Latvia sees slight decline in higher education graduates

RIGA - Between October 2023 and September 2024, 13,481 people graduated from a Latvia's higher education institutions, which is 4 percent less than a year earlier, according to the Education and Science Ministry's report on higher education in Latvia in 2024.

The largest number of graduates was in bachelor-level study programs - more than 6,000 people, or or 47 percent. More than 3,000 people completed college-level programs, while almost 4,000 graduates obtained master's degrees.

The lowest number of graduates was at the doctoral level - 229 people, or 2 percent. At the same time, there was a slight increase in doctoral and master's level studies compared to the previous year, according to the Education and Science Ministry.

All doctoral graduates studied full-time, while almost half of college graduates studied part-time.

A total of 7,261 students graduated from study programs in social sciences, business studies and law, as well as health care and social welfare. Graduates from these two groups account for more than half of the total.

The smallest number of graduates was in agriculture and services, with 217 and 994 graduates, respectively.

The majority, or 72 percent, of all graduates studied at public universities, where more than 9,000 people completed their studies.

Two thirds or 66 percent of all graduates were women, according to data compiled by the Education and Science Ministry. Women were most likely to graduate from programs in education, health and social welfare, humanities and arts. Men were more likely to choose engineering, construction, manufacturing, natural sciences and information technology.