section II – Student-side Demand: The second section of the report assesses
student demand for different health care fields by drawing on conferral trends for
non-degree awards, associate’s degrees, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s degrees.
Data Supplement: The supplement that accompanies this report includes detailed
data used to identify trends in labor market and student demand. The supplement
includes complete datasets for a range of relevant occupations and fields of study,
including those that were not specifically discussed in this report.

1

“Health Coverage Grows Under Affordable Care Act.” RAND Corporation, May 6, 2015.
http://www.rand.org/news/press/2015/05/06.html
2
Lambeck, L.C. “New Med School Focuses on Primary Care.” Connecticut Post, August 11, 2013.
http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/New-med-school-focuses-on-primary-care-4724220.php
3
[1] O’Reilly, K.B. “New Medical Schools Open, but Physician Shortage Concerns Persist.” American Medical News,
March 29, 2010. http://www.amednews.com/article/20100329/profession/303299963/2/ [2] “Nursing
Shortage.” American Nurses Association. http://www.nursingworld.org/nursingshortage [3] “Future Labor
Shortfalls of Medical Professionals in U.S. Predicted Due to New Demands of Health-care Reform.” Science Daily,
July 8, 2011. http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/07/110706195902.htm

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KEY FINDINGS











Most of the fastest-growing health care professions require either an associate’s
or a master’s degree. National and state projections suggest strong future job
growth for supporting technician and assisting roles in health care provision, which
typically require an associate’s degree. This scan also revealed positive job outlooks
for specialist positions that require master’s-level training, such as occupational
therapists, physician’s assistants, and nurse practitioners. These observations
suggest that Clarion’s current graduate program for nurse practitioners may be
particularly relevant, and the associate’s programs in allied health and respiratory
care may also be beneficial to those seeking advancement in allied health/medical
support roles.
Pennsylvania has identified nursing, social work, and medical technician positions
as high-priority occupations due to significant workforce gaps. These positions
report a relatively low number of graduates from relevant programs compared to
the number of available openings. In addition, conferral trends for related programs
of study suggest moderate student interest in these fields. Clarion’s multiple
programs in rehabilitation sciences may be well-positioned to respond to needs for
certain social work demands, along with its full range of nursing options (from
associate’s degrees to the doctor of nursing practice) and allied health options.
Conferral trends indicate growing student demand for non-degree awards that
provide training for specific medical technician and assistant positions. In
particular, national, regional, and state conferral trends suggest that the fastestgrowing non-degree programs are assisted health sciences roles in nursing,
electrocardiography, and renal/dialysis work. Pennsylvania conferrals have also
increased for emergency medical technician, surgical technician, and dental
assistant programs, which provide training for high-growth and high-priority
occupations in the state. While Clarion does not offer such certificates, students
seeking further development in the allied health roles noted may seek out Clarion’s
degree-based options.
At the associate’s level, student demand is highest for programs in medical
administration and office services. The fastest-growing associate’s programs relate
to medical computing, insurance and billing, and health care management. State
conferral trends indicate increasing demand for some medical technician positions
that are also high-priority occupations, specifically dental assistants and emergency
medical technicians. Although Clarion’s current medical computing/health care
management and administration offerings are limited, the Administration
Technology program may lend itself to being adapted to suit this application.
Nursing degrees represent the fastest-growing programs at the bachelor’s level.
Nursing science has the highest growth rate of all health science bachelor’s degree
programs in Pennsylvania from 2009 to 2013. In addition to general nursing science,
demand has also grown nationally and regionally for specializations such as family
practice nursing, adult health nursing, and nursing administration. Clarion is well-

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positioned to respond to this demand, though it may consider further
specializations.



The fastest-growing master’s degree programs provide training in nursing and
therapy/mental health services. Of the top 10 fastest-growing health sciences fields
of study in Pennsylvania at this level, three prepare students for specialized nursing
roles, and four involve training in mental health counseling and therapy. Moreover,
mental health nursing ranked as the top Pennsylvania program when measuring by
growth rate. Clarion’s counseling- or mental health-related offerings aside from
rehabilitation science are limited, though its nursing programs could be wellpositioned to respond to demand.

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SECTION I: LABOR-SIDE DEMAND
In this section, Hanover Research assesses the overall employment landscape for the health
care industry. This information is useful for determining potential workforce gaps and
identifying appropriate postsecondary training opportunities that can address these areas of
need.

LONG-TERM NATIONAL OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK
To identify future labor demand for health care professionals, Hanover draws on
employment projections data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) and the
Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry. Labor projections rely on historic staffing
trends and economic factors to assess possible future job growth, employment turnover,
and new job creation.4 This information can be useful for identifying occupations with
positive future outlooks. For a detailed explanation of Hanover’s methodology for reviewing
this information, see Appendix A.
Figure 1.1 on the following page shows the health sciences professions that are projected to
experience the strongest growth through the year 2022, ranked by national job growth rate.
The projected growth rates for all of the occupations shown in the figure are in excess of the
national growth rate for all occupations combined (and nearly all within Pennsylvania
exceed the Pennsylvania all-occupations projected growth rate). Projection data also
suggest that the greatest percentage growth in these occupations will be outside of
Pennsylvania itself.

EDUCATION DATA RELATED TO HIGH-GROWTH OCCUPATIONS
ATTAINMENT
In addition to projected occupational growth, Figure 1.1 also notes the BLS-assigned typical
entry-level education that is associated a given health care profession.5 Most of the fastestgrowing health care occupations typically require either an associate’s degree or master’s
degree for job entry. In Pennsylvania, the occupations that have the strongest outlooks for
future job growth all require an associate’s degree: diagnostic medical sonographers,
physical therapist assistants, occupational therapy assistants, and cardiovascular
technologists and technicians.

4

For more information, see “Employment Projections Methodology.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_projections_methods.htm
5
“Education and Training Assignments by Detailed Occupation.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_112.htm

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Figure 1.1: Top Health Sciences Occupations, Ranked by National Projected Growth,
2012 to 2022
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers (A)
Occupational Therapy Assistants (A)
Genetic Counselors (M)
Physical Therapist Assistants (A)
Physician Assistants (M)
Physical Therapists (D)
Orthotists and Prosthetists (M) †
Nurse Practitioners (M)
Audiologists (D)
Dental Hygienists (A)
Therapists, All Other (B)
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians (A)
Surgical Technologists (ND)
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians (ND)
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians (A)
Occupational Therapists (M)
Medical Assistants (ND)
Nurse Midwives (M) †
Phlebotomists (ND)

Hearing Aid Specialists (HS) †
0%
United States

Pennsylvania

10%

20%

National Growth

30%

40%

50%

Pennsylvania Growth

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics; Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
* Typical educational attainment for each occupation designated by the following codes: HS = high school diploma,
ND = postsecondary non-degree award, A = associate’s degree, B = bachelor’s degree, M = master’s degree, and D =
doctoral or professional degree.
† Pennsylvania does not report projections for these occupations.

Figure 1.2 presents detailed national educational attainment data for the professions
projected to experience the fastest future job growth. This provides a more refined view of
the educational credentials held by individuals employed in each profession. For example,
while a master’s degree is considered the typical education required for an entry position as
a genetic counselor, only approximately 20 percent of people working in this field have
obtained a master’s (or higher) degree. Changing entry requirements over time can be

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reflected in this information, however. While occupational therapy used to be principally
associated with a bachelor’s degree (the qualification many practitioners still have),
occupational entry is now at the master’s degree level (as shown by the BLS-assigned value).
Figure 1.2: Educational Attainment for Top Health Sciences Occupations, 2010 to 2011*
Audiologists
Physical Therapists
Physician Assistants
Nurse Practitioners
Nurse Midwives

Therapists, All Other
Orthotists and Prosthetist
Occupational Therapists
Hearing Aid Specialists
Genetic Counselors
Medical and Clinical Laboratory Technicians
Dental Hygienists
Physical Therapist Assistants
Diagnostic Medical Sonographers
Cardiovascular Technologists and Technicians
Surgical Technologists
Ophthalmic Medical Technicians
Medical Assistants
Phlebotomists

Occupational Therapy Assistants
0%

Other

Associate

20 %

Bachelor

40 %

Master

60 %

80 %

100%

Doctorate

Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics6
* These data are for educational attainment for only workers 25 and older. Some occupations, like Nurse Midwives
and Nurse Practitioners, were combined in the original survey process and thus have identical data. Other
occupations, like Surgical Technologist, were combined both with fields listed here (Ophthalmic Medical Technicians)
and with fields not listed here.

6

“Educational Attainment for Workers 25 Years and Older by Detailed Occupation.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.
http://www.bls.gov/emp/ep_table_111.htm

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AWARD CONFERRALS
In Figure 1.3, Hanover presents completions data for programs of study that correspond to
the identified high-growth occupations. The figure includes data on the number of
institutions that reported programs and completions for a given area of study in 2013, as
well as the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for completions awarded between 2009
and 2013.7 The figure includes completions for award levels in line with Clarion’s current
offerings (from non-degree awards to the Doctor of Nursing Practice).
Several high-growth occupations are linked to education programs that have experienced
high student demand. In particular, conferral trends show strong national demand for
associate’s programs for occupational therapist assistants, master’s degrees in nurse
midwifery, and master’s degrees for orthotists and prosthetists. In Pennsylvania, demand
has been increasing for postsecondary awards in surgical technology, associate’s degrees for
occupational therapist assistants, and master’s degrees in occupational therapy.
Figure 1.3: National and State Conferrals for Associated High Growth Fields of Study, 2013
NATIONAL TRENDS
PROGRAMS COMPLETIONS CAGR
Postsecondary Awards of Four Years or Less
Phlebotomy Technician/Phlebotomist
321
7,502
3.5%
Medical/Clinical Assistant
1,272
84,602
3.0%
Optometric Technician/Assistant
20
151
-2.9%
Surgical Technology/Technologist
368
6,329
-0.5%
Associate’s Degree Programs
Clinical/Medical Laboratory Technician
270
3,032
6.3%
Cardiovascular Technology/Technologist
74
1,028
13.5%
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
304
5,708
1.9%
Physical Therapy Technician/Assistant
317
6,158
10.6%
Occupational Therapist Assistant
187
4,300
18.9%
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/Sonographer and
178
2,420
6.5%
Ultrasound Technician
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic Professions, Other
25
635
-1.7%
Master’s Degree Programs
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery
15
301
34.1%
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
150
5,366
8.6%
Nursing Practice
10
358
-Orthotist/Prosthetist
7
86
42.3%
Physician Assistant
137
6,031
10.8%
Genetic Counseling/Counselor
18
130
5.5%
Doctor’s Degree Programs
Nursing Practice
90
890
-PROGRAM OF STUDY

PENNSYLVANIA TRENDS
PROGRAMS COMPLETIONS CAGR
11
44
0
9

285
2,823
-142

-3.2%
2.4%
-29.0%

13
4
11
15
9

146
48
203
375
220

26.5%
9.8%
0.6%
11.0%
17.1%

8

131

7.5%

4

128

-7.1%

2
13
1
1
16
1

30
502
-20
777
10

5.7%
12.1%
--7.7%
-2.4%

7

63

--

Source: IPEDS

7

Hanover does not calculate CAGR for categories that have fewer than five years of completions data.

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SHORT-TERM PENNSYLVANIA OCCUPATIONAL OUTLOOK
The Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry identifies “High Priority Occupations”
(HPOs) for each sector of the state workforce by drawing on a combination of employment
statistics and input from industry representatives.8 Figure 1.4 organizes data for the top
health care industry HPOs according to the number of related annual educational program
completers (i.e., the number of newly-qualified people) as a percent of annual total
openings (i.e., the number of new job opportunities in the field). This metric highlights
potential workforce gaps resulting from occupations that have more job openings than
graduates of relevant programs. For example, the Department of Labor estimates that the
number of completers in relevant programs for “Nurse Practitioners” will amount to only
27.5 percent of the openings for that occupation, which will lead to high demand for
individuals trained in this field outside of Pennsylvania. The data supplement provides a full
list of Pennsylvania’s health care HPOs and complete data for estimated job openings,
salary, and education requirements.
Figure 1.4: Pennsylvania High Priority Occupations in Health Care, Ranked by Completers
as Percent of Total Openings, 2015*†
OCCUPATION
Opticians, Dispensing
Nurse Practitioners
Nursing Assistants
Emergency Medical Technicians and
Paramedics
Social and Human Service Assistants
Medical and Clinical Laboratory
Technologists
Pharmacists
Healthcare Social Workers
Dental Hygienists
Mental Health and Substance Abuse
Social Workers
Substance Abuse & Behavioral
Disorder Counselors

121
153
2,160

EMPLOYMENT
CHANGE
(2010 - 2012)
-8.8%
---

UNEMPLOYMENT
RATE
(2010 - 2014)‡
0.0%
---

COMPLETERS AS
PERCENT OF TOTAL
OPENINGS
7.4%
27.5%
35.5%

$30,690

683

6.8%

6.5%

41.1%

$27,360

915

17.5%

N/A

41.3%

$59,085

260

1.6%

1.6%

46.5%

$110,141
$48,555
$61,454

423
347
350

6.6%
-8.1%
0.8%

0.9%
1.6%
0.0%

64.5%
72.0%
83.4%

$37,090

370

0.6%

1.6%

84.3%

366

10.5%

7.5%

93.7%

WAGES
2014

JOB
OPENINGS

$37,993
$88,734
$27,884

$40,407
9

Source: Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry
* Data are taken from the most recent 2015 draft of Pennsylvania’s High Priority Occupations report. Numbers may
differ in the final version of the 2015 report when it is completed.
† Figure presents only occupations in which the percentage of completers to total openings is less than 100 percent.
‡ Unemployment rate measures the percentage of trained individuals in a particular field that are unemployed.

8

“High Priority Occupations (HPOs).” Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Center for Workforce
Information and Analysis. http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=514&objID=814812&mode=2
9
“2015 Statewide High Priority Occupations (HPOs).” Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry, Center for
Workforce Information and Analysis, 2015.
http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal/server.pt?open=18&objID=1497342&mode=2

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DEGREE COMPLETIONS RELATED TO SELECTED PENNSYLVANIA HPOS
The top HPOs vary significantly in terms of expected educational training (see Figure B.2 in
Appendix B for detailed data); educational requirements for these positions range from a
high school diploma to a doctoral degree. To provide perspective on potential student
demand for academic programs that correspond to HPOs, Hanover analyzed degree
conferral trends for fields of study according to the typical award level associated with each
position. Educational data are shown for award levels corresponding with Clarion’s
offerings, including the one doctorate program – the doctor of nursing practice.
Conferral data for HPO-related fields of study show that some academic programs would
likely experience high student demand in addition to producing graduates in fields of high
employment demand. Specifically, a comparatively large number of conferrals and high
compound annual growth rats can be observed for postsecondary awards in emergency
medical technology and master’s degrees in social work, suggesting that these programs
have been attracting more students.
Student demand data may also provide insight into optimal program offerings for targeting
specific HPOs. For example, four CIP categories are linked to the occupation “Medical and
Clinical Laboratory Technologists”—clinical laboratory science, histologic technology,
cytogenetics, and cytotechnology (see Figure B.2 in Appendix B). However, bachelor’s
programs and conferrals predominately exist for only one of these four categories: “Clinical
Laboratory Science/Medical Technology/Technologist.” Compared to other relevant
programs of study that would provide training for this occupation, the broader clinical
laboratory science has demonstrated the highest demand among students at the bachelor’s
degree level.

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Figure 1.5: National and State Conferral Trends for Associated HPO Fields of Study, 2013
NATIONAL TRENDS
PENNSYLVANIA TRENDS
PROGRAMS COMPLETIONS CAGR PROGRAMS COMPLETIONS
Postsecondary Awards of Four Years or Less
Emergency Medical Tech.
533
22,298
0.9%
13
165
Health Aide
39
1,544
1.1%
0
-Nursing Assistant/Aide
561
48,496
4.2%
8
237
Associate’s Degree Programs
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
304
5,708
1.9%
11
203
Bachelor’s Degree Programs
Social Work
558
19,110
5.4%
32
847
Clinical/Medical Social Work
4
163
8.6%
1
25
Clinical Lab. Sci./Med. Tech.
311
2,734
2.8%
17
40
Histologic Technology
2
14
-0
-Cytogenetics/Clinical Gene. Tech.
3
54
9.9%
0
-Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist
22
53
-6.0%
1
4
Master’s Degree Programs
Social Work
249
23,348
5.0%
12
1,141
Clinical/Medical Social Work
9
469
0.9%
0
-Nursing Practice
10
358
-1
0
Doctor’s Degree Programs
Nursing Practice
90
890
-7
63
PROGRAM OF STUDY

CAGR
23.5%
--3.7%
0.6%
1.8%
-1.0%
2.7%
--41.4%
5.3%
----

Source: IPEDS

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SECTION II: STUDENT-SIDE DEMAND
This section explores the fastest-growing health sciences fields in terms of awarded
conferrals, covering both non-degree awards and associate’s, bachelor’s, and master’s
degrees. The tables in this section show the 10 fastest-growing fields for each level for the
United States, the Mideast Region,10 and Pennsylvania (ranked by compound annual growth
rate for 2009 to 2013).11 Accompanying charts illustrate the relative size of each field (i.e.,
the number of students completing degrees) and the fields’ growth rates in Pennsylvania,
with equivalent national and regional graphs included in Appendix C. For further details on
Hanover’s methodology for developing this section, see Appendix A

NON-DEGREE AWARDS
In this section, Hanover presents trends for non-degree awards in the health sciences. As
shown in Figure 2.1, medical technician training programs comprise many of the top
categories that have experienced increased student demand. These programs include
preparation for supporting roles in nursing, electrocardiography, renal/dialysis work,
hematology, and phlebotomy.
Figure 2.1: Fastest Growing Non-Degree Awards (by CAGR) in Health Sciences by Region,
2009-2013
RANK
1
2
3

UNITED STATES
Ophthalmic Laboratory
Technology/Technician
Health/Medical Preparatory
Programs, Other
Community Health and Preventive
Medicine

4

Hematology Technology/ Technician

5

Public Health, General

6

Asian Bodywork Therapy

7

Mental Health Counseling/Counselor

8

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

9

Pre-Nursing Studies

10

Yoga Teacher Training/Yoga Therapy

MIDEAST REGION
Electrocardiograph
Technology/Technician

PENNSYLVANIA
Electrocardiograph
Technology/Technician

Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant Clinical/Medical Laboratory Assistant
Renal/Dialysis
Technologist/Technician
Medical Office Computer
Specialist/Assistant
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical
Technology/Technologist
Phlebotomy
Technician/Phlebotomist
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient
Care Assistant/Aide
Physician Assistant
Health Professions and Related
Clinical Sciences, Other
Cardiovascular
Technology/Technologist

Renal/Dialysis
Technologist/Technician
Health and Medical Administrative
Services, Other
Health Professions and Related
Clinical Sciences, Other
Emergency Medical Technician (EMT
Paramedic)
Health Information/Medical Records
Technology/Technician
Dental Assisting/Assistant
Medical Office Assistant/Specialist
Surgical Technology/Technologist

Source: NCES
10
11

The Mideast includes the District of Columbia, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, and Pennsylvania.
To minimize biases in CAGR that result from small sample sizes, programs must report more than 20 completions in
2013 to be considered in the analysis.

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Of the programs in Figure 2.1, the highest number of non-degree awards nationwide was
conferred in pre-nursing studies in 2013. In addition, the number of awards for pre-nursing
more than quadrupled from 2009 to 2013, increasing from 189 to 883 conferrals. Awards
for health and medical preparatory programs also increased significantly between 2009 and
2013, with a compound annual growth rate of approximately 126 percent. However, a
single institution, Midlands Technical College in South Carolina, accounted for nearly 45
percent of the 445 awards conferred for health and medical preparatory programs in 2013.
As shown in Figure 2.1, the Mideast Region and Pennsylvania share the same top three
health sciences programs for based on compound annual growth rate: electrocardiograph
technology, clinical/medical laboratory assistant, and renal/dialysis technology. Regional
and state trends demonstrate a strong demand for programs that develop technical skills
for supporting roles in medicine. In the broader region, popular medical assistance training
options include phlebotomy technology and nursing assistant programs, while dental
assistant and surgical technology programs have historically performed better in
Pennsylvania. Many office and administrative programs have also demonstrated high
regional and state demand among students, including medical office computer assistant,
health information/medical records technology, and medical office assistant.
Several non-degree award programs identified through these rankings also align with the
high-growth and high-priority occupations discussed in Section I. Specifically, surgical
technology, emergency medical technician, and dental assistant programs reflect strong
student demand and are also projected to be sought by employers in the short- and longerterm future. Figure 2.2 illustrates completions and growth rates in Pennsylvania for the
fastest-growing non-degree programs.
Figure 2.2: Fastest Growing Non-Degree Award Programs in Health Sciences, Pennsylvania
100%

800

80%

600

60%

400

40%

200

20%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

1,000

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

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ASSOCIATE’S DEGREES
Recent conferral trends show that medical administration and office training programs
rank as two associate’s degrees programs with the greatest student demand, as shown in
Figure 2.3. In particular, programs appearing among the top 10 fastest-growing at the three
geographic levels include medical office assistant, health information/medical records
technology, health care administration, and medical insurance specialist/medical billing.
Conferral volume for some of these rapidly growing programs was also strong at the
national level (as shown in Figure C.3 in Appendix C), with more than 8,400 awards
conferred in health information and medical records technology. In addition, medical office
assistant programs ranked second among national programs for both completions and
compound annual growth rate, reaching 5,242 conferrals in 2013 and posting a compound
annual growth rate of 64 percent over the five-year period.
Figure 2.3: Fastest Growing Associate’s Degrees in Health Sciences by Region, 2009-2013
RANK

UNITED STATES

MIDEAST REGION

PENNSYLVANIA
Health/Health Care
Administration/Management

1

Health Aide

Optometric Technician/Assistant

2

Medical Office Assistant/Specialist

Occupational Therapy/Therapist

Health Information/Medical
Records Technology/Technician

3

Public Health, General

Cardiovascular
Technology/Technologist

Medical Office Assistant/Specialist

4

Athletic Training/Trainer

Health/Medical Preparatory
Programs, Other

Health Services/Allied
Health/Health Sciences, General

5

Electrocardiograph
Technology/Technician

Dietetics/Dietitian

Clinical/Medical Laboratory
Technician

6

Pre-Nursing Studies

Medical Office Assistant/Specialist

Dental Assisting/Assistant

7

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

Medical Insurance
Specialist/Medical Biller

8

Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical
Technology/Technologist

Health Services/Allied
Health/Health Sciences, General

9

Health/Health Care
Administration/Management

Dental Assisting/Assistant

Health Unit Manager/Ward
Supervisor
Emergency Medical
Technology/Technician (EMT
Paramedic)
Medical Insurance
Specialist/Medical Biller

10

Health Information/Medical
Records Technology/Technician

Substance Abuse/Addiction
Counseling

Occupational Therapist Assistant

Source: NCES

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Hanover Research | July 2015

In Pennsylvania, health information and medical records technology ranks second among
programs for highest conferrals and compound annual growth rate, shown in Figure 2.4.
Half of the included high-demand associate’s degrees in Pennsylvania include office and
administrative programs, but several programs that provide medical support training, such
as dental assistant, EMT, and occupational therapist assistant, are also represented. All
three of these fields also correspond to the high-growth and high-priority occupations
identified in Section I.

250

100%

200

80%

150

60%

100

40%

50

20%

0

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure 2.4: Fastest Growing Associate’s Degrees in Health Sciences, Pennsylvania

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

BACHELOR’S DEGREES
Nursing degrees rank at the top of the list for fastest-growing bachelor’s programs at the
national, regional, and state levels, as shown in Figure 2.5. Nursing science has shown the
highest growth in degree conferrals in Pennsylvania, but more specialized nursing programs
have grown nationally and regionally, including family practice nursing, adult health nursing,
and nursing administration. Conferrals trends also show that some programs related to
pharmacy and public health have performed well at all three geographic levels.
Figure 2.5: Fastest Growing Bachelor’s Degrees in Health Sciences by Region, 2009-2013
RANK

UNITED STATES

MIDEAST REGION

PENNSYLVANIA

1

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

Nursing Science

2

Marriage and Family
Therapy/Counseling

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical
Sciences, and Administration, Other

Radiologic Technology/Science Radiographer

3

Medical Informatics

Health Services/Allied
Health/Health Sciences, General

Pharmacy, Pharmaceutical
Sciences, and Administration, Other

4

Adult Health Nurse/Nursing

Community Health and Preventive
Medicine

Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist

5

Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition
Services, Other

International Public
Health/International Health

Speech-Language
Pathology/Pathologist

6

Pharmacy

Clinical Nutrition/Nutritionist

Music Therapy/Therapist

7

Public Health, General

Public Health, Other

Public Health, General

8

Respiratory Therapy
Technician/Assistant

Radiologic Technology/Science Radiographer

Health/Medical Preparatory
Programs, Other

9

Nursing Administration

Health Services/Allied
Health/Health Sciences, General

10

Clinical/Medical Laboratory
Technician

Communication Sciences and
Disorders, General
Emergency Medical
Technology/Technician (EMT
Paramedic)

Art Therapy/Therapist

Source: NCES

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Hanover Research | July 2015

In Pennsylvania and the broader Mideast region, general health sciences programs have
high conferral volume and strong compound annual growth rates, as shown in Figure 2.6.
These programs, which provide basic instruction to prepare students for more specialized
studies in allied health and other health services, had the highest number of regional and
state conferrals in 2013. Speech and audiology programs, such as communication sciences
and speech-language pathology, also saw relatively strong regional and state conferrals and
CAGR over this period.

500

100%

400

80%

300

60%

200

40%

100

20%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure 2.6: Fastest Growing Bachelor’s Degrees in Health Sciences, Pennsylvania

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

MASTER’S DEGREES
For master’s degrees, nursing and mental health fields have experienced the strongest
student demand based on conferral compound annual growth rates, as shown in Figure 2.7.
Specifically, mental health counseling and mental health nursing ranked in the top 10
fastest-growing master’s programs at the national, regional, and state levels. Nursing
midwifery also showed strong growth at the national and regional levels, and family practice
nursing has performed well regionally and within Pennsylvania.
Figure 2.7: Fastest Growing Master’s Degrees in Health Sciences, by Region, 2009-2013
RANK

UNITED STATES

MIDEAST REGION
Medicinal and Pharmaceutical
Chemistry

PENNSYLVANIA
Psychiatric/Mental Health
Nurse/Nursing

1

Pathology/Pathologist Assistant

2

Medical Radiologic Technology/
Science (Radiation Therapist)

Medical Informatics

Therapeutic
Recreation/Recreational Therapy

3

Health Information/Medical
Records Administration

Psychiatric/Mental Health
Nurse/Nursing

Art Therapy/Therapist

4

Medical Informatics

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

Family Practice Nurse/Nursing

5

Respiratory Care Therapy/Therapist

Communication Disorders Sciences
and Services, Other

Marriage and Family
Therapy/Counseling

6

Orthotist/Prosthetist

Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery

Mental Health
Counseling/Counselor

7

Psychoanalysis and Psychotherapy

Pathology/Pathologist Assistant

Nursing Administration

8

Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery

Music Therapy/Therapist

Speech-Language
Pathology/Pathologist

9

Mental Health
Counseling/Counselor

Mental Health
Counseling/Counselor

Allied Health and Medical Assisting
Services, Other

10

Psychiatric/Mental Health
Nurse/Nursing

Allied Health and Medical Assisting
Services, Other

Public Health Education and
Promotion

Source: NCES

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Hanover Research | July 2015

In Pennsylvania, family practice nursing has demonstrated particularly strong student
demand in terms of conferral volume and compound annual growth rate, as illustrated in
Figure 2.8. Within the state, the greatest number of health science master’s conferrals in
2013 was in family practice nursing, and the field had a strong five-year compound annual
growth rate of 44 percent. Similar to national and regional trends, counseling and therapy
programs also appeared in many of the top-ranking positions in terms of growth. These topranked master’s programs included traditional mental health counseling as well as more
specialized fields, such as recreational therapy, art therapy, and marriage and family
therapy. Aside from nursing, few of the programs identified in this analysis align with
Section I’s high-growth and high-priority occupations requiring master’s degrees, including
the fields of social work, occupational therapy, and genetic counseling.

500

100%

400

80%

300

60%

200

40%

100

20%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure 2.8: Fastest Growing Master’s Degrees in Health Sciences, Pennsylvania

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

APPENDIX A: METHODOLOGY
This appendix presents a detailed description of the methodology used to analyze labor
market and student demand trends.

DATA SOURCES AND INTERPRETATION
This report relies largely on several official data sources to identify fast-growing health
sciences fields. The table below indicates the types of data used in the report, their sources,
and the scope of the analysis.
Figure A.1: Data Sources and Scope
INDICATOR
Occupational
Projections

Degree
Completions

SOURCE

SCOPE

 Bureau of Labor Statistics
 Pennsylvania

The report considers all occupations within SOC categories 290000, Healthcare Practitioners and Technical Occupations and
31-0000, Healthcare Support Occupations, as well as additional
health-related occupations from other SOC categories.12

Department of Labor and
Industry

 National Center for
Education Statistics

The report considers all completions from CIP category 51,
Health Professions and Related Programs, as well as additional
health-related CIPs from other two-digit categories.13 The
report considers only degree levels relevant to Clarion
University’s current award offerings; specifically, non-degree
awards, associate’s degree, bachelor’s degrees, and master’s
degrees. When relevant, Hanover also considers the Doctor of
Nursing Practice, as Clarion has recently added this degree.

To measure labor market demand, relevant occupations have been ranked by their
projected growth during the time period 2012 to 2022. Section I of this report presents the
top 20 occupations based on this measure for the United States and Pennsylvania.
To measure student demand, compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) for award
completions in each field and at each award level were calculated for the period 2009 to
2013 (the most recent data available). In general, the CAGR provides the basis for the top 10
fastest-growing fields presented in this report. However, because CAGR can be an unstable
measure, several additional steps were taken to produce more relevant and reliable results:

12

Additional SOCs considered include: 11-9111 Medical and Health Services Managers; 21-1011 Substance Abuse and
Behavioral Disorder Counselors; 21-1014 Mental Health Counselors; 21-1022 Healthcare Social Workers; and 211091 Health Educators.
13
Additional CIPs considered include: 19.0501 Foods, Nutrition, and Wellness Studies, General; 19.0504 Human
Nutrition; 19.0505 Foodservice Systems Administration/Management; 19.0599 Foods, Nutrition, and Related
Services, Other; 26.0908 Exercise Physiology; 30.1901 Nutrition Sciences; 31.0501 Health and Physical
Education/Fitness, General; 31.0504 Sport and Fitness Administration/Management; 31.0505 Kinesiology and
Exercise Science; 31.0507 Physical Fitness Technician; 31.0508 Sports Studies; and 31.0599 Health and Physical
Education/Fitness, Other.

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015





First, degree fields with no reported completions in the base year (2009) were
excluded from consideration, as no CAGR could be calculated.
Second, because changes in CAGR can be heavily influenced by small sample size,
programs must report more than 20 conferrals in 2013 to be considered for analysis.
All programs reporting 20 or fewer conferrals were removed from consideration.
Finally, among the remaining degree fields, individual anomalies were removed
from consideration. For instance, institutions sometimes switch the CIP code used to
classify a program. When large individual programs do this during the reporting
period, CIP code conferral counts changes dramatically, giving the impression of
growth or decline in a field. Such fields were not included in the final ranking of
fastest-growing programs.

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

APPENDIX B: SOC-TO-CIP CROSSWALKS
To determine relevant degree programs that provide training for high growth and highpriority health occupations, Hanover used a crosswalk developed by the BLS and the
National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), which matches SOC occupational codes to
corresponding CIP program codes. Figure B.1 lists relevant CIP categories for identified
occupations as well as the education level typically required to obtain an entry-level
position in these occupations. Several CIP categories can provide training for any given
occupation, but the list in Figure B.1 is limited to the most common degree for each role.
Figure B.1: SOC-to-CIP Crosswalk for High Growth Occupations
SOC CODE
29-1071
29-1122
29-1123

SOC TITLE
Physician Assistants
Occupational Therapists
Physical Therapists

CIP CODE
51.0912
51.2306
51.2308

29-1129

Therapists, All Other

51.2399

29-1161
29-1171

Nurse Midwives
Nurse Practitioners

51.3807
51.3818

29-1181

Audiologists

51.0204

29-2012
29-2021
29-2031

Medical and Clinical Laboratory
Technicians
Dental Hygienists
Cardiovascular Technologists
and Technicians

51.1004
51.0602
51.0901

CIP TITLE
Physician Assistant
Occupational Therapy/Therapist
Physical Therapy/Therapist
Rehabilitation and Therapeutic
Professions, Other
Nurse Midwife/Nursing Midwifery
Nursing Practice
Audiology/Audiologist and SpeechLanguage Pathology/Pathologist
Clinical/Medical Laboratory
Technician
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Cardiovascular
Technology/Technologist
Diagnostic Medical Sonography/
Sonographer and Ultrasound
Technician

29-2032

Diagnostic Medical
Sonographers

51.0910

29-2055

Surgical Technologists

51.0909

Surgical Technology/Technologist

29-2057

Ophthalmic Medical Technicians

51.1802

Optometric Technician/Assistant

29-2091

Orthotists and Prosthetists

51.2307

Orthotist/Prosthetist

29-2092

Hearing Aid Specialists

51.0918

Hearing Instrument Specialist

29-9092
31-2011

Genetic Counselors
Occupational Therapy Assistants

51.1509
51.0803

31-2021

Physical Therapist Assistants

51.0806

Genetic Counseling/Counselor
Occupational Therapist Assistant
Physical Therapy
Technician/Assistant

31-9092

Medical Assistants

51.0801

Medical/Clinical Assistant

EDUCATION*
Master
Master
Doctor
Bachelor
Master
Master
Doctor
Associate
Associate
Associate
Associate
Non-Degree
Award
Non-Degree
Award
Master
High School
Diploma
Master
Associate
Master
Non-Degree
Award

Sources: IPEDS14; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics15
* This category represents the typical education required to enter a particular occupation, as defined by BLS.
14
15

“2000-2010 CIP Conversion.” IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=55
“Education and Training Assignments by Detailed Occupation,” Op. cit.

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

As with degree trends presented for high-growth occupations, Hanover found relevant
programs of study that relate to Pennsylvania’s high-priority occupations using the SOC-toCIP crosswalk. While the analysis for high-growth occupations was limited to only one
relevant degree field per occupation, the HPO analysis includes all related fields of study for
each profession. Figure B.2 shows the CIP categories that correspond to each health
profession and the typical educational attainment required for entry to the occupation.
Figure B.2: SOC-to-CIP Crosswalk and Typical Education for High Priority Occupations
SOC CODE

OCCUPATION

21-1011

Substance Abuse and
Behavioral Disorder
Counselors

CIP CODE
51.1501
51.1503
51.1506

21-1093

Social and Human
Service Assistants

19.0710
44.0000

29-2081

Opticians, Dispensing

51.1801

29-2041

Emergency Medical
Technicians and
Paramedics

51.0904
51.2601

31-1014

Nursing Assistants

29-2021

Dental Hygienists
Mental Health and
Substance Abuse Social
Workers

21-1023

CIP TITLE
Substance Abuse/Addiction
Counseling
Clinical/Medical Social Work
Clinical Pastoral Counseling/Patient
Counseling
Developmental Services Worker
Human Services, General
Opticianry/Ophthalmic Dispensing
Optician
Emergency Medical Technology/
Technician (EMT Paramedic)

51.0602
44.0701

Health Aide
Nursing Assistant/Aide and Patient
Care Assistant/Aide
Dental Hygiene/Hygienist
Social Work

51.1503

Clinical/Medical Social Work

51.1002

51.3902

29-1171

Healthcare Social
Workers
Nurse Practitioners

44.0701
51.1503
51.3818

Cytotechnology/Cytotechnologist
Clinical Laboratory Science/Medical
Technology/Technologist
Histologic
Technology/Histotechnologist
Cytogenetics/Genetics/Clinical
Genetics Technology/Technologist
Social Work
Clinical/Medical Social Work
Nursing Practice

29-1051

Pharmacists

51.2001

Pharmacy

29-2011

Medical and Clinical
Laboratory
Technologists

51.1005
51.1007
51.1010

21-1022

EDUCATION*

High School Diploma

High School Diploma
High School Diploma
Non-Degree Award

Non-Degree Award
Associate’s Degree
Bachelor’s Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Master’s Degree
Master’s Degree
Doctoral or
Professional Degree

Sources: IPEDS16; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics17
* This category represents the typical education required to enter a particular occupation, as defined by BLS.

16
17

“2000-2010 CIP Conversion.” IPEDS. http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/cipcode/resources.aspx?y=55
“Education and Training Assignments by Detailed Occupation,” Op. cit.

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

APPENDIX C: STUDENT DEMAND TRENDS
This appendix includes detailed graphs that depict national and regional completions trends
for the top 10 health sciences programs of study, ranked by compound annual growth rate
(CAGR).

1,000

200%

800

160%

600

120%

400

80%

200

40%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure C.1: Fastest Growing Non-Degree Awards in Health Sciences, United States

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

2,000

120%

1,600

100%
80%

1,200

60%

800

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure C.2: Fastest Growing Non-Degree Awards in Health Sciences, Mideast Region

40%

400

20%

0

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

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Hanover Research | July 2015

10,000

100%

8,000

80%

6,000

60%

4,000

40%

2,000

20%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure C.3: Fastest Growing Associate’s Degrees in Health Sciences, United States

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

Figure C.4: Fastest Growing Associate’s Degrees in Health Sciences, Mideast Region
140%
120%
100%
80%
60%
40%
20%
0%

300
200
100
0

2013 Completions

CAGR

2013 Completions

400

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

26

Hanover Research | July 2015

2,500

200%

2,000

160%

1,500

120%

1,000

80%

500

40%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure C.5: Fastest Growing Bachelor’s Degrees in Health Sciences, United States

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

1,400
1,200
1,000
800
600
400
200
0

360%
320%
280%
240%
200%
160%
120%
80%
40%
0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure C.6: Fastest Growing Bachelor’s Degrees in Health Sciences, Mideast Region

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

27

Hanover Research | July 2015

5,000

100%

4,000

80%

3,000

60%

2,000

40%

1,000

20%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

Figure C.7: Fastest Growing Master’s Degrees in Health Sciences, United States

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

Figure C.8: Fastest Growing Master’s Degrees in Health Sciences, Mideast Region
100%

800

80%

600

60%

400

40%

200

20%

0

CAGR

2013 Completions

1,000

0%

2013 Completions

CAGR

Source: NCES

© 2015 Hanover Research

28

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© 2015 Hanover Research

29