More Arizona students enrolling in health care studies

PHOENIX — Changing demand in the job market is sending students toward different careers.

In Arizona, higher education in health care fields is up among Valley students, according to a report by Higher Ed Growth.

“I think what’s happening is that, really, students are going to school so they can qualify for jobs,” said Eric Flottmann, chief operating officer of Higher Ed Growth. “I think the medical field, specifically, is appealing because there are job opportunities available for graduates with certificates and associate level degrees. So students can qualify for jobs without necessarily going to a four year university.”

The study shows higher education enrollment in Arizona is also up for women and those with military backgrounds.

This report represents a changing attitude towards education, he said.

“It used to be that a bachelor’s degree in a liberal arts program was the default, but really more and more it seems like vocational degree types are becoming more popular,” he said. “And are probably more appropriate for a lot of students and provide more opportunities.

“A lot of the data that we’ve looked over the past while supports that, and we expect to see it continuing to go that direction,” he said.