Ivy Tech Community College continues to break records for the number of students graduating each year, growing by more than 185 percent over the last 10 years. Final official graduation numbers for 2011-12 have been announced by the College.

This past year, Ivy Tech Community College celebrated the largest number of credentials awarded in its history with 15,513 credentials awarded. Credentials included associate degrees, technical certificates or career certificates, an increase of 28 percent from the 12,077 awarded from the previous year and an increase of 65 percent from the 9,419 awards from two years ago. A total of 12,324 students earned those 15,513 credentials.

“Ivy Tech graduates impact nearly every industry in the state and help to fill much needed worker shortages. Ivy Tech, by far, has the greatest impact on our state’s economy as nearly 97 percent of our graduates stay in Indiana following graduation,” said Thomas J. Snyder, president of Ivy Tech Community College. “While increasing the number of students enrolling at the community college over the last few years we have also been focused on making sure that more and more of our students are leaving Ivy Tech with a credential.”

According to data in a recent economic impact study, Indiana workers with an associate degree earn almost $11,000 more per year at their career midpoint than those with just a high school diploma, and they earn more than twice that of those with less than a high school diploma.

Health sciences, particularly nursing and practical nursing, continue to provide the greatest amount of skilled workers with nearly 1,800 students earning a nursing degree or certificate. Ivy Tech produces more nurses per year than any other school in the state of Indiana. The School of Health Sciences, as a whole, generated almost 4 out of 10 Ivy Tech credentials.

Other top programs include Business Administration, Medical Assisting, Bookkeeping, Accounting, General Studies, Industrial Technology, Fundamental Payroll and Computer Information Technology.

Despite Career Certificates being a fairly new credential at Ivy Tech, it continued to gain popularity this past year, increasing 158 percent from the previous year. Career Certificates now represent 21 percent of all credentials awarded, while 17 percent of graduates earned a technical certificate and 58 percent earned an associate degree.

Ivy Tech’s reach extends throughout the state of Indiana with the majority of its graduates residing in Marion, Allen, Tippecanoe, Vanderburgh, Lake, St. Joseph, Monroe, Wayne, Delaware and Porter counties.

Ivy Tech Community College is the state’s largest public postsecondary institution and the nation’s largest singly accredited statewide community college system serving nearly 200,000 students annually. Ivy Tech has campuses throughout Indiana. It serves as the state’s engine of workforce development, offering affordable degree programs and training that are aligned with the needs of its community along with courses and programs that transfer to other colleges and universities in Indiana. It is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association.