Doctorate Recipients from

United States Universities:

Summary Report 2002

Survey of Earned Doctorates

SPONSORED BY THE NATIONAL SCIENCE FOUNDATION, THE NATIONAL

INSTITUTES OF HEALTH, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION, THE NATIONAL

ENDOWMENT FOR THE HUMANITIES, THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE,

AND THE NATIONAL AERONAUTICS AND SPACE ADMINISTRATION
HIGHLIGHTS

This report presents data on recipients of research doctorates awarded by U.S. universities from July 1, 2001, 

through June 30, 2002. This information is taken from the 2002 Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), an annual 

census of new doctorate recipients.

• The 413 universities in the United States that conferred research doctorates awarded 39,955 

doctorates during the 2001-2002 academic year (the eligibility period for the 2002 SED), a decline of 2 

percent from the 40,790 doctorates awarded in 2001, and a 6 percent decline from the all-time high of 

42,654 in 1998. The 2002 total is the lowest since 1993. 

• The number of doctorates awarded by broad field in 2002 was greatest in life sciences, which 

conferred 8,350 Ph.D.s. The numbers in the other broad areas were 6,611 in social sciences; 6,488 in 

education; 5,715 in the physical sciences and mathematics (combined); 5,373 in the humanities; 5,073 

in engineering; and 2,345 in business and other professional fields. 

• Women received 18,124 doctorates, or 45 percent of all doctorates granted in 2002. This is the 

highest percentage ever for women, continuing a 30-year upward trend. Women earned 48 percent of 

the doctorates granted in life sciences, 55 percent in social sciences, 50 percent in humanities, 66 

percent in education, and 46 percent in business/other professional fields. In the physical sciences 

and engineering, they constituted 27 percent and 18 percent, respectively. 

• In 2002, 51 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens went to women, higher than the 49.5 

percent in 2001 and marking the first time U.S. women were awarded more doctorates than their male 

counterparts. 

• Almost 19 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens in 2002 were earned by U.S. racial/ethnic 

minority groups. This is the largest percentage ever, and continues a steady upward trend. Among 

the 25,450 doctorates earned in 2002 by U.S. citizens who identified their race/ethnicity (98 percent of 

all U.S. citizen doctorates), 1,644 doctorates were earned by African-Americans, 1,364 were earned by 

Asians, 1,233 were earned by Hispanics, 146 were earned by American Indians, 75 were earned by 

Hawaiian or other Pacific Islanders, and 268 were earned by non-Hispanic individuals who identified 

more than one racial background. The broad fields with the largest percentages of minorities were 

education, in which blacks were the predominant minority group, and engineering, in which Asians 

were predominant. 

• U.S. citizens received 70 percent of all doctorates earned in 2002 by individuals who identified their 

citizenship status (93 percent of all doctorate recipients identified their citizenship). The People's 

Republic of China was the country of origin for the largest number of non-U.S. doctorates in 2002, with 

2,644, followed by South Korea with 1,187, India with 838, Taiwan with 674, and Canada with 494. 

The percentage of doctorates earned by U.S. citizens ranged from lows of 39 percent in engineering 

and 55 percent in the physical sciences, to highs of 90 percent in education and 81 percent in the 

humanities. 

• Median time to degree since receipt of the baccalaureate was 10.2 years in 2002, up from 10.0 years 

in 2001, but down from 10.3 years in 2000, and 10.4 in 1999. Median time to degree since first 

enrollment in any graduate program was 7.5 years in 2002, virtually unchanged since 1997. 

• Most of the 2002 doctorate recipients (65 percent) received their primary financial support for graduate 

education from such program- or institution-based sources as university fellowships or teaching and 

research assistantships. Almost half (49 percent) of the 2002 doctorate recipients reported no 

educational indebtedness at completion of the doctorate; 19 percent reported cumulative education 

debt levels of $30,001 or more. 

• Just under 73 percent of the new doctorate recipients had definite postgraduation commitments for 

employment or continued study when they completed the SED survey. Of those, 69 percent planned 

to work and 31 percent planned to continue their studies as postdoctorates. For U.S. citizens, 55 

percent of those with firm employment commitments noted higher education as their intended work 

sector. In addition, 18 percent indicated industry or self-employment, and 9 percent had definite plans 

for government work. 
Doctorate Recipients from 

United States Universities:

Summary Report 2002

The Survey of Earned Doctorates is funded by 

and conducted under the direction of the following 

agencies of the U.S. government: 

National Science Foundation 

National Institutes of Health 

U.S. Department of Education 

National Endowment for the Humanities 

U.S. Department of Agriculture 

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Thomas B. Hoffer 

Scott Sederstrom 

Lance Selfa 

Vince Welch 

Mary Hess 

Shana Brown 

Sergio Reyes 

Kristy Webber 

Isabel Guzman-Barron 

NORC at the University of Chicago 

Chicago, Illinois 

2003
ii

NOTICE 

This report is based on data collected in the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) conducted for the National Science 

Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of Education (USED), the National 

Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and the National Aeronautics and 

Space Administration (NASA), by the National Opinion Research Center (NORC) under NSF Contract No. SRS-9712655. 

Findings in this publication represent analyses developed by NORC, which have been reviewed, but not necessarily 

verified, by the participating Federal agencies and do not necessarily reflect the views of the sponsoring agencies. 

NSF publications from the Survey of Earned Doctorates and the Doctorate Records File are available free on request (see 

inside back cover). Standardized tables on baccalaureate origins of Ph.D.s by major field of doctorate and trend tables on 

citizenship, race/ethnicity, and sex of Ph.D.s by fine field of doctorate are available for a fee. Customized tables can also 

be prepared at cost. For more information, please contact: 

Doctorate Data Project Phone: (773) 753-7500 

National Opinion Research Center Fax: (773) 753-7886 

1155 East 60th Street E-mail: 4800-sed@norcmail.uchicago.edu 

Chicago, IL 60637 

Material in this publication is in the public domain and, with appropriate credit, may be reproduced without permission. 

Recommended citation: 

Hoffer, T.B., S. Sederstrom, L. Selfa, V. Welch, M. Hess, S. Brown, S. Reyes, K. Webber, and I. Guzman-Barron. 2003.

Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities: Summary Report 2002. Chicago: National Opinion Research 

Center. (The report gives the results of data collected in the Survey of Earned Doctorates, conducted for six Federal 

agencies, NSF, NIH, USED, NEH, USDA, and NASA by NORC.) 

This report is available on the NORC Web site: http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/issues/docdata.htm. Reports on science and 

engineering doctorates can be found on the National Science Foundation's Web site: 

http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/sengdr/start.htm. 

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Academic officers at the nation’s doctorate-granting universities distribute, collect, and forward SED 

questionnaires to NORC. The project gratefully acknowledges the support and assistance of graduate deans and their staff, 

registrars, dissertation secretaries, and other administrators who participate in the SED effort and contribute to its success.

The sponsoring Federal agencies and NORC also extend their heartfelt thanks to the 36,349 new research doctorate 

recipients who took the time to complete and return their copy of the 2002 survey. 

The conduct of the SED, the maintenance of the resulting data file, and the publication of this report are funded 

jointly by the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the U.S. Department of 

Education (USED), the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and 

the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA). Susan Hill (NSF) serves as the lead project officer for the six 

participating agencies; while Susan Hill was on leave in 2003-2004, Joan Burrelli of NSF assumed the lead project officer 

responsibilities. The survey’s relevance to national policy issues continues to grow, thanks to the involvement and 

constructive reviews of the design and analysis of the survey by representatives from the six agencies: Walter Schaffer 

(NIH), Nancy Borkow (USED), Frank Shaw (NEH), Ella Smith (USDA), Malcom Phelps (NASA), and Mary Golladay 

(NSF). Susan Hill (NSF), Director of the Doctorate Data project, and Joan Burrelli (NSF) provided guidance and direction 

during the preparation of this report. Comments from additional reviewers -- Mary Frase and Ronald Fecso – at NSF/SRS 

are also appreciated. Reviews of the report from Daniel Denecke (the Council of Graduate Schools), Jed Marsh (Princeton 

University), and Judi Sui (University of California-Berkeley) were invaluable and greatly appreciated. 

The authors gratefully acknowledge the contributions of their NORC colleagues who provided valuable counsel, 

direction, and assistance with various survey responsibilities: Jamie Friedman, Director of Institutional Contacting; Syed 

Ahsan, Project IT Manager; Sharnia Lashley, Coordinator for the Data Preparation Center; Jie Yin, Project Programmer; 

Cindy Simko, Research Specialist; Crystal Williams, Data Preparation Supervisor; and the NORC Production Center Staff. 

Printed in the United States of America 
iii

CONTENTS 

 Page 

HIGHLIGHTS........................................................................................................................................inside front cover 

LIST OF FIGURES .......................................................................................................................................................iv 

LIST OF TABLES..........................................................................................................................................................iv 

INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 

 Organization .......................................................................................................................................................... 1 

 Related Publications............................................................................................................................................... 2 

TRENDS IN DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS ..................................................................................................................... 4 

 Overall Trends and Rates of Change ..................................................................................................................... 4 

 Doctorate-granting Institutions, Doctorates Recipients per Institution, and Geographical Distribution ................... 6 

 Doctorates by Field of Study................................................................................................................................... 8 

 Doctorates by Sex ................................................................................................................................................ 12 

 Doctorates by Race/Ethnicity................................................................................................................................ 14 

 Doctorates by Citizenship..................................................................................................................................... 18 

 Doctorates by Parental Education Background .................................................................................................... 20 

 Time to Degree..................................................................................................................................................... 21 

FINANCIAL RESOURCES IN SUPPORT OF DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS, INCLUDING INDEBTEDNESS ............ 24 

 Sources of Financial Support................................................................................................................................ 24 

 Levels of Education-Related Indebtedness .......................................................................................................... 26 

POSTGRADUATE PLANS, EMPLOYMENT, AND LOCATION................................................................................. 29 

 Definite versus Indefinite Plans ............................................................................................................................ 29 

 Career Employment versus Postdoctorates ......................................................................................................... 30 

 Employment Sectors in the United States. ........................................................................................................... 31 

 Sources of Financial Support for Postdoctoral Appointments............................................................................... 31 

 Postdoctoral Location of Non-U.S. Citizens.......................................................................................................... 32 

SPECIAL SECTION: FIRST-GENERATION COLLEGE GRADUATES EARNING RESEARCH DOCTORATES .... 34

 First-Generation College Graduates in the Doctoral Population........................................................................... 34 

 First-Generation College Graduates in the Doctoral and Other Higher-Education Populations............................ 35 

 Doctoral Fields of Specialization of First-Generation College Graduates ............................................................. 36 

 Undergraduate Origins of First-Generation College Graduates............................................................................ 37 

 Sources of Support, Educational Debt, and Time to Degree ................................................................................ 38 

 Trends in Representation of First-Generation College Graduates........................................................................ 40 

 Summary and Conclusions................................................................................................................................... 41 

MAIN DATA TABLES ................................................................................................................................................. 43 

APPENDICES ............................................................................................................................................................. 75 

A The Eight Basic Tables, 2002........................................................................................................................ 76 

B Trend Tables, 1992-2002 ............................................................................................................................ 109 

C Technical Notes........................................................................................................................................... 117 

D Survey of Earned Doctorates Questionnaire, Academic Year 2002 ............................................................ 129 

E Field Classification and Research Degree Titles ......................................................................................... 139 

NSF PUBLICATIONS FROM THE DOCTORATE DATA PROJECT...................................................inside back cover
iv

LIST OF FIGURES 

Page 

Figure 1 Doctorates awarded by U.S. colleges and universities, 1957-2002 ................................................. 5 

Figure 2 Annual growth or decline in doctorates awarded by U.S. colleges 

 and universities, 1957-2002 ............................................................................................................. 6 

Figure 3 Top 20 doctorate granting states, 2002............................................................................................ 8 

Figure 4 Science and engineering doctorates awarded by broad field of study, 1972-2002 ........................ 10 

Figure 5 Humanities, education, and professional/other fields doctorates awarded 

 by broad field of study, 1972-2002 ................................................................................................. 10 

Figure 6 Distribution of doctorate recipients by broad field of study, 1972 and 2002 compared .................. 11 

Figure 7 Doctorate recipients by sex, 1992-2002 ......................................................................................... 12 

Figure 8 Percent of female doctorate recipients by broad field of study, 1972, 1982, 1992, 2002............... 13 

Figure 9 Doctorates awarded to racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, by race/ethnicity, 1982-2002 ............. 15 

Figure 10 Percentage of doctorates earned by racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, 1982 and 2002.............. 15 

Figure 11 Percentage of doctorates earned by racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, by broad field of 

study, 2002 ..................................................................................................................................... 16 

Figure 12 Percentage of doctorates earned by U.S. citizens, by race/ethnicity and sex, 2002 ..................... 17 

Figure 13 Median number of years to doctorate from baccalaureate award and age at 

 doctorate, 1977-2002 ..................................................................................................................... 22 

Figure 14 Age distribution at doctorate by broad field of study, 2002............................................................. 23 

Figure 15 Primary sources of financial support for doctorate recipients, 2002............................................... 25 

LIST OF TABLES Page 

Table 1 Number of doctorates awarded and annual percentage change in doctorates awarded by 

U.S. colleges and universities, 1957-2002 ..................................................................................... 44 

Table 2 Number of U.S. colleges and universities awarding doctorates and average doctorate recipients per 

institution, 1962-2002 ...................................................................................................................... 45 

Table 3 Top 20 doctorate-granting institutions by broad field of study, 2002 .............................................. 46 

Table 4 Number of doctorate recipients by state, including the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 

 2002................................................................................................................................................ 48 

Table 5 Major field of study of doctorate recipients for selected years, 1972-2002 .................................... 49 

Table 6 Number of doctorate recipients and percent female, by selected subfield of study, 1992 and 

2002................................................................................................................................................ 50 

Table 7 Number and percent of doctorate recipients, by sex within broad field of study for selected 

 years, 1972-2002............................................................................................................................ 51 
v

LIST OF TABLES (Continued)

 Page 

Table 8 Number of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, by race/ethnicity within broad field of study for 

selected years, 1982-2002 ..............................................................................................................52 

Table 9 Major field of study of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, by race/ethnicity, 2002............................ 53 

Table 10 Doctorate-granting institutions having the largest number of U.S. minority doctorate recipients, 

1998–2002...................................................................................................................................... 54 

Table 11 Citizenship status of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study for selected years, 1972-

2002................................................................................................................................................ 55 

Table 12 Top 30 countries of origin of non-U.S. citizens earning doctorates at 

 U.S. colleges and universities (ranked by number of doctorate recipients), 2002.......................... 56 

Table 13 Doctorate-granting institutions having the largest number of non-U.S. citizen doctorate 

recipients (ranked by number of doctorate recipients), 2002 ........................................................ 56 

Table 14 Parental educational attainment of 2002 doctorate recipients, by selected characteristics ........... 57 

Table 15 Median number of years from baccalaureate to doctorate award, by broad field of study 

 for selected years, 1977-2002 ........................................................................................................ 58 

Table 16 Median number of years from baccalaureate to doctorate award, by demographic 

 group and broad field of study, 2002 .............................................................................................. 59 

Table 17 Median age and number of doctorate recipients at different age levels, by field of study and 

demographic characteristics, 2002................................................................................................. 60 

Table 18 Primary sources of financial support for doctorate recipients, by broad field of study and 

demographic group, 2002................................................................................................................61 

Table 19 Debt related to the education of the doctorate recipients, by broad field of study, 2002................ 62 

Table 20 Debt related to the education of the doctorate recipients, by demographic group, 2002 ............... 63 

Table 21 Postgraduation status of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study for selected years, 1982-

2002................................................................................................................................................ 64 

Table 22 Postgraduation status of doctorate recipients, by demographic group for selected years, 

 1982-2002 ...................................................................................................................................... 64 

Table 23 Postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients with definite commitments, by broad field of study 

for selected years, 1982-2002 ........................................................................................................ 65 

Table 24 Postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients with definite commitments, by demographic 

group for selected years, 1982-2002 ............................................................................................ 65 

Table 25 Employment sector of doctorate recipients with postgraduation employment commitments in 

 the United States, by demographic group for selected years, 1982-2002...................................... 66 

Table 26 Sources of support for doctorate recipients with postgraduation commitments for postdoctoral 

study, by selected demographic groups for selected years, 1982-2002 ....................................... .67 

Table 27 Postdoctoral location and type of plan of non-U.S. citizen doctorate recipients with definite 

postgraduation commitments, by broad field of study and visa status, 2002 ................................. 68 
vi

LIST OF TABLES (Continued)

 Page 

Table 28 Postdoctoral location of non-U.S. citizen doctorate recipients with postgraduation 

 commitments, by visa status for selected years, 1982-2002.......................................................... 69 

Table 29 Parental baccalaureate attainment of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study 

 and selected demographic characteristics, 2002 ........................................................................... 69 

Table 30 Parental baccalaureate attainment of foreign doctorate recipients, by country of citizenship 

(top 30 countries, ranked by number of doctorate recipients), 2002 .............................................. 70 

Table 31 Percentage distribution of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study and parental 

baccalaureate attainment, 2002 ..................................................................................................... 70 

Table 32 Percentage distribution of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, by parental baccalaureate 

attainment and selected undergraduate institution characteristics, 2002....................................... 71 

Table 33 Percentage distribution of doctorate recipients on primary source of financial support and level 

of education debt, and median years in graduate school, by parental baccalaureate 

attainment, 2002............................................................................................................................. 71 

Table 34 Percentage of doctorate recipients reporting own resources as primary source of support and 

cumulative debt greater than $30,000, by parental baccalaureate attainment and broad field of 

study, 2002 ..................................................................................................................................... 72 

Table 35 Percentage of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, reporting cumulative debt greater than 

$30,000, by parental baccalaureate attainment, broad field of study, and race/ethnicity, 2002..... 73 

Table 36 Percent of doctorate recipients who were first-generation college graduates, by broad field of 

study and selected demographic characteristics for selected years, 1977-2002 ........................... 74 

APPENDIX TABLES 

Table A-1 Number of doctorate recipients, by sex and subfield, 2002 ........................................................... 80 

Table A-2 Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002 ........................ 83 

Table A-3 Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 .......................................... 88 

Table A-4 Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by race/ethnicity and citizenship, 2002 .......................... 94 

Table A-5 Doctorate recipients’ financial resources in support of doctoral programs, by broad field of 

study and sex, 2002 ....................................................................................................................... 96 

Table A-6 State of doctoral institution of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study and sex, 2002 ............ 97 

Table A-7 Institutions granting research doctorates, by major field of study, 2002......................................... 98 

Table A-8 Top 50 doctorate-granting institutions .......................................................................................... 106 

Table B-1 Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield of study, 1992-2002 ................................................ 108 

Table B-2 Number of doctorate recipients, by sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship, 1992-2002.................... 113 

Table C-1 Survey response rates.................................................................................................................. 119 

Table C-2 Profiles of respondents versus nonrespondents for critical item data, by source or response, 

 2002.............................................................................................................................................. 120 

Table C-3 Item response rates, 1992-2002................................................................................................... 122 
1

DOCTORATE RECIPIENTS FROM UNITED STATES 

UNIVERSITIES: SUMMARY REPORT 2002

Introduction 

Doctorate Recipients from United States Universities: Summary Report 2002 is the 

thirty-sixth in a series of reports on research doctorates awarded by universities in the United 

States.1

 The data presented in this report are from the annual Survey of Earned Doctorates 

(SED), a census of the 39,955 research doctorate recipients who earned their degrees between 

July 1, 2001, and June 30, 2002. Conducted since 1958, this survey is currently sponsored by six 

Federal agencies: the National Science Foundation, the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. 

Department of Education, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration. The National Opinion 

Research Center (NORC) is currently the data collection contractor. All survey responses 

become part of the Doctorate Records File (DRF), a cumulative database on research doctorate 

recipients from 1920 to 2002. For the 2002 survey, 91 percent of the 39,955 new doctorate 

recipients completed the SED questionnaire; basic information on nonrespondents was obtained 

from their degree-granting institutions and public records.2 The cumulative DRF now contains a 

total of 1,476,921 records on individuals completing doctorates over the last 83 years at U.S. 

institutions. 

Organization 

Summary Report 2002 begins by reviewing overall trends in research doctorates awarded 

by U.S. universities. Trends in the numbers and percentages of research doctorates are reported 

by the broad fields in which research doctorate recipients earn their degrees, as well as by sex, 

race/ethnicity, and citizenship. Trends in the average amount of time taken to complete the 

doctorate degree are also reported. Cross-sectional data for the 2002 cohort are presented on the 

 

1 The Survey of Earned Doctorates collects information on research doctorate recipients only. This survey differs 

from the U.S. Department of Education’s Integrated Postsecondary Education Data Survey (IPEDS), which collects 

the number of doctoral degrees awarded per institution by field of study. For an evaluation of the differences, see 

National Science Foundation, 1993, Science and Engineering Doctorates 1960-1991, NSF 93-301, pp. 2-6, 

Washington, DC. 

2

 See appendix C for information on response rates for the SED.
2

sources of financial support during graduate school, and the postgraduation status and plans of 

doctorate recipients. 

The report concludes with a special section focusing on new doctorate recipients who are 

the first-generation college graduates in their families. The annual SED Summary Report has 

occasionally featured special sections focusing on topics of particular interest, including 

• Non-U.S. Citizen Doctorate Recipients (1989 and 1997) 

• U.S. Citizen Minority Doctorates (1990) 

• U.S. Citizen Female Doctorates (1991) 

• Contribution of India, China, Taiwan, and Korea to the Growth of Non-U.S. PhDs (1995) 

• Indebtedness of Doctorate Recipients (1998) 

• Interstate Migration Patterns of Doctorate Recipients (1999). 

Throughout the report, figures highlighting selected trend and cross-sectional data 

complement the brief narratives of key survey findings. A set of tables following the main text 

contains the numbers and percentages from which the figures and the numbers cited in the text 

are drawn. References to these tables are embedded in the text, and a reference at the bottom of 

each figure indicates the corresponding table number. Basic tables of statistics for the 2002 

research doctorate recipients are shown in appendix A, and trend tabulations for the previous tenyear period (1992 to 2002) are presented in appendix B. These basic tables have maintained 

essentially the same structure for the past several annual volumes of the Summary Report, and 

thus provide a basis for additional trend analyses that researchers can pursue. Appendix C 

supplies technical notes, including response rates and other information related to tables and 

figures in the report. Appendix D contains the SED questionnaire for the 2002 academic year. 

Field of study classifications and research degree titles included in the SED are listed in 

Appendix E. 

Related Publications

The methodology of the SED 2002 survey is described in detail in the annual Survey of 

Earned Doctorates Methodology Report. This report is posted on the National Science 

Foundation, Division of Science Resources Statistics (SRS) Website 

(http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/ssed/sedmeth.htm). The NSF also publishes an annual volume of 

tabulations using the SED data, Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards, available on the 
3

NSF-SRS Website. Copies of the annual Summary Report from previous years are available on 

the NORC Website (http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/issues/docdata.htm). 
4

Trends in Doctorate Recipients 

The individual research doctorate recipients3

 from U.S. universities are the primary 

respondents to the Survey of Earned Doctorates. Each year, personnel in graduate schools or 

other administrative offices of the degree-granting universities distribute the SED questionnaires 

to these individuals and transmit the rosters and completed questionnaires to the SED data 

collection contractor (NORC at the University of Chicago has been the contractor since 1997). 

The lists of new doctorate recipients are carefully checked and edited by the data collection 

contractor working closely with the universities over the course of the SED eligibility year. 

Every effort is made to locate all new graduates who did not return a questionnaire to their 

graduate school and to ask them to complete the form. The graduate schools provide basic 

information on individual nonrespondents at the end of the data collection cycle. A 

comprehensive and accurate picture of the universe of new doctorates each year results from this 

process and the SED data provide a solid basis for charting trends in the numbers and 

characteristics of this population. 

Overall Trends and Rates of Change 

During the twelve-month period ending June 30, 2002, U.S. universities awarded 39,955 

research doctorate degrees, compared with 40,790 in 2001 and 41,356 in 2000. (See table 1). 

This was a percentage decrease from 2001 to 2002 of 2.0 percent, and of 6.3 percent from the 

all-time high of 42,652 in 1998. The number of doctorates awarded in 2002 is the lowest since 

1993. 

Despite the lack of growth in 2002, the long-term trend in the number of new research 

doctorates has been one of considerable expansion. Over the last 40 years, the number of 

doctorates granted by U.S. universities has on average increased by approximately 3.5 percent 

per year. The expansion has been characterized by two periods of rapid growth followed by 

 

3 Doctorates are reported by academic year (from July 1 of one year through June 30 of the following year) and 

include research doctorates in all fields. Doctoral degrees such as the Ph.D., D.Sc., and research Ed.D. are covered 

by this survey; professional degrees (e.g., M.D., D.D.S., J.D., Psy.D., and D.Min.) are not. A full list of included 

degrees can be found in appendix E. For convenience throughout this report, the terms “Ph.D.” or “doctorate” are 

used to represent any of the research doctoral degrees covered by the survey. Please note that if an individual earned 

a second research doctorate, the second doctorate is not included in the SED. In 2002, a total of 76 individuals 

earned second research doctorates. 
5

stability and even slight declines as seen this year. Between 1961 – the year when the number of 

annual doctorates awarded surpassed 10,000 for the first time – and 1971, the average annual 

growth rate was nearly 12 percent, such that the number of doctorates awarded each year almost 

tripled (31,867). The number of doctorate degrees annually awarded during the decade of the 

1970s and through the early 1980s remained moderately stable at about 31,000 each year. In 

1986, a second period of growth began that persisted until 1998, when 42,652 research 

doctorates were awarded. Since 1998, the number of doctorates awarded each year has generally 

declined, reaching a 10-year low in 2002. (See figures 1 and 2.) 

Figure 1. Doctorates awarded by U.S. colleges and universities, 1957-2002 

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

35,000

40,000

45,000

1957195819591960196119621963196419651966196719681969197019711972197319741975197619771978197919801981198219831984198519861987198819891990199119921993199419951996199719981999200020012002

Year

Number of doctorates

See Table 1. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
6

Figure 2. Annual growth or decline in doctorates awarded by U.S. universities, 1957-2002 

-5

0

5

10

15

20

1957196019631966196919721975197819811984198719901993199619992002

Year

Percent of year to year change

Annual percentage change

Long-term average (3.5%)

See Table 1. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates

Doctorate-granting Institutions, Doctorate Recipients per Institution, 

and Geographical Distribution 

The SED survey staff monitor closely the universe of research doctorate-granting 

institutions, including an annual review of all accredited institutions recognized by the U.S. 

Department of Education in its Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS). The 

data collection contractor for the SED contacts newly-identified institutions granting one or more 

of the research doctorates listed in appendix E and includes the institutions in the SED universe 

as soon as they award a recognized degree. Appendix table A-7 contains the full list of 

institutions granting research doctorates in the 2002 academic year. 

 During the 2002 academic year, there were 413 universities in the United States and 

Puerto Rico that awarded at least one research doctorate, a very slight decline from the all-time 

high recorded in 2001 (416). (See table 2.) In 2002, the mean number of doctorates awarded per 

institution was 97, while the median was 38. (See table 2 for the mean and median numbers of 

doctorates awarded per institution from 1962 to 2002.) As the substantial difference between the 

mean and the median indicates, a relatively small number of institutions award a 

disproportionately large number of doctorates. Just 49 institutions granted 50 percent of all 
7

doctorates in 2002. Eighteen institutions accounted for 25 percent of all doctorates granted; 31 

institutions for the next 25 percent; 58 universities for the third quartile; and the remaining 306 

institutions accounted for the final 25 percent of doctorates.4

 The trend data in table 2 show that the median number of degrees awarded per institution 

grew rapidly during the 1960s, from 26 in 1962 to 55 in 1970. Following the end of the Vietnam 

War in 1972, the median number quickly dropped to 42 and has vacillated between 35 and 45 

since. 

 In the 2002 academic year, the University of California-Berkeley granted the largest 

number of doctorates, 799, or 2 percent of all doctorates awarded in 2002, followed by the 

University of Wisconsin-Madison (649), University of California-Los Angeles (642), and the 

University of Texas at Austin (637). In 2001 and 2002, the top 10 institutions granted 

approximately 16 percent of all doctorates. (See table 3.) 

The state-by-state totals in figure 3 and table 4 show that California universities led the 

nation by awarding 4,742 doctorates, or 12 percent of all doctorates in 2002. New York 

institutions granted the next highest number of doctorates (3,373), followed by institutions in 

Texas (2,429), Massachusetts (2,126), Illinois (2,110), Pennsylvania (2,000), Florida (1,948), 

Ohio (1,625), and Michigan (1,445). These nine states accounted for 55 percent of all doctorates 

awarded in 2002. (See figure 3 and table 4.) 

 

4 Calculations derived from appendix table A-7. See appendix table A-8 for a list of the 50 largest institutions.
8

Figure 3. Top 20 doctorate-granting states, 2002 

4,742

3,373

2,429

2,126 2,110 2,000 1,948

1,625

1,445

1,073 1,037 1,007 973 970 848 846 727 714 681 681

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

CA NY TX MA IL PA FL OH MI NC GA VA MD IN WI NJ MN AZ MO TN

State

Number of doctorates

See Table 4. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates 

Doctorates by Field of Study 

There were 287 fields of specialization into which the SED classified research doctorate 

degrees in 2002 (these are listed on page 7 of the questionnaire included in appendix D). Since 

fields of specialization are dynamic entities that reflect the evolving programs of researchers and 

their constituencies, each year the SED list is assessed in order to identify emerging fields and 

periodically modified to accommodate changes in the world of doctoral education. The SED is 

able to collect information on the specialization fields of virtually all the new doctorates each 

year; coverage in 2002 was attained for all of the 39,955 doctorate recipients. 

Consistent with past practice in presenting the SED data, the fields of specialization are 

grouped into seven broad fields: physical sciences,5

 engineering, life sciences,6 social sciences 

(including psychology), humanities, education, and a heterogeneous group of professional and 

 

5 The physical sciences also include mathematics and computer sciences in this report.

6 The life sciences encompass biological, agricultural, and health sciences in this report.
9

other fields (including business, communications, social work, and theological programs). 

Appendix tables A-1, A-2, and B-1 contain the numbers of graduates in all fields. 

Table 3 lists, for the institutions granting the largest numbers of doctorates, the number of 

doctorates granted in 2002 in each of the seven broad fields. The University of CaliforniaBerkeley awarded the most doctorates in the physical sciences (157) as well as in the social 

sciences (151) and humanities (141). The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) granted 

the most engineering doctorates (214), while the Johns Hopkins University led all universities in 

the life sciences (187). Nova Southeastern University had the highest total in education (409) as 

well as in the diverse “professional/other” category (66). 

 The numbers of doctorates awarded in the seven broad fields were also concentrated in a 

relatively small number of institutions. While the top 10 degree-granting universities awarded 

16 percent of all doctorates in 2002, the concentration was higher in six of the seven broad fields: 

19 percent in the physical sciences, 29 percent in engineering, 17 percent in the life sciences, 21 

percent in the humanities, 20 percent in education, and 17 percent in the professional/other 

category. Only in the social sciences was the concentration lower than the overall average (15 

percent). (Derived from table 3.) 

 The overall decrease of 2 percent in doctorates awarded between the 2001 and 2002 

academic years was a result of decreases in four of seven broad fields, offsetting smaller 

percentage increases in the three remaining fields. The physical sciences, humanities, and social 

sciences showed decreases of 4.3, 3.9, and 3.3 percent, respectively. Engineering registered the 

largest percentage drop, 7.8 percent. The professional/other fields showed an increase of 4.5 

percent while education and life sciences showed smaller increases (2.4 and 0.5 percent 

respectively). (See appendix table B-1.) 

Since 1988, the life sciences has been the largest broad field, with 8,350 doctorates 

awarded in 2002. Compared to 1997, the number of doctorates awarded in engineering, the 

physical sciences, and social sciences showed the largest decreases: 17.1 percent, 14.4 percent, 

and 6.2 percent lower respectively in 2002 than in 1997. (See table 5.) Slightly fewer doctorates 

were awarded in education (-1.4 percent), professional/other fields (-1.2 percent), and humanities 

(-1.1 percent), while the total number completing doctorates in the life sciences was essentially 

unchanged, with 0.3 percent more degrees awarded in 2002 than five years earlier. (See table 5 

and figures 4 and 5.) 
10

Figure 4. Science and engineering doctorates awarded by broad field for selected years, 

1972-2002 

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002

Year

Number of doctorates

Physical sciences/

math

Life sciences

Social sciences

Engineering

Figure 5. Humanities, education, and professional/other fields doctorates awarded 

for selected years, 1972-2002 

0

1,000

2,000

3,000

4,000

5,000

6,000

7,000

8,000

9,000

1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002

Year

Number of doctorates

Education

Humanities

Professional/

other fields

See Table 5. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates 

 Physical sciences, life sciences, social sciences, and engineering – the four broad fields 

that together constitute “science and engineering” (S&E) – represented 64 percent of all 
11

doctorates awarded in 2002. S&E doctorates accounted for close to the same percentage of all 

doctorates (65 percent) in 1992, but only 59 percent of the total in 1982 and 1972. (See 

table 5.) 

 The 30 year comparisons for all seven broad fields are shown in figure 6. The relative 

shares of graduates in engineering, life sciences, and the professional/other fields were greater in 

2002 than in 1972, while the relative shares in physical sciences and mathematics, humanities, 

and education were smaller in 2002. The relative shares of graduates in social sciences in 1972 

and 2002 were about the same. (See figure 6.) 

Figure 6. Percentage distribution of doctorate recipients by broad field, 1972 and 2002 

16.8

10.6

15.4

16.5

15.3

21.4

4.0

14.3

12.7

20.9

16.5

13.4

16.2

5.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

Physical

sciences

/math

Engineering Life

sciences

Social

sciences

Humanities Education Professional/

other fields

Field of study

Percent

1972

2002

See Table 5. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates 

 Thirteen of the 25 specialization subfields included in table 5 experienced declines in the 

number of doctorates awarded between 2001 and 2002 (see appendix table B-1 for the 2001 

totals), while 16 had smaller numbers when compared to 1997 values. The remaining nine 

subfields had larger absolute numbers of doctorates in 2002 than in 1997. Compared to 1997, 

only three of the 15 S&E subfields (health sciences, anthropology, and “other social sciences”) 

showed gains in 2002. (See table 5.) 
12

Doctorates by Sex 

The 2.0 percent decrease overall in doctorates awarded between 2001 and 2002 reflects a 

4.5 percent decline for males and a 1.1 percent increase for females. The number of doctorates 

awarded to men fell by 1,026 and increased for women by 189 in 2002 compared to 2001. The 

net proportional effect is that for 2002, females received 45.4 percent of all doctorates, which is 

the highest percentage of women ever recorded by the SED, topping the 44 percent in 2001.7

 

This number signifies the seventh consecutive year in which the representation of female 

doctorate recipients has surpassed 40 percent. Five years ago (1997) females comprised 41 

percent of all doctorate recipients; 10 years ago (1992) that percentage was 37 and 25 years ago 

(1977) it was 25 percent. (See figure 7 and table 7.) 

Figure 7. Doctorate recipients by sex, 1992-2002 

0

5,000

10,000

15,000

20,000

25,000

30,000

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002

Year

Number of doctorates

Female

M ale

See Appendix Tables B-2b and B-2c. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates 

 With respect to the broad fields of study, the proportion of doctorates earned by women 

in 2002 was greater than in 2001 in all broad fields except humanities. Women constituted 66 

percent of all education doctorates for 2002, the majority in the social sciences (55 percent), and 

 

7 For 2002, sex category could not be determined for 71 doctorate recipients; these 71 are not part of these and other 

percentage calculations.
13

half in the humanities (50.4 percent, down from 50.6 percent in 2001). In contrast, the 

representation of females among doctorate recipients in the physical sciences and engineering for 

2002 was 27 percent and 18 percent, respectively (figure 8). However, even these percentages 

represent significant increases over the last 25 years. In 1977, when only 25 percent of all 

doctorate recipients were women, just 10 percent and 3 percent of the doctorates in the physical 

sciences and engineering, respectively, were awarded to women. Similar long-term trends are 

discernible in other broad fields as well: in the life sciences, from 21 percent in 1977 to 48 

percent in 2002; from 28 percent to 55 percent in the social sciences over that same period; and 

from 36 percent in the humanities in 1977 to the current 50 percent. (See figure 8 and table 7.) 

Figure 8. Percent of doctorate recipients who are female, by broad field of study, 

 for selected years, 1972-2002

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

All fields Phy sical

sciences

Engineering Life

sciences

Social

sciences

Humanities Education Professional/

other

Field of study

Percent

1972

1982

1992

2002

See Table 7. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates 

In 2002, females constituted 39 percent of S&E doctorate recipients and 57 percent of 

degrees in non-S&E fields in U.S. universities. With regard to finer field distinctions, of the 25 

selected subfields listed in table 6, women were the majority of doctorate recipients in twelve 

subfields and constituted at least 40 percent of the doctorate population in four additional areas. 

In five of the 25 subfields, the percentage increase in female doctorate recipients between 1992 
14

and 2002 was over 40 percent (mathematics, computer science, engineering, agricultural 

sciences, and business and management). (See table 6.) 

Doctorates by Race/Ethnicity 

 Following the new Federal standards established for the 2000 decennial census of the 

U.S. population, the SED changed the way in which race and ethnicity were requested starting 

with the 2001 questionnaire. The new format asked respondents to mark all racial categories that 

apply to them, rather than a single category as had been requested since 1973 when race and 

ethnicity questions were first added to the SED questionnaire. Additional changes included 

separating Pacific Islanders from Asians and combining them with Native Hawaiians in a new 

racial category, and adding a Cuban response option to the Hispanic ethnicity question. A copy 

of the 2002 questionnaire is included in appendix D. 

A total of 4,730 members of U.S. racial/ethnic minority groups8 were awarded doctorates, 

representing 19 percent of the U.S. citizens earning research doctorates in 2002. (See table 8.) 

This number is higher than in 2001, when 4,624 minority group members earned doctorates; and 

the 2002 minority percentage is the highest percentage yet recorded in the SED. (See appendix 

table B-2a.) Blacks earned the most doctorates (1,644) of the five main U.S. minority 

populations in 2002, followed by Asians (1,364), Hispanics (1,233), American Indians (146), and 

Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders (75). (See table 8.) A total of 268 non-Hispanic U.S. 

citizens reported more than one racial background in the 2002 survey, and are counted here as 

racial/ethnic minorities, but they and the 75 Hawaiian and other Pacific Islanders are grouped in 

the “other” category and not shown separately in table 8 or figure 9 because of the lack of trend 

data. 

In 2002, the number of minority doctorate recipients was 22 percent higher than the total 

in 1997 and 72 percent higher than in 1992. Conversely, there were 11 percent fewer nonHispanic white doctorate recipients in 2002 compared to 1997, and 10 percent fewer than in 

1992. As the numbers in the first panel of table 8 indicate, doctorates awarded to U.S. minority 

groups generally increased much more in the 1990s than in the 1980s. The twenty-year gains 

 

8 As used here, U.S. minority groups include Asians, blacks, Hispanics, American Indians, Native Hawaiians and 

other Pacific Islanders, and individuals who indicated more than one racial background. 
15

were greater for Asians (200 percent) and Hispanics (130 percent), than for American Indians 

(90 percent) and blacks (56 percent). (See figures 9 and 10 and table 8.) 

Figure 9: Doctorates awarded to racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, by race/ethnicity, 

for selected years, 1982-2002 

0

200

400

600

800

1,000

1,200

1,400

1,600

1,800

1982 1987 1992 1997 2002

Year

Number of Doctorates

Black

Asian

Hispanic

American

Indian

Figure 10. Percentage of doctorates earned by racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, 1982 and 2002 

4.4

2.3

1.9

0.3

6.5

4.8

5.4

0.6

0

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Black Hispanic Asian American Indian

Race/ethnicity

Percent

1982

2002

See Table 8. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
16

The primary U.S. minority groups (Asians, blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians) had 

their largest presence in the broad fields of engineering (24 percent of U.S. citizens earning 

doctorates), education (23 percent), and the professional/other fields (19 percent) in 2002. The 

lowest percentage representations were in physical sciences (15 percent) and humanities (15 

percent). (See figure 11). 

The proportional representation of the different minority groups varied by broad field. 

Asians were the largest contingent in physical sciences, engineering, and life sciences, 

representing over half of all minority group members earning doctorates in those fields during 

the 2002 academic year. Blacks were the largest minority population in social sciences, 

education, and professional/other fields. Hispanics were the largest minority population in 

humanities. This pattern of relative representation is observed for each year shown in table 8, 

back to 1982, with the exception of 1987, when Hispanics slightly outnumbered blacks as the 

largest minority group in the social sciences. (See table 9 for the numbers of minority doctorate 

recipients in each of the 25 subfields in 2002.) 

Figure 11. Percentage of doctorates earned by racial/ethnic minority U.S. citizens, 

by broad field of study, 2002 

18.6

14.9

24.0

17.3

18.5

15.0

22.9

19.0

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

All fields Physical

sciences

Engineering Life

sciences

Social

sciences

Humanities Education Professional/

other

Field of study

Percent

See Table 8. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
17

The pattern of growth for the aggregate U.S. citizen minority populations generally holds 

for the separate minority groups within the seven broad fields. The general pattern for minority 

recipients was one of relatively small increases from 1982 to 1992 followed by moderate 

increases from 1992 to 2002. One exception is that the number of Asian doctorate recipients in 

engineering and the physical sciences grew rapidly in the late 1980s and early 1990s, but 

experienced a slight decrease from 1997 to 2002. (See table 8.) 

 The balance of male and female doctorate recipients varies between racial/ethnic groups. 

Among U.S. citizens, of doctorates earned by whites, 50 percent were awarded to women; for 

blacks, various Hispanic groups, and American Indians, women constituted a majority, earning 

between 54 percent and 63 percent of doctorates received by persons of those races or ethnicities. 

Among Asian Americans, women were 45 percent of the total. (See figure 12 and appendix 

table A-4.) 

Figure 12. Percentage of doctorates earned by U.S. citizens, by race/ethnicity and sex, 2002 

36.9

54.8

50.3

63.1

56.5

45.2

54.1

49.7

43.5

45.9

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Black Hispanic Asian American

Indian

White

Race/ethnicity

Percent

Male

Female

See Appendix Tables B-2b and B-2c. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates

 Table 10 lists the universities that awarded the largest number of doctorates to members 

of the four primary U.S. minority groups between 1998 and 2002, and the number granted by 

each university. Over that five-year interval, three California institutions – UCLA, Berkeley, 

and Stanford – and two in Massachusetts – Harvard and MIT – awarded a total of 1,202 
18

doctorates to Asian Americans, or 18 percent of all doctorates awarded by U.S. universities to 

Asian Americans. Nova Southeastern University and Howard University awarded, by far, the 

most doctorates to blacks (374 and 247, respectively), 8 percent of all the doctorates granted to 

blacks in this period. In general, the leading institutions awarding doctorates to Hispanics are 

located in the Southwest, including California, and in Puerto Rico. Oklahoma State University 

awarded the largest number of doctorates to American Indians. 

 The concentration of U.S. minority doctorate recipients in certain institutions is 

noticeably greater than for the doctoral population as a whole. For example, in 2002 the ten 

universities granting the largest numbers of doctorates conferred 16 percent of all doctorates. 

However, over the 1998-2002 period, the ten universities that awarded the most doctorates to 

Asians (table 10) granted 28 percent of all Asian doctorates between 1998 and 2002; for blacks 

the corresponding figure was 19 percent; for Hispanics it was 24 percent, and for American 

Indians it was 19 percent. (See table 10.) 

Doctorates by Citizenship 

Each year, the SED gathers information concerning the U.S. citizenship status and 

country of citizenship of the new doctorate recipients.9 Of the 2002 doctorate recipients with 

known citizenship status (93 percent of the total), 70 percent were U.S. citizens, 4 percent were 

non-U.S. citizens with permanent resident visas for the United States (i.e., “green cards”), and 26 

percent were non-U.S. citizens in the U.S. on temporary visas. (See table 11.) 

The trend for non-U.S. citizens earning doctorates from U.S. institutions is generally one 

of increasing numbers. This is particularly true for individuals in the U.S. on temporary visas. 

The five-year snapshots shown in table 11 indicate that the percentage of new doctorates 

awarded to individuals on temporary visas rose from 9 percent of all doctorate recipients who 

reported citizenship in 1972 to 14 percent in 1982 and 26 percent in 1992. The growing numbers 

of doctorates awarded to foreign students on temporary visas has accounted for virtually all of 

the overall growth in the numbers of doctorate recipients since 1972. 

 

9

 The percentage of cases with missing data on citizenship status (U.S. versus non-U.S.) and country of citizenship 

has fluctuated more year to year than other SED variables (see appendix table C-3), and the over-time comparisons 

are thus subject to some uncertainty. 
19

The number of doctorate recipients with permanent visas has shown more fluctuation 

over time. The 2002 total of 1,646 represents a drop of 10 percent from 2001, and is the lowest 

number since 1989. The numbers of doctorate recipients with permanent visas were at historical 

highs from 1993-1999 (reaching a peak of 4,318 in 1995), and ranged between 1,200 and 2,100 

from the late 1960s until the early 1990s. (See table 11.) 

U.S. citizens earned over 80 percent of the doctorates awarded in the humanities and 

education (81 percent and 90 percent, respectively) in 2002. (See table 11.) In absolute 

numbers, U.S. citizens earned more doctorates in the life sciences than in any of the other broad 

fields; permanent residents also had their highest total in the life sciences, and engineering was 

the most popular field for those in the United States on temporary visas. 

The trend towards the equal male and female representation in the doctoral cohorts is 

particularly striking for U.S. citizens. In 2002, 51 percent of all doctorates awarded to U.S. 

citizens went to women, slightly higher than the 50 percent in 2001. This marks the first time in 

the SED that the majority of U.S. citizens receiving a doctorate were women. The movement to 

majority status for U.S. women in 2002 occurred despite the fact that their absolute number 

decreased slightly compared to the year before. (See appendix tables A-4 and B-2.) 

 Among permanent residents earning doctorates in 2002, 47 percent were female, and 

among those doctorate recipients holding temporary visas, 31 percent were female (appendix 

table A-4). Both of those percentages are, like the figure for U.S. women, all-time highs. (See 

table B-2; further historical data available from the author.) Women holding temporary visas 

were more concentrated in the S&E fields of study than female U.S. citizens. While women with 

temporary visas represented 16.4 percent of all female doctorates in 2002, they earned 21 percent 

of the doctorates granted to females in the life sciences, 34 percent of the doctorates earned by 

females in the physical sciences, and 43 percent of the female-earned doctorates in engineering. 

(Appendix table A-3c). 

In 2002, 2,644 doctorate recipients were citizens of the People’s Republic of China 

(PRC) 10, comprising 7 percent of the total number of degrees awarded to individuals who 

reported citizenship. (See table 12 for a listing of the top 30 countries of origin of non-U.S. 

citizen doctorate recipients.) The top 15 countries in terms of the number of doctorates awarded 

to its citizens in 2001 remained the same for 2002, though some changes in rankings occurred 

 

10 Includes Hong Kong.
20

within the top 15. The leading five countries (PRC, South Korea, India, Taiwan, and Canada) 

accounted for 16 percent of all doctorates awarded by U.S. universities to individuals of known 

citizenship in 2002. Only 7 percent of the total citizenship-known 2002 doctoral cohort were 

citizens of the next 10 nations listed in table 12, and just 3 percent were citizens of the next 15 

nations. Doctoral students who are citizens of one of the 30 nations shown in the table thus 

accounted for 26 percent of the doctorates awarded in 2002 with country of citizenship reported. 

 The twenty institutions awarding the largest numbers of doctorates to non-U.S. citizens in 

2002 are listed in table 13. For the second consecutive year, the University of Illinois at UrbanaChampaign followed by the Ohio State University awarded the largest numbers of doctorates to 

non-U.S. citizens. 

Doctorates by Parental Education Background 

Since 1963, the SED has asked new doctorate recipients to report their fathers’ and 

mothers’ levels of educational attainment. In keeping with past editions of the Summary Report, 

the responses are grouped into three categories: high school diploma or less; some college, 

including earning the baccalaureate; and advanced degree, including the master’s, doctorate, or a 

professional degree. The last section of the Summary Report this year is devoted to a more indepth examination of the new doctorate recipients who reported that neither of their parents 

earned a baccalaureate. 

The 2002 data shown in table 14 indicate that 29 percent of recipients’ fathers had only 

earned a high school diploma or less; the corresponding figure for their mothers was 38 percent. 

Slightly over one-third (36 percent) of doctorate recipients had a father who had attended college 

(but may not have earned a baccalaureate degree); 40 percent of the mothers of doctorate 

recipients in 2002 had some college background, including receiving the bachelor’s degree. 

Finally, the father held an advanced degree for 35 percent of the doctorate recipients, compared 

with the 22 percent whose mothers had an advanced degree. 

 Although similar on the whole, parental education backgrounds of male and female 2002 

doctorate recipients differed with respect to both fathers’ and mothers’ educations. Female 

doctorate recipients were slightly more likely than their male counterparts to have a father and a 

mother who attended college or who earned an advanced degree. 
21

 There is considerable variation in parental education attainment by race/ethnicity, 

citizenship status, and broad field of study. Among U.S. citizens, Asian doctorate recipients 

were more likely than members of the other racial/ethnic categories to come from families in 

which one or both parents had advanced degrees; black, Hispanic, and American Indian 

recipients’ parents were less likely to have gone beyond high school than whites and Asians. 

Doctorate recipients who were U.S. citizens were more likely than those with either permanent 

residency status or holding temporary visas to have parents with advanced degrees (and less 

likely than these two groups to have parents whose formal education did not extend beyond the 

high school level). 

 The distributions of parental education by the broad fields in table 14 reflect, in part, the 

different racial/ethnic and citizenship compositions of the fields. Doctorate recipients in the 

humanities displayed the highest percentages of both fathers (44 percent) and mothers (28 

percent) with advanced degrees. The lowest percentages of advanced degrees by fathers or 

mothers were within the education doctorate recipients, 23 percent and 13 percent, respectively. 

These two broad fields are also the least and most represented, correspondingly, with regard to 

the fraction of parents whose formal education ended at high school or before. 

Time to Degree 

 The amount of time needed to complete a doctorate is a key concern for those pursuing 

the degree, as well as for the faculties and administrations of the degree-granting institutions and 

national public agencies and private organizations that support doctoral study. Time to degree 

completion is likely to be affected by a number of factors, including individual preferences, 

economic constraints, labor markets for new doctorate recipients, cultures of the academic 

disciplines, and institution-specific program characteristics. 

 The SED measures time to degree in three different ways: (1) the total time elapsed from 

completion of the baccalaureate to completion of the doctorate, (2) the total time elapsed while in 

graduate school to completion of the doctorate, and (3) the age of the doctorate recipients at the 

time the doctorate is awarded. In this section, the 2002 data and the historical trends for each of 

these measures are reviewed for the whole population of doctorate recipients and, separately, by 

broad field and the background variables of sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship. 
22

 For the 2002 doctorate recipients, the median total time span from baccalaureate to 

doctorate was 10.2 years (table 15), near the time span for 2001. The total time span was 

shortest in the physical sciences (7.8 years) and longest in education (19.0 years). The broad 

field of education includes large numbers of individuals who have worked full-time before 

starting their graduate degree programs, and who even continue to work full-time while earning 

their doctorates. 

 The historical data in table 15 show that the 2002 median total time to degree was about 

five months shorter than in 1997. The long-term trend, however, had been one of increases in 

length from 1977 to 1997. (See figure 13 and table 15.) From 1997 to 2002, the broad fields of 

engineering, physical sciences, life sciences, humanities, education, and professional/other fields 

followed an overall pattern toward shorter times; but median time to degree for the social 

sciences remained the same from 1997 to 2002. 

Figure 13. Median number of years to doctorate from baccalaureate award 

and age at doctorate for selected years, 1977-2002 

33.7 34.1 33.7 32.6 33.3

31.7

7.3 7.4 7.5 6.7 7.0 6.2

10.2 10.5 10.6 10.6 9.7 8.9

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002

Academic year of doctorate

Years

Age at

doctorate

Graduate school

time to degree

Time to degree

since BA

See Table 15. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates

 The median duration of being in graduate school was 7.5 years for the 2002 doctorates 

(table 15), also nearly identical to the number for 2001. Graduate-school time to degree was 

shortest in the physical sciences (6.8 years) and engineering (6.7 years), and longest in the 

humanities (9.0 years) (table 15). The trend for time spent in graduate school is one of small but 

continual increases over the 25-year span from 1977 to 2002 in most of the seven broad fields, 

with some flattening in the past five years. (See figure 13 and table 15.) 
23

 The median time to degree indices vary somewhat by sex, citizenship, and race/ethnicity, 

however these differences are generally reflections of the broad field differences reviewed above 

(table 16). Across the whole population of new doctorate recipients, females had longer total 

and graduate-school times to degree than did males, but the sex differences are much smaller, or 

even reversed, when males and females are compared within specific broad fields (table 16). 

Similar patterns hold for comparisons of U.S. and non-U.S. citizens, and of the U.S. racial/ethnic 

groups, that is, the overall time-to-degree differences between the groups diminish or even 

disappear when comparisons are made within broad fields of study. (See table 16.) 

 A third measure of time to degree gathered in the SED is age at doctorate. The median 

ages of the 2002 doctorate recipients are tabulated in appendix tables A-3 by major field of 

degree and A-4 by citizenship and race/ethnicity. On the whole, the median age at receipt of the 

doctorate in 2002 was 33.3 years. Again, age at degree varies with field of study. Doctorate 

recipients in the S&E fields typically earn their degrees while in their early 30s; the median for 

all 2002 doctorate recipients in the S&E fields was 31.7 years old. In comparison, age at 

doctorate was 34.7 years in the humanities, 44.2 years in education, and 37.2 years in the 

professional/other fields category. (See appendix table A-3a and table 17). The modal age spans 

evident in figure 14 and table 17 reflect this ordering. 

Figure 14. Age distribution at doctorate by broad field of study, 2002 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

All fields Physical

sciences

Engineering Life

sciences

Social

sciences

Humanities Education Professional/

Other

Field of study

Percent

21-30

31-40

41 and over

See Table 17. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
24

Financial Resources in Support of Doctorate Recipients, 

Including Indebtedness 

Sources of Financial Support 

The SED asks two questions that, taken together, provide information on the financial 

sources of support utilized by the new doctorate recipients (for the exact formats and wordings, 

see the copy of the questionnaire in Appendix D). The first question asks respondents to 

complete a checklist of 13 different potential sources of support, such as fellowships and 

scholarships, dissertation grants, teaching and research assistantships, and various personal 

arrangements. The second question asks respondents which of the checked sources was the 

primary source of support and which was the second most important. Respondents are grouped 

in terms of their primary sources of support for purposes here. The 13 sources are combined into 

the seven categories that form the rows in table 18. 

Almost two-thirds of the 2002 doctorate recipients received the majority of their support 

for doctoral study from program- or institution-based sources, such as teaching assistantships, 

research assistantships/traineeships, and fellowships/dissertation grants (65 percent).11 Less than 

one-third (28 percent) of all 2002 doctorate recipients reported that their own resources (which 

include funds from savings, loans, one’s spouse and family, and non-academic employment) 

were the primary sources they utilized to finance their doctoral studies. Foreign government, 

employer contributions, and “other” sources accounted for the remaining 6 percent of the cases. 

(See figure 15 and table 18.) 

 

11 The Federal government and other governments tend to be the original sources of these funds. 
25

Figure 15. Primary sources of financial support for doctorate recipients 

by broad field of study, 2002 

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

All fields Physical

sciences

Engineering Life

sciences

Social

sciences

Humanities Education Professional/

other

Field of study

Percent

Teaching

Research

Fellowship

Own

Other

Table 18. 

Source: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates

Sources of support differ substantially by field of study. For example, within the physical 

sciences, a notably higher than average percentage of new doctorate recipients reported teaching/ 

research assistantships or fellowships as primary sources of support (89 percent). Within 

engineering, 82 percent of the research doctorate recipients in 2002 listed teaching/research 

assistantships or fellowships as their principal form of support, as did 79 percent of respondents 

in the life sciences. On the other hand, only 49 percent of doctorate recipients in the 

professional/other fields and 24 percent of those in the broad field of education reported these 

categories as the primary sources of financial support for their doctoral program. 

Overall, women were more likely to indicate that personal resources were their primary 

source of support than were men (37 percent versus 22 percent). The gender differences in 

sources of support are partly a reflection of gender differences in broad fields of specialization, 

and the field differences in sources of support. Nonetheless, within the broad fields of life 

sciences, social sciences, education, and professional/other fields, female doctorates were still 

more likely to depend on their own resources than male doctorates (table 18). 

Non-U.S. citizens tend to be more concentrated in fields where the majority of doctoral 

students receive institution- and/or program-based support. Mirroring this concentration, foreign 

citizens on permanent or temporary visas reported lower percentages of reliance on their own 
26

resources (20 percent and 9 percent, respectively) than did U.S. citizen respondents (36 percent). 

The source-of-support differences between U.S. and non-U.S. citizens were smaller within the 

broad fields of study than overall; however, U.S. citizens were still more likely to rely on their 

own resources than non-U.S. citizens, especially temporary residents, in all the broad fields 

(table 18). 

Differences in the various modes of financial support are also found among the main 

racial/ethnic groups. American Indian and black doctorate recipients indicated the greatest 

reliance on their own resources to finance their doctoral program (45 and 44 percent, 

respectively), followed in decreasing order by whites (36 percent), Hispanics (34 percent), and 

Asians (19 percent). (See table 18). Racial/ethnic differences in reliance on own resources also 

diminish within most of the broad fields of study. However, some substantial racial/ethnic 

differences within fields are found in terms of use of the different types of program- and 

institution-based support. In the physical sciences and engineering, Asians and whites were both 

more likely than blacks and Hispanics to rely on teaching or research assistantships and less 

likely to have fellowships or dissertation grants as their primary source of support. (See 

table 18). 

Levels of Education-Related Indebtedness 

The SED also asked new doctorate recipients to indicate the amount of money they owe 

that is directly tied to their undergraduate and graduate educations.12 This is defined as debt 

related to tuition and fees, living expenses and supplies, and transportation to and from school. 

Almost half (49 percent) of the respondents in 2002 reported having no graduate or 

undergraduate education-related debt, while another 19 percent reported cumulative debt of 

 

12 The response categories, in $5,000 increments, range from “none” to “$35,001 or more.” The format of this 

question was changed in 2001. The new format (relative to the 2000 SED questionnaire) asks for separate 

undergraduate and graduate levels of debt; the previous several years asked respondents only for the total amount of 

debt related to their postsecondary education. Also, the highest level of debt in the new form represents an increase 

of $5,000 over the old form, which was previously capped at “$30,001 or more.” In order to combine the 

undergraduate and graduate debt data into a single cumulative measure, the responses to each item were recoded to 

the midpoints of the various debt ranges, and the sum of the undergraduate and graduate levels of debt was recategorized into the discrete ranges, with the cap of “$35,001 or more” retained for the composite. See the special 

section on indebtedness in the Summary Report 1998 for more detail on debt levels and financial support for 

doctoral education. The report is available on the NORC Website 

(http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/issues/docdata.htm). 
27

$15,000 or less (table 19). However, 16 percent of all new doctorate recipients reported debt 

over $35,000, creating a distinct bulge at the high end of the debt distribution. 

Examining the debt distributions within each of the seven broad fields, the graduates 

most likely to complete their doctorate with no education-related debt were graduates in 

engineering, the physical sciences, education, the life sciences, and professional/other fields in 

that order (table 19). Graduates of the broad fields of social science and humanities were more 

likely to have debt. Debt levels of $35,000 or more were most common among graduates in 

social science fields (28 percent), the humanities (20 percent), and professional/other fields (20.6 

percent). 

Data separating graduate from undergraduate debt are shown in the lower two panels of 

table 19. These data show, first, that more debt is incurred during graduate school, and second, 

that the cumulative debt differences among the broad fields of doctoral study largely arise during 

graduate education. Overall, 74 percent of the 2002 doctoral cohort reported no undergraduate 

debt and only 1 percent reported undergraduate debt greater than $35,000. In contrast, 63 

percent reported no graduate school debts and 14 percent reported graduate debt greater than 

$35,000. The jump in levels of indebtedness between undergraduate and graduate school was 

particularly large for doctorate recipients in the social sciences, humanities, education, and 

professional/other broad fields. (See table 19.) 

The pattern of debt levels for the study’s main demographic groups is shown in table 20. 

Particularly noteworthy in the cumulative debt tabulations (first panel of the table) is the much 

higher incidence of blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians sustaining high levels of educationrelated debt. Over one-third (34 percent) of black doctorate recipients, 29 percent of American 

Indians, and 25 percent of Hispanics owed over $35,000; these figures compare to 11 percent of 

Asians and 17 percent of whites with that level of debt. On the other side of the scale, the 

racial/ethnic groups with a greater likelihood of having no education-related debt at completion 

of the doctorate were Asians (55 percent) and whites (44 percent). The lower panels of the table 

show that most of the racial/ethnic group indebtedness differences were tied to graduate school 

rather than the undergraduate years. Again, these are likely to be at least in part a function of the 

racial/ethnic differences in fields of doctorate study, which, as seen in table 19, were also 

correlated with indebtedness. 
28

Debt differences between the sexes are not large, with new male doctorates about two 

percent more likely to have no debt than their female counterparts (50 percent versus 48 percent). 

U.S. citizen doctorate recipients were less likely to have no higher-education-related debt than 

graduates with permanent or temporary visas (42 percent, versus 64 percent, and 68 percent, 

respectively), and more likely to have debts totaling over $35,000 (19 percent, versus 10 percent 

for both permanent and temporary visa holders). (See table 20.) 
29

 Postgraduate Plans, Employment, and Location 

The SED questionnaire includes a number of questions about the graduates’ immediate 

plans for work or further study.13 The responses provide a useful overview of the number of 

doctorate recipients planning to enter academic positions, government and industry, and 

postdoctoral programs of research and further study. Also, information is collected on the main 

types of work activities – research, teaching, administration, and professional services to 

individuals – that the graduates anticipate in their new positions. 

There are five aspects of postgraduation plans examined in this report. Examined first is 

whether the new doctorate recipient has a definite commitment for employment or a postdoctoral 

position. These data are analyzed by broad field of study, sex, citizenship, and race/ethnicity 

(tables 21 and 22). The second aspect is the distribution of graduates with definite commitments 

for career employment versus postdoctorate research and study programs. This distribution is 

also examined separately by broad field of study, sex, citizenship, and race/ethnicity as well as 

by visa status (tables 23 and 24). The third aspect looked at is the distribution of graduates 

across employment sectors, broken down by sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship status (table 25). 

The final aspects discussed are financial support for postdoctoral study (table 26), and 

anticipated location of postgraduate commitment (international versus U.S.) for non-U.S. citizens 

(tables 27 and 28). 

Definite versus Indefinite Plans 

Over seven in ten (73 percent) of all doctorate recipients in 2002 reported having definite 

commitments for employment or postdoctoral study or research. This is about the same as in 

2001, when 73 percent also reported having definite commitments, and is the highest percentage 

since 1989.14 The percentages with definite commitments in 2002 vary little by broad field with 

 

13 The items in the postgraduation plans section of the questionnaire are not classified as “critical items” which 

become the focus of missing data follow-ups. Thus, the response rates to the postgraduation plan items mirror the 

returns of the actual questionnaire (91 percent in 2002), minus a low, often negligible, rate of item nonresponse. For 

the 2002 SED cycle, the overall response rate for the first item, asking whether the respondent has definite plans for 

either career employment or study, was 91 percent. 

14 The annual numbers back to 1977 were assembled from table 21 and the analogous table from each of the 

previous four volumes of the Summary Report.
30

the noteworthy exception of the humanities, where 65 percent have a definite commitment. (See 

table 21.) 

The percentages of graduates from various demographic groups with definite 

commitments are shown in table 22. About three percent fewer women than men (71 percent 

compared to 74 percent) reported having definite plans. U.S. citizens were more likely to have 

definite commitments (74 percent) than individuals with permanent (65 percent) or temporary 

visas (71 percent). Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, whites and American Indians 

were more likely to have definite plans than blacks, Asians, and Hispanics. 

Career Employment versus Postdoctorates 

Among the doctoral recipients reporting definite plans, the majority (70 percent) 

indicated that they plan to enter career employment as opposed to pursuing further study within a 

postdoctoral research or teaching program (table 23). Nonetheless, the 31 percent planning on a 

postdoc represents the highest level ever recorded in the SED, edging up slightly from 29 in 

2001 and the previous record high of 30 percent in 1999. Plans for postdoctoral study were more 

common among graduates in the life sciences (60 percent) and the physical sciences (50 percent) 

than in the other broad fields. Although percentages of new doctorate recipients entering 

postdoctorate study programs have increased in all of the broad fields since 1982, a slight 

decrease is evident between 1997 and 2002 in the life sciences (table 23). 

Differences among demographic subgroups are shown in table 24. Men were more likely 

than women to have definite plans for postdoctorate study (33 versus 28 percent). The 

percentage of men pursuing postdoctoral study increased to a new all-time high in 2002. The 

percentage of women with definite plans for postdoctoral study in 2002 was slightly below the 

high point of 28 percent established in 2001. (See table 24 and, in the Summary Report 2001, 

table 25). 

Students with temporary visas were more likely than permanent residents and U.S. 

citizens to pursue postdoctorate studies (the student visa allows the student to remain in the U.S. 

for two years of additional training after completing the doctorate). Among U.S. citizens and 

permanent residents, Asian doctorate recipients were more likely than other racial/ethnic 

subgroups to plan postdoctorates, followed by white and Hispanic recipients. Black and 

American Indian doctorate recipients were least likely to plan postdoctorates. (See table 24.) 
31

These differences among citizenship and racial/ethnic subgroups reflect the greater number of 

postdoctorates in the physical and life sciences, and the greater concentrations of non-U.S. 

citizens and Asian-American students in those fields. (See appendix table A-4.) 

Employment Sectors in the United States 

The most common employment sector of the 2002 doctorate recipients with definite 

commitments within the United States was higher education, identified by over half (52 percent) 

of the 2002 respondent subpopulation. (See table 25.) The next largest group had commitments 

to industry or some form of self-employment (24 percent) while 7 percent planned to work for 

U.S. Federal, state, or local government. Sixteen percent of the 2002 doctorate recipients 

indicated a type of employment that did not correspond to these main sectors, and are grouped 

into the “other” category in table 25. These were a mix of employment in elementary and 

secondary education, non-profit organizations not affiliated with universities, foreign 

governments, and non-governmental organizations. The historical trends show reductions in 

government employment, coupled with small increases in the higher education and industry/selfemployment sectors. 

Among 2002 female doctorates, 16 percent had commitments to industry or some form of 

self-employment, compared to 32 percent of their male counterparts. Women were more likely 

than men to have commitments to academe (58 percent versus 48 percent). With regard to U.S. 

racial/ethnic groups, Asians were less likely than others to go into academe (35 percent) and 

were more likely than all others to go into industry or self-employment (51 percent). The main 

destination of non-U.S. citizens on temporary visas with definite plans to remain in the United 

States after graduation was industry or self-employment (53 percent). Permanent residents were 

most likely to have definite plans for employment in academe (46 percent), and, like those on 

temporary visas, were more likely than U.S. citizens to take employment in industry or selfemployment (40 percent versus 18 percent). 

Sources of Financial Support for Postdoctoral Appointments 

 The SED asked respondents with definite plans for further training or study (i.e., 

“postdocs”) in the year after graduation to indicate the main source of support for their 

postdoctoral appointment. In 2002, 42 percent of all postdocs named a college or university as 
32

their main source of funding, followed by 34 percent indicating the U.S. government.15 Private 

foundations supported another 6 percent, and other types of nonprofit organizations supported 3 

percent. (See table 26.) Over 9 percent indicated some other kind of support than those listed in 

the questionnaire; inspection of the descriptions written by these respondents reveals that many 

were planning on support from a foreign government. 

 Gender differences in sources of postdoctoral support were very small. (See table 26.) A 

number of differences in sources of support are apparent among U.S. citizens, permanent-visa 

holders, and temporary-visa holders. As might be expected, U.S. citizens were the most likely to 

have the U.S. government as their main source of postdoctoral support. But substantial numbers 

of non-U.S. citizens also received U.S. government support, though the percentages were 

generally lower in 2002 than in the other years shown in table 26. Non-U.S. citizens with 

postdoc appointments were more likely than U.S. citizens to have university or college funding 

as their main source of support. 

 The racial/ethnic breakdowns in table 26 show that Hispanics were less likely than other 

groups to have U.S. government funding in 2002, and that Hispanics and blacks were more likely 

than the other groups to have university or college support. The percentages of each racial/ethnic 

group reporting private foundation or other nonprofit organization funding differ little, with the 

notable exception that none of the 14 American Indian postdoctorates in 2002 had either as their 

main source of support. (See table 26). 

Postdoctoral Location of Non-U.S. Citizens

Among non-U.S. citizens with definite plans for work or study, 94 percent of all new 

doctorate recipients holding permanent visas and 71 percent of temporary visa holders indicated 

that they will remain in the United States following graduation (table 27). In 2002, chemistry, 

biology, and computer science were the fields with the highest concentrations of new doctorate 

recipients with temporary visas staying in the United States (87 percent, 84 percent, and 81 

percent, respectively). The lowest concentrations were located in the fields of education (34 

percent), social sciences (56 percent) and humanities (57 percent). (See table 27.) 

 

15 Some college or university support may come from federal funds, and this may not be clear to the SED 

respondents. 
33

The number of non-U.S. citizens earning research doctorates in the United States has 

increased over the past twenty years, as has the tendency for those students to remain in the 

United States following graduation. Table 28 shows the trend of increasing numbers and 

percentages of new doctorate recipients with temporary visas planning to stay in the United 

States after receiving their doctorate. In 1982, less than half (45 percent) of those with 

temporary visas had firm commitments to positions in the United States. A decade later, 59 

percent of them had firm commitments to stay in the United States; in 2002, the number had 

increased to 71 percent. 
34

Special Section: First-Generation College Graduates Earning 

Research Doctorates

The SED has collected information on the educational attainment of the doctorate 

recipients’ mothers and fathers since 1973. These data provide an interesting view on the socialeconomic backgrounds of the new doctorate recipients. A subset of particular interest consists of 

those whose parents did not complete a baccalaureate degree. These students are likely to have 

faced special challenges in the course of earning the doctorate, for their parents are likely to have 

lower incomes and perhaps less knowledge to share about how to negotiate college and graduate 

school. This section focuses on three general issues: (1) the extent to which first-generation 

college graduates are represented in the overall population and selected subpopulations of the 

new doctorate recipients, (2) the undergraduate origins of the first-generation college graduates 

who earned doctorates, and (3) the extent to which the first-generation college graduates face 

additional financial challenges within doctoral education. The section concludes with a review 

of the trend data on the variables examined in each of these three issue areas. 

First-Generation College Graduates in the Doctoral Population 

More than a third (37 percent) of the 2002 doctorate recipients reported that neither of 

their parents had received a bachelor’s degree or higher. (See table 29). While no substantial 

differences in representation of first-generation college graduates were found among males and 

females, large differences were apparent among the five primary racial/ethnic groups (U.S. 

citizens only). Specifically, black (56 percent), Hispanic (51 percent), and American Indian (57 

percent) doctorates were much more likely to be first-generation college graduates than their 

Asian (26 percent) and non-Hispanic white (32 percent) doctorate-earning counterparts. These 

differences reflect in part the different distributions of the racial/ethnic groups across broad fields 

of study, but additional tabulations (not presented here) show that the racial/ethnic differences 

largely remain within the broad fields of study. 

As noted earlier in this report, about 30 percent of the new doctorate recipients in 2002 

were non-U.S. citizens, and about 90 percent of the non-U.S. citizens earning doctorates were 

here on temporary visas. The numbers in table 29 show that the doctoral students on temporary 
35

visas were more likely (43 percent) than U.S. citizens (35 percent) and permanent visa holders 

(39 percent) to come from families where neither parent graduated from college. 

The parental education profiles of the doctorate recipients who were citizens of the 30 

nations with the largest numbers of 2002 graduates are shown in table 30. Considerable 

variation in the percentages of first-generation students is evident, ranging from highs of 81 

percent of the Saudi Arabian and 78 percent of the Malaysian doctorate recipients, to lows of 2 

percent of the Ukrainian, 6 percent of the Russian, and 14 percent of the Indian doctorate 

recipients. (See table 30.) 

 

First-Generation College Graduates in the Doctoral and Other Higher Education 

Populations 

How does the representation of first-generation college graduates in the 2002 doctoral 

population compare to the larger population from which the doctorate recipients are drawn? To 

put this number in some context requires drawing on external sources of information about 

ostensibly comparable non-doctoral populations. Since the population of new doctorates varies 

in terms of such key demographic variables as year they started graduate school, college 

graduation year, high school graduation year, year of birth, and years in United States, 

comparisons with external data on those populations should be regarded as rough 

approximations. 

One approach is to define comparison populations on the basis of the modal (most 

frequent) characteristics of the new doctorate population. For example, the modal year for 

receiving the bachelor’s degree for the doctoral class of 2002 was 1994, while the modal year for 

starting college was 1990 and the modal year of birth was 1970. Data from the 1993 National 

Center for Education Statistics’ survey of new baccalaureate recipients, the Baccalaureate and 

Beyond Longitudinal Study, provide the closest approximation to the 1994 bachelor’s degree 

cohort. These data show that 51 percent of that population came from families where neither 

parent completed college.16 Enlarging the comparative scope to those who first enrolled in any 

form of postsecondary education institution in 1990, data from the National Center for Education 

 

16 U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. Competing Choices: Men’s and Women’s 

Paths After Earning a Bachelor’s Degree, NCES 2001-154, by Michael S. Clune, Anne-Marie Nunez, and Susan P. 

Choy. Project Officer: C. Dennis Carroll. Washington, DC: 2001. The report is available online at 

http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2001/2001154.pdf. 
36

Statistics’ Beginning Postsecondary Student Longitudinal Study showed that 66 percent of that 

population had neither parent with a baccalaureate degree.17 Compared to the 37 percent of the 

doctoral population, these statistics suggest that first-generation college matriculators and 

graduates were less likely to go on to earn the doctorate than were college matriculators and 

graduates whose parents graduated from college. 

A shortcoming of selecting a comparison group on the basis of modal or average 

characteristics of the doctoral population is that these same characteristics may be affected by 

parental education levels. That is, if first-generation college graduates typically take more years 

than average to complete the doctorate, then the actual percentage of the college-graduation class 

of 1993 who ultimately earn the doctorate would be somewhat higher than 37 percent, and the 

difference in the composition of the college cohort and the subset that ultimately earns a 

doctorate would be commensurately less. But the main point, that first-generation college 

graduates are underrepresented in the most recent population of new doctorates relative to their 

representation in the college-graduate population would not be changed on that account. 

Doctoral Fields of Specialization of First-Generation College Graduates

While first-generation college graduates are underrepresented in the 2002 doctoral cohort 

compared to the larger populations of bachelor recipients and beginning postsecondary students, 

those who did complete the doctorate were generally well-represented in all seven broad fields of 

doctoral study (table 31). Compared to doctorate recipients with higher levels of parental 

education, the first-generation graduates were over-represented in education (23 percent 

compared to 14 and 9 percent of the higher-parent education doctorate recipients) and 

underrepresented in humanities and, to a lesser extent, social sciences and physical sciences. 

First-generation college graduates were about as likely as those with higher levels of parental 

education to earn their doctorates in engineering (13 percent) and life sciences (20 percent). (See 

table 31.) 

 

17 U.S. Department of Education. National Center for Education Statistics. First-Generation Students: 

Undergraduates Whose Parents Never Enrolled in Postsecondary Education, NCES 98-082, by Anne-Marie Nunez 

and Stephanie Cuccaro-Alamin. Project Officer: C. Dennis Carroll. Washington, DC: 1998. The report is available 

online at http://nces.ed.gov/pubs98/98082.pdf. 
37

Undergraduate Origins of First-Generation College Graduates 

How do the paths to the doctorate followed by first-generation college graduates compare 

with other students? The SED collects data on the undergraduate institutions attended by the 

doctorate recipients, and the institutions can be classified in a variety of ways.18 One variable of 

interest is community college attendance. One important goal of these institutions is to provide 

access to higher education for subpopulations lacking the financial resources to attend 4-year 

colleges and universities, particularly those located outside of commuting distance. Overall, 

about 10 percent of the 2002 doctorate recipients reported having attended a two-year 

community college.19 As table 32 shows, first-generation respondents were more likely than the 

other groups to report community college attendance at some point in their undergraduate careers 

(15 percent compared to 10 percent of those with one college-graduate parent, and 5 percent of 

those with both college-graduate parents). 

Another way to classify undergraduate institutions is provided by the widely-used 

Carnegie system (see http://www.carnegiefoundation.org/Classification/ for the full taxonomy). 

The breakdown in table 32 identifies the six Carnegie classes of BA-granting institutions from 

which almost all of the new doctorate recipients who earned the baccalaureate in the U.S. 

graduated: 

• Doctorate-granting Institutions 

8 Doctoral/Research Universities—Extensive: These institutions typically offer a 

wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate 

education through the doctorate. In the 2000 Carnegie report, they awarded 50 or 

more doctoral degrees per year across at least 15 disciplines.

8 Doctoral/Research Universities—Intensive: These institutions typically offer a 

wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are committed to graduate 

education through the doctorate. In the 2000 Carnegie report, they awarded at 

least 10 doctoral degrees per year across three or more disciplines, or at least 20 

doctoral degrees per year overall. 

• Master's Colleges and Universities (Carnegie classes I and II combined): These 

institutions typically offer a wide range of baccalaureate programs, and they are 

committed to graduate education through the master's degree. In the 2000 Carnegie 

report, they awarded 20 or more master's degrees per year. 

 

18 These tabulations are restricted to the 2002 doctorate recipients who were U.S. citizens, because the information 

collected on the types of undergraduate institutions is confined to U.S. institutions. 

 

19 The SED records whether or not each respondent indicates enrollment in a U.S. community college, but does not 

collect information on how long the individual was enrolled or whether an associate or other two-year degree or 

certificate was earned. 
38

• Baccalaureate Colleges 

8 Baccalaureate Colleges—Liberal Arts: These institutions are primarily 

undergraduate colleges with major emphasis on baccalaureate programs. In the 

2000 Carnegie report, they awarded at least half of their baccalaureate degrees in 

liberal arts fields. 

8 Baccalaureate Colleges—General: These institutions are primarily undergraduate 

colleges with major emphasis on baccalaureate programs. In the 2000 Carnegie 

report, they awarded less than half of their baccalaureate degrees in liberal arts 

fields. 

• Other institutions. These include a diverse array of specialized religious and technical 

institutions that grant baccalaureates. 

 

These breakdowns show that the first-generation college graduate contingent of the 2002 

doctorate recipients were much less likely than those with higher parent education backgrounds 

to earn their bachelor’s degree from an “extensive” doctoral institution or from a liberal arts 

college. On the other hand, the first-generation graduates were much more likely to have earned 

their bachelor’s degree from an institution in the category of “master’s college or university.” 

Also shown in table 32 is a breakdown, for African-American doctorate recipients only, 

of whether the doctorate recipient earned a bachelor’s degree from a “historically black college 

or university” (HBCU), by parent education background. Overall, about 28 percent of the 

African-American doctorate recipients reported earning their BA/BS degree from an HBCU 

institution. There is no indication in table 32, however, that African-American first-generation 

college graduates were substantially more likely to have been HBCU undergraduates than blacks 

whose parents were college graduates. 

Sources of Support, Educational Debt, and Time to Degree 

The SED has collected information since 1977 on the new doctorate recipients’ primary 

sources of financial support and, since 1987, on levels of educational debt. The breakdowns in 

table 33 show that the 2002 doctorate recipients who were first-generation college graduates 

were more likely than other graduates to identify their own resources20 as their primary source of 

support (34 versus 29 and 22 percent). First-generation college graduates were less likely than 

 

20 “Own resources” include funds from savings, loans, one’s spouse and family, and employment other than in a 

graduate teaching or research assistantship. 
39

other doctorate recipients to count grants and fellowships as their primary source of support (17 

versus 20 and 27 percent). 

The debt distributions in table 33 indicate that the 2002 first-generation college graduates 

were very similar to those with one college-graduate parent, but that both of these groups were 

more likely than those with two college-graduate parents to report high levels of education debt. 

About 22 percent of the first-generation college graduates reported more than $30,000 of debt, 

compared with 21 and 16 percent of those with one college-graduate parent and both collegegraduated parents. 

Financial constraints may contribute to first-generation college graduates reporting 

somewhat longer registered time-to-degree totals than the other doctorate recipients. The median 

number of registered years for the first-generation group was 8.0 years, compared to 7.5 and 7.3 

years for the other parent-education groups. (See table 33). 

The availability of institutional support, the average level of debt incurred, and median 

registered time to degree all vary by field of doctoral study. A comparison of the new doctorates 

in each broad field from the three parental education categories on the source of support, debt, 

and time-to-degree variables is shown in table 34. These figures show that within all broad 

fields except for engineering and physical science, first-generation college graduates were more 

likely than others, particularly those with both parents having a bachelor’s degree, to indicate 

that their primary source of support was their own resources. However, the differences among 

the three parental education groups within the broad fields were generally less than in the 

doctorate population as a whole. 

The debt differences between the first-generation college graduates and the other parental 

education groups within most fields were also comparable to the differences in the population as 

a whole. For example, about 13 percent of the first-generation college graduates in the physical 

sciences had $30,001 or more debt, compared to 13 percent of those with one college-graduate 

parent and 7 percent of the two college-graduate parents group. In education, where firstgeneration college graduates were most prevalent, the first-generation college graduates were 

about as likely as those with one or two college-graduate parents to have high education debt. 

The median years of registered time-to-degree shown in table 34 show that the overall 

pattern of first-generation college graduates taking longer to complete the doctorate than nonfirst generation individuals holds within all of the broad fields of study as well. The time-to-
40

degree differences between the parental education groups were slightly lower in the S&E fields 

than overall, and slightly greater in humanities and education. 

 The percentage of 2002 U.S. citizen doctorate recipients reporting cumulative levels of 

debt greater than $30,000 is broken down by parental education, doctoral field of study, and 

race/ethnicity in table 35.21 As was seen in table 20, African-Americans and Hispanics were 

more likely than Asians and non-Hispanic whites to complete graduate school with high levels of 

education-related debt. The likelihood of having high debt is also related to field of study and 

parental education background, and it is interesting to see whether the racial/ethnic differences 

held within the more fine-grained subpopulations defined by the cross-classification of these 

variables. The results in table 35 indicate that first-generation black doctorate recipients were 

more likely than Asians and whites to have high debt levels in all broad fields except the 

professional/other group. Similar race/ethnic debt disparities were found among those with one 

BA parent, but the differences were smaller in several broad fields among those with both BA 

parents. 

Trends in Representation of First-Generation College Graduates 

The SED has consistently measured and collected most of the variables examined thus far 

since the mid-1970s. Five-year snapshots of the proportions of selected subpopulation are 

presented in table 36, beginning with the 1977 doctoral cohort. The first row indicates a 

consistent decline in the percentage of new doctorates who are first generation college graduates, 

falling from a high of about 60 percent in 1977 to the current level of about 37 percent. The 

reason for the decline is at least in part due to the general increase in college graduation in the 

parent population. 

In any case, similar patterns of decline are apparent for all subpopulations shown in table 

36, but with some interesting variations within the general pattern. The sex differences in 

particular show that females were much less likely than males to be first-generation college 

graduates in 1977 (53 percent of females versus 62 percent of males), and that the difference has 

diminished to about 2 percent in 1997 and 2002. 

 

21 Table 35 is restricted to U.S. citizens because the race/ethnicity classification is not as applicable to non-U.S. 

citizens. The total numbers in table 35 thus do not match those in table 34, which included U.S. and non-U.S. 

citizens. 
41

Summary and Conclusions 

This section has shown that first-generation college graduates represent a large 

proportion – 37 percent -- of the 2002 doctorate recipients. While they are particularly wellrepresented in the field of education, these individuals make up 32-36 percent of new doctorate 

recipients in each of the broad fields of S&E doctoral programs. African-American, Hispanic, 

and American Indian doctorate recipients are more likely to be first-generation college graduates 

than non-Hispanic whites and Asians. 

While first-generation college graduates were a substantial fraction of the 2002 cohort of 

research doctorates, comparisons with larger populations of college graduates and beginning 

postsecondary students suggest that first-generation students represent a much smaller fraction of 

the doctorate recipients than they do of college entrants or college graduates. 

First-generation college graduates appear to have faced greater challenges in terms of 

financing doctorate education, reporting higher rates of relying on their own financial resources 

and incurring higher levels of debt. These individuals also attended graduate school for about a 

half year longer than their counterparts from more highly-educated parental backgrounds, and 

may have foregone more income in earning their doctorates. 

These indications of lower representation than comparable groups in the larger 

population, and of greater financial burdens in completing the doctorate, point to the importance 

of further research on first-generation college graduates’ access to and completion of doctoral 

education. The SED data show that the percentage of first-generation college graduates among 

the 2002 doctoral cohort was a historic low, continuing a steady pattern of declining 

representation since at least 1977. This pattern is of course consistent with declines in the 

proportion of individuals in the general population with neither parent being a college graduate, 

and the historical SED data can be a useful complement to further efforts to understand the 

current situation. 
42
43

MAIN DATA TABLES
44

TABLE 1. Number of doctorates awarded and annual percentage change in doctorates awarded by 

U.S. colleges and universities, 1957–2002

Year 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients 

Annual 

percentage 

change from 

previous year Year 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients 

Annual 

percentage 

change from 

previous year 

1957 8,611 1.1 1980 31,020 -0.7 

1958 8,773 1.9 1981 31,356 1.1 

1959 9,213 5.0 1982 31,110 -0.8 

1960 9,733 5.6 1983 31,281 0.5 

1961 10,413 7.0 1984 31,336 0.2 

1962 11,500 10.4 1985 31,296 -0.1 

1963 12,728 10.7 1986 31,901 1.9 

1964 14,325 12.5 1987 32,370 1.5 

1965 16,340 14.1 1988 33,500 3.5 

1966 17,949 9.8 1989 34,327 2.5 

1967 20,403 13.7 1990 36,068 5.1 

1968 22,937 12.4 1991 37,532 4.1 

1969 25,743 12.2 1992 38,889 3.6 

1970 29,498 14.6 1993 39,800 2.3 

1971 31,867 8.0 1994 41,033 3.1 

1972 33,041 3.7 1995 41,748 1.7 

1973 33,755 2.2 1996 42,436 1.6 

1974 33,047 -2.1 1997 42,556 0.3 

1975 32,952 -0.3 1998 42,652 0.2 

1976 32,946 -0.0 1999 41,098 -3.6 

1977 31,716 -3.7 2000 41,356 0.6 

1978 30,875 -2.7 2001 40,790 -1.4 

1979 31,239 1.2 2002 39,955 -2.0 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
45

TABLE 2. Number of U.S. colleges and universities awarding doctorates and average doctorate 

recipients per institution, 1962–2002

Year 

Number of 

doctorate recipients 

Number of 

institutions 

Mean number of 

doctorate recipients 

per institution 

Median number of 

doctorate recipients 

per institution 

1962 11,500 174 66 26.0 

1963 12,728 185 69 27.0 

1964 14,325 195 73 27.0 

1965 16,340 204 80 33.0 

1966 17,949 215 83 32.0 

1967 20,403 219 93 40.0 

1968 22,937 229 100 43.0 

1969 25,743 231 111 52.0 

1970 29,498 240 123 55.0 

1971 31,867 260 123 48.5 

1972 33,041 267 124 52.0 

1973 33,755 286 118 42.0 

1974 33,047 292 113 39.5 

1975 32,952 292 113 43.5 

1976 32,946 294 112 43.5 

1977 31,716 304 104 41.0 

1978 30,875 311 99 36.0 

1979 31,239 311 100 40.0 

1980 31,020 320 97 37.0 

1981 31,356 323 97 41.0 

1982 31,110 328 95 35.0 

1983 31,281 332 94 37.0 

1984 31,336 331 95 39.0 

1985 31,296 337 93 36.0 

1986 31,901 340 94 36.0 

1987 32,370 349 93 38.0 

1988 33,500 351 95 36.0 

1989 34,327 356 96 36.0 

1990 36,068 354 102 42.5 

1991 37,532 364 103 38.5 

1992 38,889 367 106 42.0 

1993 39,800 372 107 42.5 

1994 41,033 374 110 43.0 

1995 41,748 382 109 43.0 

1996 42,436 390 109 44.0 

1997 42,556 383 111 45.0 

1998 42,652 388 110 43.5 

1999 41,098 396 104 41.5 

2000 41,356 408 101 40.0 

2001 40,790 416 98 37.0 

2002 39,955 413 97 38.0 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
46

TABLE 3. Top 20 doctorate-granting institutions by broad field of doctorate, 2002

Institution 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients Institution 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients 

All fields 39,955 Physical sciences a 5,715 

U. CA Berkeley 799 U. CA Berkeley 157 

U. WI-Madison 649 MA Institute of Technology 127 

U. CA Los Angeles 642 Stanford U. 118 

U. TX at Austin, The 637 U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 114 

OH State U.-Main Campus, The 616 U. TX at Austin, The 104 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 607 U. WI-Madison 102 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 603 U. CA Los Angeles 92 

U. MN-Twin Cities 565 U. MI-Ann Arbor 90 

Harvard U. 552 Harvard U. 87 

Nova Southeastern U. 541 U. MD-College Park 87 

PA State U.-Main Campus 539 TX A&M U. 82 

Stanford U. 526 Purdue U.-Main Campus 81 

MA Institute of Technology 501 OH State U.-Main Campus, The 79 

TX A&M U. 470 PA State U.-Main Campus 79 

U. WA-Seattle Campus 455 U. AZ 76 

U. MD-College Park 436 U. WA-Seattle Campus 74 

MI State U. 431 U. MN-Twin Cities 73 

U. FL 426 CA Institute of Technology 71 

U. Southern CA 413 MI State U. 70 

Purdue U.-Main Campus 412 U. NC at Chapel Hill 70 

 

Engineering 5,073 Life sciences 8,350 

MA Institute of Technology 214 Johns Hopkins U. 187 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 173 U. WI-Madison 171 

GA Institute of Technology-Main Campus 167 U. CA Los Angeles 146 

Stanford U. 156 U. WA-Seattle Campus 144 

U. CA Berkeley 148 Harvard U. 142 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 137 OH State U.-Main Campus, The 142 

U. TX at Austin, The 134 Cornell U.-Endowed Colleges 131 

Purdue U.-Main Campus 121 U. CA Davis 131 

PA State U.-Main Campus 119 U. CA Berkeley 126 

TX A&M U. 114 U. NC at Chapel Hill 126 

OH State U.-Main Campus, The 92 U. GA 123 

U. FL 89 U. MN-Twin Cities 123 

VA Polytechnic Institute and State U. 88 PA State U.-Main Campus 120 

U. CA Los Angeles 82 U. FL 119 

NC State U. at Raleigh 81 U. MI-Ann Arbor 108 

U. WA-Seattle Campus 80 U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 104 

U. MD-College Park 79 MI State U. 100 

U. MN-Twin Cities 79 TX A&M U. 94 

Carnegie Mellon U. 78 U. Pittsburgh-Main Campus 91 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 78 U. AL at Birmingham 90 

 U. AZ 90 

 

Social sciences 6,611 Humanities 5,373 

U. CA Berkeley 151 U. CA Berkeley 141 

U. CA Los Angeles 98 U. CA Los Angeles 125 

Harvard U. 95 New York U. 117 

CUNY Graduate School and U. Center 94 Harvard U. 115 

MI State U. 90 U. Chicago, The 115 

U. Chicago 90 U. WI-Madison 112 

OH State U.-Main Campus, The 89 IN U.-Bloomington 111 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 89 U. TX at Austin, The 111 

New York U. 86 Columbia U. in The City of New York 108 

U. MN-Twin Cities 86 U. MI-Ann Arbor 94 

U. WI-Madison 84 Yale U. 90 

U. MD-College Park 82 OH State U.-Main Campus, The 84 

U. TX at Austin, The 80 U. MN-Twin Cities 83 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 80 U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 78 

U. PA 73 Princeton U. 77 

U. GA 70 Rutgers U.-New Brunswick 74 

PA State U.-Main Campus 69 Stanford U. 74 

SUNY at Albany 67 U. Iowa 73 

U. NC at Chapel Hill 67 CUNY Graduate School and University Center 69 

Columbia U. In The City of New York 64 U. MD-College Park 68 

 U. PA 68 

a Includes mathematics and computer sciences 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
47

TABLE 3. Top 20 doctorate-granting institutions by broad field of doctorate, 2002, continued 

Institution 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients Institution 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients 

Education 6,488 Professional/other Fields 2,345 

Nova Southeastern U. 409 Nova Southeastern U. 66 

Argosy U.-Sarasota Campus 121 U. TX at Austin, The 45 

Loyola U. Chicago 113 New York U. 44 

Teachers College at Columbia U. 112 U. Southern CA 41 

U. Southern CA 103 Argosy U.-Sarasota Campus 36 

OH State U.-Main Campus, The 101 U. CA Berkeley 35 

U. TX at Austin, The 94 U. MN-Twin Cities 35 

PA State U.-Main Campus 91 U. PA 35 

U. MN-Twin Cities 86 U. GA 34 

U. VA-Main Campus 85 Columbia U. in The City of New York 33 

TX A&M U. 83 MA Institute of Technology 33 

U. CA Los Angeles 83 Northwestern U. 32 

AZ State U.-Main Campus 82 VA Polytechnic Institute and State U. 32 

U. GA 81 Fielding Graduate Institute 31 

Harvard U. 76 MI State U. 31 

U. WI-Madison 76 U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 31 

Northern IL U. 73 Harvard U. 30 

IN U.-Bloomington 69 IN U.-Bloomington 30 

OK State U.-Main Campus 66 OH State U.-Main Campus, The 29 

VA Polytechnic Institute and State U. 66 U. NC at Chapel Hill 29 
48

TABLE 4. Number of doctorate recipients by state, including 

the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, 2002

Rank State 

Number of 

doctorate recipients 

 1. California 4,742 

 2. New York 3,373 

 3. Texas 2,429 

 4. Massachusetts 2,126 

 5. Illinois 2,110 

 6. Pennsylvania 2,000 

 7. Florida 1,948 

 8. Ohio 1,625 

 9. Michigan 1,445 

 10. North Carolina 1,073 

 11. Georgia 1,037 

 12. Virginia 1,007 

 13. Maryland 973 

 14. Indiana 970 

 15. Wisconsin 848 

 16. New Jersey 846 

 17. Minnesota 727 

 18. Arizona 714 

19. Missouri 681 [ 19. Tennessee 681 

 21. Colorado 668 

 22. Washington 651 

 23. Iowa 576 

 24. Connecticut 539 

 25. Louisiana 528 

 26. Alabama 480 

 27. District of Columbia 463 

 28. South Carolina 417 

 29. Kansas 410 

 30. Oklahoma 374 

 31. Oregon 359 

 32. Utah 355 

 33. Kentucky 341 

 34. Mississippi 334 

 35. New Mexico 277 

 36. Nebraska 259 

 37. Rhode Island 231 

 38. Delaware 158 

 39. Arkansas 152 

 40. West Virginia 147 

 41. Puerto Rico 114 

 42. Nevada 107 

 43. Hawaii 105 

 44. New Hampshire 97 

 45. Idaho 89 

 46. Montana 74 

 47. South Dakota 72 

 48. Vermont 57 

 49. Wyoming 55 

 50. North Dakota 54 

 51. Maine 38 

 52. Alaska 19 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of 

Earned Doctorates. 
49

TABLE 5. Major field of doctorate recipients for selected years, 1972–2002

Field of study 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 

All fields 33,041 31,716 31,110 32,370 38,889 42,556 39,955 

Physical sciences a 5,538 4,379 4,291 5,030 6,501 6,679 5,715 

Engineering 3,503 2,643 2,646 3,712 5,438 6,118 5,073 

Life sciences 5,084 4,923 5,709 5,754 7,115 8,326 8,350 

Social sciences 5,467 6,070 5,837 5,790 6,216 7,045 6,611 

Humanities 5,055 4,562 3,561 3,500 4,444 5,435 5,373 

Education 7,085 7,455 7,251 6,454 6,677 6,580 6,488 

Professional/other fields 1,309 1,684 1,815 2,130 2,498 2,373 2,345 

Physical sciences 

Physics & astronomy 1,634 1,150 1,014 1,237 1,537 1,599 1,268 

Chemistry 2,019 1,571 1,680 1,975 2,213 2,148 1,922 

Earth, atmospheric, & marine sciences 604 694 657 628 824 900 797 

Mathematics 1,281 964 720 740 1,058 1,123 917 

Computer science b ---- ---- 220 450 869 909 811 

Engineering 3,503 2,643 2,646 3,712 5,438 6,118 5,073 

Life sciences 

Biological sciences 3,600 3,484 3,893 3,839 4,799 5,789 5,680 

Health sciences 467 511 686 800 1,112 1,421 1,659 

Agricultural sciences 1,017 928 1,130 1,115 1,204 1,116 1,011 

Social sciences 

Psychology 2,279 2,990 3,159 3,173 3,263 3,561 3,199 

Anthropology 260 385 333 352 320 434 495 

Economics 893 837 761 821 910 1,030 903 

Political science/international relations 911 710 536 486 589 753 688 

Sociology 639 725 568 423 495 577 545 

Other social sciences 485 423 480 535 639 690 781 

Humanities 

History 1,186 961 692 586 724 966 1,030 

English language & literature 1,370 1,076 770 668 903 1,094 968 

Foreign language & literature 812 728 490 444 562 652 623 

Other humanities 1,687 1,797 1,609 1,802 2,255 2,723 2,752 

Education 

Teacher education 663 502 588 447 407 290 262 

Teaching fields 1,705 1,439 1,333 1,065 1,008 919 684 

Other education 4,717 5,514 5,330 4,942 5,262 5,371 5,542 

Professional/other 

Business & management 765 671 685 981 1,248 1,244 1,095 

Communications 166 302 265 309 330 332 399 

Other professional fields 270 687 841 778 880 773 801 

Other fields 108 24 24 62 40 24 50 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

b Computer sciences first appeared on the survey form in 1978. 

Dashes (-----) indicate that the field was not on the questionnaire's Specialties List that year. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
50

TABLE 6. Number of doctorate recipients and percent female, by selected subfield, 1992 and 2002

 1992a 2002b

Field of study 

Number 

of doctorate 

recipients 

Percent doctorate 

recipients 

to females 

Number 

of doctorate 

recipients 

Percent doctorate 

recipients 

to females 

Change in percent 

to females, 

1992-2002

All fields 38,670 37.3 39,884 45.4 21.7 

Physical sciences 6,456 19.9 5,705 26.9 35.3 

Physics & astronomy 1,526 12.2 1,267 16.3 33.4 

Chemistry 2,199 26.3 1,921 33.6 27.7 

Earth, atmospheric, & marine sciences 818 23.6 795 31.4 33.3 

Mathematics 1,046 19.6 914 28.9 47.4 

Computer science 867 13.8 808 20.8 50.2 

Engineering 5,366 9.4 5,060 17.5 85.9 

Life sciences 7,084 39.6 8,345 47.7 20.5 

Biological sciences 4,783 38.3 5,679 44.7 16.8 

Health sciences 1,104 64.3 1,658 68.2 6.0 

Agricultural sciences 1,197 21.8 1,008 30.8 41.0 

Social sciences 6,190 47.9 6,599 55.3 15.5 

Psychology 3,256 59.2 3,195 66.8 12.9 

Anthropology 318 48.7 495 58.4 19.8 

Economics 900 21.2 898 27.7 30.7 

Political science/international relations 586 28.3 687 41.6 47.0 

Sociology 495 49.5 545 61.1 23.4 

Other social sciences 635 43.9 779 46.1 4.9 

Humanities 4,427 46.6 5,365 50.4 8.1 

History 722 34.3 1,029 39.9 16.3 

English language & literature 902 57.3 967 58.9 2.8 

Foreign language & literature 562 59.4 621 60.4 1.6 

Other humanities 2,241 43.0 2,748 49.0 13.9 

Education 6,664 59.7 6,476 66.2 11.0 

Teacher education 407 69.8 261 69.7 -0.1 

Teaching fields 1,006 58.8 680 63.8 8.5 

Other education 5,251 59.0 5,535 66.3 12.4 

Professional/other 2,483 33.9 2,334 46.4 36.8 

Business & management 1,239 24.3 1,089 38.2 57.2 

Communications 329 47.7 399 58.6 22.9 

Other professional fields 875 41.6 797 50.3 20.9 

Other fields 40 50.0 49 65.3 30.6 a 1992 field total excludes 219 Individuals for whom sex was not reported. b 2002 field total excludes 71 Individuals for whom sex was not reported. 

See Appendix Table A-1. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
51

TABLE 7. Number and percent of doctorate recipients by sex within broad field of study for selected years, 1972–2002 

 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992a 1997b 2002c

Field of study N % N % N % N % N % N % N % 

All fields 33,041 100.0 31,716 100.0 31,110 100.0 32,370 100.0 38,670 100.0 42,197 100.0 39,884 100.0 

Male 27,754 84.0 23,858 75.2 21,017 67.6 20,938 64.7 24,234 62.7 24,950 59.1 21,760 54.6 

Female 5,287 16.0 7,858 24.8 10,093 32.4 11,432 35.3 14,436 37.3 17,247 40.9 18,124 45.4 

Physical sciences d 5,538 100.0 4,379 100.0 4,291 100.0 5,030 100.0 6,456 100.0 6,624 100.0 5,705 100.0 

Male 5,171 93.4 3,949 90.2 3,715 86.6 4,200 83.5 5,173 80.1 5,150 77.7 4,171 73.1 

Female 367 6.6 430 9.8 576 13.4 830 16.5 1,283 19.9 1,474 22.3 1,534 26.9 

Engineering 3,503 100.0 2,643 100.0 2,646 100.0 3,712 100.0 5,366 100.0 6,069 100.0 5,060 100.0 

Male 3,481 99.4 2,569 97.2 2,522 95.3 3,470 93.5 4,860 90.6 5,319 87.6 4,173 82.5 

Female 22 0.6 74 2.8 124 4.7 242 6.5 506 9.4 750 12.4 887 17.5 

Life sciences 5,084 100.0 4,923 100.0 5,709 100.0 5,754 100.0 7,084 100.0 8,271 100.0 8,345 100.0 

Male 4,311 84.8 3,894 79.1 4,073 71.3 3,724 64.7 4,282 60.4 4,546 55.0 4,366 52.3 

Female 773 15.2 1,029 20.9 1,636 28.7 2,030 35.3 2,802 39.6 3,725 45.0 3,979 47.7 

Social sciences 5,467 100.0 6,070 100.0 5,837 100.0 5,790 100.0 6,190 100.0 6,975 100.0 6,599 100.0 

Male 4,441 81.2 4,346 71.6 3,679 63.0 3,296 56.9 3,226 52.1 3,298 47.3 2,948 44.7 

Female 1,026 18.8 1,724 28.4 2,158 37.0 2,494 43.1 2,964 47.9 3,677 52.7 3,651 55.3 

Humanities 5,055 100.0 4,562 100.0 3,561 100.0 3,500 100.0 4,427 100.0 5,396 100.0 5,365 100.0 

Male 3,755 74.3 2,903 63.6 2,051 57.6 1,929 55.1 2,364 53.4 2,799 51.9 2,663 49.6 

Female 1,300 25.7 1,659 36.4 1,510 42.4 1,571 44.9 2,063 46.6 2,597 48.1 2,702 50.4 

Education 7,085 100.0 7,455 100.0 7,251 100.0 6,454 100.0 6,664 100.0 6,520 100.0 6,476 100.0 

Male 5,439 76.8 4,870 65.3 3,712 51.2 2,897 44.9 2,688 40.3 2,396 36.7 2,188 33.8 

Female 1,646 23.2 2,585 34.7 3,539 48.8 3,557 55.1 3,976 59.7 4,124 63.3 4,288 66.2 

Prof/other fields 1,309 100.0 1,684 100.0 1,815 100.0 2,130 100.0 2,483 100.0 2,342 100.0 2,334 100.0 

Male 1,156 88.3 1,327 78.8 1,265 69.7 1,422 66.8 1,641 66.1 1,443 61.6 1,252 53.6 

Female 153 11.7 357 21.2 550 30.3 708 33.2 842 33.9 904 38.6 1,084 46.4 a Group total for 1992 excludes 219 individuals of unknown sex. b Group total for 1997 excludes 359 individuals of unknown sex. c Group total for 2002 excludes 71 individuals of unknown sex. d Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
52

TABLE 8. Number of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, by race/ethnicity within broad field for 

selected years, 1982–2002

Field of study by race/ethnicity 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 

All fields 24,435 22,984 26,009 28,160 25,936 

Known race/ethnicity 23,835 22,514 25,661 27,074 25,450 

Asian b 454 541 839 1,296 1,364 

Black 1,053 768 966 1,335 1,644 

Hispanic 537 617 778 1,063 1,233 

American Indian c 77 115 149 167 146 

White 21,714 20,464 22,903 23,181 20,720 

Other d 0 9 26 32 343 

Physical sciences a 3,121 3,093 3,538 3,628 2,997 

Known race/ethnicity 3,029 3,000 3,475 3,485 2,941 

Asian b 81 104 178 242 200 

Black 30 29 34 59 94 

Hispanic 34 64 88 106 93 

American Indian c 5 10 17 14 11 

White 2,879 2,793 3,155 3,060 2,504 

Other d 0 0 3 4 39 

Engineering 1,172 1,558 2,109 2,739 1,890 

Known race/ethnicity 1,125 1,509 2,065 2,625 1,832 

Asian b 72 135 213 290 248 

Black 10 12 32 83 77 

Hispanic 23 24 57 82 86 

American Indian c 3 7 11 17 7 

White 1,017 1,331 1,749 2,151 1,392 

Other d 0 0 3 2 22 

Life sciences 4,619 4,242 4,708 5,161 5,328 

Known race/ethnicity 4,484 4,154 4,643 5,018 5,244 

Asian b 112 145 179 313 439 

Black 69 78 88 168 187 

Hispanic 62 77 114 175 203 

American Indian c 12 16 19 18 17 

White 4,229 3,837 4,241 4,339 4,336 

Other d 0 1 2 5 62 

Social sciences 4,813 4,402 4,672 5,220 4,901 

Known race/ethnicity 4,701 4,322 4,609 4,992 4,811 

Asian b 68 75 97 184 194 

Black 194 136 183 255 315 

Hispanic 115 146 175 232 281 

American Indian c 20 22 26 30 32 

White 4,304 3,942 4,120 4,282 3,923 

Other d 0 1 8 9 66 

Humanities 3,026 2,733 3,468 4,207 4,139 

Known race/ethnicity 2,944 2,676 3,425 4,045 4,057 

Asian b 29 25 52 116 137 

Black 96 73 95 137 165 

Hispanic 107 96 107 179 214 

American Indian c 6 11 19 24 22 

White 2,706 2,470 3,149 3,584 3,449 

Other d 0 1 3 5 70 

Education 6,293 5,493 5,852 5,587 5,265 

Known race/ethnicity 6,183 5,408 5,806 5,346 5,175 

Asian b 69 41 80 100 98 

Black 581 381 467 527 664 

Hispanic 177 185 200 247 309 

American Indian c 29 41 50 51 46 

White 5,327 4,755 5,005 4,414 3,990 

Other d 0 5 4 7 68 

Professional/other fields 1,391 1,463 1,662 1,618 1,416 

Known race/ethnicity 1,369 1,445 1,638 1,563 1,390 

Asian b 23 16 40 51 48 

Black 73 59 67 106 142 

Hispanic 19 25 37 42 47 

American Indian c 2 8 7 13 11 

White 1,252 1,336 1,484 1,346 1,126 

Other d 0 1 3 0 16 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

b Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2002 per revised 

OMB guidelines. 

c Includes Alaskan Natives. 

d Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and respondents choosing multiple races (excluding 

those selecting an Hispanic ethnicity) . 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
53

TABLE 9. Major field of study of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, by race/ethnicity, 2002

U.S. citizens 

Field of study 

Total 

U.S. citizen 

doctorate 

recipients 

Number 

with 

known 

race/ethnicity Asian a Black Hispanic 

American 

Indian b White Other c

All fields 25,936 25,450 1,364 1,644 1,233 146 20,720 343 

Physical sciences 2,997 2,941 200 94 93 11 2,504 39 

Physics & astronomy 628 612 48 18 21 2 513 10 

Chemistry 1,134 1,115 73 41 35 5 950 11 

Earth, atmospheric, & marine sciences 467 459 10 5 13 0 422 9 

Mathematics 411 405 19 13 11 3 352 7 

Computer science 357 350 50 17 13 1 267 2 

Engineering 1,890 1,832 248 77 86 7 1,392 22 

Life sciences 5,328 5,244 439 187 203 17 4,336 62 

Biological sciences 3,787 3,723 372 112 157 12 3,023 47 

Health sciences 1,118 1,105 55 66 29 3 940 12 

Agricultural sciences 423 416 12 9 17 2 373 3 

Social sciences 4,901 4,811 194 315 281 32 3,923 66 

Psychology 2,719 2,684 104 164 179 15 2,186 36 

Anthropology 388 373 10 21 22 6 306 8 

Economics 336 328 24 12 12 0 279 1 

Political science/international relations 505 498 16 36 27 2 412 5 

Sociology 439 430 17 41 21 7 334 10 

Other social sciences 514 498 23 41 20 2 406 6 

Humanities 4,139 4,057 137 165 214 22 3,449 70 

History 864 843 25 40 34 3 732 9 

English language & literature 823 808 25 45 28 5 688 17 

Foreign language & literature 423 419 13 10 82 2 311 1 

Other humanities 2,029 1,987 74 70 70 12 1,718 43 

Education 5,265 5,175 98 664 309 46 3,990 68 

Teacher education 208 205 4 21 9 3 167 1 

Teaching fields 505 495 9 50 20 2 407 7 

Other education 4,552 4,475 85 593 280 41 3,416 60 

Professional/other 1,416 1,390 48 142 47 11 1,126 16 

Business & management 596 584 27 54 21 4 472 6 

Communications 278 270 5 30 10 0 219 6 

Other professional fields 529 523 16 57 15 7 424 4 

Other fields 13 13 0 1 1 0 11 0 a Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c Includes multiple racial responses and Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
54

TABLE 10. Doctorate-granting institutions having the largest number of U.S. minority doctorate recipients, 1998–2002

Institution 

Number of 

doctorate recipients Institution 

Number of 

doctorate recipients 

Asian a Black 

U. CA Los Angeles 357 Nova Southeastern U. 374 

U. CA Berkeley 350 Howard U. 247 

Stanford U. 186 U. MI-Ann Arbor 140 

Harvard U. 158 U. NC at Chapel Hill 121 

MA Institute of Technology 151 OH State U.-Main Campus, The 118 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 137 U. MD-College Park 117 

U. Southern CA 133 Temple U. 113 

U. CA Davis 123 VA Polytechnic Institute and State U. 108 

Columbia U. In The City of New York 117 FL State U. 102 

U. WA-Seattle Campus 114 Wayne State U. 102 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 111 Loyola U. Chicago 99 

U. PA 109 NC State U. at Raleigh 97 

U. CA Irvine 98 Teachers College at Columbia U. 94 

Johns Hopkins U. 94 Harvard U. 92 

U. CA San Diego 92 U. TX at Austin, The 92 

New York U. 91 U. CA Los Angeles 92 

Northwestern U. 89 U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 91 

U. TX at Austin, The 89 MI State U. 90 

U. Chicago, The 83 Clark Atlanta U. 88 

U. WI-Madison 77 Argosy U.-Sarasota Campus 87 

 

Top 20 Institutions 2,759 Top 20 Institutions 2,464 

Total institutions reported (324) 6,580 Total institutions reported (337) 8,000 

Hispanic American Indian b 

U. PR-Rio Piedras Campus 237 OK State U.-Main Campus 31 

U. TX at Austin, The 204 Nova Southeastern U. 19 

U. CA Berkeley 173 U. OK Norman Campus 19 

U. CA Los Angeles 157 U. WA-Seattle Campus 16 

Carlos Albizu U. 145 U. TX at Austin, The 15 

TX A&M U. 119 U. MN-Twin Cities 15 

Harvard U. 106 AZ State U.-Main Campus 13 

Stanford U. 101 U. AK Main Campus 13 

Inter American U. PR-Metro 98 U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 13 

U. WI-Madison 92 Stanford U. 12 

Nova Southeastern U. 88 U. CA Berkeley 12 

AZ State U.-Main Campus 85 NC State U. at Raleigh 11 

U. AZ 80 U. CA Los Angeles 11 

U. CA Davis 80 U. FL 11 

U. NM-Main Campus 80 U. MD-College Park 11 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 79 U. NM-Main Campus 11 

U. Southern CA 75 U. ND-Main Campus 11 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 71 U. WI-Madison 11 

CUNY Graduate School and U. Center 70 Cornell U.-Endowed Colleges 10 

New York U. 67 Harvard U. 10 

 OH State U.-Main Campus, The 10 

 U. MO-Columbia 10 

Top 20 Institutions 2,207 Top 20 Institutions 295 

Total institutions reported (322) 5928 Total institutions reported (225) 867 a Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders for 1998-2000, but does not include them for 2001-2002. b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
55

TABLE 11. Citizenship status of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study for selected years, 1972–2002 

Field of study/citizenship 1972 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 

All fields 33,041 31,716 31,110 32,370 38,889 42,556 39,955 

U.S. citizen 27,480 26,145 24,435 22,984 26,009 28,160 25,936 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 2,093 1,368 1,228 1,578 1,980 2,931 1,646 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 2,831 3,448 4,203 5,612 9,953 9,193 9,707 

Unknown 637 755 1,244 2,196 947 2,272 2,666 

Physical sciences a 5,538 4,379 4,291 5,030 6,501 6,679 5,715 

U.S. citizen 4,392 3,346 3,121 3,093 3,538 3,628 2,997 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 445 268 201 255 355 625 292 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 620 676 838 1,368 2,458 2,086 2,151 

Unknown 81 89 131 314 150 340 275 

Engineering 3,503 2,643 2,646 3,712 5,438 6,118 5,073 

U.S. citizen 2,330 1,474 1,172 1,558 2,109 2,739 1,890 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 622 326 296 355 411 593 271 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 519 773 1,030 1,532 2,743 2,555 2,645 

Unknown 32 70 148 267 175 231 267 

Life sciences 5,084 4,923 5,709 5,754 7,115 8,326 8,350 

U.S. citizen 3,988 3,897 4,619 4,242 4,708 5,161 5,328 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 364 242 184 258 352 753 419 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 629 672 749 923 1,932 2,040 2,079 

Unknown 103 112 157 331 123 372 524 

Social sciences 5,467 6,070 5,837 5,790 6,216 7,045 6,611 

U.S. citizen 4,640 5,185 4,813 4,402 4,672 5,220 4,901 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 252 189 196 248 289 337 228 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 459 541 535 654 1,048 999 1,022 

Unknown 116 155 293 486 207 489 460 

Humanities 5,055 4,562 3,561 3,500 4,444 5,435 5,373 

U.S. citizen 4,527 4,054 3,026 2,733 3,468 4,207 4,139 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 215 160 139 176 246 328 223 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 205 216 226 327 614 616 733 

Unknown 108 132 170 264 116 284 278 

Education 7,085 7,455 7,251 6,454 6,677 6,580 6,488 

U.S. citizen 6,600 6,806 6,293 5,493 5,852 5,587 5,265 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 131 108 145 172 165 165 111 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 284 380 572 421 553 411 475 

Unknown 70 161 241 368 107 417 637 

Professional/other fields 1,309 1,684 1,815 2,130 2,498 2,373 2,345 

U.S. citizen 1,003 1,383 1,391 1,463 1,662 1,618 1,416 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 64 75 67 114 162 130 102 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 115 190 253 387 605 486 602 

Unknown 127 36 104 166 69 139 225 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
56

TABLE 12. Top 30 countries of origin of non-U.S. citizens earning 

doctorates at U.S. colleges and universities, (ranked by number of 

doctorate recipients), 2002

Rank Country 

Number of 

doctorate recipients 

 1. China, People’s Republic of a 2,644 

 2. Korea b 1,187 

 3. India 838 

 4. China, Republic of (Taiwan) 674 

 5. Canada 494 

 6. Turkey 399 

 7. Thailand 396 

 8. Germany 255 

 9. Japan 237 

 10. Russia 230 

 11. Great Britain, UK 222 

 12. Mexico 221 

 13. Brazil 171 

 14. Italy 152 

 15. Romania 149 

 16. France 121 

 17. Egypt 114 

 18. Spain 113 

 19. Saudi Arabia 103 

 20. Greece 98 

 21. Argentina 94 

 22. Yugoslavia 88 

 23. Indonesia 76 

 24. Israel 73 

 25. Venezuela 71 

 26. Jordan 68 

 27. Malaysia 67 

28. Colombia 66 [ 28. Ukraine 66 

 30. Iran 65 

a Includes Hong Kong. 

b Includes Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People’s Republic 

of Korea (North Korea). 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.

TABLE 13. Doctorate-granting institutions having the largest number of non-U.S. citizen doctorate recipients (ranked by number of 

non-U.S. citizen doctorate recipients), 2002

Institution 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients Institution 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 270 U. CA-Berkeley 198 

OH State U.-Main Campus 269 Purdue U.-Main Campus 186 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 227 U. MD-College Park 163 

TX A&M U. 215 Cornell U.-Endowed Colleges 161 

U. TX at Austin , The 215 U. CA-Los Angeles 158 

U. WI-Madison 209 U. FL 156 

PA State U.-Main Campus 206 Columbia U. in The City of New York 145 

MA Institute of Technology 201 U. Southern CA 145 

U. MN-Twin Cities 200 Harvard U. 144 

Stanford U. 199 Rutgers U.-New Brunswick 143 

 Top 20 institutions 3,810 

Total institutions reported (413) 11,353 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
57

TABLE 14. Parental educational attainment of doctorate recipients, by selected demographic characteristics, 

2002

 Percent 

high school 

or less 

Percent 

college 

Percent 

advanced 

degree 

Total 

percent 

Total 

number 

Total 

Father's education 29.3 35.9 34.8 100.0 35,761 

Mother's education 38.2 40.4 21.5 100.0 35,855 

Sex 

Male 

Father's education 30.2 36.0 33.9 100.0 19,601 

Mother's education 40.2 39.5 20.3 100.0 19,640 

Female 

Father's education 28.3 35.8 35.9 100.0 16,159 

Mother's education 35.7 41.4 22.9 100.0 16,213 

Race/ethnicity (U.S. citizens only) 

Asian a 

Father's education 19.7 30.0 50.2 100.0 1,328 

Mother's education 33.1 41.3 25.6 100.0 1,328 

Black 

Father's education 51.6 27.4 21.0 100.0 1,501 

Mother's education 45.6 33.2 21.2 100.0 1,530 

Hispanic 

Father's education 43.9 29.3 26.8 100.0 1,179 

Mother's education 49.8 31.7 18.5 100.0 1,187 

American Indian b 

Father's education 44.9 34.1 21.0 100.0 138 

Mother's education 44.6 36.7 18.7 100.0 139 

White 

Father's education 24.7 35.5 39.8 100.0 20,071 

Mother's education 30.5 44.3 25.2 100.0 20,099 

Citizenship 

U.S. Citizen 

Father's education 27.1 34.4 38.5 100.0 24,914 

Mother's education 32.6 42.7 24.8 100.0 24,984 

Non-U.S., Permanent visa 

Father's education 31.6 35.9 32.4 100.0 1,572 

Mother's education 46.1 36.7 17.2 100.0 1,578 

Non-U.S., Temporary visa 

Father's education 35.1 39.8 25.1 100.0 9,252 

Mother's education 51.9 34.8 13.3 100.0 9,270 

Field of study 

Physical sciences c 

Father's education 25.0 37.4 37.6 100.0 5,252 

Mother's education 33.8 41.6 24.5 100.0 5,263 

Engineering 

Father's education 27.2 43.1 29.7 100.0 4,628 

Mother's education 41.7 42.5 15.7 100.0 4,626 

Life sciences 

Father's education 27.3 36.5 36.1 100.0 7,583 

Mother's education 36.9 41.3 21.8 100.0 7,602 

Social sciences 

Father's education 25.5 34.3 40.2 100.0 5,908 

Mother's education 33.0 41.1 25.9 100.0 5,933 

Humanities 

Father's education 23.4 32.5 44.2 100.0 4,890 

Mother's education 30.3 41.4 28.3 100.0 4,907 

Education 

Father's education 45.7 31.8 22.5 100.0 5,484 

Mother's education 51.2 35.4 13.4 100.0 5,506 

Professional/other fields 

Father's education 34.0 36.9 29.2 100.0 2,016 

Mother's education 45.2 37.4 17.4 100.0 2,018 a Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
58

TABLE 15. Median number of years from baccalaureate to doctorate award, by broad field of study for selected 

years, 1977–2002

Field of study and 

time to degree 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 

All fields 

Since BA/BS 8.9 9.7 10.5 10.6 10.6 10.2 

Since starting graduate school 6.2 6.7 7.0 7.3 7.4 7.5 

Physical sciences a 

Since BA/BS 7.0 7.0 7.5 8.2 8.2 7.8 

Since starting graduate school 5.9 6.0 6.2 6.7 6.9 6.8 

Engineering 

Since BA/BS 7.5 8.0 8.2 8.9 8.8 8.6 

Since starting graduate school 5.8 5.9 6.0 6.4 6.6 6.7 

Life sciences 

Since BA/BS 7.3 7.7 8.9 9.5 9.3 8.9 

Since starting graduate school 5.9 6.1 6.6 7.0 7.0 7.0 

Social sciences 

Since BA/BS 8.0 9.2 10.5 10.7 10.0 10.0 

Since starting graduate school 6.0 6.9 7.4 7.7 7.5 7.8 

Humanities 

Since BA/BS 9.9 11.3 12.1 12.0 11.7 11.5 

Since starting graduate school 7.3 8.3 8.6 8.5 8.7 9.0 

Education 

Since BA/BS 12.6 13.7 16.2 19.0 20.0 19.0 

Since starting graduate school 6.7 7.4 8.2 8.5 8.6 8.5 

Professional/other fields 

Since BA/BS 10.7 11.7 12.7 13.6 13.7 13.4 

Since starting graduate school 6.3 7.0 7.5 7.8 8.0 8.1 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
59

TABLE 16. Median number of years from baccalaureate to doctorate award, by demographic group and broad field of study, 2002 All fields 

Physical 

sciences a Engineering 

Life 

sciences Social sciences Humanities 

 Median Number Median Number Median Number Median Number Median Number Median Number Elapsed time from baccalaureate (years) 

All doctorate recipients 10.2 35,483 7.8 5,116 8.6 4,555 8.9 7,454 10.0 5,940 11.5 4,901 Sex 

Male 9.7 19,381 7.9 3,708 8.7 3,782 8.6 3,865 10.1 2,645 11.6 2,434 Female 11.0 16,100 7.3 1,408 8.2 773 9.2 3,588 9.9 3,295 11.4 2,467 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen 10.6 25,112 7.1 2,923 8.0 1,826 8.5 5,207 10.0 4,779 11.5 4,036 Non-U.S., permanent visa 10.8 1,485 9.8 258 10.0 244 10.4 381 10.3 215 12.0 199 Non-U.S., temporary visa 9.4 8,818 8.4 1,931 8.8 2,472 9.5 1,849 10.0 936 11.3 655 

Race/ethnicity (U.S. citizens only) 

Asian b 8.4 1,319 7.1 190 7.6 239 7.8 432 9.1 192 11.0 130 

Black 12.8 1,538 7.3 91 9.1 70 9.3 177 10.0 306 11.0 161 Hispanic 10.5 1,187 8.0 93 8.0 85 8.4 197 9.4 271 11.0 209 American Indian c 13.6 140 6.3 9 10.3 7 9.3 17 9.8 30 13.1 22 

White 10.6 20,205 7.0 2,455 7.9 1,358 8.6 4,252 10.0 3,839 11.6 3,378 

Years in graduate school) 

All doctorate recipients 7.5 33,590 6.8 4,811 6.7 4,413 7.0 6,834 7.8 5,668 9.0 4,698 

Sex 

Male 7.4 18,316 6.9 3,503 6.7 3,662 7.0 3,521 7.9 2,507 9.0 2,319 Female 7.7 15,273 6.5 1,308 6.5 751 7.1 3,313 7.7 3,161 9.0 2,379 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen 7.7 23,833 6.5 2,747 6.5 1,766 7.0 4,800 7.8 4,566 9.0 3,894 Non-U.S., permanent visa 8.0 1,405 7.4 247 7.4 239 7.9 347 8.4 202 9.1 191 Non-U.S., temporary visa 7.2 8,343 7.1 1,817 6.8 2,406 7.3 1,685 7.5 898 8.7 611 

Race/ethnicity (U.S. citizens only) 

Asian b 7.1 1,236 6.5 178 6.5 233 7.0 387 7.5 185 8.9 126 

Black 8.0 1,443 6.9 83 7.2 69 7.2 160 8.0 286 8.8 156 Hispanic 8.0 1,120 6.9 87 6.6 85 7.1 181 8.0 254 8.7 202 American Indian c 8.7 134 6.3 9 6.2 6 7.3 15 8.4 30 10.0 22 

White 7.7 19,271 6.5 2,316 6.4 1,309 7.0 3,945 7.7 3,693 9.0 3,268 

a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. b Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. c Includes Alaskan Natives. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
60

TABLE 17. Median age and number of doctorate recipients at different age levels, by field of study and demographic characteristics, 2002

 Age grouping 

Field of study and demographic 

characteristics 

Median age 

at doctorate 21–25 26–30 31–35 36–40 41–45 Over 45 

All fields 33.3 247 11,884 11,292 5,349 3,093 5,308 

Broad field 

Physical sciences a 30.5 93 2,874 1,514 573 200 175 

Engineering 31.4 76 2,129 1,620 624 233 118 

Life sciences 31.9 30 3,204 2,464 975 525 611 

Social sciences 33.0 28 1,946 2,123 914 495 628 

Humanities 34.7 5 975 1,941 973 475 716 

Education 44.2 8 456 996 901 872 2,572 

Professional/other fields 37.2 7 300 634 389 293 488 

Sex 

Male 32.8 164 6,911 6,679 3,167 1,529 1,967 

Female 34.1 83 4,973 4,612 2,181 1,564 3,341 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen 33.9 139 8,040 6,831 3,375 2,424 4,872 

Permanent visa 34.3 10 361 617 363 142 134 

Temporary visa 32.3 98 3,379 3,771 1,570 510 271 

Unknown 32.2 0 104 73 41 17 31 

Race/Ethnicity (U.S. citizens only) 

Asian b 30.9 13 670 365 130 81 90 

Black 37.5 4 353 367 229 209 453 

Hispanic 34.4 7 341 342 181 143 210 

American Indian c 42.1 0 20 30 17 19 60 

White 33.9 110 6,454 5,508 2,694 1,895 3,928 

a Includes mathematics and computer sciences.

b Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

c Includes Alaskan Natives.

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
61

TABLE 18. Primary sources of financial support for doctorate recipients, by broad field of study and demographic group, 2002 (includes only doctorate recipients 

who reported primary source of support)

 Sex Citizenship U.S citizens and permanent residents 

Primary source of support 

(responses only) Total a Men Women 

 U.S. 

citizen 

Permanent 

resident 

Temporary 

resident Asian b Black Hispanic 

American 

Indian c White 

All fields 39,955 21,760 18,124 25,936 1,646 9,707 2,108 1,731 1,364 149 21,348 

Teaching assistantships % 16.8 17.0 16.5 16.0 19.7 18.4 12.4 7.3 14.6 11.7 17.4 

Research assistantships/traineeships 26.5 32.2 19.7 19.7 33.9 44.0 38.0 9.9 11.9 9.5 20.3 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 21.9 21.9 22.0 22.7 23.2 19.5 27.7 33.6 34.6 31.4 20.4 

Own resources 28.4 21.8 36.5 36.2 19.5 8.5 18.5 43.9 34.1 44.5 36.3 

Foreign government 2.4 2.9 1.7 0.1 1.5 8.7 0.7 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.1 

Employer 3.9 4.1 3.6 5.1 2.2 0.9 2.7 4.9 4.4 2.9 5.2 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.2

Physical sciences d 5,715 4,171 1,534 2,997 292 2,151 339 101 106 12 2,627 

Teaching assistantships % 24.9 25.0 24.4 22.3 24.3 28.7 18.0 10.8 22.3 10.0 23.5 

Research assistantships/traineeships 46.4 47.7 43.0 43.0 51.8 50.6 54.3 22.6 32.0 40.0 44.0 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 17.7 16.1 21.8 21.4 14.5 12.7 16.1 48.4 32.0 20.0 19.6 

Own resources 7.0 7.0 7.0 10.0 8.0 2.5 8.7 15.1 11.7 20.0 9.7 

Foreign government 2.0 1.9 2.1 0.1 0.0 5.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 

Employer 2.1 2.2 1.7 3.2 1.4 0.5 2.8 3.2 1.9 10.0 3.0 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Engineering 5,073 4,173 887 1,890 271 2,645 409 86 96 7 1,474 

Teaching assistantships % 7.5 7.6 7.0 6.0 10.6 8.3 6.8 7.4 5.3 0.0 6.8 

Research assistantships/traineeships 56.6 57.7 51.4 42.4 58.1 67.0 58.3 25.9 30.5 50.0 42.8 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 17.5 16.1 24.7 27.7 15.9 10.2 21.1 49.4 38.9 33.3 25.2 

Own resources 8.5 8.5 8.4 12.8 9.8 5.2 8.1 12.3 9.5 16.7 13.6 

Foreign government 4.7 4.8 4.3 0.1 1.6 8.4 0.3 0.0 2.1 0.0 0.2 

Employer 5.0 5.2 4.1 11.0 4.1 0.8 5.5 4.9 13.7 0.0 11.4 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Life sciences 8,350 4,366 3,979 5,328 419 2,079 679 206 228 17 4,463 

Teaching assistantships % 10.7 10.8 10.6 10.7 10.1 10.9 6.9 7.5 8.5 6.3 11.4 

Research assistantships/traineeships 36.6 40.3 32.6 32.2 43.0 46.9 43.4 19.3 21.7 25.0 32.9 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 31.9 32.1 31.8 34.4 29.6 25.8 37.7 49.7 51.9 56.3 31.7 

Own resources 14.5 10.3 19.1 18.2 13.4 4.9 10.3 18.7 13.7 6.3 19.2 

Foreign government 3.0 3.7 2.3 0.1 1.8 10.9 0.2 0.0 0.5 0.0 0.2 

Employer 3.1 2.7 3.6 4.2 2.0 0.5 1.5 4.8 3.8 6.3 4.4 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Social sciences 6,611 2,948 3,651 4,901 228 1,022 265 333 304 34 4,024 

Teaching assistantships % 20.4 22.4 18.7 19.0 27.1 25.6 21.5 8.1 12.1 18.2 20.7 

Research assistantships/traineeships 15.5 14.7 16.1 15.1 16.4 17.0 19.5 11.6 8.0 3.0 15.9 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 22.6 24.5 21.2 20.9 22.9 31.2 25.9 43.9 38.4 33.3 17.3 

Own resources 37.7 33.0 41.4 42.8 30.8 14.3 29.9 33.5 40.8 45.5 43.8 

Foreign government 2.0 3.0 1.2 0.1 1.9 11.2 0.8 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.2 

Employer 1.7 2.3 1.3 2.0 0.9 0.6 2.4 2.3 0.7 0.0 2.1 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Humanities 5,373 2,663 2,702 4,139 223 733 179 174 253 22 3,572 

Teaching assistantships % 32.4 30.5 34.2 31.8 36.7 34.2 21.3 17.3 36.4 33.3 33.2 

Research assistantships/traineeships 1.6 1.1 2.0 1.4 1.9 2.3 2.4 1.8 0.8 0.0 1.4 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 29.5 30.6 28.5 28.2 32.4 37.1 39.6 51.8 35.5 38.1 25.8 

Own resources 33.9 34.6 33.2 36.7 27.1 18.9 33.7 26.8 25.6 28.6 37.7 

Foreign government 1.1 1.0 1.1 0.2 1.4 6.7 3.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 

Employer 1.5 2.0 1.0 1.6 0.5 0.8 0.0 2.4 1.7 0.0 1.7 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1

Education 6,488 2,188 4,288 5,265 111 475 138 680 323 46 4,028 

Teaching assistantships % 6.8 6.7 6.9 6.0 17.3 13.9 13.0 3.7 4.3 2.4 6.6 

Research assistantships/traineeships 7.9 7.2 8.2 6.6 13.3 20.8 12.2 5.7 5.7 0.0 6.9 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 9.3 9.5 9.2 8.2 18.4 19.3 14.6 13.7 19.7 19.0 6.2 

Own resources 65.5 62.4 67.1 69.1 43.9 29.7 55.3 70.1 63.5 73.8 69.3 

Foreign government 1.1 1.4 0.9 0.0 1.0 12.7 0.8 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 

Employer 9.2 12.5 7.6 9.8 6.1 3.3 4.1 6.5 6.7 4.8 10.8 

Other 0.2 0.4 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.3

Professional/other fields 2,345 1,251 1,083 1,416 102 602 99 151 54 11 1,160 

Teaching assistantships % 18.8 19.4 18.1 16.1 18.3 25.4 13.2 6.4 13.7 0.0 17.8 

Research assistantships/traineeships 11.2 11.7 10.6 7.8 11.8 19.0 8.8 4.3 5.9 11.1 8.4 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 19.4 21.0 17.6 17.4 26.9 22.9 26.4 34.0 21.6 33.3 15.1 

Own resources 41.0 37.2 45.4 50.1 36.6 20.1 45.1 46.1 39.2 55.6 50.5 

Foreign government 3.2 3.8 2.4 0.2 4.3 10.0 3.3 0.7 3.9 0.0 0.1 

Employer 6.2 6.7 5.5 8.0 2.2 2.3 3.3 8.5 15.7 0.0 7.7 

Other 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.3 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 a Total includes 71 doctoral recipients for whom sex was not reported. 

b Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

c Includes Alaskan Natives. d Includes mathematics and computer science. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
62

TABLE 19. Debt related to the education of the doctorate recipients, by broad field of study, 2002

 Total Physical sciences a Engineering Life sciences Social sciences Humanities  Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent Count Percent CCumulative debt No debt 17,546 49.5 3,039 58.3 2,886 63.0 3,837 51.2 2,067 35.5 1,937 39.8 2$5,000 or less 2,428 6.8 410 7.9 322 7.0 535 7.1 294 5.1 376 7.7 $5,001-$10,000 2,333 6.6 368 7.1 259 5.7 541 7.2 392 6.7 369 7.6 $10,001-$15,000 1,983 5.6 321 6.2 190 4.1 482 6.4 349 6.0 294 6.0 $15,001-$20,000 1,679 4.7 226 4.3 157 3.4 388 5.2 314 5.4 284 5.8 $20,001-$25,000 1,428 4.0 178 3.4 146 3.2 334 4.5 256 4.4 249 5.1 $25,001-$30,000 1,232 3.5 136 2.6 108 2.4 252 3.4 255 4.4 200 4.1 $30,001-$35,000 1,123 3.2 124 2.4 65 1.4 224 3.0 290 5.0 187 3.8 $35,001 and up 5,698 16.1 409 7.8 446 9.7 903 12.0 1,603 27.5 974 20.0 Total 35,450 100.0 5,211 100.0 4,579 100.0 7,496 100.0 5,820 100.0 4,870 100.0 5Mean $12,141 $8,164 $8,040 $10,743 $18,037 $14,804 Graduate debt No debt 22,316 63.1 3,860 74.2 3,353 73.4 5,110 68.4 2,882 49.7 2,607 53.6 3$5,000 or less 1,774 5.0 291 5.6 252 5.5 355 4.8 233 4.0 290 6.0 $5,001-$10,000 1,616 4.6 239 4.6 192 4.2 363 4.9 255 4.4 266 5.5 $10,001-$15,000 1,189 3.4 134 2.6 112 2.5 263 3.5 202 3.5 204 4.2 $15,001-$20,000 1,102 3.1 130 2.5 109 2.4 215 2.9 236 4.1 177 3.6 $20,001-$25,000 893 2.5 99 1.9 77 1.7 183 2.4 175 3.0 174 3.6 $25,001-$30,000 805 2.3 73 1.4 65 1.4 148 2.0 172 3.0 147 3.0 $30,001-$35,000 818 2.3 56 1.1 54 1.2 144 1.9 209 3.6 160 3.3 $35,001 and up 4,852 13.7 317 6.1 357 7.8 690 9.2 1,439 24.8 837 17.2 Total 35,365 100.0 5,199 100.0 4,571 100.0 7,471 100.0 5,803 100.0 4,862 100.0 5Mean $8,524 $4,696 $5,259 $6,613 $13,540 $10,883 Undergraduate debt No debt 26,282 74.3 3,838 73.7 3,655 80.0 5,281 70.6 4,017 69.1 3,453 71.2 4$5,000 or less 2,007 5.7 310 6.0 225 4.9 471 6.3 331 5.7 331 6.8 $5,001-$10,000 1,868 5.3 297 5.7 171 3.7 458 6.1 370 6.4 304 6.3 $10,001-$15,000 1,617 4.6 273 5.2 152 3.3 385 5.1 372 6.4 237 4.9 $15,001-$20,000 1,176 3.3 181 3.5 118 2.6 299 4.0 236 4.1 187 3.9 $20,001-$25,000 907 2.6 122 2.3 108 2.4 236 3.2 167 2.9 122 2.5 $25,001-$30,000 625 1.8 84 1.6 61 1.3 149 2.0 124 2.1 79 1.6 $30,001-$35,000 410 1.2 52 1.0 21 0.5 102 1.4 99 1.7 58 1.2 $35,001 and up 485 1.4 48 0.9 58 1.3 100 1.3 97 1.7 81 1.7 Total 35,377 100.0 5,205 100.0 4,569 100.0 7,481 100.0 5,813 100.0 4,852 100.0 5Mean $3,644 $3,483 $2,796 $4,161 $4,542 $3,954 

a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
63

TABLE 20. Debt related to the education of the doctorate recipients, by demographic group, 2002 Sex Citizenship Race/ethnicity (U.S. citizens and p Male Female U.S. citizen Permanent visa Temporary visa Asian a Black Hispanic Cumulative debt N % N % N % N % N % N % N % N % No debt 9,798 50.4 7,747 48.4 10,302 41.6 999 64.2 6,207 68.4 1,110 55.3 429 26.6 412 31$5,000 or less 1,410 7.3 1,017 6.4 1,665 6.7 104 6.7 657 7.2 138 6.9 99 6.1 113 8$5,001-$10,000 1,321 6.8 1,012 6.3 1,780 7.2 89 5.7 462 5.1 137 6.8 92 5.7 96 7$10,001-$15,000 1,104 5.7 879 5.5 1,648 6.7 60 3.9 274 3.0 115 5.7 92 5.7 99 7$15,001-$20,000 863 4.4 815 5.1 1,452 5.9 47 3.0 174 1.9 102 5.1 111 6.9 80 6$20,001-$25,000 817 4.2 611 3.8 1,224 4.9 42 2.7 160 1.8 78 3.9 74 4.6 68 5$25,001-$30,000 658 3.4 574 3.6 1,054 4.3 33 2.1 144 1.6 57 2.8 100 6.2 53 4$30,001-$35,000 599 3.1 524 3.3 981 4.0 33 2.1 109 1.2 53 2.6 76 4.7 66 5$35,000 and up 2,869 14.8 2,829 17.7 4,656 18.8 148 9.5 887 9.8 219 10.9 540 33.5 320 24Total 19,439 100.0 16,008 100.0 24,762 100.0 1,555 100.0 9,074 100.0 2,009 100.0 1,613 100.0 1,307 100Mean $11,595 $12,805 $14,339 $7,595 $6,944 $9,658 $21,601 $17,890 Graduate debt No debt 12,448 64.2 9,866 61.8 14,477 58.6 1,134 73.0 6,663 73.6 1,410 70.2 668 41.5 665 51$5,000 or less 1,033 5.3 740 4.6 1,176 4.8 72 4.6 523 5.8 96 4.8 79 4.9 89 6$5,001-$10,000 929 4.8 687 4.3 1,182 4.8 66 4.2 367 4.1 99 4.9 63 3.9 60 4$10,001-$15,000 656 3.4 533 3.3 926 3.7 38 2.4 224 2.5 54 2.7 72 4.5 45 3$15,001-$20,000 576 3.0 526 3.3 901 3.6 38 2.4 160 1.8 61 3.0 85 5.3 46 3$20,001-$25,000 518 2.7 375 2.3 731 3.0 28 1.8 132 1.5 36 1.8 50 3.1 46 3$25,001-$30,000 423 2.2 382 2.4 649 2.6 31 2.0 125 1.4 41 2.0 64 4.0 35 2$30,001-$35,000 428 2.2 390 2.4 681 2.8 22 1.4 115 1.3 28 1.4 57 3.5 49 3$35,000 and up 2,385 12.3 2,467 15.5 3,971 16.1 125 8.0 750 8.3 183 9.1 472 29.3 270 20Total 19,396 100.0 15,966 100.0 24,694 100.0 1,554 100.0 9,059 100.0 2,008 100.0 1,610 100.0 1,305 100Mean $7,964 $9,207 $9,901 $5,598 $5,291 $6,193 $15,835 $12,073 Undergraduate debt No debt 14,334 73.8 11,946 74.8 17,039 68.9 1,322 85.3 7,872 87.0 1,498 74.6 1,033 64.2 789 60$5,000 or less 1,160 6.0 847 5.3 1,525 6.2 61 3.9 420 4.6 109 5.4 108 6.7 103 7$5,001-$10,000 1,045 5.4 823 5.2 1,593 6.4 55 3.5 218 2.4 102 5.1 98 6.1 107 8$10,001-$15,000 887 4.6 730 4.6 1,444 5.8 29 1.9 144 1.6 104 5.2 97 6.0 88 6$15,001-$20,000 653 3.4 522 3.3 1,055 4.3 22 1.4 95 1.0 72 3.6 80 5.0 69 5$20,001-$25,000 523 2.7 384 2.4 789 3.2 18 1.2 98 1.1 59 2.9 52 3.2 52 4$25,001-$30,000 344 1.8 281 1.8 539 2.2 17 1.1 68 0.8 21 1.0 60 3.7 36 2$30,001-$35,000 206 1.1 204 1.3 366 1.5 10 0.6 34 0.4 22 1.1 33 2.0 30 2$35,000 and up 260 1.3 225 1.4 369 1.5 16 1.0 100 1.1 20 1.0 49 3.0 30 2Total 19,412 100.0 15,962 100.0 24,719 100.0 1,550 100.0 9,049 100.0 2,007 100.0 1,610 100.0 1,304 100Mean $3,654 $3,633 $4,473 $2,006 $1,666 $3,472 $5,806 $5,849 a Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
64

TABLE 21. Postgraduation status of doctorate recipients, by broad field for selected years, 1982–2002

Year and commitments 

All 

fields 

Physical 

sciences a Engineering Life sciences 

Social 

sciences Humanities Education 

Professional/ 

other fields 

Total 

1982 31,110 4,291 2,646 5,709 5,837 3,561 7,251 1,815 

1987 32,370 5,030 3,712 5,754 5,790 3,500 6,454 2,130 

1992 38,889 6,501 5,438 7,115 6,216 4,444 6,677 2,498 

1997 42,556 6,679 6,118 8,326 7,045 5,435 6,580 2,373 

2002 39,955 5,715 5,073 8,350 6,611 5,373 6,488 2,345 

Total responses to postgraduation status 

1982 28,730 4,000 2,383 5,335 5,335 3,263 6,760 1,654 

1987 29,285 4,545 3,256 5,310 5,160 3,155 5,958 1,901 

1992 35,804 5,979 4,920 6,672 5,614 4,157 6,177 2,285 

1997 37,864 6,007 5,576 7,547 6,101 4,845 5,699 2,089 

2002 35,860 5,262 4,620 7,608 5,925 4,922 5,501 2,022 

Percent 

Definite commitments for employment or study 

1982 74.6 79.3 74.2 76.5 71.6 65.8 75.0 82.8 

1987 72.9 76.7 68.1 75.8 69.6 66.3 74.2 80.4 

1992 69.3 68.4 60.0 74.5 68.2 61.5 75.3 76.5 

1997 67.4 69.5 65.3 71.2 64.6 56.3 72.9 73.1 

2002 72.5 75.9 69.6 73.7 72.4 64.8 75.0 77.3 

Seeking employment or study b 

1982 25.4 20.7 25.8 23.5 28.4 34.2 25.0 17.2 

1987 27.1 23.3 31.9 24.2 30.4 33.7 25.8 19.6 

1992 30.7 31.6 40.0 25.5 31.8 38.5 24.7 23.5 

1997 32.6 30.5 34.7 28.8 35.4 43.7 27.1 26.9 

2002 27.5 24.1 30.4 26.3 27.6 35.2 25.0 22.7 

a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

b Percent calculated on those responding to the item on postgraduation status. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 

TABLE 22. Postgraduation status of doctorate recipients, by selected demographic group for selected years, 1982–2002

 Sex Citizenship U.S. citizens & permanent residents 

Year and status Total Men Women 

 U.S. 

citizens 

Permanent 

visa 

Temporary 

visa Asian a Black Hispanic 

American 

Indian b White 

Total 

1982 31,110 21,017 10,093 24,435 1,228 4,203 1,006 1,150 615 77 22,177 

1987 32,370 20,938 11,432 22,984 1,578 5,612 1,166 907 708 115 21,119 

1992 c 38,889 24,234 14,436 26,009 1,980 9,953 1,754 1,109 909 149 23,617 

1997 d 42,556 24,950 17,247 28,160 2,931 9,193 3,109 1,474 1,198 167 23,962 

2002 e 39,955 21,760 18,124 25,936 1,646 9,707 2,108 1,731 1,364 149 21,348 

Total responses to postgraduation status 

1982 28,730 19,363 9,367 23,637 1,164 3,869 945 1,112 598 74 21,670 

1987 29,285 18,786 10,499 22,523 1,471 5,231 1,097 881 690 112 20,776 

1992 35,804 22,405 13,394 24,877 1,818 9,072 1,619 1,019 843 141 22,732 

1997 37,864 22,486 15,360 26,345 2,814 8,649 2,878 1,386 1,091 156 23,006 

2002 35,860 19,638 16,219 25,005 1,575 9,236 2,035 1,616 1,306 143 20,718 

Percent 

Definite commitments for employment or study f

 

1982 74.6 76.7 70.3 75.6 64.9 70.9 69.2 72.8 71.9 64.9 75.7 

1987 72.9 74.1 70.8 74.7 59.2 69.5 65.5 64.4 69.9 74.1 74.7 

1992 69.3 68.6 70.3 73.4 56.1 60.5 60.6 69.6 68.4 70.2 73.4 

1997 67.4 68.0 66.6 69.7 59.1 63.2 62.9 66.6 68.4 74.4 69.6 

2002 72.5 73.8 70.9 73.6 65.4 70.5 68.2 67.6 71.4 75.5 74.3 

Seeking employment or study f 

1982 25.4 23.3 29.7 24.4 35.1 29.1 30.8 27.2 28.1 35.1 24.3 

1987 27.1 25.9 29.2 25.3 40.8 30.5 34.5 35.6 30.1 25.9 25.3 

1992 30.7 31.4 29.7 26.6 43.9 39.5 39.4 30.4 31.6 29.8 26.6 

1997 32.6 32.0 33.4 30.3 40.9 36.8 37.1 33.4 31.6 25.6 30.4 

2002 27.5 26.2 29.1 26.4 34.6 29.5 31.8 32.4 28.6 24.5 25.7 

a Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them per revised OMB guidelines. b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c Total includes 219 doctoral recipients for whom sex was not reported. 

d Total includes 359 doctoral recipients for whom sex was not reported. 

e Total includes 71 doctoral recipients for whom sex was not reported. 

f

 Percent calculated on those responding to the item on postgraduation status. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
65

TABLE 23. Postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients with definite commitments, by broad field for selected years, 1982–2002

Year and commitments All fields 

Physical 

sciences a Engineering 

Life 

sciences 

Social 

sciences Humanities Education 

Professional/ 

other fields 

All definite commitments 

1982 21,429 3,173 1,768 4,080 3,820 2,146 5,072 1,370 

1987 21,362 3,488 2,216 4,024 3,593 2,091 4,421 1,529 

1992 24,795 4,090 2,953 4,971 3,827 2,555 4,652 1,747 

1997 25,533 4,172 3,643 5,370 3,940 2,728 4,153 1,527 

2002 25,984 3,993 3,215 5,608 4,289 3,190 4,126 1,563 

Definite commitments with responses to type of plans 

1982 21,360 3,166 1,764 4,070 3,812 2,139 5,047 1,362 

1987 21,198 3,478 2,201 4,010 3,568 2,066 4,355 1,520 

1992 24,635 4,083 2,944 4,961 3,808 2,532 4,565 1,742 

1997 24,933 4,119 3,579 5,267 3,855 2,635 3,994 1,484 

2002 25,883 3,981 3,206 5,595 4,273 3,176 4,104 1,548 

Percent 

Employment 

1982 80.2 65.7 88.5 45.0 87.8 95.1 97.5 98.6 

1987 74.2 51.4 80.2 40.5 83.4 93.2 96.1 96.6 

1992 72.0 49.0 77.9 37.1 82.2 93.9 96.8 97.0 

1997 71.6 53.3 79.3 38.7 78.6 93.1 96.3 97.0 

2002 69.5 50.4 75.1 40.3 73.5 89.6 94.4 93.8 

Study 

1982 19.8 34.3 11.5 55.0 12.2 4.9 2.5 1.4 

1987 25.8 48.6 19.8 59.5 16.6 6.8 3.9 3.4 

1992 28.0 51.0 22.1 62.9 17.8 6.1 3.2 3.0 

1997 28.4 46.7 20.7 61.3 21.4 6.9 3.7 3.0 

2002 30.5 49.6 24.9 59.7 26.5 10.4 5.6 6.2 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.

TABLE 24. Postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients with definite commitments, by demographic group for selected years, 1982–2002

 Sex Citizenship U.S. citizens and permanent residents 

Year and commitment Total Male Female U.S. citizen 

Permanent 

visa 

Temporary 

visa Asian a Black Hispanic 

American 

Indian b White 

All definite commitments 

1982 21,429 14,847 6,582 17,881 755 2,744 654 809 430 48 16,413 

1987 21,362 13,929 7,433 16,818 871 3,633 719 567 482 83 15,511 

1992 24,795 15,378 9,412 18,256 1,020 5,489 981 709 577 99 16,692 

1997 25,533 15,301 10,225 18,372 1,664 5,463 1,810 923 746 116 16,020 

2002 25,984 14,486 11,497 18,414 1,030 6,513 1,387 1,093 932 108 15,392 

Definite commitments with responses to type of plans 

1982 21,360 14,799 6,561 17,840 751 2,722 649 803 429 48 16,382 

1987 21,198 13,836 7,362 16,704 865 3,591 718 556 477 82 15,412 

1992 24,635 15,306 9,324 18,143 999 5,463 974 689 565 99 16,599 

1997 24,933 14,971 9,958 17,950 1,623 5,330 1,774 885 724 112 15,669 

2002 25,883 14,427 11,455 18,358 1,028 6,472 1,384 1,087 931 108 15,347 

Percent 

Employment c 

1982 80.2 79.0 82.7 80.5 79.8 78.1 73.5 94.3 86.2 72.9 79.9 

1987 74.2 71.9 78.7 76.4 70.2 65.2 66.2 86.3 77.6 79.3 76.3 

1992 72.0 69.2 76.7 75.7 69.3 60.6 63.9 83.3 76.6 80.8 75.6 

1997 71.6 69.7 74.3 75.1 66.2 61.4 63.0 81.9 77.1 88.4 75.0 

2002 69.5 67.1 72.5 72.5 66.9 61.3 60.9 77.1 72.9 82.4 72.8 

Study c 

1982 19.8 21.0 17.3 19.5 20.2 21.9 26.5 5.7 13.8 27.1 20.1 

1987 25.8 28.1 21.3 23.6 29.8 34.8 33.8 13.7 22.4 20.7 23.7 

1992 28.0 30.8 23.3 24.3 30.7 39.4 36.1 16.7 23.4 19.2 24.4 

1997 28.4 30.3 25.7 24.9 33.8 38.6 37.0 18.1 22.9 11.6 25.0 

2002 30.5 32.9 27.5 27.5 33.1 38.7 39.1 22.9 27.1 17.6 27.2 

a Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2002 per revised OMB guidelines. b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c Percent based on those with definite commitments 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
66

TABLE 25. Employment sector of doctorate recipients with definite postgraduation employment commitments in the United States, by demographic group for 

selected years, 1982–2002

 Sex Citizenship U.S. citizens & permanent residents 

 Total a Male Female 

 U.S. 

citizen 

Permanent 

visa 

Temporary 

visa Asian b Black Hispanic 

American 

Indian c White 

All employment commitments 

1982 15,466 10,316 5,150 14,146 541 746 454 745 359 34 12,884 

1987 14,144 8,635 5,509 12,586 509 1,037 419 472 357 65 11,570 

1992 15,632 8,910 6,719 13,448 599 1,580 556 563 415 79 12,292 

1997 16,018 9,081 6,933 13,180 980 1,843 1,057 716 533 96 11,477 

2002 16,176 8,473 7,703 13,026 642 2,495 797 836 664 86 10,932 

Employment commitments with responses to sector 

1982 15,338 10,241 5,097 14,058 537 710 450 725 354 33 12,823 

1987 13,849 8,463 5,386 12,445 500 893 408 456 351 64 11,459 

1992 15,418 8,797 6,618 13,277 586 1,550 542 547 409 78 12,150 

1997 15,308 8,691 6,613 12,615 921 1,760 980 680 499 89 11,027 

2002 16,106 8,435 7,671 12,982 637 2,475 789 833 661 84 10,899 

Percent 

Academe d 

1982 49.4 46.0 56.3 49.6 43.9 51.1 33.8 52.8 54.5 45.5 49.6 

1987 50.9 48.2 55.0 50.0 54.0 60.6 35.8 51.5 54.1 46.9 50.6 

1992 52.4 48.0 58.3 52.1 55.1 54.3 39.1 54.3 59.4 56.4 52.4 

1997 47.9 41.4 56.4 51.3 35.4 30.2 31.3 56.9 60.5 44.9 51.0 

2002 52.4 47.6 57.8 54.9 46.3 40.8 34.6 52.9 59.6 63.1 55.6 

Industry/self-employed d 

1982 22.0 26.6 12.7 20.0 47.3 41.0 52.7 8.0 13.6 21.2 20.8 

1987 20.6 25.1 13.6 19.2 35.2 32.1 48.5 9.0 13.4 18.8 19.3 

1992 21.2 27.2 13.1 18.4 34.8 39.7 44.8 9.7 15.9 12.8 18.4 

1997 27.8 36.7 16.1 20.7 53.7 64.5 54.0 11.6 16.6 20.2 21.2 

2002 24.2 32.1 15.6 17.9 40.2 53.2 50.6 12.2 14.2 9.5 17.5 

Government d 

1982 18.0 17.5 18.9 19.3 4.7 2.0 8.9 28.8 22.9 27.3 18.4 

1987 17.7 17.4 18.2 19.3 4.6 2.1 10.8 27.9 20.5 25.0 18.7 

1992 15.8 14.9 17.0 17.9 4.6 2.0 11.1 24.5 15.6 19.2 17.4 

1997 7.6 9.0 5.8 8.7 3.6 1.5 6.0 8.7 6.8 10.1 8.6 

2002 7.4 8.4 6.3 8.5 4.9 1.8 7.4 7.1 9.2 8.3 8.5 

Other d 

1982 10.6 9.8 12.2 11.1 4.1 5.9 4.7 10.3 9.0 6.1 11.2 

1987 10.9 9.4 13.2 11.5 6.2 5.2 4.9 11.6 12.0 9.4 11.5 

1992 10.6 9.9 11.6 11.6 5.5 4.1 5.0 11.5 9.0 11.5 11.8 

1997 16.8 13.0 21.7 19.3 7.3 3.8 8.7 22.8 16.0 24.7 19.2 

2002 16.0 11.9 20.4 18.6 8.6 4.1 7.5 27.7 16.9 19.0 18.4 

a Includes doctoral recipients for whom sex is reported. 

b Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2002 per revised OMB guidelines. c Includes Alaskan Natives. 

d Percent based on those with definite commitments. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
67

TABLE 26. Sources of support for doctorate recipients with postgraduation commitments for postdoctoral study, by selected demographic groups for selected years, 

1982–2002

 Sex Citizenship U.S. citizens & permanent residents 

 Total a Male Female 

 U.S. 

citizen 

Permanent 

visa 

Temporary 

visa Asian b Black Hispanic 

American 

Indian c White 

All postgraduate study commitments 

1982 3,887 2,849 1,038 3,272 127 485 151 36 47 9 3,097 

1987 4,671 3,350 1,321 3,476 214 972 209 49 75 14 3,261 

1992 5,935 4,066 1,867 3,949 250 1,727 292 88 110 15 3,642 

1997 6,034 3,838 2,196 3,919 450 1,656 550 130 139 10 3,447 

2002 6,652 4,004 2,648 4,328 269 2,049 435 188 204 14 3,621 

Postgraduate study commitments with responses to source of support 

1982 3,636 2,661 975 3,049 122 462 144 34 41 9 2,890 

1987 4,405 3,164 1,241 3,270 196 930 192 43 70 13 3,071 

1992 5,585 3,834 1,749 3,715 233 1,629 272 81 106 12 3,427 

1997 6,031 3,836 2,195 3,916 450 1,656 550 130 139 10 3,445 

2002 6,609 3,974 2,635 4,304 268 2,031 433 186 204 14 3,601 

Percent 

U.S. government d 

1982 52.4 51.8 54.1 56.1 44.3 30.3 47.9 55.9 46.3 44.4 56.4 

1987 45.2 44.6 47.0 51.9 45.4 22.4 51.6 39.5 40.0 30.8 52.2 

1992 39.8 38.9 41.7 48.7 38.6 19.6 36.4 34.6 44.3 41.7 49.5 

1997 39.3 38.2 41.2 47.0 36.2 21.7 41.8 39.2 47.5 40.0 46.7 

2002 34.0 34.4 33.2 40.1 35.1 20.8 37.4 35.5 32.4 50.0 40.5 

College or university d 

1982 17.2 18.6 13.4 14.3 23.0 35.1 16.7 17.6 26.8 33.3 14.1 

1987 24.6 26.4 20.0 18.6 28.6 44.9 20.8 20.9 25.7 23.1 18.7 

1992 29.1 31.3 24.4 21.0 31.3 47.5 34.2 29.6 23.6 33.3 20.3 

1997 30.3 32.5 26.6 23.9 33.1 44.9 30.0 31.5 25.9 40.0 23.7 

2002 42.2 43.3 40.5 36.5 42.5 54.2 33.7 39.2 40.7 28.6 37.1 

Private foundation d 

1982 11.4 10.4 14.4 11.9 11.5 8.4 18.8 14.7 7.3 22.2 11.5 

1987 11.9 11.1 13.9 11.9 9.7 12.2 10.4 11.6 12.9 23.1 11.9 

1992 10.6 9.4 13.3 11.2 13.3 8.9 12.5 13.6 13.2 25.0 11.0 

1997 9.9 9.2 11.2 10.0 11.6 9.4 8.7 10.0 7.2 10.0 10.7 

2002 6.1 5.4 7.2 6.9 5.2 4.6 6.5 9.1 8.3 0.0 6.7 

Nonprofit, other than private foundation d 

1982 2.8 3.1 1.9 2.6 4.1 4.1 3.5 0.0 2.4 0.0 2.6 

1987 2.6 2.5 2.9 2.4 2.6 3.2 1.6 4.7 2.9 0.0 2.4 

1992 2.6 2.6 2.6 1.9 0.4 4.5 1.5 2.5 1.9 0.0 1.8 

1997 3.1 3.0 3.2 2.6 3.1 4.2 2.7 2.3 2.9 0.0 2.7 

2002 3.2 2.7 3.8 2.7 3.0 4.1 3.5 5.4 4.4 0.0 2.5 

Other d 

1982 8.6 8.8 8.1 7.9 5.7 13.4 5.6 8.8 7.3 0.0 7.9 

1987 8.7 8.8 8.5 8.4 5.6 10.2 6.8 11.6 8.6 0.0 8.5 

1992 11.0 11.2 10.8 10.8 9.9 11.8 8.8 11.1 9.4 0.0 11.0 

1997 8.4 8.9 7.7 7.9 4.9 10.8 6.4 10.0 10.8 10.0 7.3 

2002 9.3 9.7 8.7 8.7 9.0 10.4 12.5 8.1 8.8 21.4 8.2 

Unknown d 

1982 7.6 7.4 8.1 7.2 11.5 8.7 7.6 2.9 9.8 0.0 7.4 

1987 6.9 6.7 7.7 6.8 8.2 7.1 8.9 11.6 10.0 23.1 6.4 

1992 6.8 6.7 7.2 6.4 6.4 7.8 6.6 8.6 7.5 0.0 6.3 

1997 8.9 8.2 10.1 8.6 11.1 8.9 10.4 6.9 5.8 0.0 8.9 

2002 5.3 4.5 6.5 5.0 5.2 5.8 6.5 2.7 5.4 0.0 5.1 

a Includes doctoral recipients for whom sex is reported. 

b Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2002 per revised OMB guidelines. c Includes Alaskan Natives. 

d Percent based on those with definite commitments 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
68

TABLE 27. Postdoctoral location and type of plan of non-U.S. citizen doctorate recipients with definite postgraduation commitments, by broad field and visa status, 

2002

 Permanent visa Temporary visa 

 U.S. location Foreign location U.S. location Foreign location 

Field of study 

Number of 

responses 

Employment 

percent 

Study 

percent 

 Employment 

percent 

Study 

percent 

 Number of 

responses 

Employment 

percent 

Study 

percent 

 Employment 

percent 

Study 

percent 

All fields 1,026 62.6 31.8 4.3 1.2 6,474 38.5 32.2 22.4 6.2 

Physical sciences a 190 60.5 37.4 1.6 0.5 1,559 34.4 46.2 10.1 8.9 

Physics & astronomy 40 52.5 45.0 0.0 2.5 355 19.7 61.1 6.5 12.7 

Chemistry 62 43.5 54.8 1.6 0.0 457 31.5 55.8 7.4 4.8 

Earth, atmospheric, & marine sciences 21 61.9 33.3 4.8 0.0 170 29.4 42.4 15.9 11.8 

Mathematics 24 75.0 20.8 4.2 0.0 322 36.0 39.4 12.4 11.8 

Computer science 43 83.7 16.3 0.0 0.0 255 61.6 19.6 12.9 5.1 

Engineering 165 77.6 18.2 3.6 0.6 1,695 53.0 25.0 18.1 3.7 

Life sciences 278 35.6 61.5 1.8 1.1 1,427 16.7 55.3 20.5 7.1 

Biological sciences 210 29.0 69.0 1.4 0.5 901 13.8 70.5 8.9 6.5 

Health sciences 48 64.6 31.3 2.1 2.1 224 29.0 22.8 42.0 5.8 

Agricultural sciences 20 35.0 55.0 5.0 5.0 302 16.6 34.1 39.1 9.9 

Social sciences 139 69.1 20.1 9.4 0.7 717 41.6 14.2 37.4 6.0 

Psychology 44 50.0 40.9 9.1 0.0 105 35.2 38.1 22.9 3.8 

Anthropology 8 50.0 37.5 0.0 12.5 38 18.4 26.3 34.2 21.1 

Economics 33 81.8 6.1 12.1 0.0 347 47.3 6.6 41.2 3.2 

Political science/international relations 14 78.6 7.1 14.3 0.0 65 26.2 15.4 47.7 10.8 

Sociology 14 78.6 14.3 0.0 0.0 37 45.9 10.8 32.4 10.8 

Other social sciences 26 80.8 7.7 11.5 0.0 125 44.8 12.0 36.0 7.2 

Humanities 131 80.9 12.2 4.6 2.3 410 50.7 6.3 37.1 4.6 

History 18 83.3 11.1 0.0 5.6 50 54.0 4.0 34.0 4.0 

English language & literature 18 66.7 27.8 0.0 5.6 35 42.9 2.9 45.7 8.6 

Foreign language & literature 37 86.5 10.8 2.7 0.0 83 68.7 9.6 16.9 3.6 

Other humanities 58 81.0 8.6 8.6 1.7 242 45.0 6.2 43.4 4.5 

Education 63 79.4 11.1 6.3 1.6 245 29.0 4.5 53.5 10.6 

Teacher education 2 50.0 50.0 0.0 0.0 9 33.3 0.0 55.6 11.1 

Teaching fields 9 66.7 11.1 22.2 0.0 54 29.6 1.9 57.4 9.3 

Other education 52 82.7 9.6 3.8 1.9 182 28.6 5.5 52.2 11.0 

Professional/other fields 60 80.0 5.0 11.7 3.3 421 58.0 3.6 34.2 3.1 

Business & management 27 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 264 71.2 3.0 23.5 0.8 

Communications 13 76.9 7.7 15.4 0.0 48 43.8 4.2 43.8 6.3 

Other professional fields 20 55.0 10.0 25.0 10.0 108 31.5 4.6 56.5 7.4 

Other fields 0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 1 100.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
69

TABLE 28. Postdoctoral location of non-U.S. citizen doctorate recipients 

with definite postgraduation commitments, by visa status for selected years, 

1982–2002

Year and commitment 

All non-U.S. 

citizens 

Permanent 

visa 

Temporary 

visa 

All definite commitments 

1982 3,499 755 2,744 

1987 4,504 871 3,633 

1992 6,509 1,020 5,489 

1997 7,127 1,664 5,463 

2002 7,543 1,030 6,513 

Definite commitments with response to location 

1982 3,499 755 2,744 

1987 4,504 871 3,633 

1992 6,509 1,020 5,489 

1997 7,127 1,664 5,463 

2002 7,500 1,026 6,474 

Percent 

U.S. location 

1982 54.5 91.0 44.5 

1987 63.1 86.0 57.6 

1992 63.8 87.5 59.4 

1997 72.6 92.7 66.5 

2002 74.3 94.4 71.1 

Foreign location 

1982 45.5 9.0 55.5 

1987 36.9 14.0 42.4 

1992 36.2 12.5 40.6 

1997 27.4 7.3 33.5 

2002 25.7 5.6 28.9 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.

Table 29. Parental baccalaureate attainment of doctorate recipients by selected demographic 

characteristics, 2002

Parental education 

Demographic characteristics 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

Total 

percent 

Total 

number 

Total 36.8 23.7 39.4 100.0 35,720 

Sex 

Male 37.9 23.2 38.9 100.0 19,576 

Female 35.6 24.4 40.0 100.0 16,143 

Race/ethnicity (U.S. citizens only) 

Asian a 25.5 22.1 52.4 100.0 1,328 

Black 56.3 20.0 23.7 100.0 1,496 

Hispanic 51.2 22.7 26.1 100.0 1,178 

American Indian b 56.5 17.4 26.1 100.0 138 

White 32.4 24.6 43.0 100.0 20,051 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen 34.5 24.0 41.5 100.0 24,888 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 38.9 23.6 37.6 100.0 1,570 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 42.9 23.1 34.0 100.0 9,239 

a Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

b Includes Alaskan Natives.

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
70

Table 30. Parental baccalaureate attainment of foreign doctorate recipients, by country of citizenship (top 30 countries, 

ranked by number of doctorate recipients), 2002

 Parental education 

Rank Country 

Number of 

doctorate 

recipients 

Total 

percent 

Percent neither 

with BA 

Percent one 

with BA 

Percent both 

with BA 

 1. China, Peoples Republic of a 2,644 100.0 47.8 19.2 33.0 

 2. Korea b 1,187 100.0 41.6 28.3 30.1 

 3. India 838 100.0 13.8 26.6 59.6 

 4. China, Republic of (Taiwan) 674 100.0 54.4 28.0 17.6 

 5. Canada 494 100.0 38.2 22.2 39.7 

 6. Turkey 399 100.0 54.9 19.3 25.9 

 7. Thailand 396 100.0 57.7 14.3 28.1 

 8. Germany 255 100.0 35.9 21.4 42.7 

 9. Japan 237 100.0 36.3 30.9 32.7 

 10. Russia 230 100.0 5.6 10.7 83.7 

 11. Great Britain, UK 222 100.0 40.0 24.1 35.9 

 12. Mexico 221 100.0 43.2 31.5 25.4 

 13. Brazil 171 100.0 31.7 30.5 37.8 

 14. Italy 152 100.0 48.0 21.3 30.7 

 15. Romania 149 100.0 23.6 20.1 56.3 

 16. France 121 100.0 41.5 26.3 32.2 

 17. Egypt 114 100.0 21.0 21.9 57.1 

 18. Spain 113 100.0 44.1 28.8 27.0 

 19. Saudi Arabia 103 100.0 80.9 16.0 3.2 

 20. Greece 98 100.0 42.7 20.8 36.5 

 21. Argentina 94 100.0 35.6 30.0 34.4 

 22. Yugoslavia 88 100.0 32.1 23.8 44.0 

 23. Indonesia 76 100.0 56.0 25.3 18.7 

 24. Israel 73 100.0 34.7 23.6 41.7 

 25. Venezuela 71 100.0 37.1 32.9 30.0 

 26. Jordan 68 100.0 54.8 33.9 11.3 

 27. Malaysia 67 100.0 78.1 9.4 12.5 

28. Colombia 66 100.0 39.4 40.9 19.7 [ 28. Ukraine 66 100.0 1.5 7.7 90.8 

 30. Iran 65 100.0 41.7 38.3 20.0 a Includes Hong Kong.

b Includes Republic of Korea (South Korea) and Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea).

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.

Table 31. Percentage distribution of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study 

and parental baccalaureate attainment, 2002

 Parental education 

Field of study Total 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

Total 35,720 13,162 8,474 14,084 

Percent 

Broad field of study 

Physical sciences a 14.7 12.6 14.1 17.0 

Engineering 12.9 12.6 13.4 12.9 

Life sciences 21.2 20.1 21.6 22.0 

Social sciences 16.5 14.7 16.9 18.0 

Humanities 13.7 10.5 13.7 16.5 

Education 15.3 23.0 14.4 8.8 

Professional/other fields 5.6 6.5 5.8 4.7 

Percent total 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

a Includes mathematics and computer sciences.

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
71

Table 32. Percentage distribution of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients, by parental baccalaureate 

attainment and selected undergraduate institution characteristics, 2002

 Parental education 

 Total 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

Attended community college 9.7 14.9 10.2 5.0 

Did not attend community college 90.3 85.1 89.8 95.0 

Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Total number 24,888 8,582 5,969 10,337 

Baccalaureate Carnegie class 

Doctoral/research-extensive 51.9 42.5 52.8 59.0 

Doctoral/research-intensive 9.3 11.6 9.4 7.3 

Master's college/university 21.2 31.7 20.6 12.9 

Baccalaureate college-liberal arts 12.8 7.6 12.2 17.5 

Baccalaureate college-general 3.4 4.8 3.3 2.3 

Other baccalaureate-granting institutions 1.5 1.9 1.7 0.9 

Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Total number 23,953 8,190 5,781 9,982 

Baccalaureate HBCU classification 

(African-American doctorate recipients only) 

Historically Black College/University 27.7 29.1 24.7 27.0 

Non-HBCU college/university 72.3 70.9 75.3 73.0 

Total percent 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Total number 1,496 842 299 355 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.

Table 33. Percentage distribution of parental baccalaureate attainment, by primary 

source of support, level of debt, and median time to degree for 2002 doctorate 

recipients

 Parental education 

Source of support and debt level 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

Total 

doctorate 

recipients 

Number 13,162 8,474 14,084 35,720 

Percent 

Primary source of support 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

Teaching assistantship 14.9 17.4 18.2 16.8 

Research assistantship 24.2 26.6 28.8 26.6 

Grant/fellowship 17.3 20.3 27.2 21.9 

Own resources 34.4 29.4 22.2 28.4 

Other 9.2 6.4 3.7 6.3 

Cumulative debt 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

$0-$5,000 55.1 54.0 58.8 56.3 

$5,001-$15,000 11.3 12.0 13.1 12.2 

$15,001-$30,000 11.8 13.3 12.1 12.3 

$30,001 or more 21.8 20.7 16.0 19.2 

Registered time-to-degree 

Median in years 8.0 7.5 7.3 7.5 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
72

Table 34. Percentage of doctorate recipients reporting own resources as primary source of support and cumulative debt greater than 

$30,000, by parental baccalaureate attainment and broad field of study, 2002

 Parental education Parental education 

Field of study, source of 

support, and debt 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

Field of study, source of 

support, and debt 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

All fields Social sciences 

Primary source of support Primary source of support 

Own resources 34.4 29.4 22.2 Own resources 41.8 39.5 33.5 

Cumulative debt Cumulative debt 

$30,001 or more 21.8 20.7 16.0 $30,001 or more 37.3 35.5 27.1 

Registered time-to-degree: Registered time-to-degree: 

Median years 8.0 7.5 7.3 Median years 8.1 7.9 7.5 

Physical sciences a Humanities 

Primary source of support Primary source of support 

Own resources 7.9 7.9 5.9 Own resources 37.4 37.0 30.4 

Cumulative debt Cumulative debt 

$30,001 or more 12.9 12.8 7.1 $30,001 or more 27.9 25.9 20.2 

Registered time-to-degree: Registered time-to-degree: 

Median years 7.2 6.9 6.6 Median years 9.4 9.0 8.5 

Engineering Education 

Primary source of support Primary source of support 

Own resources 8.4 10.1 7.5 Own resources 68.5 65.1 59.0 

Cumulative debt Cumulative debt 

$30,001 or more 13.3 10.9 9.6 $30,001 or more 20.5 21.3 19.3 

Registered time-to-degree: Registered time-to-degree: 

Median years 7.0 6.8 6.4 Median years 8.8 8.0 8.0 

Life sciences Professional/other fields 

Primary source of support Primary source of support 

Own resources 17.9 15.4 11.0 Own resources 45.5 43.0 33.5 

Cumulative debt Cumulative debt 

$30,001 or more 18.1 15.9 11.8 $30,001 or more 26.2 22.8 21.0 

Registered time-to-degree: Registered time-to-degree: 

Median years 7.4 7.0 6.9 Median years 8.4 8.0 7.7 a Includes mathematics and computer science.

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
73

Table 35. Percentage of U.S. citizen doctorate recipients reporting cumulative debt greater than $30,000, by parental baccalaureate 

attainment, broad field of study, and race/ethnicity, 2002

Parental education Parental education 

Field of study, source of 

support, and debt 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

Field of study, source of 

support, and debt 

Neither 

with BA 

One 

with BA 

Both 

with BA 

All fields Social sciences 

Total 26.3 24.7 18.7 Total 44.6 39.8 29.6 

Asian a 20.5 20.8 13.7 Total 34.1 31.0 27.8 

Black 41.1 39.8 30.5 Asian a 57.7 50.8 37.6 

Hispanic 34.4 29.7 25.3 Black 48.5 34.8 38.8 

American Indian b 36.8 33.3 27.8 Hispanic 52.4 50.0 42.9 

White 23.5 23.7 18.2 American Indian b 42.4 40.1 28.7 

Physical sciences c Humanities 

Total 18.8 15.9 9.1 Total 31.6 30.0 22.0 

Asian a 6.6 15.4 4.9 Asian a 33.3 14.8 20.5 

Black 27.3 31.8 25.0 Black 50.0 48.7 23.4 

Hispanic 13.3 14.3 7.7 Hispanic 32.7 34.0 30.5 

American Indian b 42.9 0.0 33.3 American Indian b 45.5 100.0 62.5 

White 20.2 15.8 9.0 White 29.3 28.8 22.0 

Engineering Education 

Total 12.5 12.7 9.0 Total 20.6 22.0 19.8 

Asian a 9.7 18.2 5.9 Asian a 28.3 41.7 29.2 

Black 14.3 19.0 9.5 Black 37.7 42.1 33.7 

Hispanic 21.2 15.8 8.8 Hispanic 32.8 35.1 28.9 

American Indian b 33.3 0.0 0.0 American Indian b 20.8 18.2 12.5 

White 11.5 11.2 9.8 White 15.5 18.1 17.1 

Life sciences Professional/other fields 

Total 21.8 18.1 13.5 Total 30.4 26.7 25.3 

Asian a 18.3 16.1 10.3 Asian a 54.5 23.1 29.2 

Black 37.9 32.4 16.7 Black 40.5 25.0 48.1 

Hispanic 27.2 14.3 23.7 Hispanic 48.0 63.6 25.0 

American Indian b 25.0 40.0 0.0 American Indian b 33.3 50.0 0.0 

White 20.2 18.0 13.5 White 26.8 25.5 23.8 

a Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders.

b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c Includes mathematics and computer science

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
74

Table 36. Percent of doctorate recipients who were first-generation college graduates, by broad field of study and selected 

demographic characteristics, for selected years, 1977-2002

Field of study and 

demographic characteristics 1977 1982 1987 1992 1997 2002 

Total 59.5 55.3 50.9 46.7 40.3 36.8 

Broad field of study 

Physical sciences a 55.1 49.6 43.4 42.1 34.5 31.6 

Engineering 55.2 51.8 48.0 43.8 35.8 36.0 

Life sciences 58.1 51.4 46.5 43.7 38.8 34.9 

Social sciences 54.8 50.1 48.7 43.8 37.0 32.7 

Humanities 51.8 48.5 45.7 39.0 34.9 28.4 

Education 72.1 68.8 65.6 63.5 58.7 55.2 

Professional/other fields 63.5 60.7 54.3 50.3 46.1 42.2 

Sex 

Male 61.8 57.2 52.1 48.1 41.1 37.9 

Female 52.7 51.3 48.7 44.4 39.0 35.6 

Race/ethnicity (U.S. citizens only) 

Asian b 49.5 49.3 44.2 38.2 30.1 25.5 

Black 77.9 72.4 71.2 68.0 61.5 56.3 

Hispanic 70.1 65.4 61.0 52.6 51.2 51.2 

American Indian c 73.3 71.8 71.2 63.8 54.2 56.5 

White 58.3 52.8 47.8 42.9 36.5 32.4 

Citizenship 

U.S. citizen 59.2 53.8 48.8 43.9 37.9 34.5 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 56.6 54.8 55.4 50.5 43.6 38.9 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 63.4 64.9 58.7 53.5 46.5 42.9 

Attended community college 73.3 68.2 65.4 61.2 55.1 53.2 

Baccalaureate institutions Carnegie class 

Doctoral/research 56.7 51.4 45.3 40.6 34.0 30.6 

Master's college/university 73.2 69.4 65.8 60.6 55.3 51.1 

Baccalaureate college 49.4 43.8 39.5 34.7 29.0 25.9 

Other 67.9 57.0 58.6 54.7 43.3 43.6 

Cumulative debt d 

$0-$5,000 --- --- --- 47.0 39.6 36.0 

$5,001-$15,000 --- --- --- 43.2 37.0 34.1 

$15,001-$30,000 --- --- --- 48.1 41.2 35.3 

$30,001 or more --- --- --- 52.3 47.9 41.7 

Registered time-to-degree 

Median in years 6.3 6.8 7.2 7.5 7.8 8.0 a Includes mathematics and computer sciences.

b Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

c Includes Alaskan Natives.

d Debt level information was not collected in a consistent way prior to 1992.

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
75

APPENDICES 
76

APPENDIX A: THE EIGHT BASIC TABLES, 2002 

Appendix A includes the following eight tables: 

A-1 Number of doctorate recipients, by sex and subfield, 2002 

A-2 Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002 

A-3 Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field, 2002 

A-4 Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by race/ethnicity and citizenship, 2002 

A-5 Sources of graduate school support for doctorate recipients, by broad field and 

sex, 2002 

A-6 State of doctoral institution of doctorate recipients, by broad field and sex, 2002 

A-7 Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002 

 A-8 Top 50 doctorate granting institutions, 2002 

TABLE A-1 and TABLE A-2: Tables A-1 and A-2 display data for the most recent year by 

subfield of doctorate. Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by Federal 

sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED). The “general” field categories—e.g., 

“chemistry, general”—include individuals who either received the doctorate in the general 

subject area or did not indicate a particular specialty field. The “other” field categories—e.g., 

“chemistry, other”—include individuals whose specified doctoral discipline was not among the 

specialty fields listed. 

Table A-1 presents data by doctoral specialty and sex. Table A-2 displays doctoral 

specialty by citizenship and race/ethnicity. For a detailed description of the racial/ethnic 

variable, see the explanatory note for Table A-4. 

TABLE A-3: Table A-3 is composed of three two-page tables. The first table (A-3a) includes 

data on all research doctorate recipients from the most recent year; the other two tables (A-3b 

and A-3c) present the same data by sex. Field groupings may differ from those in reports 

published by Federal sponsors of the SED. Terms requiring definition are as follows: 

— Percentage with Master’s: The percentage of doctorate recipients in a field who received a 

master's degree in any field before earning the doctorate. 

— Median Age at Doctorate: One-half of the respondents received the doctorate at or before this 

age. A recipient’s age is obtained by subtracting the month/year of birth from the month/year of 

doctorate (see note on next page). 
77

— Median Time Lapse: “Total Time” refers to the total calendar time elapsed between the 

month/year of baccalaureate and the month/year of doctorate. “Registered Time” refers to the 

actual time in attendance at colleges and universities between receipt of the baccalaureate and the 

doctorate. 

— Postgraduation Plans: Each year's doctorate recipients provide information on postgraduation employment or study plans in response to items B1 through B9 on the survey form. 

Since the questionnaire is filled out around the time the doctorate is awarded, a recipient's plans 

are subject to change. However, comparisons with the longitudinal Survey of Doctorate 

Recipients (SDR) have shown SED data to be a reasonable indicator of actual employment status 

in the year following the doctorate, although results vary by sector. (The SDR is a follow-up 

employment survey of a sample of doctorate recipients in science, engineering, and, until 1995, 

humanities fields.) 

In Table A-3 the postgraduation plans of doctorate recipients are grouped as follows: 

“Postdoctoral Study Plans” (fellowship, research internship, traineeship, other), “Planned 

Employment after Doctorate” (educational institution, industry, etc.), and “Postdoctoral Plans 

Unknown.” These categories include recipients who were still negotiating or seeking positions at 

the time of survey completion, as well as those whose plans were definite. The sum of these 

lines equals 100 percent for each column, with allowance for rounding. The postdoctoral study 

row is further subdivided by type of study or appointment (fellowships, research associateships, 

traineeships, and other study). The percentages in these subdivisions sum to the percent of 

respondents in the given column who reported plans for postdoctoral study. The employment 

row is similarly subdivided by type of employer. The percentages for these rows add to 

percentage of respondents in the given column who planned employment. The category for 

educational institutions includes elementary and secondary schools as well as colleges and 

universities, and the category for government includes military service. 

The four lines of data beginning with “Definite Postdoctoral Study” distinguish between 

individuals who had definite postgraduation plans at the time of survey completion (item B1: 

“Am returning to, or continuing in, predoctoral employment” or “Have signed contract or made 

definite commitment”) and those who were still seeking employment or postdoctoral study 

(item B1: “Am negotiating with one or more specific organizations,” “Am seeking position but 

have no specific prospects,” or “Other”). These four lines, when added to the prior line, 

“Postdoctoral Plans Unknown,” total 100 percent with allowance for rounding. The two lines 

“Definite Postdoctoral Study” and “Seeking Postdoctoral Study” add to give the percentage for 

“Postdoctoral Study Plans”; the two lines “Definite Employment” and “Seeking Employment” 

add to give the percentage for “Planned Employment After Doctorate.” 

Percentages showing the distribution of doctorate recipients by postdoctoral work activity 

and region of employment are based only on the number of recipients who had definite 

employment commitments at the time they completed the questionnaire. These percentages 

exclude recipients who planned postdoctoral study (as described above) and recipients who were 

still seeking employment at the time they completed the questionnaire. (Note that the rows on 
78

specific postdoctoral study and employment plans discussed earlier include individuals whose 

plans were not definite.) 

The U.S. regions of employment shown in Table A-3 include the following states and 

territories: 

New England: Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, 

Rhode Island, Vermont 

Middle Atlantic: New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania 

East North Central: Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Wisconsin 

West North Central: Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North 

Dakota, South Dakota 

South Atlantic: Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, 

Maryland, North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West 

Virginia 

East South Central: Alabama, Kentucky, Mississippi, Tennessee 

West South Central: Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, Texas 

Mountain: Arizona, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, 

Utah, Wyoming 

Pacific & Insular: Alaska, California, Hawaii, Oregon, Washington, American 

Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico, Trust Territory, Virgin Islands 

TABLE A-4: Table A-4 contains data by race/ethnicity and citizenship for selected variables 

included in Tables A-3 and A-5. Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by 

Federal sponsors of the SED. 

The racial/ethnic question has undergone several revisions over the years. In 2001, it was 

modified to correspond to a standard question format recommended by the Federal Interagency 

Committee on Education and adopted by the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) for use 

in Federally sponsored surveys. 

In the section of “Doctoral Program Support” a recipient counts in more than one 

category if support was received from multiple sources. Because a student counts more than 

once for sources of support, the vertical percentages sum to more than 100 percent. See the 

explanatory note on Appendix Table A-5 for further detail. (Data on the primary source of 

support for doctorate recipients are presented in the body of the report.) 

The other sections in Table A-4 correspond to many of those in Appendix Table A-3. 

The reader is referred to the explanatory note on Table A-3 for additional information. 
79

TABLE A-5: Table A-5 displays data reported in item A11 on financial resources used in 

support of the respondent's doctoral program, by broad field and sex of recipient. Field 

groupings may differ from those in reports published by Federal sponsors of the SED. 

A recipient counts in more than one category in Table A-5 if more than one financial 

resource was reported. Because a student counts once for each of his/her financial resources, the 

vertical percentages sum to more than 100 percent. (Data on the primary financial resources for 

doctorate recipients are presented in the body of the report.) 

TABLE A-6: Table A-6 shows, by broad field and sex, the number of persons receiving a 

research doctorate in the most recent year from institutions in each of the 50 states, the District of 

Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by 

Federal sponsors of the SED. See Appendix E of the Summary Report for a description of field 

groupings as reported in this table; see the questionnaire’s Specialties List in Appendix D of the 

Summary Report for the names and codes of the subfields included. 

TABLE A-7: Table A-7 displays data by doctorate-granting institution and major field. It 

includes all institutions in the United States (the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto 

Rico) that awarded research doctoral degrees in the most recent year. Field groupings may differ 

from those in reports published by Federal sponsors of the SED and from departmental 

designations at institutions. 

TABLE A-8: Table A-8 presents the 50 doctorate granting institutions which conferred the 

greatest number of doctorates in AY 2002. The number of doctorate degrees granted is also 

shown for each ranked institution. 
Appendix Table A-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by sex and subfield, 2002 

80 

 Number of doctorates 

Field of study Total a Men Women 

TOTAL ALL FIELDS 39,955 21,760 18,124 

PHYSICAL SCIENCES 5,715 4,171 1,534 

MATHEMATICS 917 650 264 

Applied Mathematics 225 162 62 

Algebra 65 50 15 

Analysis & Functional Analysis 74 54 20 

Geometry 52 40 12 

Logic 14 9 5 

Number Theory 26 21 5 

Mathematical Statistics 167 105 62 

Topology 39 29 10 

Computing Theory & Practice 11 9 2 

Operations Research 19 10 9 

Mathematics, General 133 99 32 

Mathematics, Other 92 62 30 

COMPUTER SCIENCE 811 640 168 

Computer Science 677 549 125 

Information Sciences & Systems 79 52 27 

Computer/Info Science, Other 55 39 16 

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY 1,268 1,061 206 

Astronomy 54 41 13 

Astrophysics 90 75 15 

Acoustics 18 17 1 

Chemical & Atomic/Molecular 81 70 11 

Elementary Particles 156 127 28 

Fluids 15 13 2 

Nuclear 74 58 16 

Optics 107 88 19 

Plasma & High-Temperature 29 26 3 

Polymer 22 16 6 

Solid State & Low-Temperature 298 250 48 

Physics, General 178 154 24 

Physics, Other 146 126 20 

CHEMISTRY 1,922 1,275 646 

Analytical 301 187 114 

Inorganic 246 160 86 

Nuclear 9 6 3 

Organic 523 379 144 

Medicinal/Pharmaceutical 99 60 39 

Physical 302 200 102 

Polymer 101 67 34 

Theoretical 48 31 17 

Chemistry, General 207 145 61 

Chemistry, Other 86 40 46 

EARTH, ATMOS., & MARINE SCI. 797 545 250 

Atmospheric Physics & Chemistry 39 24 15 

Atmospheric Dynamics 13 10 3 

Meteorology 15 13 2 

Atmos. Sci./Meteorology, General 27 21 6 

Atmos. Sci./Meteorology, Other 23 18 5 

Geology 131 101 30 

Geochemistry 70 48 22 

Geophysics & Seismology 91 67 24 

Paleontology 22 16 6 

Mineralogy, Petrology 13 9 4 

Stratigraphy, Sedimentation 7 5 2 

Geomorphology & Glacial Geology 16 10 6 

Geological & Related Sci., General 12 9 3 

Geological & Related Sci., Other 30 16 14 

Environmental Science 109 68 39 

Hydrology & Water Resources 35 25 10 

Oceanography 86 53 33 

Marine Sciences 41 24 17 

Misc. Physical Sciences, Other 17 8 9 

 Number of doctorates 

Field of study Total a Men Women 

ENGINEERING 5,073 4,173 887 

Aerospace, Aeronautic., Astronautic. 208 184 24 

Agricultural 50 41 9 

Bioengineering & Biomedical 246 177 69 

Ceramic Sciences 13 12 1 

Chemical 607 457 150 

Civil 539 442 96 

Communications 21 17 4 

Computer 164 148 16 

Electrical, Electronics 1,208 1,059 143 

Engineering Mechanics 56 48 8 

Engineering Physics 16 13 3 

Engineering Science 31 23 8 

Environmental Health Engineering 87 63 24 

Industrial/Manufacturing 229 161 67 

Materials Science 363 286 77 

Mechanical 773 683 88 

Metallurgical 19 17 1 

Mining & Mineral 8 8 0 

Nuclear 64 51 13 

Ocean 23 20 3 

Operations Research 66 53 13 

Petroleum 45 33 10 

Polymer/Plastics 53 37 16 

Systems 45 36 9 

Engineering, General 19 13 6 

Engineering, Other 120 91 29 

LIFE SCIENCES 8,350 4,366 3,979 

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 5,680 3,140 2,539 

Biochemistry 781 488 293 

Biomedical Sciences 217 108 109 

Biophysics 151 117 34 

Biotechnology Research 13 8 5 

Bacteriology 12 5 7 

Plant Genetics 57 29 28 

Plant Pathology 24 9 15 

Plant Physiology 43 24 19 

Botany, Other 84 45 39 

Anatomy 21 13 8 

Biometrics and Biostatistics 81 35 46 

Cell Biology 303 142 161 

Ecology 311 177 134 

Developmental Biology/Embryology 94 60 34 

Endocrinology 14 8 6 

Entomology 113 80 33 

Biological Immunology 276 130 145 

Molecular Biology 617 349 268 

Microbiology 383 205 178 

Neuroscience 490 288 202 

Nutritional Sciences 141 34 107 

Parasitology 17 11 6 

Toxicology 122 57 65 

Human & Animal Genetics 223 115 108 

Human & Animal Pathology 115 52 63 

Human & Animal Pharmacology 267 153 114 

Human & Animal Physiology 206 123 83 

Zoology, Other 122 76 46 

Biological Sciences, General 185 89 96 

Biological Sciences, Other 197 110 87 

HEALTH SCIENCES 1,659 528 1,130 

Speech-Lang. Pathology & Audiology 100 20 80 

Environmental Health 51 25 26 

Health Systems/Services Admin. 55 29 26 

Public Health 217 68 149 

Epidemiology 199 74 125 

Exercise Physiology/Sci., Kinesiology 148 85 63 
Appendix Table A-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by sex and subfield, 2002, continued 

81 

 Number of doctorates 

Field of study Total a Men Women 

Nursing 437 23 414 

Pharmacy 161 85 76 

Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services 73 23 50 

Veterinary Medicine 56 34 21 

Health Sciences, General 38 15 23 

Health Sciences, Other 124 47 77 

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 1,011 698 310 

Agricultural Economics 119 86 32 

Agricultural Business & Management 1 1 0 

Animal Breeding & Genetics 14 12 2 

Animal Nutrition 49 32 17 

Dairy Science 7 5 2 

Poultry Science 10 5 5 

Fisheries Science & Management 53 40 13 

Animal Sciences, Other 70 48 22 

Agronomy & Crop Science 73 54 19 

Plant Breeding & Genetics 59 47 12 

Plant Pathology 53 31 22 

Plant Sciences, Other 26 15 11 

Food Engineering 7 3 4 

Food Sciences, Other 129 73 56 

Soil Chemistry/Microbiology 29 21 8 

Soil Sciences, Other 54 37 16 

Horticulture Science 46 33 13 

Forest Biology 19 12 7 

Forest Engineering 3 3 0 

Forest Management 14 12 2 

Wood Sci. & Pulp/Paper Tech. 29 27 2 

Conservation/Renewable Nat. Res. 27 15 12 

Forestry & Related Sci., Other 56 39 16 

Wildlife/Range Management 37 28 9 

Agricultural Sciences, General 4 2 2 

Agricultural Sciences, Other 23 17 6 

SOCIAL SCIENCES & PSYCHOLOGY 6,611 2,948 3,651 

SOCIAL SCIENCES 3,412 1,888 1,516 

Anthropology 495 206 289 

Area Studies 25 11 14 

Criminology 55 26 29 

Demography/Population Studies 20 8 12 

Economics 889 637 247 

Econometrics 14 12 2 

Geography 197 132 64 

International Relations/Affairs 82 48 34 

Political Science and Government 606 353 252 

Public Policy Analysis 146 72 73 

Sociology 545 212 333 

Statistics 54 31 23 

Urban Affairs/Studies 92 57 35 

Social Sciences, General 33 16 17 

Social Sciences, Other 159 67 92 

PSYCHOLOGY 3,199 1,060 2,135 

Clinical 1,212 363 847 

Cognitive & Psycholinguistics 121 53 68 

Comparative 2 1 1 

Counseling 469 148 321 

Developmental and Child 173 30 143 

Human/Indv. & Family Development 137 43 94 

Experimental 112 49 63 

Educational 54 16 38 

Family & Marriage Counseling 67 32 35 

Industrial & Organizational 154 69 85 

Personality 17 5 12 

Physiological/Psychobiology 87 37 50 

Psychometrics 9 7 2 

Quantitative 13 7 6 

School 89 21 68 

 Number of doctorates 

Field of study Total a Men Women 

Social 181 75 105 

Psychology, General 150 59 90 

Psychology, Other 152 45 107 

HUMANITIES 5,373 2,663 2,702 

GENERAL HUMANITIES 3,612 1,955 1,652 

History, American 421 243 178 

History, Asian 67 39 28 

History, European 232 142 90 

History/Philosophy of Sci. & Tech. 46 35 11 

History, General 82 50 31 

History, Other 182 109 73 

Classics 57 37 20 

Comparative Literature 175 69 105 

Linguistics 195 80 114 

Speech & Rhetorical Studies 137 69 68 

Letters, General 33 11 22 

Letters, Other 81 39 42 

American Studies 97 41 56 

Archaeology 27 12 15 

Art History/Criticism/Conservation 217 53 164 

Music 763 392 369 

Philosophy 360 269 91 

Religion 348 230 118 

Drama/Theater Arts 92 35 57 

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE 1,591 643 945 

American Literature 365 162 203 

English Literature 520 195 325 

English Language 83 40 42 

French 121 43 78 

German 68 30 38 

Italian 23 7 16 

Spanish 243 79 162 

Russian 26 10 16 

Slavic 19 8 11 

Chinese 22 13 9 

Japanese 15 5 10 

Hebrew 8 8 0 

Arabic 5 4 1 

Other Language & Literature 73 39 34 

OTHER HUMANITIES 170 65 105 

Humanities, General 19 8 11 

Humanities, Other 151 57 94 

EDUCATION 6,488 2,188 4,288 

RESEARCH & ADMINISTRATION 5,368 1,809 3,553 

Curriculum & Instruction 987 273 713 

Educational Admin. & Supervision 791 307 483 

Educational Leadership 1,548 573 975 

Educ./Instruct. Media Design 171 62 109 

Educ. Stat./Research Methods 67 27 40 

Educ. Assess., Test., & Meas. 31 12 19 

Educational Psychology 301 89 212 

School Psychology 169 43 126 

Social/Phil. Found. Of Educ. 126 46 80 

Special Education 213 51 162 

Counseling Educ./Couns. & Guidance 256 75 179 

Higher Educ./Evaluation & Research 446 172 273 

Pre-elementary/Early Childhood 50 9 41 

Elementary Education 52 11 41 

Secondary Education 22 7 14 

Adult & Continuing Education 138 52 86 

TEACHING FIELDS 684 246 434 

Agricultural Education 28 13 15 

Art Education 30 8 22 

Business Education 12 5 7 
Appendix Table A-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by sex and subfield, 2002, continued 

82 

 Number of doctorates 

Field of study Total a Men Women 

English Education 53 12 41 

Foreign Languages Education 41 13 28 

Health Education 38 10 28 

Home Economics Education 9 0 8 

Technical/Industrial Arts Education 7 5 2 

Mathematics Education 88 32 56 

Music Education 80 38 42 

Nursing Education 7 0 7 

Physical Education and Coaching 73 41 31 

Reading Education 66 9 57 

Science Education 61 22 39 

Social Science Education 10 5 5 

Technical Education 23 11 11 

Trade & Industrial Education 5 4 1 

Teacher Ed./Spec. Acad. & Voc., Other 53 18 34 

OTHER EDUCATION 436 133 301 

Education, General 158 44 112 

Education, Other 278 89 189 

PROFESSIONAL/OTHER FIELDS 2,345 1,251 1,083 

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT 1,095 673 416 

Accounting 110 54 56 

Banking/Financial Support Services 76 60 16 

Business Admin. & Management 339 216 121 

Business/Managerial Economics 38 33 5 

International Business 23 14 8 

 Number of doctorates 

Field of study Total a Men Women 

Mgmt. Info. Sys./Bus. Data Proc. 89 67 22 

Marketing Management & Research 132 77 55 

Operations Research 36 25 10 

Organizational Behavior 173 77 94 

Bus. Mgmt./Admin. Serv., General 33 21 12 

Bus. Mgmt./Admin. Serv., Other 46 29 17 

COMMUNICATIONS 399 165 234 

Communications Research 64 28 36 

Mass Communications 156 71 85 

Communications Theory 43 15 28 

Communications, General 70 22 48 

Communications, Other 66 29 37 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL FIELDS 801 396 401 

Architectural/Environmental Design 67 42 25 

Home Economics 24 2 22 

Law 50 30 20 

Library Science 32 13 17 

Parks/Recreation/Leisure/Fitness 51 29 22 

Public Administration 104 68 35 

Social Work 237 67 170 

Theology/Religious Education 173 117 55 

Professional Fields, General 7 4 3 

Professional Fields, Other 56 24 32 

OTHER FIELDS 50 17 32 

NOTE: Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by federal sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates. a Totals include doctorate recipients whose gender was unknown (total is 71). 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
Appendix Table A-2. Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002

83 

 U.S. citizens and non-U.S. with permanent visas a

Field of study 

Total 

doctorate 

recipients b

Non-U.S. 

citizens 

temp. visas Total 

American 

Indian c Asian d

Black/ 

AfricanAmerican White Puerto 

Rican 

Mexican 

American 

Other 

Hispanic 

Other/ 

unknown 

race e

TOTAL ALL FIELDS 39,955 9,707 27,582 149 2,108 1,731 21,348 342 411 611 882 

PHYSICAL SCIENCES 5,715 2,151 3,289 12 339 101 2,627 31 26 49 104 

MATHEMATICS 917 439 442 3 28 14 369 3 2 7 16 

Applied Mathematics 225 124 98 1 10 5 75 1 0 3 3 

Algebra 65 28 36 0 1 0 31 1 0 1 2 

Analysis & Functional Analysis 74 40 34 0 2 0 31 0 0 0 1 

Geometry 52 25 27 0 0 1 24 0 1 0 1 

Logic 14 4 10 0 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 

Number Theory 26 9 16 0 2 0 13 0 1 0 0 

Mathematical Statistics 167 90 73 0 4 2 62 0 0 1 4 

Topology 39 19 20 0 0 0 18 0 0 1 1 

Computing Theory & Practice 11 5 6 0 1 0 5 0 0 0 0 

Operations Research 19 7 11 1 2 0 8 0 0 0 0 

Mathematics, General 133 54 57 0 3 3 47 1 0 0 3 

Mathematics, Other 92 34 54 1 3 2 46 0 0 1 1 

COMPUTER SCIENCE 811 348 421 2 86 17 291 4 3 7 11 

Computer Science 677 298 350 1 77 11 240 4 3 5 9 

Information Sciences & Systems 79 33 34 1 5 4 22 0 0 1 1 

Computer/Info Science, Other 55 17 37 0 4 2 29 0 0 1 1 

PHYSICS & ASTRONOMY 1,268 514 695 2 73 20 547 9 9 8 27 

Astronomy 54 10 41 0 4 1 31 1 1 2 1 

Astrophysics 90 21 68 0 9 0 56 0 0 0 3 

Acoustics 18 7 11 0 1 0 8 0 0 0 2 

Chemical & Atomic/Molecular 81 31 50 0 7 4 36 0 1 0 2 

Elementary Particles 156 77 74 0 12 1 54 2 2 2 1 

Fluids 15 7 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 

Nuclear 74 26 48 0 1 1 44 1 1 0 0 

Optics 107 57 47 0 4 0 40 0 0 1 2 

Plasma & High-Temperature 29 6 23 0 2 0 20 0 0 0 1 

Polymer 22 12 10 1 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 

Solid State & Low-Temperature 298 146 151 0 15 7 115 2 1 2 9 

Physics, General 178 52 85 1 11 2 64 2 2 0 3 

Physics, Other 146 62 79 0 7 3 63 1 1 1 3 

CHEMISTRY 1,922 595 1,227 5 122 44 985 11 7 20 33 

Analytical 301 84 214 2 14 7 179 4 1 5 2 

Inorganic 246 74 168 1 8 4 147 1 1 2 4 

Nuclear 9 1 7 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 

Organic 523 186 330 1 42 17 256 1 0 4 9 

Medicinal/Pharmaceutical 99 34 62 1 9 2 48 0 0 1 1 

Physical 302 88 213 0 18 2 179 2 3 3 6 

Polymer 101 53 47 0 7 3 35 0 1 0 1 

Theoretical 48 16 32 0 5 1 22 0 0 2 2 

Chemistry, General 207 35 94 0 11 2 70 3 0 2 6 

Chemistry, Other 86 24 60 0 7 6 43 0 1 1 2 

EARTH, ATMOS., & MARINE SCI. 797 255 504 0 30 6 435 4 5 7 17 

Atmospheric Physics & Chemistry 39 15 23 0 2 1 18 0 1 1 0 

Atmospheric Dynamics 13 10 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 

Meteorology 15 4 11 0 1 0 10 0 0 0 0 

Atmos. Sci./Meteorology, General 27 9 16 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 1 

Atmos. Sci./Meteorology, Other 23 7 15 0 2 0 13 0 0 0 0 

Geology 131 35 92 0 4 1 82 0 0 2 3 

Geochemistry 70 14 52 0 5 0 43 0 1 1 2 

Geophysics & Seismology 91 55 35 0 0 1 31 0 0 0 3 

Paleontology 22 7 15 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 

Mineralogy, Petrology 13 4 8 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 

Stratigraphy, Sedimentation 7 2 5 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 1 

Geomorphology & Glacial Geology 16 1 15 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 

Geological & Related Sci., General 12 4 4 0 0 1 3 0 0 0 0 

Geological & Related Sci., Other 30 12 18 0 1 0 13 0 0 1 3 

Environmental Science 109 32 68 0 6 1 58 1 1 0 1 

Hydrology & Water Resources 35 11 22 0 1 0 20 0 0 1 0 

Oceanography 86 24 56 0 4 0 48 1 1 1 1 

Marine Sciences 41 4 34 0 4 1 24 2 1 0 2 

Misc. Physical Sciences, Other 17 5 12 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 
Appendix Table A-2. Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002, continued

84 

 U.S. citizens and non-U.S. with permanent visas a

Field of study 

Total 

doctorate 

recipients b

Non-U.S. 

citizens 

temp. 

visas Total 

American 

Indian c Asian d

Black/ 

AfricanAmerican White Puerto 

Rican 

Mexican 

American 

Other 

Hispanic 

Other/ 

unknown 

race e

ENGINEERING 5,073 2,645 2,161 7 409 86 1,474 26 17 53 89 

Aerospace, Aeronautic., Astronautic. 208 106 91 0 11 2 73 0 1 2 2 

Agricultural 50 31 16 1 1 0 13 0 0 1 0 

Bioengineering & Biomedical 246 52 185 1 36 10 129 0 2 3 4 

Ceramic Sciences 13 8 5 0 0 1 3 0 0 1 0 

Chemical 607 266 308 2 63 9 205 8 3 5 13 

Civil 539 304 204 0 21 13 155 1 0 5 9 

Communications 21 19 2 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 

Computer 164 111 51 0 12 4 29 0 1 2 3 

Electrical & Electronics 1,208 692 453 0 119 11 276 7 3 17 20 

Engineering Mechanics 56 31 21 0 7 1 12 0 0 0 1 

Engineering Physics 16 6 10 0 0 0 8 1 0 0 1 

Engineering Science 31 13 16 0 1 2 11 0 0 1 1 

Environmental Health Engineering 87 45 41 0 8 0 28 0 1 1 3 

Industrial/Manufacturing 229 133 81 1 10 4 56 3 0 3 4 

Materials Science 363 176 164 1 33 4 115 2 1 2 6 

Mechanical 773 417 322 1 63 16 215 3 3 6 15 

Metallurgical 19 12 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 1 0 

Mining & Mineral 8 7 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Nuclear 64 31 31 0 3 0 23 0 1 3 1 

Ocean 23 12 9 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 

Operations Research 66 33 29 0 1 1 26 0 0 0 1 

Petroleum 45 27 10 0 2 1 7 0 0 0 0 

Polymer/Plastics 53 32 18 0 5 2 11 0 0 0 0 

Systems 45 17 26 0 6 1 17 0 0 0 2 

Engineering, General 19 6 9 0 1 1 7 0 0 0 0 

Engineering, Other 120 58 54 0 6 2 41 1 1 0 3 

LIFE SCIENCES 8,350 2,079 5,747 17 679 206 4,463 71 65 92 154 

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 5,680 1,286 4,102 12 560 122 3,114 55 51 72 116 

Biochemistry 781 212 522 2 83 15 389 6 3 8 16 

Biomedical Sciences 217 54 149 0 19 9 110 3 2 4 2 

Biophysics 151 39 104 0 17 4 78 0 2 2 1 

Biotechnology Research 13 8 4 0 1 0 3 0 0 0 0 

Bacteriology 12 2 10 0 2 1 5 2 0 0 0 

Plant Genetics 57 26 30 0 0 0 28 1 0 1 0 

Plant Pathology 24 11 13 0 2 0 11 0 0 0 0 

Plant Physiology 43 18 23 0 0 0 22 1 0 0 0 

Botany, Other 84 16 63 0 3 2 53 1 2 2 0 

Anatomy 21 6 14 0 2 0 11 0 0 0 1 

Biometrics and Biostatistics 81 34 36 0 11 0 24 0 0 0 1 

Cell Biology 303 61 230 0 43 7 167 2 1 3 7 

Ecology 311 38 262 0 5 1 244 1 1 3 7 

Developmental Biology/Embryology 94 22 71 0 10 2 57 0 0 0 2 

Endocrinology 14 4 9 0 2 0 6 0 0 0 1 

Entomology 113 33 71 0 5 1 61 0 0 3 1 

Biological Immunology 276 49 213 0 47 5 147 7 1 1 5 

Molecular Biology 617 145 452 0 74 15 327 4 6 9 17 

Microbiology 383 94 267 0 28 9 206 9 6 2 7 

Neuroscience 490 92 372 3 68 9 259 3 9 9 12 

Nutritional Sciences 141 47 86 0 13 6 61 0 2 2 2 

Parasitology 17 4 13 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 1 

Toxicology 122 27 95 1 11 7 71 1 1 1 2 

Human & Animal Genetics 223 39 169 0 18 3 136 1 1 5 5 

Human & Animal Pathology 115 23 87 0 16 2 65 2 1 0 1 

Human & Animal Pharmacology 267 56 199 0 25 11 148 1 2 5 7 

Human & Animal Physiology 206 47 151 0 21 8 110 1 2 3 6 

Zoology, Other 122 14 99 2 1 1 87 0 3 3 2 

Biological Sciences, General 185 22 137 0 18 2 99 6 4 3 5 

Biological Sciences, Other 197 43 151 4 15 2 117 3 2 3 5 

HEALTH SCIENCES 1,659 322 1,186 3 91 71 963 9 8 15 26 

Speech-Lang. Pathology & Audiology 100 9 87 0 5 8 72 1 0 0 1 

Environmental Health 51 10 29 0 5 2 20 1 0 1 0 

Health Systems/Services Admin. 55 8 39 0 0 8 29 1 0 0 1 

Public Health 217 37 161 0 17 12 121 0 3 3 5 

Epidemiology 199 39 146 1 18 8 110 0 1 3 5 

Exercise Physiology/Sci., Kinesiology 148 20 117 0 3 2 105 1 3 1 2 
Appendix Table A-2. Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002, continued

85 

 U.S. citizens and non-U.S. with permanent visas a

Field of study 

Total 

doctorate 

recipients b

Non-U.S. 

citizens 

temp. 

visas Total 

American 

Indian c Asian d

Black/ 

AfricanAmerican White Puerto 

Rican 

Mexican 

American 

Other 

Hispanic 

Other/ 

unknown 

race e

Nursing 437 51 357 2 15 17 313 2 0 1 7 

Pharmacy 161 82 62 0 22 5 31 1 0 1 2 

Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services 73 6 60 0 0 3 55 0 0 2 0 

Veterinary Medicine 56 31 19 0 1 2 14 0 0 2 0 

Health Sciences, General 38 7 28 0 2 1 24 0 1 0 0 

Health Sciences, Other 124 22 81 0 3 3 69 2 0 1 3 

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 1,011 471 459 2 28 13 386 7 6 5 12 

Agricultural Economics 119 71 38 0 5 1 28 0 1 0 3 

Agricultural Business & Management 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Animal Breeding & Genetics 14 11 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 

Animal Nutrition 49 21 27 0 0 1 24 1 0 0 1 

Dairy Science 7 4 3 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 

Poultry Science 10 6 4 0 1 1 1 1 0 0 0 

Animal Sciences, Other 53 14 37 1 2 0 33 0 0 1 0 

Fisheries Science & Management 70 28 36 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 1 

Agronomy & Crop Science 73 25 27 0 1 1 25 0 0 0 0 

Plant Breeding & Genetics 59 35 24 0 2 1 20 0 0 0 1 

Plant Pathology 53 23 26 0 5 1 20 0 0 0 0 

Plant Sciences, Other 26 13 10 0 1 0 8 0 1 0 0 

Food Engineering 7 6 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Food Sciences, Other 129 82 38 0 5 2 29 0 1 0 1 

Soil Chemistry/Microbiology 29 10 19 0 1 0 17 0 1 0 0 

Soil Sciences, Other 54 25 24 1 0 1 21 1 0 0 0 

Horticulture Science 46 19 24 0 1 0 21 1 1 0 0 

Forest Biology 19 9 10 0 2 0 8 0 0 0 0 

Forest Engineering 3 2 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Forest Management 14 9 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 

Wood Sci. & Pulp/Paper Tech. 29 19 6 0 1 1 4 0 0 0 0 

Conservation/Renewable Nat. Res. 27 4 22 0 1 1 20 0 0 0 0 

Forestry & Related Sci., Other 56 17 31 0 0 0 27 0 0 2 2 

Wildlife/Range Management 37 6 30 0 0 0 25 0 1 2 2 

Agricultural Sciences, General 4 1 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 

Agricultural Sciences, Other 23 11 11 0 0 2 7 2 0 0 0 

SOCIAL SCIENCES & PSYCHOLOGY 6,611 1,022 5,129 34 265 333 4,024 70 83 151 169 

SOCIAL SCIENCES 3,412 870 2,339 19 146 161 1,798 21 32 67 95 

Anthropology 495 65 409 7 14 24 314 4 6 15 25 

Area Studies 25 8 15 0 0 2 9 0 1 2 1 

Criminology 55 1 50 0 0 4 44 0 0 0 2 

Demography/Population Studies 20 5 15 0 4 3 8 0 0 0 0 

Economics 889 449 381 0 49 12 296 2 1 12 9 

Econometrics 14 9 5 0 2 0 3 0 0 0 0 

Geography 197 39 132 1 6 4 113 0 0 2 6 

International Relations/Affairs 82 26 51 0 2 3 43 0 0 2 1 

Political Science and Government 606 87 479 2 19 33 383 7 8 13 14 

Public Policy Analysis 146 19 116 0 8 13 87 0 0 3 5 

Sociology 545 64 460 7 25 43 340 3 11 11 20 

Statistics 54 32 16 0 4 0 11 1 0 0 0 

Urban Affairs/Studies 92 32 56 1 3 5 35 1 2 1 8 

Social Sciences, General 33 3 29 0 2 7 19 0 0 1 0 

Social Sciences, Other 159 31 125 1 8 8 93 3 3 5 4 

PSYCHOLOGY 3,199 152 2,790 15 119 172 2,226 49 51 84 74 

Clinical 1,212 23 1,071 5 51 68 850 20 17 36 24 

Cognitive & Psycholinguistics 121 18 97 0 8 2 80 0 3 3 1 

Comparative 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Counseling 469 14 448 5 21 44 336 9 8 13 12 

Developmental and Child 173 9 159 0 8 7 124 1 9 3 7 

Human/Individual & Family Development 137 17 115 0 4 7 94 0 2 4 4 

Experimental 112 12 97 1 2 1 87 1 1 2 2 

Educational 54 4 37 1 3 2 30 0 1 0 0 

Family & Marriage Counseling 67 8 53 0 0 1 49 0 0 1 2 

Industrial & Organizational 154 5 144 0 6 9 117 0 2 6 4 

Personality 17 1 15 0 1 3 10 0 0 0 1 

Physiological/Psychobiology 87 4 81 1 2 6 66 1 1 1 3 

Psychometrics 9 2 7 0 0 0 6 0 0 1 0 

Quantitative 13 3 10 0 0 1 9 0 0 0 0 

School 89 1 86 0 2 5 75 0 2 1 1 
Appendix Table A-2. Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002, continued

86 

 U.S. citizens and non-U.S. with permanent visas a

Field of study 

Total 

doctorate 

recipients b

Non-U.S. 

citizens 

temp. 

visas Total 

American 

Indian c Asian d

Black/ 

AfricanAmerican White Puerto 

Rican 

Mexican 

American 

Other 

Hispanic 

Other/ 

unknown 

race e

Social 181 12 153 1 4 8 123 5 4 5 3 

Psychology, General 150 9 82 0 3 6 55 8 0 4 6 

Psychology, Other 152 10 134 1 4 2 114 4 1 4 4 

HUMANITIES 5,373 733 4,362 22 179 174 3,572 55 67 131 162 

GENERAL HUMANITIES 3,612 508 2,903 14 125 103 2,436 29 38 46 112 

History, American 421 11 404 1 14 28 348 1 3 2 7 

History, Asian 67 20 47 1 12 0 31 1 0 0 2 

History, European 232 16 214 0 2 0 197 0 1 2 12 

History/Philosophy of Sci. & Tech. 46 5 39 0 0 0 37 0 0 1 1 

History, General 82 6 35 0 1 2 30 0 0 0 2 

History, Other 182 25 154 1 0 11 112 5 11 8 6 

Classics 57 7 49 0 1 0 45 0 0 0 3 

Comparative Literature 175 38 127 0 9 4 96 2 3 6 7 

Linguistics 195 74 109 0 10 3 85 3 0 4 4 

Speech & Rhetorical Studies 137 10 126 1 2 4 113 2 1 1 2 

Letters, General 33 0 25 0 2 0 22 0 0 0 1 

Letters, Other 81 10 66 2 0 3 56 0 1 3 1 

American Studies 97 2 88 2 2 11 65 1 1 1 5 

Archeology 27 6 21 0 0 0 19 0 0 0 2 

Art History/Criticism/Conservation 217 21 186 0 10 3 154 5 2 2 10 

Music 763 164 546 1 33 16 447 6 7 9 27 

Philosophy 360 54 285 1 7 2 254 1 6 3 11 

Religion 348 34 300 2 20 14 253 1 1 3 6 

Drama/Theater Arts 92 5 82 2 0 2 72 1 1 1 3 

LANGUAGE & LITERATURE 1,591 198 1,327 7 46 59 1,038 25 29 80 43 

American Literature 365 18 338 3 11 28 270 3 6 7 10 

English Literature 520 56 455 2 16 17 390 1 5 6 18 

English Language 83 5 56 0 1 2 45 0 1 0 7 

French 121 16 102 1 3 6 89 0 0 0 3 

German 68 11 53 0 2 1 50 0 0 0 0 

Italian 23 10 13 0 1 0 10 1 0 1 0 

Spanish 243 45 191 1 0 4 89 17 17 61 2 

Russian 26 5 20 0 0 0 20 0 0 0 0 

Slavic 19 4 14 0 0 1 12 1 0 0 0 

Chinese 22 6 15 0 4 0 11 0 0 0 0 

Japanese 15 5 10 0 4 0 5 0 0 0 1 

Hebrew 8 1 7 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 

Arabic 5 3 2 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 

Other Language & Literature 73 13 51 0 4 0 38 2 0 5 2 

OTHER HUMANITIES 170 27 132 1 8 12 98 1 0 5 7 

Humanities, General 19 3 13 0 0 1 12 0 0 0 0 

Humanities, Other 151 24 119 1 8 11 86 1 0 5 7 

EDUCATION 6,488 475 5,376 46 138 680 4,028 79 140 104 161 

RESEARCH & ADMINISTRATION 5,368 333 4,559 41 111 589 3,404 70 123 91 130 

Curriculum & Instruction 987 81 832 5 21 103 621 21 20 14 27 

Educational Admin. & Supervision 791 29 686 10 12 100 499 19 15 10 21 

Educational Leadership 1,548 27 1,360 13 16 219 1,002 3 47 32 28 

Educ./Instruct. Media Design 171 33 113 4 2 8 95 0 2 1 1 

Educ. Stat./Research Methods 67 10 55 0 7 4 36 1 4 2 1 

Educ. Assess., Test., & Meas. 31 11 17 0 2 3 10 0 0 2 0 

Educational Psychology 301 30 254 0 11 22 191 2 7 4 17 

School Psychology 169 6 145 0 4 10 118 4 4 3 2 

Social/Phil. Found. of Educ. 126 16 108 0 10 11 73 1 7 1 5 

Special Education 213 24 179 1 5 12 146 6 2 2 5 

Counseling Educ./Couns. & Guidance 256 12 210 2 5 26 160 6 2 2 7 

Higher Educ./Evaluation & Research 446 31 388 3 12 48 286 5 9 13 12 

Pre-elementary/Early Childhood 50 9 31 0 2 4 24 0 0 1 0 

Elementary Education 52 4 44 1 0 4 36 1 1 1 0 

Secondary Education 22 1 20 1 1 1 15 0 1 1 0 

Adult & Continuing Education 138 9 117 1 1 14 92 1 2 2 4 

 

TEACHING FIELDS 684 105 523 2 21 50 412 6 6 9 17 

Agricultural Education 28 6 22 0 0 2 18 0 1 0 1 

Art Education 30 6 22 0 2 1 16 0 0 0 3 
Appendix Table A-2. Number of doctorate recipients, by citizenship, race/ethnicity, and subfield, 2002, continued

87 

 U.S. citizens and non-U.S. with permanent visas a

Field of study 

Total 

doctorate 

recipients b

Non-U.S. 

citizens 

temp. 

visas Total 

American 

Indian c Asian d

Black/ 

AfricanAmerican White Puerto 

Rican 

Mexican 

American 

Other 

Hispanic 

Other/ 

unknown 

race e

Business Education 12 4 8 0 1 1 6 0 0 0 0 

English Education 53 4 46 0 4 4 35 0 0 2 1 

Foreign Languages Education 41 25 15 0 1 2 10 1 0 0 1 

Health Education 38 2 29 0 0 5 23 1 0 0 0 

Home Economics Education 9 0 8 0 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 

Technical/Industrial Arts Education 7 2 5 0 1 1 2 0 0 1 0 

Mathematics Education 88 11 69 0 3 11 53 1 0 1 0 

Music Education 80 15 64 0 3 3 53 1 0 2 2 

Nursing Education 7 0 7 0 1 0 6 0 0 0 0 

Physical Education and Coaching 73 5 63 0 2 2 53 1 2 1 2 

Reading Education 66 6 54 0 0 4 47 0 1 1 1 

Science Education 61 3 57 1 2 4 46 1 0 0 3 

Social Science Education 10 3 7 1 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 

Technical Education 23 5 12 0 0 3 8 0 0 1 0 

Trade & Industrial Education 5 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 1 

Teacher Ed./Spec. Acad. & Voc., Other 53 8 31 0 1 5 21 0 2 0 2 

OTHER EDUCATION 436 37 294 3 6 41 212 3 11 4 14 

Education, General 158 17 75 1 1 10 55 1 2 0 5 

Education, Other 278 20 219 2 5 31 157 2 9 4 9 

PROFESSIONAL/OTHER FIELDS 2,345 602 1,518 11 99 151 1,160 10 13 31 43 

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT 1,095 340 636 4 49 58 483 7 5 11 19 

Accounting 110 26 83 0 6 6 68 0 1 0 2 

Banking/Financial Support Services 76 42 30 1 7 1 21 0 0 0 0 

Business Admin. & Management 339 94 188 1 12 18 144 4 0 4 5 

Business/Managerial Economics 38 16 22 0 3 1 17 0 0 1 0 

International Business 23 9 8 0 0 2 3 1 0 0 2 

Mgmt. Info. Sys./Bus. Data Proc. 89 41 44 0 8 3 31 1 0 1 0 

Marketing Management & Research 132 51 80 1 7 7 59 1 3 1 1 

Operations Research 36 17 13 0 0 0 11 0 0 1 1 

Organizational Behavior 173 19 124 1 2 14 97 0 1 3 6 

Bus. Mgmt./Admin. Serv., General 33 8 15 0 0 2 13 0 0 0 0 

Bus. Mgmt./Admin. Serv., Other 46 17 29 0 4 4 19 0 0 0 2 

COMMUNICATIONS 399 77 300 0 13 32 229 1 4 7 14 

Communications Research 64 14 42 0 2 5 31 0 0 1 3 

Mass Communications 156 35 113 0 6 10 85 1 1 4 6 

Communications Theory 43 3 40 0 1 4 31 0 0 1 3 

Communications, General 70 14 52 0 3 4 43 0 0 0 2 

Communications, Other 66 11 53 0 1 9 39 0 3 1 0 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL FIELDS 801 177 568 7 37 60 436 2 4 12 10 

Architectural Environmental Design 67 38 28 0 5 1 20 0 1 1 0 

Home Economics 24 10 13 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 

Law 50 26 15 1 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 

Library Science 32 7 23 1 0 5 16 0 0 0 1 

Parks/Recreation/Leisure/Fitness 51 16 31 0 0 1 29 0 0 0 1 

Public Administration 104 11 83 1 4 12 62 0 1 2 1 

Social Work 237 15 199 2 7 24 155 2 0 3 6 

Theology/Religious Education 173 39 129 1 20 10 90 0 1 6 1 

Professional Fields, General 7 2 5 0 0 2 3 0 0 0 0 

Professional Fields, Other 56 13 42 1 1 5 34 0 1 0 0 

OTHER FIELDS 50 8 14 0 0 1 12 0 0 1 0 

NOTE: Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by federal sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates. See inside the back cover for a description of fields as 

reported in this table. Refer also to the explanatory note about this table in front of Appendix A. 

a Persons reporting an Hispanic ethnicity, whether singly or in combination with another race/ethnicity, are included in the respondent-selected Hispanic ethnicity category. b Includes 2,663 individuals who did not report their citizenship at time of doctorate. See the "Important Notice" for discussion of item response rate issues. c Includes Alaskan Natives. 

d Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

e Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, respondents choosing multiple races (excluding those selecting an Hispanic ethnicity), and respondents with unknown 

race/ethnicity. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
88

Appendix Table A-3a. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 - Total all doctorates

Characteristics 

2002 

Total 

Physics & astronomy Chemistry Earth, atmos., & marine sci. Mathematics Computer sciences PHYSICAL SCIENCES a

ENGINEERING Biochemistry Other Biosciences Health sciences Agricultural sciences LIFE SCIENCES Psychology Economics Anthropology & sociology 

Number in field 39,955 1,268 1,922 797 917 811 5,715 5,073 781 4,899 1,659 1,011 8,350 3,199 903 1,040 

Men % 54.5 83.7 66.3 68.4 70.9 78.9 73.0 82.3 62.5 54.1 31.8 69.0 52.3 33.1 71.9 40.2 

Women 45.4 16.2 33.6 31.4 28.8 20.7 26.8 17.5 37.5 45.8 68.1 30.7 47.7 66.7 27.6 59.8 

Unknown b 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.3 0.3 0.4 0.2 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.6 0.0 

U.S. citizenship % 64.9 49.5 59.0 58.6 44.8 44.0 52.5 37.3 61.2 67.5 67.4 41.8 63.8 85.0 37.2 79.5 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 4.1 5.3 4.8 4.6 3.4 7.9 5.1 5.3 5.6 5.5 4.1 3.6 5.0 2.2 5.5 4.0 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 24.3 40.5 31.0 32.0 47.9 42.9 37.6 52.1 27.1 21.9 19.4 46.6 24.9 4.8 50.7 12.4 

Unknown 6.7 4.7 5.2 4.8 3.9 5.2 4.8 5.3 6.0 5.0 9.1 8.0 6.3 8.0 6.5 4.0 

Never married % 26.2 38.3 34.8 25.6 40.9 31.6 34.8 31.7 34.7 30.7 19.7 21.9 27.8 26.8 32.4 26.0 

Married 52.1 44.2 48.9 54.8 43.7 53.9 48.5 54.3 48.9 50.4 56.5 59.7 52.6 47.9 48.6 48.3 

Separated, divorced 5.4 3.1 2.5 3.1 2.7 2.5 2.7 2.3 2.7 4.1 6.3 4.6 4.5 5.9 3.4 6.8 

Marriage-like relationship 5.7 5.9 5.5 9.2 5.8 3.3 5.8 3.0 5.8 7.1 4.0 3.5 5.9 7.3 5.5 12.2 

Widowed 0.3 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.5 0.1 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.3 

Unknown 10.3 8.3 8.3 7.2 6.9 8.6 7.9 8.7 7.9 7.5 12.8 10.2 8.9 11.8 9.9 6.4 

Median age at doctorate Yrs 33.3 30.4 29.2 33.1 30.3 32.1 30.5 31.4 30.0 31.1 38.1 34.3 31.9 32.1 31.7 34.6 

Bachelor's in same field as doctorate % 52.4 69.8 73.5 46.3 70.0 40.8 63.7 74.1 27.9 51.9 42.2 49.0 47.4 64.1 54.9 44.8 

Percent with masters % 72.6 63.8 39.2 74.4 72.5 81.8 60.9 81.1 30.1 40.2 79.3 81.7 52.0 76.1 74.0 83.5 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 10.2 7.8 6.5 9.9 7.6 9.4 7.8 8.6 7.4 8.2 14.2 10.7 8.9 9.2 9.0 11.3 

Registered time 7.5 7.0 6.0 7.7 6.8 7.7 6.8 6.7 6.5 7.0 8.0 7.2 7.0 7.3 7.0 8.9 

Postdoctoral study plans % 26.8 58.0 45.7 47.6 38.2 17.8 43.5 24.1 73.1 64.0 19.5 36.0 52.6 31.9 8.5 21.1 

Fellowship 53.6 37.6 52.3 43.8 58.6 20.8 45.7 32.0 65.0 61.6 65.1 33.2 59.9 75.6 51.9 63.5 

Research assoc. 35.7 58.6 43.6 52.8 38.6 71.5 50.3 58.0 26.8 27.8 25.6 58.2 30.0 14.6 36.4 24.2 

Traineeship 3.8 2.3 1.0 1.1 1.1 3.5 1.6 4.9 2.1 3.1 4.0 3.8 3.1 6.4 3.9 4.1 

Other study 6.8 1.5 3.1 2.4 1.7 4.2 2.4 5.1 6.1 7.6 5.2 4.7 7.0 3.4 7.8 8.2 

Planned employment after doctorate % 62.4 33.6 45.3 45.5 54.4 73.0 48.1 66.7 18.4 28.2 67.5 53.0 38.1 55.9 80.2 72.2 

Educ. institution c 36.3 8.7 9.0 16.1 33.7 31.7 17.1 13.8 5.5 10.8 39.3 25.6 17.7 24.9 44.7 51.4 

Industry/business 15.4 18.8 31.9 15.6 14.9 34.4 24.4 43.9 11.7 10.9 10.8 12.9 11.2 13.1 14.7 5.6 

Government 4.5 3.2 1.8 8.4 3.4 3.8 3.6 6.1 0.6 3.2 8.3 8.5 4.6 6.6 12.8 3.8 

Nonprofit 3.3 0.6 0.8 2.8 1.3 1.0 1.1 1.1 0.3 1.3 6.1 3.0 2.3 7.5 3.4 6.0 

Other & unknown 3.0 2.3 1.8 2.8 1.1 2.1 2.0 1.8 0.4 2.1 3.0 3.1 2.3 3.8 4.4 5.4 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 10.8 8.4 9.0 6.9 7.4 9.2 8.4 9.1 8.5 7.8 13.0 11.0 9.3 12.2 11.3 6.7 

Definite postdoctoral study % 19.8 45.6 37.8 34.8 31.0 13.3 34.5 15.7 57.6 49.3 14.5 23.0 40.0 24.8 6.6 14.0 

Seeking postdoctoral study 7.1 12.4 7.9 12.8 7.2 4.4 9.0 8.4 15.5 14.7 5.0 13.0 12.6 7.1 1.9 7.0 

Definite employment 45.0 22.7 33.4 32.5 41.5 54.0 35.1 47.5 12.4 18.1 54.1 36.9 27.0 39.0 65.0 47.9 

Seeking employment 17.4 10.9 11.9 13.0 12.9 19.0 13.0 19.3 6.0 10.1 13.4 16.1 11.1 16.9 15.2 24.3 

Employment commitments after doctorate d 17,984 288 641 259 381 438 2,007 2,408 97 887 897 373 2,254 1,247 587 498 

Primary activity 

R & D % 31.9 58.4 69.4 47.8 39.5 63.3 58.0 71.2 43.3 45.5 31.9 51.3 40.9 22.3 54.6 31.0 

Teaching 39.6 23.4 16.5 22.5 52.1 25.2 26.9 12.2 25.6 26.6 43.4 28.2 33.6 21.7 28.1 52.6 

Administration 13.1 1.8 1.9 4.4 1.4 3.3 2.4 2.4 4.4 4.6 10.0 6.8 7.1 6.1 2.1 6.7 

Prof. services 12.8 10.6 10.2 20.5 5.8 5.6 9.7 11.2 26.7 18.7 12.7 10.8 15.3 48.1 12.0 7.3 

Other 2.6 5.8 1.9 4.8 1.4 2.6 2.9 3.0 0.0 4.6 2.0 2.8 3.1 1.8 3.1 2.5 

Secondary activity 

R & D % 33.0 25.2 16.2 29.7 45.8 27.3 27.3 17.0 23.3 31.2 37.2 30.5 33.2 27.9 34.2 47.6 

Teaching 19.8 7.7 6.8 18.5 15.9 25.4 14.2 16.0 7.8 14.6 18.9 24.8 17.7 20.3 35.1 24.3 

Administration 13.8 14.6 24.3 14.1 7.7 10.8 15.5 18.5 15.6 20.0 16.8 16.5 17.9 17.1 11.2 10.0 

Prof. services 12.1 11.3 12.6 12.0 9.6 8.2 10.8 14.6 8.9 10.1 16.1 11.7 12.7 12.4 7.3 6.7 

Other 3.4 7.3 2.8 5.6 1.1 3.3 3.6 4.0 2.2 3.3 2.3 2.3 2.7 3.8 1.9 1.7 

No secondary activity 17.9 33.9 37.3 20.1 20.0 24.9 28.6 29.9 42.2 20.9 8.8 14.2 15.8 18.5 10.3 9.8 

Activity(ies) unknown % 3.8 4.9 3.7 3.9 4.2 3.0 3.8 3.2 7.2 7.1 3.7 5.9 5.5 3.8 2.4 3.4 

Region of employment after doctorate 

New England % 6.7 10.4 12.0 3.5 9.2 5.5 8.7 7.1 16.5 9.6 6.7 4.3 7.9 6.2 8.2 9.2 

Middle Atlantic 14.3 15.3 18.4 13.1 20.2 19.9 17.9 12.8 13.4 15.7 14.8 7.8 13.9 16.0 10.9 16.1 

East North Central 13.5 9.0 13.6 7.7 12.1 9.4 11.0 12.0 10.3 13.2 11.3 7.0 11.3 14.8 9.5 14.1 

West North Central 6.2 4.5 5.1 2.7 5.5 3.9 4.5 3.2 2.1 4.3 7.7 9.1 6.3 7.8 4.3 7.6 

South Atlantic 17.0 13.5 13.1 15.8 17.1 17.1 15.1 11.8 14.4 15.9 17.9 12.6 16.1 17.5 22.5 14.7 

East South Central 4.2 3.5 1.6 3.5 3.4 2.3 2.6 2.2 1.0 3.8 5.6 3.2 4.3 4.5 3.1 2.6 

West South Central 8.4 6.3 4.4 16.6 5.0 5.5 6.6 8.7 7.2 6.3 9.4 4.3 7.2 8.2 3.2 7.2 

Mountain 5.1 4.9 5.8 8.5 4.2 3.4 5.2 5.2 1.0 4.8 4.5 5.9 4.7 5.7 2.0 4.2 

Pacific & Insular 14.5 22.9 18.7 16.2 11.3 25.1 19.0 22.5 23.7 16.1 10.6 11.5 13.5 15.3 9.4 17.3 

Foreign 9.6 9.0 6.2 12.4 11.0 8.0 8.7 13.7 8.2 9.7 11.1 33.0 14.1 3.5 26.6 7.0 

Region unknown 0.5 0.7 1.1 0.0 1.0 0.0 0.6 0.7 2.1 0.6 0.4 1.3 0.7 0.6 0.3 0.0 a Physical sciences includes mathematics and computer sciences. b Includes 71 respondents not reporting gender. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
89

Appendix Table A-3a. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 - Total all doctorates, continued 

Characteristics 

Political sci./ Internatn'l Rel. Other social sciences SOCIAL SCI. INCL. PSYCHOLOGY TOTAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING History American literature English lang. & literature Foreign lang. & literature Other Humanities HUMANITIES EDUCATION Business & management Other professional fields PROFESSIONAL/ OTHER FIELDS TOTAL NONSCIENCES 

Number in field 688 781 6,611 25,749 1,030 365 603 623 2,752 5,373 6,488 1,095 1,200 2,345 14,206 

Men % 58.3 53.8 44.6 60.8 60.0 44.4 39.0 39.5 50.9 49.6 33.7 61.5 46.8 53.3 43.0 

Women 41.6 46.0 55.2 39.0 39.9 55.6 60.9 60.2 48.9 50.3 66.1 38.0 52.9 46.2 56.8 

Unknown b 0.1 0.3 0.2 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.3 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.5 0.3 0.5 0.2 

U.S. Citizenship % 73.4 65.8 74.1 58.7 83.9 91.2 81.3 67.9 73.8 77.0 81.2 54.4 67.3 60.4 76.2 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 3.6 5.1 3.4 4.7 2.8 1.4 3.5 8.8 4.1 4.2 1.7 3.7 5.1 4.3 3.1 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 16.4 21.8 15.5 30.7 8.1 4.9 10.1 19.1 16.4 13.6 7.3 31.1 21.2 25.7 12.7 

Unknown 6.5 7.3 7.0 5.9 5.2 2.5 5.1 4.2 5.7 5.2 9.8 10.9 6.5 9.6 8.0 

Never married % 29.2 23.9 27.4 30.0 26.8 24.1 25.5 28.3 26.9 26.7 13.1 20.5 20.3 20.0 19.4 

Married 48.7 51.9 48.6 51.0 54.0 53.7 47.3 48.6 48.5 49.8 57.6 54.6 55.8 54.3 54.1 

Separated, divorced 5.7 7.0 5.8 4.0 4.2 6.3 8.3 6.4 6.2 6.1 9.8 5.9 7.8 6.9 7.9 

Marriage-like relationship 6.4 6.1 7.6 5.8 7.4 11.8 9.1 10.4 7.6 8.3 3.5 2.3 5.9 4.1 5.4 

Widowed 0.3 0.5 0.2 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.5 0.2 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.4 0.5 0.6 

Unknown 9.7 10.5 10.3 9.0 7.2 3.6 9.3 6.1 10.3 8.7 15.2 16.3 9.8 14.2 12.6 

Median age at doctorate Yrs 33.9 35.7 33.0 31.7 34.7 33.8 34.3 34.7 35.0 34.7 44.2 35.7 39.0 37.2 38.3 

Bachelor's in same field as doctorate % 54.5 20.1 53.6 57.9 56.5 100.0 100.0 47.5 52.4 61.2 30.6 35.0 30.5 31.9 42.4 

Percent with masters % 76.9 86.9 78.3 66.5 83.6 87.9 84.7 86.7 81.8 83.5 84.5 75.4 89.2 81.3 83.6 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 11.0 11.8 10.0 8.8 11.8 11.0 11.4 10.9 11.7 11.5 19.0 12.4 14.7 13.4 14.0 

Registered time 8.6 8.3 7.8 7.0 9.0 8.7 9.0 8.9 9.0 9.0 8.5 7.7 8.6 8.1 8.6 

Postdoctoral study plans % 13.2 14.3 23.0 37.4 13.1 11.8 7.8 9.8 9.1 10.0 6.1 4.1 9.6 6.9 7.7 

Fellowship 62.6 47.3 69.8 54.3 68.9 62.8 70.2 50.8 59.4 62.0 32.3 33.3 41.7 39.1 47.9 

Research assoc. 22.0 34.8 19.0 37.1 11.9 9.3 8.5 11.5 16.7 13.6 33.1 42.2 33.9 36.6 24.1 

Traineeship 2.2 7.1 5.7 3.4 3.0 4.7 4.3 11.5 6.4 5.8 11.8 4.4 5.2 5.0 7.8 

Other study 13.2 10.7 5.5 5.3 16.3 23.3 17.0 26.2 17.5 18.6 22.8 20.0 19.1 19.3 20.2 

Planned employment after doctorate % 76.2 74.9 66.1 53.2 78.3 83.0 81.8 83.9 79.9 80.5 78.2 79.5 80.0 78.5 79.1 

Educ. institution c 53.1 43.8 36.9 21.7 60.2 72.1 69.0 71.6 60.6 63.5 63.2 63.4 56.1 58.7 62.6 

Industry/business 7.1 12.2 11.4 20.6 5.7 4.4 4.0 4.5 7.7 6.3 4.6 10.0 7.4 8.5 5.9 

Government 7.1 7.4 7.2 5.3 4.3 0.8 1.2 0.6 1.0 1.6 3.8 2.4 5.1 3.8 2.9 

Nonprofit 3.3 6.9 6.2 2.8 3.4 0.5 1.7 1.8 5.6 4.0 4.0 1.9 8.2 5.1 4.2 

Other & unknown 5.5 4.6 4.4 2.7 4.7 5.2 6.0 5.5 5.0 5.1 2.7 1.7 3.3 2.5 3.5 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 10.6 10.8 10.9 9.4 8.6 5.2 10.4 6.3 11.0 9.5 15.6 16.4 10.4 14.7 13.2 

Definite postdoctoral study % 9.2 8.7 17.1 28.1 8.6 8.2 5.0 6.6 5.1 6.2 3.5 2.7 5.5 4.1 4.6 

Seeking postdoctoral study 4.1 5.6 5.9 9.3 4.5 3.6 2.8 3.2 4.0 3.8 2.6 1.4 4.1 2.8 3.1 

Definite employment 52.6 57.4 47.5 38.1 52.9 53.4 52.1 56.5 52.3 52.9 59.7 66.8 59.4 61.9 57.5 

Seeking employment 23.5 17.5 18.6 15.1 25.3 29.6 29.7 27.4 27.6 27.5 18.5 12.7 20.6 16.5 21.6 

Employment commitments after doctorate d 362 448 3,142 9,811 545 195 314 352 1,439 2,845 3,876 731 713 1,452 8,173 

Primary activity 

R & D % 27.5 34.5 32.1 49.1 10.0 5.9 5.3 8.2 9.1 8.5 7.0 42.0 15.0 28.4 11.4 

Teaching 53.5 40.1 34.1 27.1 73.8 82.7 85.4 84.4 75.1 77.7 39.2 44.2 56.9 50.6 54.6 

Administration 9.3 10.0 6.4 4.7 6.2 5.4 2.0 3.2 5.5 4.9 41.2 6.0 13.3 9.6 23.0 

Prof. services 7.1 12.6 25.0 16.3 5.8 3.8 3.6 1.5 5.9 4.9 11.3 5.8 12.3 9.0 8.7 

Other 2.5 2.8 2.4 2.8 4.2 2.2 3.6 2.6 4.4 3.9 1.2 2.0 2.6 2.3 2.3 

Secondary activity 

R & D % 50.7 42.0 36.8 29.1 58.2 51.9 56.3 65.6 48.2 53.4 24.6 38.0 46.2 42.0 37.6 

Teaching 25.8 23.3 24.8 18.9 12.5 9.7 7.0 9.7 13.0 11.6 23.4 44.7 20.6 32.7 21.0 

Administration 4.8 9.6 12.4 15.8 9.2 11.4 12.9 10.6 13.0 11.8 12.3 5.7 11.7 8.8 11.5 

Prof. services 6.5 10.0 9.5 11.8 5.6 5.4 6.0 3.2 8.2 6.6 18.3 6.0 10.4 8.2 12.5 

Other 1.4 3.7 2.8 3.2 1.7 3.2 3.3 1.5 7.3 4.8 3.3 1.3 2.9 2.1 3.6 

No secondary activity 10.8 11.4 13.7 21.2 12.7 18.4 14.6 9.4 10.4 11.7 18.2 4.4 8.2 6.3 13.8 

Activity(ies) unknown % 2.5 4.2 3.4 3.9 4.8 5.1 3.8 3.4 4.7 4.5 3.4 3.8 2.8 3.3 3.7 

Region of employment after doctorate 

New England % 8.8 6.5 7.4 7.7 9.7 9.2 6.1 7.4 6.5 7.3 4.2 5.9 4.9 5.4 5.5 

Middle Atlantic 11.9 14.1 14.3 14.6 16.7 17.9 19.1 16.2 16.3 16.8 12.0 13.3 13.2 13.2 13.9 

East North Central 13.5 10.9 13.0 11.9 14.1 10.3 17.5 16.2 15.3 15.1 15.9 13.8 15.6 14.7 15.4 

West North Central 6.9 4.9 6.6 5.3 5.1 6.2 5.7 8.2 7.3 6.7 8.3 5.5 5.6 5.5 7.3 

South Atlantic 23.5 23.4 19.5 15.9 15.4 15.9 15.3 17.9 14.2 15.1 20.5 20.0 16.4 18.4 18.3 

East South Central 3.9 4.0 3.8 3.3 4.0 7.2 6.1 3.7 4.2 4.5 6.4 4.5 4.3 4.4 5.4 

West South Central 5.2 7.6 6.7 7.3 10.5 7.7 9.6 8.2 8.9 9.1 10.5 9.4 9.7 9.5 9.8 

Mountain 3.9 5.1 4.5 4.9 5.3 5.1 4.8 2.3 4.5 4.5 6.3 5.6 4.2 4.9 5.4 

Pacific & Insular 10.5 10.9 13.3 16.8 13.2 15.4 11.8 13.1 11.6 12.4 11.3 11.5 12.1 11.8 11.7 

Foreign 11.3 12.5 10.6 11.8 5.7 5.1 3.8 6.5 10.6 8.0 4.3 10.3 13.9 12.1 7.0 

Region unknown 0.6 0.0 0.4 0.6 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.3 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.1 0.2 0.3 c Includes 2-year, 4-year, and foreign colleges and universities, medical schools, and elementary/secondary schools. d Includes only recipients with definite employment plans.
90

Appendix Table A-3b. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 - Total all men

Characteristics 

2002 

Total 

Physics & astronomy Chemistry Earth, atmos., & marine sci. Mathematics Computer sciences PHYSICAL SCIENCES a

ENGINEERING Biochemistry Other Biosciences Health sciences Agricultural sciences LIFE SCIENCES Psychology Economics Anthropology & sociology 

Number in field 21,760 1,061 1,275 545 650 640 4,171 4,173 488 2,652 528 698 4,366 1,060 649 418 

Men as percent of total doctorates % 54.5 83.7 66.3 68.4 70.9 78.9 73.0 82.3 62.5 54.1 31.8 69.0 52.3 33.1 71.9 40.2 

U.S. citizenship % 58.9 49.9 58.9 52.5 44.5 43.6 51.2 36.6 61.5 66.2 59.1 39.3 60.5 83.8 37.0 77.5 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 4.0 5.0 4.5 4.6 2.9 7.0 4.8 4.7 4.1 4.2 4.7 3.2 4.1 2.5 4.2 4.8 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 31.0 40.4 31.0 37.4 48.8 44.7 39.1 54.1 28.5 23.9 26.1 49.3 28.7 5.6 53.6 13.6 

Unknown 6.1 4.7 5.7 5.5 3.8 4.7 5.0 4.6 5.9 5.7 10.0 8.3 6.7 8.2 5.2 4.1 

Never married % 27.0 38.3 33.9 22.0 40.3 34.1 34.5 31.4 33.2 29.4 17.0 19.1 26.7 25.9 33.9 27.5 

Married 54.8 44.4 48.8 60.2 44.9 53.9 49.3 55.9 50.2 52.8 59.8 63.9 55.1 51.5 50.4 49.0 

Separated, divorced 3.5 3.1 2.1 2.6 2.6 2.2 2.5 1.8 2.9 3.1 3.2 3.7 3.2 3.4 2.9 4.1 

Marriage-like relationship 5.0 5.8 6.0 7.3 4.8 3.0 5.5 2.9 5.7 6.6 4.5 2.7 5.6 6.3 5.1 11.2 

Widowed 0.1 0.3 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.2 

Unknown 9.6 8.1 9.2 7.9 7.4 6.9 8.1 7.9 8.0 8.1 15.3 10.5 9.3 12.7 7.7 7.9 

Median age at doctorate Yrs 32.8 30.6 29.4 33.7 30.4 32.1 30.7 31.6 30.3 31.3 35.2 34.5 31.9 32.6 31.9 35.0 

Bachelor's in same field as doctorate % 54.5 70.2 72.2 47.7 69.1 41.4 63.3 75.7 30.1 49.9 29.2 51.4 45.4 62.5 58.2 42.6 

Percent with masters % 71.7 62.8 39.3 76.3 72.3 81.6 61.7 82.1 32.2 41.6 73.1 83.4 51.0 75.1 75.8 82.3 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 9.7 7.9 6.6 10.5 7.8 9.4 7.9 8.7 7.5 8.2 12.0 11.1 8.6 9.3 9.0 11.7 

Registered time 7.4 7.0 6.0 7.9 6.9 7.8 6.9 6.7 6.5 7.0 7.6 7.3 7.0 7.6 7.0 9.2 

Postdoctoral study plans % 29.4 58.0 47.5 46.2 39.5 19.8 44.5 24.1 74.4 65.2 21.0 37.4 56.5 29.2 7.9 19.6 

Fellowship 49.9 36.6 54.0 41.3 58.0 22.0 44.9 31.0 68.0 60.0 63.1 34.1 58.6 75.2 47.1 63.4 

Research assoc. 39.5 59.7 42.3 55.6 38.5 69.3 51.2 58.7 24.5 27.2 23.4 57.1 29.8 16.5 43.1 22.0 

Traineeship 3.8 2.4 0.8 1.2 1.6 3.9 1.7 4.9 1.9 3.5 4.5 3.4 3.3 6.5 3.9 2.4 

Other Study 6.8 1.3 2.8 2.0 1.9 4.7 2.2 5.5 5.5 9.2 9.0 5.4 8.3 1.9 5.9 12.2 

Planned employment after doctorate % 60.5 33.8 42.8 45.7 52.8 71.7 46.9 67.4 17.8 26.5 63.8 51.3 34.0 58.0 83.4 72.7 

Educ. institution b 31.5 8.2 8.0 15.4 30.3 29.4 15.8 13.2 4.1 10.6 35.6 25.1 15.2 25.3 46.7 51.4 

Industry/business 19.2 19.9 31.8 16.9 16.2 36.4 25.1 45.0 12.3 10.2 14.8 11.6 11.2 15.9 15.9 6.7 

Government 5.0 3.2 1.1 8.8 3.5 3.8 3.4 6.6 0.8 3.5 8.1 9.7 4.7 7.8 13.6 3.1 

Nonprofit 2.6 0.7 0.7 1.7 1.5 0.3 0.9 0.9 0.2 0.9 3.6 2.6 1.4 6.6 3.4 6.2 

Other & unknown 2.2 1.9 1.2 2.9 1.2 1.9 1.7 1.7 0.4 1.4 1.7 2.3 1.5 2.4 3.9 5.3 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 10.1 8.2 9.7 8.1 7.7 8.4 8.6 8.5 7.8 8.2 15.2 11.3 9.5 12.7 8.8 7.7 

Definite postdoctoral study % 21.8 45.6 39.5 33.2 31.7 15.0 35.3 15.8 60.2 51.8 15.3 22.8 43.7 22.7 6.5 13.2 

Seeking postdoctoral study 7.6 12.3 7.9 13.0 7.8 4.8 9.2 8.3 14.1 13.5 5.7 14.6 12.8 6.5 1.4 6.5 

Definite employment 44.5 23.4 32.9 33.6 39.5 54.2 34.9 48.0 11.9 17.9 53.2 37.5 24.7 44.6 68.1 46.4 

Seeking employment 16.0 10.5 10.0 12.1 13.2 17.5 12.0 19.4 5.9 8.6 10.6 13.8 9.4 13.4 15.3 26.3 

Employment commitments after doctorate c 9,682 248 419 183 257 347 1,454 2,005 58 476 281 262 1,077 473 442 194 

Primary activity 

R & D % 39.7 59.8 73.5 52.3 42.4 66.4 61.3 72.4 54.5 47.8 38.5 51.0 46.5 23.1 55.3 30.6 

Teaching 35.1 21.4 14.0 19.0 48.2 21.1 23.6 11.5 16.4 25.6 37.7 28.0 28.9 21.4 27.2 53.8 

Administration 10.6 1.3 1.8 5.2 1.2 2.7 2.2 2.2 1.8 5.0 7.5 8.2 6.3 5.9 2.6 3.8 

Prof. services 11.8 11.5 9.5 18.4 6.5 7.1 9.9 10.6 27.3 18.3 12.8 10.7 15.5 48.0 12.1 9.1 

Other 2.8 6.0 1.3 5.2 1.6 2.7 3.0 3.3 0.0 3.2 3.4 2.1 2.8 1.5 2.8 2.7 

Secondary activity 

R & D % 31.1 23.9 13.5 28.2 41.6 24.7 24.8 16.1 16.4 30.7 34.7 32.1 31.3 26.7 33.5 45.7 

Teaching 20.5 7.7 7.3 23.0 16.3 25.9 15.4 16.1 9.1 16.5 24.9 25.1 20.4 22.2 36.3 23.7 

Administration 14.8 15.4 27.0 11.5 9.4 12.8 16.6 19.6 20.0 18.1 17.0 16.5 17.5 18.1 11.6 11.8 

Prof. services 11.7 10.7 13.0 12.1 10.6 8.6 11.0 15.1 10.9 12.1 12.5 12.8 12.3 12.3 6.5 7.5 

Other 3.4 7.7 2.8 4.6 1.6 3.3 3.7 3.9 0.0 3.4 3.4 2.5 3.0 3.5 2.1 1.1 

No secondary activity 18.4 34.6 36.5 20.7 20.4 24.7 28.5 29.1 43.6 19.2 7.5 11.1 15.5 17.2 10.0 10.2 

Activity(ies) unknown % 4.1 5.6 4.5 4.9 4.7 3.2 4.5 3.5 5.2 8.2 5.7 7.3 7.1 4.0 2.7 4.1 

Region of employment after doctorate 

New England % 6.8 10.1 14.3 2.7 7.8 5.8 8.9 7.1 15.5 10.3 5.0 2.7 7.3 4.9 6.8 11.3 

Middle Atlantic 13.7 14.9 17.2 12.6 23.7 19.3 17.9 12.9 17.2 13.2 15.7 7.3 12.6 14.8 11.3 14.9 

East North Central 12.5 8.9 11.2 7.7 9.7 10.1 9.8 11.3 6.9 14.5 10.3 6.9 11.1 14.4 9.0 11.9 

West North Central 5.9 4.4 6.0 2.7 5.8 4.0 4.8 3.3 1.7 4.0 7.1 11.1 6.4 8.9 4.3 8.2 

South Atlantic 15.9 12.9 12.4 14.2 16.3 16.1 14.3 11.7 13.8 13.2 18.5 12.2 14.4 17.3 21.9 17.0 

East South Central 4.0 3.6 1.4 4.4 3.1 2.6 2.8 2.4 0.0 3.2 5.7 3.8 3.8 5.7 3.4 3.6 

West South Central 8.2 5.6 5.7 18.0 3.5 5.2 6.7 8.4 8.6 6.3 8.2 3.8 6.3 9.9 3.6 6.7 

Mountain 5.0 5.2 6.9 8.2 4.7 3.2 5.5 5.4 1.7 4.8 3.6 5.7 4.5 5.9 0.7 3.1 

Pacific & Insular 15.5 24.2 17.7 16.4 13.2 25.9 19.8 22.6 22.4 17.6 13.2 9.2 14.7 12.7 9.3 16.0 

Foreign 12.0 9.3 6.0 13.1 10.9 7.8 8.7 14.2 8.6 12.2 11.7 35.5 17.5 5.1 29.4 7.2 

Region Unknown 0.5 0.8 1.2 0.0 1.2 0.0 0.7 0.7 3.4 0.6 1.1 1.9 1.2 0.4 0.2 0.0 a Physical sciences includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

b Includes 2-year, 4-year, and foreign colleges and universities, medical schools, and elementary/secondary schools. c Includes only recipients with definite employment plans. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
91

Appendix Table A-3b. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 - Total all men, continued

Characteristics 

Political sci./ Internatn'l Rel. Other social sciences SOCIAL SCI. INCL. PSYCHOLOGY TOTAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING History American literature English lang. & literature Foreign lang. & literature Other Humanities HUMANITIES EDUCATION Business & management Other professional fields PROFESSIONAL/OTHER FIELDS TOTAL NONSCIENCES 

Number in field 401 420 2,948 15,658 618 162 235 246 1,402 2,663 2,188 673 561 1,251 6,102 

Men as percent of total doctorates % 58.3 53.8 44.6 60.8 60.0 44.4 39.0 39.5 50.9 49.6 33.7 61.5 46.8 53.3 43.0 

U.S. citizenship % 70.3 59.0 67.2 52.9 85.8 91.4 82.6 69.9 74.3 78.3 80.3 51.6 61.9 55.9 74.4 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 3.2 4.8 3.6 4.3 1.8 0.6 3.4 8.5 4.0 3.6 1.6 3.6 5.5 4.5 3.1 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 19.2 27.6 22.3 37.1 7.3 4.9 8.9 19.5 15.9 13.0 8.8 36.7 25.3 31.7 15.3 

Unknown 7.2 8.6 6.9 5.7 5.2 3.1 5.1 2.0 5.8 5.1 9.2 8.2 7.3 8.0 7.2 

Never married % 25.9 21.4 27.3 30.1 27.0 21.0 22.6 27.6 24.7 25.1 11.7 20.2 17.6 18.8 19.0 

Married 52.9 57.4 51.9 53.2 57.0 52.5 48.9 52.0 53.4 53.6 64.2 61.8 61.3 61.1 58.9 

Separated, divorced 4.7 5.2 3.8 2.8 3.4 6.8 8.1 6.1 4.9 5.0 5.8 4.3 5.2 4.6 5.2 

Marriage-like relationship 6.0 4.0 6.4 5.0 5.3 14.8 8.1 9.3 7.2 7.5 3.3 1.3 4.1 2.6 5.0 

Widowed 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.2 0.6 0.9 0.4 0.1 0.2 0.1 0.1 0.4 0.2 0.2 

Unknown 10.5 11.7 10.5 8.8 7.1 4.3 11.5 4.5 9.8 8.5 14.8 12.2 11.4 12.7 11.6 

Median age at doctorate Yrs 34.2 35.7 33.4 31.7 35.0 33.9 35.0 35.4 35.1 35.0 42.8 35.5 38.8 36.8 37.4 

Bachelor's in same field as doctorate % 54.9 21.9 51.9 59.5 59.2 100.0 100.0 41.1 53.2 60.5 24.5 33.9 28.7 31.1 41.5 

Percent with masters % 76.6 86.0 78.0 67.2 85.0 85.8 83.4 84.6 79.7 82.1 85.3 79.2 87.5 82.0 83.2 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 11.0 11.9 10.1 8.7 11.8 11.3 11.4 11.0 11.7 11.6 17.9 12.3 14.3 13.1 13.3 

Registered time 8.6 8.3 7.9 7.0 9.0 8.3 8.8 9.0 9.0 9.0 8.4 7.8 8.7 8.1 8.6 

Postdoctoral study plans % 14.2 13.8 18.9 37.6 12.9 12.3 7.7 11.4 9.8 10.6 6.6 4.8 9.4 6.8 8.4 

Fellowship 59.6 44.8 66.1 50.3 61.3 60.0 77.8 42.9 54.7 57.2 30.3 28.1 41.5 36.5 46.2 

Research assoc. 26.3 31.0 22.2 40.8 15.0 0.0 11.1 17.9 16.8 14.8 36.6 46.9 35.8 40.0 25.1 

Traineeship 1.8 12.1 5.7 3.3 3.8 0.0 5.6 7.1 9.5 6.7 14.5 6.3 7.5 7.1 9.0 

Other Study 12.3 12.1 5.9 5.7 20.0 40.0 5.6 32.1 19.0 21.2 18.6 18.8 15.1 16.5 19.7 

Planned employment after doctorate % 75.3 74.8 70.4 53.2 78.5 81.5 80.4 82.1 79.4 79.6 78.0 82.5 78.3 79.8 79.1 

Educ. institution c 52.4 43.1 39.9 19.5 61.0 73.5 69.8 70.7 61.5 63.7 62.8 65.2 53.5 59.4 62.5 

Industry/business 8.0 12.1 13.0 24.3 5.3 3.7 3.8 5.3 6.8 5.9 4.9 11.3 7.3 9.4 6.2 

Government 7.7 9.0 8.6 5.6 5.2 1.2 1.3 0.8 1.2 2.1 4.4 2.7 6.1 4.2 3.3 

Nonprofit 1.7 6.4 5.2 1.9 2.9 0.0 1.7 1.6 6.3 4.3 3.8 1.8 10.0 5.4 4.4 

Other & unknown 5.5 4.0 3.8 2.0 4.0 3.1 3.8 3.7 3.6 3.7 2.1 1.5 1.4 1.4 2.7 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 10.5 11.4 10.7 9.2 8.6 6.2 11.9 6.5 10.8 9.7 15.4 12.8 12.3 13.4 12.5 

Definite postdoctoral study % 10.0 8.6 14.0 28.4 8.3 6.2 6.0 6.9 5.1 6.1 3.7 3.0 5.5 4.1 4.8 

Seeking postdoctoral study 4.2 5.2 4.9 9.2 4.7 6.2 1.7 4.5 4.7 4.5 2.9 1.8 3.9 2.7 3.6 

Definite employment 50.4 57.9 52.7 38.9 52.9 46.9 51.1 55.7 54.2 53.3 61.9 70.9 60.1 65.3 58.9 

Seeking employment 24.9 16.9 17.7 14.3 25.6 34.6 29.4 26.4 25.2 26.3 16.0 11.6 18.2 14.5 20.2 

Employment commitments after doctorate d 202 243 1,554 6,090 327 76 120 137 760 1,420 1,355 477 337 817 3,592 

Primary activity 

R & D % 27.4 34.1 35.6 55.8 9.4 5.6 4.3 9.6 8.8 8.4 5.9 45.1 11.4 30.8 12.6 

Teaching 54.8 39.7 34.3 23.3 73.3 87.5 88.9 83.7 74.7 77.2 36.3 40.3 58.3 47.9 55.1 

Administration 8.1 12.5 6.0 3.9 6.2 2.8 1.7 3.0 4.9 4.6 47.0 6.3 16.2 10.5 21.9 

Prof. services 6.6 11.2 21.7 14.2 6.8 2.8 2.6 2.2 7.5 6.2 9.2 5.5 11.4 8.1 7.7 

Other 3.0 2.6 2.4 2.9 4.2 1.4 2.6 1.5 4.1 3.6 1.6 2.8 2.7 2.8 2.7 

Secondary activity 

R & D % 49.7 41.8 36.4 26.0 57.0 48.6 61.5 68.9 48.4 53.5 25.4 35.2 45.6 39.6 39.7 

Teaching 22.8 24.1 26.8 19.4 12.7 6.9 5.1 8.9 14.4 12.3 25.0 47.7 18.3 35.3 22.3 

Administration 7.1 9.5 12.7 16.7 10.4 16.7 14.5 11.9 13.8 13.1 11.6 5.7 14.4 9.3 11.6 

Prof. services 6.1 12.9 9.3 12.2 5.5 9.7 6.0 0.7 7.4 6.3 17.6 6.1 10.2 7.8 10.9 

Other 2.0 2.2 2.4 3.3 1.3 1.4 0.9 2.2 6.7 4.3 3.1 1.3 4.2 2.6 3.5 

No secondary activity 12.2 9.5 12.4 22.3 13.0 16.7 12.0 7.4 9.3 10.6 17.2 3.9 7.2 5.3 11.9 

Activity(ies) unknown % 2.5 4.5 3.5 4.4 6.1 5.3 2.5 1.5 3.8 4.1 3.7 4.2 1.2 2.9 3.7 

Region of employment after doctorate 

New England % 9.4 5.8 6.9 7.6 9.2 9.2 6.7 2.9 6.1 6.7 4.8 5.2 4.5 4.9 5.6 

Middle Atlantic 9.4 12.3 12.7 14.0 15.6 18.4 16.7 16.8 13.4 14.8 12.5 11.7 12.8 12.1 13.3 

East North Central 12.4 10.3 11.6 11.0 14.7 11.8 15.8 17.5 15.4 15.3 15.5 14.3 13.1 13.8 15.0 

West North Central 8.4 2.9 6.5 5.0 6.1 5.3 5.0 8.8 7.8 7.1 9.2 5.0 4.7 4.9 7.4 

South Atlantic 24.3 23.0 20.4 15.0 14.1 17.1 14.2 17.5 14.9 15.0 18.7 21.2 17.2 19.6 17.4 

East South Central 4.0 5.8 4.6 3.3 4.9 5.3 9.2 5.1 4.2 4.9 5.5 4.4 5.3 4.8 5.1 

West South Central 5.9 8.6 7.0 7.3 10.1 5.3 10.0 5.8 10.5 9.6 9.9 9.9 9.5 9.7 9.7 

Mountain 3.5 4.5 3.5 4.8 4.9 5.3 5.8 1.5 4.2 4.3 6.9 5.2 3.0 4.3 5.3 

Pacific & Insular 7.9 9.9 11.1 17.6 14.1 15.8 12.5 15.3 11.8 13.0 11.1 11.7 11.6 11.8 12.0 

Foreign 13.9 16.9 15.3 13.7 6.1 6.6 4.2 8.8 11.4 9.1 5.7 11.1 18.4 14.1 8.9 

Region Unknown 1.0 0.0 0.3 0.7 0.3 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.3 0.2 0.0 0.1 0.2 
92 

Appendix Table A-3c. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 - Total all women

Characteristics 

2002 

Total 

Physics & astronomy Chemistry Earth, atmos., & marine sci. Mathematics Computer sciences PHYSICAL SCIENCES a

ENGINEERING Biochemistry Other Biosciences Health sciences Agricultural sciences LIFE SCIENCES Psychology Economics Anthropology & sociology 

Number in field 18,124 206 646 250 264 168 1,534 887 293 2,246 1,130 310 3,979 2,135 249 622 

Women as percent of total doctorates % 45.4 16.2 33.6 31.4 28.8 20.7 26.8 17.5 37.5 45.8 68.1 30.7 47.7 66.7 27.6 59.8 

U.S. citizenship % 72.4 48.1 59.4 72.4 46.2 46.4 56.3 41.0 60.8 69.1 71.3 47.7 67.5 85.8 38.6 80.9 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 4.3 6.8 5.6 4.8 4.5 11.3 6.1 8.6 8.2 7.1 3.8 4.5 6.1 2.1 9.2 3.5 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 16.4 40.8 31.0 20.4 45.8 36.9 33.8 43.4 24.9 19.6 16.3 41.0 20.7 4.4 44.2 11.6 

Unknown 7.0 4.4 4.0 2.4 3.4 5.4 3.8 7.0 6.1 4.1 8.6 6.8 5.8 7.8 8.0 4.0 

Never married % 25.4 38.8 36.5 33.6 42.8 22.6 35.9 33.5 37.2 32.2 21.0 28.1 29.1 27.3 29.3 24.9 

Married 49.1 43.2 49.1 43.6 41.3 54.8 46.7 47.5 46.8 47.7 55.0 51.0 50.0 46.2 45.0 47.7 

Separated, divorced 7.8 2.9 3.3 4.4 3.0 3.6 3.4 4.5 2.4 5.3 7.8 6.8 5.9 7.2 4.8 8.7 

Marriage-like relationship 6.5 6.3 4.6 13.2 8.3 4.8 6.9 3.6 5.8 7.8 3.8 5.2 6.3 7.8 6.8 12.9 

Widowed 0.6 0.0 0.2 0.4 0.0 0.6 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.2 0.8 0.0 0.3 0.2 0.4 0.3 

Unknown 10.7 8.7 6.3 4.8 4.5 13.7 6.9 10.8 7.8 6.8 11.6 9.0 8.4 11.2 13.7 5.5 

Median age at doctoral Yrs 34.1 29.7 28.8 31.7 30.2 31.8 29.8 30.7 29.7 30.8 40.8 33.7 32.0 31.8 31.3 34.5 

Bachelor's in same field as doctorate % 50.1 68.0 76.2 43.6 73.1 39.3 65.2 67.3 24.2 54.3 48.3 43.9 49.6 65.1 47.4 46.3 

Percent with masters % 73.8 69.4 39.0 70.8 73.9 83.3 59.1 77.3 26.6 38.6 82.2 78.7 53.2 76.7 70.7 84.2 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 11.0 7.4 6.4 9.0 7.4 9.7 7.3 8.2 7.2 8.1 16.0 10.1 9.2 9.1 9.0 11.1 

Registered time 7.7 6.7 5.9 7.4 6.6 7.3 6.5 6.5 6.3 6.9 8.1 7.1 7.1 7.3 7.2 8.7 

Postdoctoral study plans % 23.9 58.3 42.4 50.8 35.2 10.1 41.1 24.9 71.0 62.6 18.8 33.2 48.5 33.3 10.4 22.0 

Fellowship 59.0 42.5 48.5 48.8 60.2 11.8 48.2 36.7 59.6 63.5 66.2 31.1 61.6 75.8 61.5 63.5 

Research assoc. 30.2 53.3 46.4 47.2 38.7 88.2 47.9 54.8 30.8 28.4 26.8 61.2 30.2 13.8 23.1 25.5 

Traineeship 3.9 1.7 1.5 0.8 0.0 0.0 1.1 5.0 2.4 2.6 3.8 4.9 2.9 6.3 3.8 5.1 

Other study 6.9 2.5 3.6 3.1 1.1 0.0 2.9 3.6 7.2 5.5 3.3 2.9 5.3 4.1 11.5 5.8 

Planned employment after doctorate % 64.9 32.5 50.2 45.6 59.1 78.6 51.7 64.5 19.5 30.2 69.3 57.1 42.6 54.9 73.5 71.9 

Educ. institution d 42.1 11.2 11.0 17.6 42.4 41.1 20.8 16.5 7.8 11.0 41.1 26.8 20.6 24.7 40.6 51.4 

Industry/business 10.8 13.1 32.2 12.8 12.1 27.4 22.5 39.5 10.6 11.7 9.0 15.8 11.2 11.7 12.0 4.8 

Government 3.9 3.4 3.1 7.6 3.0 4.2 4.0 4.2 0.3 2.8 8.3 5.8 4.4 6.0 11.2 4.3 

Nonprofit 4.2 0.5 0.9 5.2 0.8 3.6 1.8 1.8 0.3 1.7 7.3 3.9 3.4 7.9 3.6 5.8 

Other & unknown 3.9 4.4 2.9 2.4 0.8 2.4 2.6 2.6 0.3 3.0 3.6 4.8 3.1 4.5 6.0 5.5 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 11.2 9.2 7.4 3.6 5.7 11.3 7.2 10.6 9.6 7.2 11.9 9.7 8.9 11.8 16.1 6.1 

Definite postdoctoral study % 17.4 45.6 34.5 38.4 29.5 7.1 32.8 15.8 53.2 46.5 14.2 23.9 36.0 25.9 7.2 14.6 

Seeking postdoctoral study 6.5 12.6 7.9 12.4 5.7 3.0 8.3 9.1 17.7 16.1 4.7 9.4 12.4 7.4 3.2 7.4 

Definite employment 46 19 34 30 47 54 36 45 13 18 55 36 30 36 58 49 

Seeking employment 19.1 13.1 15.8 15.2 12.1 24.4 15.6 19.1 6.1 11.9 14.8 21.3 13.0 18.6 15.3 23.0 

Employment commitments after doctorate c 8,301 40 222 76 124 91 553 403 39 411 616 111 1,177 774 145 304 

Primary activity 

R & D % 22.9 50.0 61.8 37.3 33.3 51.7 49.5 65.4 25.7 42.9 29.0 51.9 35.9 21.7 52.4 31.2 

Teaching 44.8 35.0 21.2 30.7 60.0 40.4 35.3 15.7 40.0 27.6 45.9 28.7 37.8 21.9 30.8 51.9 

Administration 15.9 5.0 2.3 2.7 1.7 5.6 3.0 3.3 8.6 4.1 11.0 3.7 7.9 6.2 0.7 8.5 

Prof. services 14.1 5.0 11.5 25.3 4.2 0.0 9.4 13.6 25.7 19.1 12.7 11.1 15.1 48.2 11.9 6.1 

Other 2.3 5.0 3.2 4.0 0.8 2.2 2.8 2.0 0.0 6.2 1.3 4.6 3.3 2.0 4.2 2.4 

Secondary activity 

R & D % 35.2 32.5 21.2 33.3 54.2 37.1 33.6 21.7 34.3 31.8 38.2 26.9 34.8 28.6 36.4 48.8 

Teaching 19.0 7.5 6.0 8.0 15.0 23.6 11.3 15.7 5.7 12.4 16.2 24.1 15.3 19.1 31.5 24.7 

Administration 12.7 10.0 19.4 20.0 4.2 3.4 12.8 13.1 8.6 22.2 16.7 16.7 18.3 16.5 9.8 8.8 

Prof. services 12.5 15.0 12.0 12.0 7.5 6.7 10.4 11.9 5.7 7.8 17.7 9.3 13.1 12.5 9.8 6.1 

Other 3.4 5.0 2.8 8.0 0.0 3.4 3.1 4.3 5.7 3.1 1.8 1.9 2.4 4.0 1.4 2.0 

No secondary activity 17.2 30.0 38.7 18.7 19.2 25.8 28.8 33.3 40.0 22.7 9.3 21.3 16.0 19.3 11.2 9.5 

Activity(ies) unknown % 3.5 0.0 2.3 1.3 3.2 2.2 2.2 1.7 10.3 5.8 2.8 2.7 4.1 3.7 1.4 3.0 

Region of employment after doctorate 

New England % 6.6 12.5 7.7 5.3 12.1 4.4 8.1 6.7 17.9 8.8 7.5 8.1 8.3 7.0 12.4 7.9 

Middle Atlantic 14.9 17.5 20.7 14.5 12.9 22.0 18.1 12.4 7.7 18.5 14.4 9.0 15.1 16.7 9.7 16.8 

East North Central 14.7 10.0 18.0 7.9 16.9 6.6 13.9 15.4 15.4 11.7 11.7 7.2 11.4 15.1 11.0 15.5 

West North Central 6.5 5.0 3.6 2.6 4.8 3.3 3.8 2.7 2.6 4.6 8.0 4.5 6.3 7.1 4.1 7.2 

South Atlantic 18.3 17.5 14.4 19.7 18.5 20.9 17.4 12.4 15.4 19.0 17.7 13.5 17.7 17.6 24.1 13.2 

East South Central 4.5 2.5 1.8 1.3 4.0 1.1 2.2 1.2 2.6 4.6 5.5 1.8 4.8 3.7 2.1 2.0 

West South Central 8.7 10.0 1.8 13.2 8.1 6.6 6.1 10.2 5.1 6.3 9.9 5.4 8.1 7.1 2.1 7.6 

Mountain 5.3 2.5 3.6 9.2 3.2 4.4 4.3 4.5 0.0 4.9 4.9 6.3 4.8 5.6 6.2 4.9 

Pacific & Insular 13.3 15.0 20.7 15.8 7.3 22.0 16.8 22.3 25.6 14.4 9.4 17.1 12.4 16.9 9.7 18.1

Foreign 6.8 7.5 6.8 10.5 11.3 8.8 8.7 11.4 7.7 6.8 10.9 27.0 10.9 2.6 17.9 6.9 

Region unknown 0.4 0.0 0.9 0.0 0.8 0.0 0.5 0.7 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.0 0.3 0.6 0.7 0.0 a Physical sciences includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

b Includes 2-year, 4-year, and foreign colleges and universities, medical schools, and elementary/secondary schools. c Includes only recipients with definite employment plans. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
93 

Appendix Table A-3c. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients, by major field of study, 2002 - Total all women, continued

Characteristics 

Political sci./ Internatn'l Rel. Other social sciences SOCIAL SCI. INCL. PSYCHOLOGY TOTAL SCIENCES & ENGINEERING History American literature English lang. & literature Foreign lang. & literature Other Humanities HUMANITIES EDUCATION Business & management Other professional fields PROFESSIONAL/OTHER FIELDS TOTAL NONSCIENCES 

Number in field 286 359 3,651 10,051 411 203 367 375 1,346 2,702 4,288 416 635 1,083 8,073 

Women as percent of total doctorates % 41.6 46.0 55.2 39.0 39.9 55.6 60.9 60.2 48.9 50.3 66.1 38.0 52.9 46.2 56.8 

U.S. citizenship % 78.0 74.1 80.0 68.0 81.3 91.1 80.7 66.9 73.5 76.0 81.8 59.9 72.4 66.2 77.8 

Non-U.S., permanent visa 4.2 5.6 3.3 5.3 4.4 2.0 3.5 9.1 4.2 4.7 1.7 3.8 4.7 4.2 3.1 

Non-U.S., temporary visa 12.6 15.0 10.0 20.8 9.2 4.9 10.9 18.9 16.9 14.3 6.6 22.4 17.6 19.0 10.8 

Unknown 5.2 5.3 6.7 5.9 5.1 2.0 4.9 5.1 5.4 5.0 9.9 13.9 5.2 10.5 8.3 

Never married % 33.9 27.0 27.5 29.9 26.5 26.6 27.5 28.8 29.3 28.3 13.8 21.2 22.7 21.5 19.7 

Married 43.0 45.7 46.1 47.8 49.6 54.7 46.3 46.7 43.5 46.1 54.3 43.8 51.3 47.1 50.6 

Separated, divorced 7.0 9.2 7.5 6.0 5.4 5.9 8.4 6.7 7.6 7.1 11.9 8.7 10.2 9.6 10.0 

Marriage-like relationship 7.0 8.6 8.6 7.0 10.5 9.4 9.8 11.2 8.0 9.2 3.7 3.8 7.6 5.9 5.8 

Widowed 0.7 0.8 0.4 0.3 1.0 0.5 0.3 0.0 1.0 0.7 1.0 1.0 0.5 0.7 0.9 

Unknown 8.4 8.6 9.9 9.0 7.1 3.0 7.6 6.7 10.5 8.5 15.2 21.6 7.7 15.1 13.0 

Median age at doctoral Yrs 33.7 35.7 32.7 31.7 34.3 33.8 34.1 34.0 34.8 34.4 45.2 36.4 39.3 37.9 39.3 

Bachelor's in same field as doctorate % 54.2 18.1 55.2 55.6 52.6 100.0 100.0 52.0 51.7 62.1 33.8 37.3 32.3 33.2 43.2 

Percent with masters % 77.6 88.6 78.8 65.5 81.8 89.7 85.8 88.3 84.2 85.0 84.3 70.2 91.2 81.2 84.1 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 10.8 11.3 9.9 9.0 11.9 11.0 11.4 10.7 11.8 11.4 19.9 13.0 15.2 14.0 15.0 

Registered time 8.6 8.2 7.7 7.2 9.2 9.0 9.0 8.8 9.0 9.0 8.5 7.6 8.5 8.0 8.6 

Postdoctoral study plans % 11.9 15.0 26.4 37.3 13.4 11.3 7.9 8.8 8.5 9.4 5.9 3.1 9.8 7.0 7.2 

Fellowship 67.6 50.0 72.0 60.6 80.0 65.2 65.5 57.6 64.9 67.3 33.5 46.2 41.9 42.1 49.3 

Research assoc. 14.7 38.9 17.1 31.3 7.3 17.4 6.9 6.1 16.7 12.2 31.1 30.8 32.3 32.9 23.1 

Traineeship 2.9 1.9 5.7 3.4 1.8 8.7 3.4 15.2 2.6 4.7 10.2 0.0 3.2 2.6 6.8 

Other study 14.7 9.3 5.2 4.8 10.9 8.7 24.1 21.2 15.8 15.7 25.2 23.1 22.6 22.4 20.7 

Planned employment after doctorate % 77.6 75.5 62.9 53.3 78.1 84.2 82.8 85.6 80.7 81.5 78.5 75.7 82.0 77.7 79.4 

Educ. institution c 54.2 44.8 34.6 25.4 59.1 70.9 68.7 72.5 59.8 63.5 63.6 61.3 58.7 58.4 62.9 

Industry/business 5.9 12.3 10.2 15.0 6.3 4.9 4.1 4.0 8.8 6.8 4.4 8.2 7.6 7.6 5.6 

Government 6.3 5.6 6.1 4.9 2.9 0.5 1.1 0.5 0.7 1.1 3.5 1.9 4.3 3.3 2.6 

Nonprofit 5.6 7.5 7.0 4.3 4.1 1.0 1.6 1.9 5.0 3.7 4.1 2.2 6.6 4.7 4.0 

Other & unknown 5.6 5.3 4.9 3.7 5.6 6.9 7.4 6.7 6.4 6.5 3.0 2.2 4.9 3.7 4.2 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 10.5 9.5 10.8 9.5 8.5 4.4 9.3 5.6 10.8 9.1 15.6 21.2 8.2 15.2 13.3 

Definite postdoctoral study % 8.0 8.9 19.6 27.8 9.2 9.9 4.4 6.4 5.2 6.2 3.4 2.4 5.5 4.2 4.5 

Seeking postdoctoral study 3.8 6.1 6.7 9.5 4.1 1.5 3.5 2.4 3.3 3.2 2.5 0.7 4.3 2.9 2.8 

Definite employment 56 57 43 37 53 59 53 57 50 53 59 61 59 59 57 

Seeking employment 21.7 18.4 19.4 16.3 25.1 25.6 30.0 28.3 30.2 28.8 19.8 14.7 22.8 19.1 22.7 

Employment commitments after doctorate d 160 205 1,588 3,721 218 119 194 215 679 1,425 2,520 254 376 635 4,580 

Primary activity 

R & D % 27.6 35.0 28.7 38.1 10.8 6.2 5.9 7.3 9.5 8.6 7.7 36.2 18.3 25.4 10.4 

Teaching 51.9 40.6 33.9 33.3 74.5 79.6 83.2 84.9 75.7 78.2 40.8 51.6 55.6 54.2 54.2 

Administration 10.9 7.1 6.7 6.1 6.1 7.1 2.2 3.4 6.1 5.2 38.2 5.3 10.6 8.5 23.9 

Prof. services 7.7 14.2 28.3 19.7 4.2 4.4 4.3 1.0 4.1 3.7 12.4 6.5 13.1 10.3 9.4 

Other 1.9 3.0 2.4 2.7 4.2 2.7 4.3 3.4 4.7 4.2 1.0 0.4 2.5 1.6 2.1 

Secondary activity 

R & D % 51.9 42.1 37.3 34.3 59.9 54.0 53.0 63.4 47.9 53.3 24.1 43.1 46.7 45.0 36.0 

Teaching 29.5 22.3 22.8 17.9 12.3 11.5 8.1 10.2 11.4 10.9 22.5 39.0 22.8 29.3 19.9 

Administration 1.9 9.6 12.0 14.2 7.5 8.0 11.9 9.8 12.0 10.6 12.7 5.7 9.2 8.0 11.4 

Prof. services 7.1 6.6 9.7 11.1 5.7 2.7 5.9 4.9 9.0 6.9 18.7 5.7 10.6 8.7 13.7 

Other 0.6 5.6 3.3 3.1 2.4 4.4 4.9 1.0 8.0 5.3 3.4 1.2 1.7 1.5 3.7 

No secondary activity 9.0 13.7 14.9 19.4 12.3 19.5 16.2 10.7 11.7 12.9 18.7 5.3 9.2 7.5 15.4 

Activity(ies) unknown % 2.5 3.9 3.3 3.2 2.8 5.0 4.6 4.7 5.6 4.8 3.2 3.1 4.3 3.8 3.8 

Region of employment after doctorate 

New England % 8.1 7.3 7.8 7.9 10.6 9.2 5.7 10.2 6.9 8.0 3.9 7.1 5.3 6.0 5.5 

Middle Atlantic 15.0 16.1 15.8 15.6 18.3 17.6 20.6 15.8 19.6 18.8 11.8 16.1 13.6 14.5 14.3 

East North Central 15.0 11.7 14.4 13.5 13.3 9.2 18.6 15.3 15.2 14.9 16.2 13.0 17.8 15.7 15.7 

West North Central 5.0 7.3 6.7 5.7 3.7 6.7 6.2 7.9 6.8 6.4 7.8 6.3 6.4 6.3 7.2 

South Atlantic 22.5 23.9 18.6 17.5 17.4 15.1 16.0 18.1 13.5 15.3 21.6 17.7 15.7 16.9 19.0 

East South Central 3.8 2.0 3.0 3.3 2.8 8.4 4.1 2.8 4.3 4.1 6.8 4.7 3.5 3.9 5.6 

West South Central 4.4 6.3 6.4 7.3 11.0 9.2 9.3 9.8 7.1 8.6 10.8 8.7 9.8 9.3 9.9 

Mountain 4.4 5.9 5.4 5.0 6.0 5.0 4.1 2.8 4.9 4.6 5.9 6.3 5.3 5.7 5.5 

Pacific & Insular 13.8 12.2 15.6 15.5 11.9 15.1 11.3 11.6 11.3 11.8 11.4 11.0 12.5 12.0 11.6

Foreign 8.1 7.3 6.0 8.5 5.0 4.2 3.6 5.1 9.7 7.0 3.6 8.7 9.8 9.4 5.5 

Region unknown 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.4 0.0 0.0 0.5 0.5 0.7 0.5 0.3 0.4 0.3 0.3 0.3 
94 

Appendix Table A-4. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients by race/ethnicity and citizenship, 2002

 Total a American Indian b Asian c Black/African-American 

 Non-U.S. Non-U.S. Non-U.S. Non-U.S.

Characteristics Total U.S. Perm Temp Total U.S. Perm Temp Total U.S. Perm Temp Total U.S. Perm Temp 

Total Number 39,955 25,936 1,646 9,707 154 146 3 5 7,864 1,364 744 5,724 2,009 1,644 87 256 

Male % 54.6 49.4 52.7 69.4 46.8 45.9 66.7 60.0 65.3 54.8 50.1 69.8 42.3 36.9 70.1 69.1 

Female 45.4 50.6 47.3 30.6 53.2 54.1 33.3 40.0 34.7 45.2 49.9 30.2 57.7 63.1 29.9 30.9 

Field of study 

Physical sciences d % 14.3 11.6 17.7 22.2 8.4 7.5 33.3 20.0 19.6 14.7 18.7 20.9 6.6 5.7 8.0 12.1 

Engineering 12.7 7.3 16.5 27.2 4.5 4.8 0.0 0.0 28.7 18.2 21.6 32.2 5.8 4.7 10.3 11.7 

Life sciences 20.9 20.5 25.5 21.4 11.0 11.6 0.0 0.0 25.2 32.2 32.3 22.7 13.9 11.4 21.8 28.1 

Social sciences 16.5 18.9 13.9 10.5 22.7 21.9 66.7 20.0 9.3 14.2 9.5 8.1 18.4 19.2 20.7 12.9 

Humanities 13.4 16.0 13.5 7.6 14.9 15.1 0.0 20.0 5.6 10.0 5.6 4.6 10.0 10.0 10.3 10.5 

Education 16.2 20.3 6.7 4.9 30.5 31.5 0.0 20.0 5.4 7.2 5.4 4.9 37.0 40.4 18.4 18.4 

Professional/other e 5.9 5.5 6.2 6.2 7.8 7.5 0.0 20.0 6.1 3.5 6.9 6.6 8.4 8.6 10.3 6.3 

Median age at doctorate Yrs 33.3 33.9 34.3 32.3 42.0 42.1 44.1 41.5 32.3 30.9 33.9 32.4 37.9 37.5 38.5 39.2 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 10.2 10.6 10.8 9.4 13.5 13.6 13.0 12.9 9.7 8.4 11.3 9.8 12.7 12.8 14.0 12.2 

Registered time 7.5 7.7 8.0 7.2 8.8 8.7 13.0 9.9 7.4 7.1 8.6 7.4 8.0 8.0 8.3 7.3 

Doctoral program support f 

Teaching assistantships % 16.8 16.0 19.7 18.4 12.0 10.4 100.0 20.0 15.8 11.4 14.3 17.0 9.1 7.0 12.9 21.3 

Research assistantships/traineeships 26.5 19.7 33.9 44.0 9.9 9.6 0.0 20.0 47.3 33.9 45.8 50.7 12.8 9.4 18.8 31.9 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 21.9 22.7 23.2 19.5 31.0 31.9 0.0 20.0 18.7 30.6 22.3 15.4 33.5 33.9 28.2 32.3 

Own resources 28.4 36.2 19.5 8.5 43.7 45.2 0.0 20.0 12.0 20.6 14.4 9.7 39.4 44.4 34.1 9.8 

Foreign government 2.4 0.1 1.5 8.7 0.7 0.0 0.0 20.0 4.9 0.4 1.2 6.5 0.7 0.1 2.4 4.3 

Employer 3.9 5.1 2.2 0.9 2.8 3.0 0.0 0.0 1.2 3.1 2.0 0.7 4.3 5.0 3.5 0.0 

Other 0.1 0.1 0.0 0.1 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.2 0.1 0.0 0.4 

Postdoctoral Plans 

Postdoctoral study plans % 26.8 25.4 32.8 36.9 19.5 17.8 33.3 60.0 37.7 38.6 34.0 38.2 23.4 21.3 35.6 34.8 

Postdoctoral employment plans % 62.4 70.4 62.6 57.8 76.0 77.4 66.7 40.0 57.9 58.4 61.2 57.7 68.6 71.6 59.8 58.6 

Educ. institution g 36.3 43.4 28.9 28.2 51.3 51.4 66.7 40.0 24.2 23.2 21.0 25.0 46.6 49.9 29.9 35.5 

Industry/business 15.4 13.6 23.7 22.9 9.7 10.3 0.0 0.0 26.9 24.5 32.5 26.9 9.3 9.5 11.5 7.8 

Government 4.5 5.5 3.0 3.3 7.1 7.5 0.0 0.0 3.1 4.3 2.6 2.9 5.1 5.0 2.3 7.4 

Nonprofit 3.3 4.3 3.3 1.5 3.9 4.1 0.0 0.0 1.9 3.4 2.7 1.4 4.3 4.0 9.2 4.7 

Other/unknown 3.0 3.6 3.7 1.9 3.9 4.1 0.0 0.0 1.8 3.0 2.4 1.4 3.3 3.2 6.9 3.1 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 10.8 4.2 4.6 5.3 4.5 4.8 0.0 0.0 4.4 3.1 4.8 4.2 8.0 7.1 4.6 6.6 

Definite postdoctoral study % 19.8 19.5 20.7 25.8 13.6 12.3 33.3 40.0 25.9 28.4 20.7 26.1 14.8 14.1 19.5 18.8 

Seeking postdoctoral study 7.1 5.9 12.2 11.1 5.8 5.5 0.0 20.0 11.8 10.2 13.3 12.1 8.6 7.2 16.1 16.0 

Definite employment 45.0 51.3 41.8 40.9 59.1 59.6 66.7 40.0 39.6 39.5 40.9 39.7 46.9 49.3 32.2 41.0 

Seeking employment 17.4 19.1 20.8 16.9 16.9 17.8 0.0 0.0 18.3 18.8 20.3 18.0 21.7 22.3 27.6 17.6 

Employment location after doctorate h 

U.S. % 89.9 97.9 93.3 62.8 95.6 96.6 100.0 50.0 75.3 95.2 93.4 68.1 94.5 99.8 100.0 52.4 

Foreign 9.6 1.7 6.4 36.5 4.4 3.4 0.0 50.0 24.3 4.3 6.6 31.4 5.3 0.1 0.0 46.7 

Unknown 0.5 0.4 0.3 0.6 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.4 0.6 0.0 0.5 0.2 0.1 0.0 1.0 

NOTE: Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by federal sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates. a Totals include 71 individuals who did not report their gender and 2,663 individuals who did not report their citizenship at time of doctorate. b Includes Alaskan Native. 

c Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

d Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, respondents choosing multiple races (excluding those selecting an Hispanic ethnicity), and respondents with unknown 

race/ethnicity. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
95 

Appendix Table A-4. Statistical profile of doctorate recipients by race/ethnicity and citizenship, 2002, continued

 White 

Puerto 

Rican Mexican American Other Hispanic Other/Unknown Race d

 Non-U.S. Non-U.S. Non-U.S. Non-U.S.

Characteristics Total U.S. Perm Temp Total Total U.S. Perm Temp Total U.S. Perm Temp Total U.S. Perm Temp 

Total Number 24,239 20,720 628 2,670 342 461 398 13 47 1,217 493 118 599 802 579 28 187 

Male % 52.6 50.3 54.5 69.0 43.3 46.2 42.5 61.5 72.3 55.5 44.4 44.9 66.8 55.7 49.4 64.3 73.8 

Female 47.4 49.7 45.5 31.0 56.7 53.8 57.5 38.5 27.7 44.5 55.6 55.1 33.2 44.3 50.6 35.7 26.2 

Field of study 

Physical sciences d % 14.0 12.1 19.6 27.6 9.1 7.2 6.5 0.0 14.9 11.9 7.3 11.0 15.9 15.0 12.4 17.9 21.9 

Engineering 8.6 6.7 13.1 21.0 7.6 6.5 4.0 7.7 25.5 13.6 8.9 7.6 18.7 10.3 7.9 7.1 18.7 

Life sciences 20.4 20.9 20.2 17.4 20.8 16.7 15.8 15.4 25.5 21.8 14.0 19.5 28.4 17.7 18.5 14.3 15.5 

Social sciences 18.2 18.9 16.1 12.8 20.5 20.2 20.6 7.7 19.1 21.4 26.2 18.6 18.2 16.8 18.3 17.9 12.3 

Humanities 16.2 16.6 19.6 11.6 16.1 15.0 15.6 38.5 2.1 16.7 19.7 28.8 12.0 19.0 19.0 32.1 17.1 

Education 17.2 19.3 6.1 3.6 23.1 30.6 34.4 23.1 2.1 10.3 18.9 9.3 3.5 15.7 18.5 7.1 8.0 

Professional/other e 5.5 5.4 5.4 5.9 2.9 3.9 3.0 7.7 10.6 4.4 5.1 5.1 3.3 5.5 5.4 3.6 6.4 

Median age at doctorate Yrs 33.4 33.9 33.8 31.4 34.1 34.0 33.7 44.0 34.6 35.2 35.2 35.3 35.1 33.7 34.1 34.7 33.0 

Median time lapse from BA to doctorate 

Total time Yrs 10.2 10.6 9.9 8.2 10.9 10.2 10.0 15.2 11.0 10.5 10.6 10.3 10.5 10.2 10.3 10.8 9.6 

Registered time 7.6 7.7 7.4 6.8 8.3 7.6 7.6 9.6 7.3 7.4 8.0 7.8 7.0 7.7 7.9 7.3 7.3 

Doctoral program support f 

Teaching assistantships % 17.9 17.3 23.7 21.8 10.3 11.9 11.4 30.8 11.1 18.3 15.3 33.0 17.7 15.6 16.1 18.2 13.3 

Research assistantships/traineeships 22.3 20.1 27.3 38.4 12.2 10.8 9.6 7.7 22.2 15.7 12.3 17.4 18.2 21.0 19.0 22.7 28.7 

Fellowships/dissertation grants 20.7 20.3 23.2 23.4 35.0 37.5 38.6 38.5 28.9 30.3 34.4 20.9 28.8 30.3 28.7 36.4 34.0 

Own resources 33.1 36.8 22.2 6.6 35.6 34.8 38.9 23.1 2.2 18.3 32.2 22.6 6.4 26.1 32.0 18.2 6.7 

Foreign government 1.1 0.1 1.3 8.6 0.0 3.4 0.0 0.0 33.3 13.9 0.2 3.5 26.9 3.9 0.2 4.5 16.7 

Employer 4.7 5.3 2.2 1.0 6.9 1.6 1.6 0.0 2.2 3.5 5.7 2.6 1.9 3.0 3.8 0.0 0.7 

Other 0.2 0.2 0.0 0.2 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.0 0.1 0.2 0.0 0.0 

Postdoctoral Plans 

Postdoctoral study plans % 26.4 25.0 32.2 38.2 22.2 28.4 27.9 46.2 29.8 28.1 26.2 28.0 29.9 26.7 26.1 35.7 28.3 

Postdoctoral employment plans % 69.1 71.4 64.3 58.5 71.9 69.6 70.9 53.8 68.1 68.0 68.0 69.5 68.3 62.5 67.0 53.6 50.3 

Educ. institution g 42.4 44.4 35.0 31.9 44.4 50.5 50.8 38.5 55.3 41.0 40.4 42.4 41.7 37.7 40.6 32.1 30.5 

Industry/business 14.1 13.4 18.2 19.9 11.4 7.8 7.5 7.7 10.6 13.4 13.6 12.7 13.5 13.2 13.0 10.7 13.4 

Government 5.1 5.5 3.2 3.0 8.5 4.1 4.5 0.0 2.1 6.7 5.7 6.8 7.5 5.0 5.9 0.0 3.2 

Nonprofit 4.0 4.4 2.9 1.3 5.0 4.1 4.5 7.7 0.0 3.5 4.3 5.9 2.3 2.5 3.1 3.6 0.5 

Other/unknown 3.5 3.7 5.1 2.5 2.6 3.0 3.5 0.0 0.0 3.4 4.1 1.7 3.2 4.1 4.5 7.1 2.7 

Postdoctoral plans unknown % 4.4 3.6 3.5 3.3 5.8 2.0 1.3 0.0 2.1 3.9 5.9 2.5 1.8 10.8 6.9 10.7 21.4 

Definite postdoctoral study % 20.3 19.5 22.0 28.4 16.7 20.8 20.4 30.8 23.4 19.4 18.7 15.3 20.9 20.9 20.7 21.4 22.5 

Seeking postdoctoral study 6.1 5.5 10.2 9.9 5.6 7.6 7.5 15.4 6.4 8.7 7.5 12.7 9.0 5.7 5.4 14.3 5.9 

Definite employment 50.9 52.6 43.8 43.0 53.2 50.8 50.5 38.5 59.6 49.3 47.5 48.3 51.4 42.5 45.3 25.0 37.4 

Seeking employment 18.3 18.8 20.5 15.5 18.7 18.9 20.4 15.4 8.5 18.7 20.5 21.2 16.9 20.0 21.8 28.6 12.8 

Employment location after doctorate h 

U.S. % 94.5 97.9 92.7 62.4 99.5 90.6 98.5 100.0 32.1 66.8 97.4 91.2 39.0 83.3 96.2 85.7 37.1 

Foreign 5.1 1.7 6.9 37.1 0.5 8.5 1.0 0.0 64.3 32.8 2.1 8.8 60.7 14.7 2.3 0.0 62.9 

Unknown 0.4 0.4 0.4 0.5 0.0 0.9 0.5 0.0 3.6 0.3 0.4 0.0 0.3 2.1 1.5 14.3 0.0 

e Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

f

 In this table a recipient counts once in each source category from which he or she received support. Since students indicate multiple sources of support, the vertical percentages can 

sum to more than 100 percent. (Data on the "primary" source of support for doctorate recipients are presented in the Summary Report.) g Includes 2-year, 4-year, and foreign colleges and universities, medical schools, and elementary/secondary schools. h Includes only recipients with definite employment plans. 
96 

Appendix Table A-5. Doctorate recipients' financial resources in support of doctoral programs, by broad field of study and sex, 2002

 Total 

Physical 

sciences a Engineering Life sciences Social sciences Humanities Education 

Professional/ 

other fields 

Financial Resource Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women 

Unduplicated total b N 19,757 16,272 3,853 1,442 3,861 804 3,973 3,653 2,655 3,295 2,442 2,491 1,873 3,654 1,100 933 

Loans (from any source) N 6,166 6,284 793 307 550 125 1,076 970 1,310 1,888 1,275 1,232 745 1,409 417 353 

 V c 31.2% 38.6% 20.6% 21.3% 14.2% 15.5% 27.1% 26.6% 49.3% 57.3% 52.2% 49.5% 39.8% 38.6% 37.9% 37.8% 

 H c 100.0% 100.0% 12.9% 4.9% 8.9% 2.0% 17.5% 15.4% 21.2% 30.0% 20.7% 19.6% 12.1% 22.4% 6.8% 5.6% 

Foreign (non-U.S.) support N 1,856 939 270 89 503 88 334 209 300 166 229 216 80 103 140 68 

 V 9.4% 5.8% 7.0% 6.2% 13.0% 10.9% 8.4% 5.7% 11.3% 5.0% 9.4% 8.7% 4.3% 2.8% 12.7% 7.3% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 14.5% 9.5% 27.1% 9.4% 18.0% 22.3% 16.2% 17.7% 12.3% 23.0% 4.3% 11.0% 7.5% 7.2% 

Fellowship, scholarship N 10,836 9,255 2,091 897 1,761 451 2,434 2,329 1,615 1,983 1,795 1,837 530 1,258 610 500 

 V 54.8% 56.9% 54.3% 62.2% 45.6% 56.1% 61.3% 63.8% 60.8% 60.2% 73.5% 73.7% 28.3% 34.4% 55.5% 53.6% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 19.3% 9.7% 16.3% 4.9% 22.5% 25.2% 14.9% 21.4% 16.6% 19.8% 4.9% 13.6% 5.6% 5.4% 

Dissertation grant N 3,021 3,400 306 155 249 58 577 669 706 999 811 934 161 389 211 196 

 V 15.3% 20.9% 7.9% 10.7% 6.4% 7.2% 14.5% 18.3% 26.6% 30.3% 33.2% 37.5% 8.6% 10.6% 19.2% 21.0% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 10.1% 4.6% 8.2% 1.7% 19.1% 19.7% 23.4% 29.4% 26.8% 27.5% 5.3% 11.4% 7.0% 5.8% 

Teaching assistant N 11,761 9,086 3,072 1,184 1,892 419 1,775 1,633 1,935 2,263 1,971 2,051 438 964 678 572 

 V 59.5% 55.8% 79.7% 82.1% 49.0% 52.1% 44.7% 44.7% 72.9% 68.7% 80.7% 82.3% 23.4% 26.4% 61.6% 61.3% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 26.1% 13.0% 16.1% 4.6% 15.1% 18.0% 16.5% 24.9% 16.8% 22.6% 3.7% 10.6% 5.8% 6.3% 

Research assistant N 12,106 7,910 3,190 1,192 3,214 661 2,566 2,122 1,537 1,893 686 742 369 857 544 443 

 V 61.3% 48.6% 82.8% 82.7% 83.2% 82.2% 64.6% 58.1% 57.9% 57.5% 28.1% 29.8% 19.7% 23.5% 49.5% 47.5% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 26.4% 15.1% 26.5% 8.4% 21.2% 26.8% 12.7% 23.9% 5.7% 9.4% 3.0% 10.8% 4.5% 5.6% 

Traineeship N 994 1,129 102 46 83 25 519 545 168 370 38 32 62 98 22 13 

 V 5.0% 6.9% 2.6% 3.2% 2.1% 3.1% 13.1% 14.9% 6.3% 11.2% 1.6% 1.3% 3.3% 2.7% 2.0% 1.4% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 10.3% 4.1% 8.4% 2.2% 52.2% 48.3% 16.9% 32.8% 3.8% 2.8% 6.2% 8.7% 2.2% 1.2% 

Internship or residency N 1,367 1,655 238 93 338 79 92 81 465 1,012 56 71 132 274 46 45 

 V 6.9% 10.2% 6.2% 6.4% 8.8% 9.8% 2.3% 2.2% 17.5% 30.7% 2.3% 2.9% 7.0% 7.5% 4.2% 4.8% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 17.4% 5.6% 24.7% 4.8% 6.7% 4.9% 34.0% 61.1% 4.1% 4.3% 9.7% 16.6% 3.4% 2.7% 

Personal savings N 9,525 8,789 1,365 490 1,419 259 1,545 1,546 1,622 1,920 1,503 1,431 1,335 2,538 736 605 

 V 48.2% 54.0% 35.4% 34.0% 36.8% 32.2% 38.9% 42.3% 61.1% 58.3% 61.5% 57.4% 71.3% 69.5% 66.9% 64.8% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 14.3% 5.6% 14.9% 2.9% 16.2% 17.6% 17.0% 21.8% 15.8% 16.3% 14.0% 28.9% 7.7% 6.9% 

Other personal earnings N 7,419 8,032 795 256 711 147 950 1,098 1,470 1,913 1,638 1,562 1,280 2,547 575 509 

during graduate school V 37.6% 49.4% 20.6% 17.8% 18.4% 18.3% 23.9% 30.1% 55.4% 58.1% 67.1% 62.7% 68.3% 69.7% 52.3% 54.6% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 10.7% 3.2% 9.6% 1.8% 12.8% 13.7% 19.8% 23.8% 22.1% 19.4% 17.3% 31.7% 7.8% 6.3% 

Family earnings or savings d N 6,928 7,663 949 425 965 227 1,277 1,423 1,177 1,820 1,255 1,353 812 1,930 493 485 

 V 35.1% 47.1% 24.6% 29.5% 25.0% 28.2% 32.1% 39.0% 44.3% 55.2% 51.4% 54.3% 43.4% 52.8% 44.8% 52.0% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 13.7% 5.5% 13.9% 3.0% 18.4% 18.6% 17.0% 23.8% 18.1% 17.7% 11.7% 25.2% 7.1% 6.3% 

Employer reimbursement/ N 2,251 2,071 253 76 415 68 307 417 252 256 211 147 625 955 188 152 

assistance V 11.4% 12.7% 6.6% 5.3% 10.7% 8.5% 7.7% 11.4% 9.5% 7.8% 8.6% 5.9% 33.4% 26.1% 17.1% 16.3% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 11.2% 3.7% 18.4% 3.3% 13.6% 20.1% 11.2% 12.4% 9.4% 7.1% 27.8% 46.1% 8.4% 7.3% 

Other N 72 80 6 3 4 5 15 20 8 13 14 6 13 23 12 10 

 V 0.4% 0.5% 0.2% 0.2% 0.1% 0.6% 0.4% 0.5% 0.3% 0.4% 0.6% 0.2% 0.7% 0.6% 1.1% 1.1% 

 H 100.0% 100.0% 8.3% 3.8% 5.6% 6.3% 20.8% 25.0% 11.1% 16.3% 19.4% 7.5% 18.1% 28.8% 16.7% 12.5% 

NOTE: In this table a recipient counts once in each source category from which he or she received support. Because students indicate multiple sources of support, the vertical 

percentages sum to more than 100 percent. (Data on the "primary" source of support for doctorate recipients are presented in the body of the Summary Report.) Field groupings may 

differ from those in reports published by federal sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates. The table excludes 71 individuals for whom gender was not reported. a Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

b The 3,989 doctorate recipients who did not report sources of support are omitted from this total. Percentages are based only on known responses. c V denotes vertical percentage; H denotes horizontal percentage. d This category includes spouses and significant others. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
97 

Appendix Table A-6. State of doctoral institution of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study and sex, 2002

 Total a

Physical 

sciences b Engineering Life sciences Social sciences Humanities Education 

Professional/ 

other fields 

State Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women Men Women 

U.S. total c 21,760 18,124 4,171 1,534 4,173 887 4,366 3,979 2,948 3,651 2,663 2,702 2,188 4,288 1,251 1,083 

Alabama 258 219 48 15 62 5 68 70 20 42 10 13 26 62 24 12 

Alaska 12 7 4 3 0 1 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Arizona 390 324 78 29 72 11 62 55 46 60 62 49 43 100 27 20 

Arkansas 74 78 11 3 9 2 18 28 5 2 9 3 18 37 4 3 

California 2,597 2,137 600 221 562 125 448 404 370 556 286 349 208 367 123 115 

Colorado 362 306 100 40 83 23 58 75 43 59 31 34 32 57 15 18 

Connecticut 316 223 68 17 26 9 83 57 51 44 55 62 14 29 19 5 

Delaware 97 61 23 8 28 6 9 3 13 9 8 12 16 23 0 0 

District of Columbia 213 247 29 19 26 11 26 38 49 80 38 35 16 42 29 22 

Florida 935 1,006 144 52 157 30 123 124 76 118 69 63 268 538 98 81 

Georgia 540 494 95 35 132 39 94 110 66 92 56 72 55 127 42 19 

Hawaii 59 46 14 5 3 1 14 6 13 13 14 13 0 8 1 0 

Idaho 55 34 7 4 6 2 19 5 6 3 4 1 13 19 0 0 

Illinois 1,164 945 210 74 215 38 182 158 192 189 165 156 122 267 78 63 

Indiana 584 386 125 32 121 20 86 60 73 80 96 106 52 68 31 20 

Iowa 348 223 57 20 77 13 94 60 27 41 48 30 35 50 10 9 

Kansas 223 187 35 19 36 5 66 34 41 45 17 21 26 55 2 8 

Kentucky 197 144 25 8 23 5 50 49 25 16 27 20 22 32 25 14 

Louisiana 283 245 38 22 31 9 80 50 52 37 38 45 22 63 22 19 

Maine 23 15 4 1 5 0 8 7 2 4 1 0 3 3 0 0 

Maryland 540 430 98 28 103 23 162 178 81 82 68 65 16 44 12 10 

Massachusetts 1,243 880 289 96 263 57 227 206 185 194 146 136 63 134 70 57 

Michigan 794 648 147 66 218 43 115 144 118 156 99 94 53 110 44 35 

Minnesota 367 355 53 20 60 21 85 74 51 71 35 49 50 91 33 29 

Mississippi 159 174 12 4 7 3 43 19 22 31 20 11 39 91 16 15 

Missouri 379 302 64 27 54 16 88 80 55 57 41 31 52 73 25 18 

Montana 45 29 14 3 3 0 18 12 1 6 0 1 8 7 1 0 

Nebraska 140 118 14 7 12 2 45 33 23 24 15 12 21 32 10 8 

Nevada 54 53 11 4 10 3 7 12 7 10 8 6 9 17 2 1 

New Hampshire 61 36 23 3 12 4 16 14 4 8 4 3 2 4 0 0 

New Jersey 468 378 102 46 104 33 76 66 54 47 85 113 26 50 21 23 

New Mexico 151 123 48 11 22 9 20 14 18 27 10 27 24 25 9 10 

New York 1,716 1,652 317 117 258 43 340 361 308 439 299 342 94 244 100 106 

North Carolina 609 463 108 56 110 19 172 138 65 86 85 55 47 87 22 22 

North Dakota 33 21 8 1 3 0 16 7 2 9 4 0 0 4 0 0 

Ohio 893 732 141 72 223 41 179 157 98 125 103 106 108 181 41 50 

Oklahoma 204 169 22 11 37 7 45 22 31 31 20 13 31 64 18 21 

Oregon 189 169 32 12 20 5 68 58 17 32 18 14 20 40 14 8 

Pennsylvania 1,123 873 225 65 245 45 204 201 143 169 128 154 107 190 71 49 

Puerto Rico 42 72 9 5 0 0 7 9 9 19 5 5 12 34 0 0 

Rhode Island 142 89 49 19 12 3 20 24 25 14 31 24 1 3 4 2 

South Carolina 215 202 33 15 45 14 54 69 24 20 24 21 23 50 12 13 

South Dakota 43 29 5 0 2 0 15 1 6 7 0 1 15 20 0 0 

Tennessee 319 362 46 15 52 10 59 84 52 65 47 31 47 133 16 24 

Texas 1,350 1,078 249 94 298 50 280 274 148 168 148 148 148 273 79 71 

Utah 217 138 52 16 37 8 59 40 39 33 8 11 19 17 3 13 

Vermont 24 33 2 2 5 2 12 12 3 11 0 3 2 3 0 0 

Virginia 555 448 108 37 114 29 84 84 81 79 43 41 80 150 45 28 

Washington 360 287 70 19 79 23 105 94 38 59 31 35 20 36 17 21 

West Virginia 86 61 9 2 17 3 20 11 10 12 12 7 18 25 0 1 

Wisconsin 476 371 84 32 72 15 122 80 58 67 92 59 32 98 16 20 

Wyoming 33 22 12 2 2 1 7 5 2 3 0 0 10 11 0 0 

NOTE: Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by federal sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates. a Totals exclude doctorate recipients whose gender was unknown (total is 71). b Includes mathematics and computer sciences. 

c Includes the 50 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002

98 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

All U.S. institutions 39,955 1,268 1,922 797 1,728 5,073 5,680 1,659 1,011 3,199 3,412 1,030 365 603 3,375 6,488 2,343 

ALABAMA 480 13 26 7 18 68 87 35 17 41 21 7 1 3 12 88 36 

Auburn U. Main Campus 143 3 11 0 4 21 14 1 16 18 3 7 1 0 0 32 12 

U.S. Sports Academy 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 

U. AL 157 1 8 3 6 22 9 3 1 16 13 0 0 3 12 36 24 

U. AL at Birmingham 130 1 6 0 4 7 60 30 0 7 5 0 0 0 0 10 0 

U. AL in Huntsville 34 8 1 3 4 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. South AL 13 0 0 1 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 

ALASKA 19 0 1 6 0 1 7 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. AK Fairbanks 19 0 1 6 0 1 7 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

ARIZONA 714 28 32 31 16 83 84 15 18 43 63 29 2 9 71 143 47 

AZ State U.-Main Campus 307 7 9 4 11 46 17 4 0 28 23 18 2 5 25 82 26 

Northern AZ U. 39 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 3 0 6 2 0 0 2 23 0 

U. AZ 368 21 23 27 5 37 64 11 15 15 34 9 0 4 44 38 21 

ARKANSAS 152 4 6 2 2 11 27 8 11 3 4 6 2 2 2 55 7 

U. AR at Little Rock 31 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 

U. AR for Medical Sciences 16 0 0 0 0 0 15 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. AR Main Campus 105 4 6 2 2 10 12 7 11 3 4 6 2 2 2 25 7 

CALIFORNIA 4,742 178 275 121 247 687 668 130 54 482 447 138 38 47 412 577 241 

Alliant International U. 54 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 51 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 

Azusa Pacific U. 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 

Biola U. 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 4 3 

CA Institute of Integral Studies 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 2 0 19 

CA Institute of Technology 140 23 18 16 14 40 24 0 0 1 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 

CA School of Professional 

Psychology-Alameda 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 43 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

CA School of Professional 

Psychology-Fresno 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

CA School of Professional 

Psychology-San Diego 72 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 46 1 0 0 0 0 15 9 

Claremont Graduate U. 94 0 0 0 8 2 1 0 0 10 23 4 3 3 21 13 6 

Claremont School of Theology 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 

Fielding Graduate Institute 114 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 44 2 0 0 0 1 35 31 

Fuller Theological Seminary in CA 52 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 5 0 0 0 11 0 19 

Graduate Theological Union 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 18 0 6 

La Sierra U. 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

Loma Linda U. 30 0 0 2 0 0 15 5 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Naval Postgraduate School 17 2 0 3 2 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Pacific Graduate School of 

Psychology 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Pepperdine U. 50 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 42 7 

RAND Graduate School of Policy 

Studies 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 1 

San Diego State U. 34 0 3 0 0 0 2 5 0 12 2 0 0 0 0 10 0 

Santa Clara U. 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Saybrook Graduate School & 

Research Ctr. 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Scripps Research Institute 23 0 11 0 0 0 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Stanford U. 526 27 22 21 48 156 72 3 0 11 44 17 4 5 48 28 20 

Wright Institute, The 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. CA Berkeley 799 27 63 17 50 148 75 26 25 23 128 29 8 8 96 41 35 

U. CA Davis 347 12 34 6 16 53 96 10 25 14 20 6 4 9 23 16 3 

U. CA Irvine 175 3 33 2 10 31 34 3 0 5 22 6 3 4 13 2 4 

U. CA Los Angeles 642 23 28 12 29 82 112 34 0 25 73 39 1 4 81 83 16 

U. CA Riverside 116 3 9 1 4 0 31 0 3 11 17 8 5 5 10 9 0 

U. CA San Diego 251 18 15 17 15 47 63 1 0 8 30 11 2 3 15 1 5 

U. CA San Francisco 87 0 3 0 1 10 57 13 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. CA Santa Barbara 197 14 8 7 15 46 21 0 0 9 18 6 1 3 22 20 7 

U. CA Santa Cruz 114 17 9 17 10 8 19 1 1 4 12 4 3 1 8 0 0 

U. La Verne 48 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 47 1 

U. San Diego 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 

U. San Francisco 56 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 55 1 

U. Southern CA 413 9 18 0 24 53 34 18 0 19 39 7 4 2 42 103 41 

U. of the Pacific 32 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

99 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

COLORADO 668 23 45 44 28 106 89 27 17 40 62 7 3 9 46 89 33 

CO School of Mines 53 2 3 15 0 31 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 

CO State U. 148 4 12 14 7 21 36 3 17 13 7 0 0 0 0 12 2 

CO Technical U. 10 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 

U. CO at Boulder 256 17 22 15 14 51 25 0 0 12 34 7 2 2 31 12 12 

U. CO at Colorado Springs 2 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. CO at Denver 39 0 0 0 2 1 0 4 0 1 8 0 0 0 0 21 2 

U. CO Health Sciences Ctr. 41 0 0 0 0 0 28 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. Denver 56 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 11 0 1 7 5 12 8 

U. Northern CO 63 0 4 0 2 0 0 7 0 6 0 0 0 0 10 32 2 

CONNECTICUT 539 28 37 9 11 35 121 14 5 31 64 32 8 8 69 43 24 

U. CT 221 6 14 1 5 21 40 8 4 20 20 9 4 2 11 43 13 

U. New Haven 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 

Wesleyan U. 13 2 2 0 1 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 

Yale U. 301 20 21 8 5 14 74 6 1 11 44 23 4 6 57 0 7 

DELAWARE 158 6 4 9 12 34 7 2 3 12 10 5 8 2 5 39 0 

U. DE 138 6 4 9 12 34 7 2 3 12 10 5 8 2 5 19 0 

Wilmington Coll 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA 463 8 19 1 20 37 56 8 0 53 78 25 1 4 43 58 52 

American U. 53 2 3 0 2 0 1 0 0 9 20 1 0 0 0 14 1 

Catholic U. America 73 0 1 0 0 5 3 7 0 8 7 2 0 1 26 4 9 

Gallaudet U. 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 

George Washington U. 178 5 3 1 13 30 19 0 0 19 17 7 1 3 5 31 24 

Georgetown U. 74 0 7 0 0 1 26 0 0 1 18 11 0 0 9 0 1 

Howard U. 78 1 5 0 5 1 7 1 0 14 16 4 0 0 3 4 17 

FLORIDA 1,948 43 47 35 72 188 136 82 29 125 69 15 9 15 93 808 182 

Argosy U.-Sarasota Campus 158 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 121 36 

Barry U. 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 14 3 

FL Agricultural & Mechanical U. 14 0 0 0 0 1 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

FL Atlantic U.-Boca Raton 38 0 0 0 0 9 3 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 14 9 

FL Institute of Technology-Melbourne 27 0 1 3 6 12 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 

FL International U. 50 0 1 3 1 6 4 1 0 9 7 0 0 0 2 10 6 

FL State U. 253 13 4 9 7 8 21 5 0 27 17 9 5 5 39 58 26 

Lynn U. 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 4 

Nova Southeastern U. 541 0 0 0 29 0 0 12 0 14 4 0 0 0 7 409 66 

U. West FL, The 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 

U. Central FL 125 12 0 0 6 38 1 1 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 63 0 

U. FL 426 15 31 5 17 89 63 28 28 27 29 4 2 4 20 47 17 

U. Miami 109 2 2 6 2 4 25 4 1 18 7 2 1 4 21 10 0 

U. South FL 160 1 8 9 4 21 16 21 0 20 5 0 1 2 4 33 15 

GEORGIA 1,037 20 66 11 33 171 135 36 34 87 71 30 11 15 72 184 61 

Clark Atlanta U. 26 0 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 8 0 0 0 2 11 0 

Emory U. 174 1 19 0 3 0 40 2 0 11 19 15 4 4 43 11 2 

GA Institute of Technology-Main 

Campus 256 15 21 6 21 167 5 0 0 7 1 2 0 0 0 0 11 

GA Southern U. 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 22 0 

GA State U. 126 2 3 0 2 0 5 7 0 30 11 5 3 2 2 40 14 

Institute of Paper Science & 

Technology 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Medical C. GA 16 0 0 0 0 0 14 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Mercer U. 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Morehouse School of Medicine 2 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. GA 390 2 19 5 6 4 67 24 32 38 32 8 4 9 25 81 34 

Valdosta State U. 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 0 

HAWAII 105 6 2 8 3 4 16 1 3 7 19 3 0 1 23 8 1 

U. HI at Manoa 105 6 2 8 3 4 16 1 3 7 19 3 0 1 23 8 1 

IDAHO 89 2 5 2 2 8 14 2 8 5 4 1 1 1 2 32 0 

ID State U. 31 1 0 0 0 2 8 1 0 5 2 0 1 1 2 8 0 

U. ID 58 1 5 2 2 6 6 1 8 0 2 1 0 0 0 24 0 

ILLINOIS 2,110 73 112 14 85 254 245 61 34 179 202 50 15 33 223 389 141 

Benedictine U. 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 6 

Chicago Theological Seminary 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

100 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

Depaul U. 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 

Finch U. Health Science-Chicago 

Medical School 28 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Garrett Evangelical Theological 

Seminary 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

IL Institute of Technology 70 2 1 0 10 22 9 0 0 20 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 

IL State U. 51 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 4 0 1 1 0 2 41 0 

Institute for Clinical Social Work 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 7 

Loyola U. Chicago 204 0 8 0 0 0 28 8 0 23 8 2 2 3 6 113 3 

Lutheran School of Theology at 

Chicago 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 2 

National-Louis U. 20 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 

Northern IL U. 126 0 6 1 7 0 6 0 1 11 8 2 3 5 2 73 1 

Northwestern U. 299 7 23 0 9 71 38 5 0 13 38 5 2 2 45 9 32 

Roosevelt U. 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 

Rush U. 15 0 0 0 0 0 5 8 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

Southern IL U.-Carbondale 126 0 3 0 2 3 14 6 0 18 13 2 1 4 11 26 23 

U. Chicago, The 333 21 17 6 12 0 41 0 0 14 76 22 2 7 84 12 19 

U. IL at Chicago 176 7 19 2 7 21 24 27 0 9 10 5 2 6 9 19 9 

U. IL at Springfield 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 603 36 35 5 38 137 64 7 33 33 47 10 2 6 60 59 31 

INDIANA 970 28 74 15 40 141 87 28 31 66 87 35 12 29 126 120 51 

Ball State U. 38 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 13 0 0 3 1 5 13 0 

IN State U. 38 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 11 2 0 0 0 0 21 0 

IN U.-Bloomington 365 12 21 8 13 1 34 11 0 15 40 21 2 10 78 69 30 

IN U.-Purdue U.-Indianapolis 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Purdue U.-Main Campus 412 10 47 4 20 121 32 14 31 22 25 6 7 11 25 17 20 

U. of Notre Dame 115 6 6 3 7 19 15 0 0 5 20 8 0 7 18 0 1 

IOWA 576 13 30 8 28 90 82 42 30 28 40 18 3 11 48 86 19 

Drake U. 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

IA State U. 238 8 21 0 12 55 37 5 30 15 15 3 0 0 2 31 4 

Maharishi U. of Management 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 

U. IA 320 5 9 8 16 31 45 37 0 13 25 15 3 11 44 44 14 

U. Northern IA 12 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 1 

KANSAS 410 12 22 3 17 41 59 12 29 55 31 11 2 2 23 81 10 

KS State U. 152 9 5 1 6 14 27 2 29 11 11 3 0 0 0 31 3 

U. KS Main Campus 223 3 16 2 5 10 32 10 0 39 20 8 2 2 23 44 7 

Wichita State U. 35 0 1 0 6 17 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 

KENTUCKY 341 8 13 1 11 28 72 16 11 20 21 8 4 4 31 54 39 

Asbury Theological Seminary 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 5 

Southern Baptist Theological 

Seminary 22 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 5 4 11 

Spalding U. 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 

U. KY 215 8 12 1 11 16 42 13 11 11 19 7 4 3 16 23 18 

U. Louisville 87 0 1 0 0 12 30 3 0 8 2 0 0 1 8 17 5 

LOUISIANA 528 7 23 11 19 40 76 29 25 35 54 10 9 11 53 85 41 

Grambling State U. 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 

LA State U. & Ag & Mech & Hebert 

Laws Ctr. 222 7 9 8 9 20 18 6 25 17 24 1 5 6 27 29 11 

LA State U.-Health Sciences Ctr. 22 0 0 0 0 0 11 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

LA State U.-Shreveport 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

LA Tech U. 21 0 0 0 1 6 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 1 4 7 

New Orleans Baptist Theological 

Seminary 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 9 0 6 

Southern U. & A & M C. 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 4 0 

Tulane U. LA 122 0 8 2 2 10 30 10 0 7 17 8 3 2 8 0 15 

U. LA at Lafayette 28 0 0 0 7 3 6 0 0 0 0 0 1 3 8 0 0 

U. LA at Monroe 12 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 

U. New Orleans 54 0 6 1 0 1 0 0 0 1 10 0 0 0 0 33 2 

MAINE 38 2 1 2 0 5 12 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 

U. ME 38 2 1 2 0 5 12 1 2 6 0 1 0 0 0 6 0 

MARYLAND 973 24 21 17 66 126 201 127 12 45 118 28 8 8 90 60 22 

Baltimore Hebrew U. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

101 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

Johns Hopkins U. 359 6 10 4 6 39 109 78 0 3 48 20 1 4 25 5 1 

Loyola C. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 

Morgan State U. 14 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 12 0 

Peabody Institute of Johns Hopkins 

U. 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 

Uniformed Services U. of the Health 

Sci 14 0 0 0 0 0 7 4 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. MD-Baltimore 81 0 3 0 0 0 43 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 

U. MD-Baltimore County 50 0 2 1 9 6 6 0 0 11 14 0 0 0 1 0 0 

U. MD-College Park 436 18 6 12 51 79 36 15 11 27 55 8 7 4 49 43 15 

U. MD-Eastern Shore 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

MASSACHUSETTS 2,126 111 125 39 110 321 323 93 17 101 278 58 18 23 183 198 128 

American International C. 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

Boston C. 114 1 6 1 0 0 4 6 0 19 20 4 0 0 14 22 17 

Boston U. 245 11 8 5 13 18 50 15 0 19 24 0 3 1 37 28 13 

Brandeis U. 102 1 7 0 9 0 19 4 0 2 34 11 4 2 8 0 1 

Clark U. 26 3 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 5 13 1 0 0 1 0 0 

Harvard U. 552 37 31 3 16 7 101 41 0 6 89 33 7 4 71 76 30 

MA C. of Pharmacy & Health Science 2 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

MA Institute of Technology 501 36 29 25 37 214 55 10 0 8 38 2 0 0 13 1 33 

New England Conservatory of Music 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 

Northeastern U. 50 1 10 0 2 15 2 0 0 4 10 2 0 0 0 0 4 

Simmons C. 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 

Smith C. 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 

Springfield C. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 

Suffolk U. 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Tufts U. 96 7 2 2 3 7 38 0 0 10 12 1 1 6 5 1 1 

U. MA Medical School Worcester 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. MA-Amherst 288 11 22 2 22 32 29 9 17 14 30 4 3 10 26 42 15 

U. MA-Boston 29 0 0 1 4 0 1 2 0 4 7 0 0 0 0 10 0 

U. MA-Lowell 43 3 5 0 3 9 3 6 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 12 0 

Worcester Polytechnic Institute 25 0 2 0 1 19 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

MICHIGAN 1,445 41 81 23 68 262 170 55 34 137 137 37 7 24 127 163 79 

Andrews U. 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 5 13 6 

Calvin C. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 

Central MI U. 8 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Eastern MI U. 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 

MI State U. 431 20 25 2 23 25 54 14 32 41 49 13 3 13 38 48 31 

MI Technological U. 42 2 5 4 0 19 5 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 4 0 1 

Oakland U. 20 0 1 0 1 11 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 

U. Detroit Mercy 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. MI-Ann Arbor 607 16 30 16 28 173 74 33 1 24 65 22 2 6 64 25 28 

Wayne State U. 225 2 20 0 10 33 35 8 0 27 14 1 1 2 10 52 10 

Western MI U. 60 1 0 1 3 1 0 0 0 20 9 1 1 2 4 14 3 

MINNESOTA 727 15 23 12 24 83 82 52 25 69 53 11 2 7 66 141 62 

Hamline U. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

Luther Seminary 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 

Mayo Graduate School 22 0 0 0 0 3 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Saint Marys U. MN 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

U. MN-Twin Cities 565 15 23 12 23 79 63 35 25 38 48 10 2 7 64 86 35 

U. of St. Thomas 24 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 24 0 

Walden U. 105 0 0 0 1 1 0 17 0 30 5 0 0 0 0 27 24 

MISSISSIPPI 334 1 13 0 2 10 33 8 21 36 17 9 8 3 11 130 32 

Delta State U. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 

Jackson State U. 27 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 2 0 0 0 0 21 3 

MS State U. 96 0 0 0 0 6 10 0 21 7 12 3 0 0 0 26 11 

U. MS Main Campus 84 1 5 0 0 3 6 1 0 8 1 4 5 1 6 31 12 

U. MS Medical Ctr. 13 0 0 0 0 0 9 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. Southern MS 111 0 8 0 2 1 8 3 0 20 2 2 3 2 5 49 6 

MISSOURI 681 19 44 9 19 70 113 35 20 62 50 4 11 11 46 125 43 

Concordia Seminary 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

Saint Louis U.-Main Campus 110 0 0 2 0 0 10 10 0 18 7 2 2 2 9 40 8 

U. MO-Columbia 249 3 13 1 10 17 33 11 20 18 21 1 5 2 10 58 26 

U. MO-Kansas City 61 2 5 0 1 0 7 9 0 8 7 0 0 1 10 11 0 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

102 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

U. MO-Rolla 45 6 7 0 2 29 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. MO-St. Louis 43 0 7 0 0 0 6 5 0 8 4 0 0 0 0 13 0 

Washington U. in St. Louis 171 8 12 6 6 24 57 0 0 9 11 1 4 6 17 3 7 

MONTANA 74 4 5 2 6 3 26 0 4 7 0 0 0 0 1 15 1 

MT State U.-Bozeman 36 4 2 0 2 3 14 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 

U. MT-Missoula, The 38 0 3 2 4 0 12 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 1 7 1 

NEBRASKA 259 7 10 0 4 14 40 12 26 31 17 5 4 4 14 53 18 

Creighton U. 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. NE at Lincoln 211 7 9 0 4 14 18 3 26 30 12 5 4 4 14 44 17 

U. NE at Omaha 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 9 1 

U. NE Medical Ctr. 25 0 1 0 0 0 14 9 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NEVADA 107 3 5 7 0 13 15 4 0 13 4 2 3 6 3 26 3 

U. Nevada-Las Vegas 35 1 0 0 0 1 5 0 0 0 3 1 2 1 0 19 2 

U. Nevada-Reno 72 2 5 7 0 12 10 4 0 13 1 1 1 5 3 7 1 

NEW HAMPSHIRE 97 4 10 6 6 16 26 2 2 5 7 3 1 1 2 6 0 

Antioch New England Graduate 

School-NH 2 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Dartmouth C. 40 2 7 2 5 7 13 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. New Hampshire-Main Campus 55 2 3 3 1 9 13 0 2 3 6 3 1 1 2 6 0 

NEW JERSEY 846 36 27 26 59 137 120 10 12 39 62 32 11 26 129 76 44 

Drew U. 44 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 5 5 26 0 5 

Fairleigh Dickinson U.-All Campuses 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NJ Institute of Technology 52 6 0 3 9 30 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

Princeton Theological Seminary 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 6 0 11 

Princeton U. 232 19 14 7 26 38 22 0 0 3 26 10 4 8 55 0 0 

Rutgers U.-New Brunswick 336 10 8 15 21 52 51 4 12 9 30 17 2 13 42 36 14 

Rutgers U.-Newark 36 0 2 0 1 0 10 6 0 1 5 0 0 0 0 0 11 

Seton Hall U. 63 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 19 1 0 0 0 0 40 0 

Stevens Institute of Technology 23 1 0 1 2 17 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

U. of Medicine & Dentistry of NJ 34 0 0 0 0 0 34 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NEW MEXICO 277 25 8 10 16 33 21 3 10 25 20 4 3 8 22 50 18 

NM Institute of Mining & Technology 14 4 1 4 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 

NM State U.-Main Campus 76 9 3 0 5 14 5 0 10 7 0 0 0 0 4 13 6 

U. NM-Main Campus 187 12 4 6 11 15 16 3 0 18 20 4 3 8 18 37 12 

NEW YORK 3,373 113 126 59 136 302 545 109 48 359 390 121 43 70 408 338 205 

Adelphi U. 37 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 30 1 0 0 0 0 0 2 

Albany Medical C. 5 0 0 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Clarkson U. 22 0 5 0 0 16 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Columbia U. in the City of New York 380 16 17 18 17 32 57 18 0 4 60 42 5 15 46 0 33 

Cornell U.-Endowed Colls 382 26 17 2 18 61 85 6 40 7 52 4 6 6 24 13 15 

CUNY Graduate School & U. Ctr. 269 10 11 6 12 9 26 13 0 42 52 4 6 5 54 3 16 

Fordham U. 116 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 34 14 2 1 2 12 41 10 

Hofstra U. 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 20 0 

Jewish Theological Seminary of 

America 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 2 2 1 

Juilliard School, The 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 

Long Island U.-Brooklyn Campus 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Mount Sinai School of Medicine 35 0 0 0 0 0 35 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

New School U. 70 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 26 33 0 0 0 10 0 1 

NY Medical C. 8 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

New York U. 382 4 7 0 14 0 47 26 0 37 49 22 7 13 75 37 44 

Pace U.-New York 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 

Polytechnic U. 21 1 3 0 2 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute 115 4 7 2 10 78 3 0 0 0 4 1 0 0 1 0 5 

Rochester Institute of Technology 2 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Rockefeller U. 30 0 0 0 0 0 30 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

St. Johns U.-New York 56 0 3 0 0 0 1 2 0 11 0 6 0 4 1 28 0 

SUNY at Albany 159 4 5 5 6 1 14 4 0 37 30 4 1 0 17 13 18 

SUNY at Binghamton 113 0 8 3 9 5 4 2 0 11 29 7 3 8 15 7 2 

SUNY at Buffalo 232 4 18 3 7 39 28 13 0 13 16 4 9 10 30 28 10 

SUNY at Stony Brook 219 25 9 10 25 19 45 1 0 13 8 10 3 4 46 1 0 

SUNY C. of Environmental Science & 

Forestry 26 0 2 2 0 3 9 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 1 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

103 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

SUNY Health Science Ctr. at 

Brooklyn 13 0 0 0 0 0 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

SUNY- Upstate Medical U. 18 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Syracuse U. 131 5 7 3 7 14 6 3 0 12 25 3 1 1 7 23 14 

Teachers C. at Columbia U. 179 0 0 0 1 0 5 9 0 37 4 2 0 0 6 112 3 

Union Theological Seminary 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 

U. Rochester 183 13 7 3 8 10 35 7 0 11 13 6 1 2 52 8 7 

Weill Cornell Medical C. 33 0 0 0 0 0 33 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Yeshiva U. 60 1 0 0 0 0 38 0 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 1 5 

NORTH CAROLINA 1,073 25 62 13 64 129 209 60 42 65 86 21 11 17 91 134 44 

Appalachian State U. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 

Duke U. 203 3 12 1 10 21 66 0 1 8 24 7 4 5 34 0 7 

East Carolina U. 13 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

Fayetteville State U. 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 

NC Agricultural & Technical State U. 10 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NC State U. at Raleigh 299 12 9 8 29 81 44 0 41 16 16 0 0 0 0 39 4 

Reformed Theological Seminary 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 

Southeastern Baptist Theological 

Seminary 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 2 

U. NC at Chapel Hill 388 7 37 4 22 10 69 57 0 23 44 14 3 10 37 22 29 

U. NC at Charlotte 34 0 0 0 3 6 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 0 

U. NC at Greensboro 81 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 0 18 1 0 4 2 15 35 1 

Wake Forest U. 25 3 4 0 0 1 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

NORTH DAKOTA 54 1 4 0 4 3 13 0 10 11 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 

ND State U.-Main Campus 24 0 4 0 4 1 5 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. ND-Main Campus 30 1 0 0 0 2 8 0 0 11 0 1 0 3 0 4 0 

OHIO 1,625 59 99 21 34 264 228 75 33 130 93 42 17 19 131 289 91 

Air Force Institute of Technology 18 1 0 0 0 17 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Bowling Green State U.-Main 

Campus 72 0 1 0 2 0 7 0 0 13 3 2 0 1 24 15 4 

Case Western Reserve U. 166 4 16 1 1 46 36 14 0 7 9 1 2 2 3 1 23 

Cleveland State U. 29 0 5 0 0 5 2 1 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 12 3 

Hebrew Union C.-Jewish Institute of 

Religion 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 

Kent State U.-Main Campus 128 13 5 2 10 0 14 0 0 23 10 1 4 4 7 28 7 

Medical C. OH 14 0 0 0 0 0 14 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Miami U.-Oxford 52 0 3 2 0 0 6 0 0 10 3 7 2 3 2 14 0 

OH State U., The-Main Campus 616 20 32 15 12 92 78 31 33 38 51 22 3 5 54 101 29 

OH U.-Main Campus 108 8 7 0 2 6 11 2 0 8 0 1 2 1 6 38 16 

U. Akron Main Campus 80 4 16 0 0 21 2 0 0 15 3 2 0 0 0 17 0 

U. Cincinnati-Main Campus 213 4 12 1 2 42 45 20 0 6 14 2 3 1 29 24 8 

U. Dayton 41 2 0 0 0 18 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 17 0 

U. Toledo 73 3 2 0 4 15 4 7 0 9 0 4 1 2 0 21 1 

Wright State U.-Main Campus 8 0 0 0 1 2 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Youngstown State U. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

OKLAHOMA 374 6 6 16 5 44 35 12 20 33 29 4 1 10 18 96 39 

OK State U.-Main Campus 187 4 4 2 1 16 17 5 20 19 10 3 0 2 2 66 16 

U. OK Norman Campus 169 2 2 12 4 21 18 7 0 11 19 1 1 2 16 30 23 

U. Tulsa 18 0 0 2 0 7 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 

OREGON 359 8 13 6 18 25 68 17 41 18 31 1 2 3 26 60 22 

OR Graduate Inst of Science & 

Engineering-OHSU 12 0 0 0 1 8 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OR Health & Science U. 25 0 0 0 0 0 19 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

OR State U. 156 2 9 4 7 14 32 11 41 3 8 0 0 0 0 20 5 

Portland State U. 35 1 0 2 2 3 3 0 0 1 7 0 0 0 0 6 10 

U. OR 131 5 4 0 8 0 11 0 0 14 16 1 2 3 26 34 7 

PENNSYLVANIA 2,000 58 100 21 111 292 252 117 36 136 176 54 21 48 159 298 121 

Bryn Mawr C. 21 0 0 0 2 0 1 0 0 5 0 1 0 0 9 0 3 

Carnegie Mellon U. 173 7 13 0 34 78 4 0 0 2 9 4 0 0 5 1 16 

Drexel U. 43 1 6 0 3 18 3 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 5 6 

Duquesne U. 28 0 2 0 0 0 1 3 0 9 0 0 0 4 5 0 4 

Indiana U. PA-Main Campus 53 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 6 0 8 16 7 15 0 

Lehigh U. 78 3 4 2 4 25 9 0 0 4 3 5 1 10 1 7 0 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

104 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

Marywood U. 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 3 1 

MCP Hahnemann U. 33 1 0 0 0 0 12 5 0 15 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

PA State U.-Main Campus 539 22 29 12 16 119 62 22 36 31 38 4 8 6 26 91 17 

Temple U. 236 1 3 0 10 1 23 14 0 38 24 14 2 2 30 53 21 

Thomas Jefferson U. 21 0 0 0 0 0 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. PA 379 11 21 3 23 18 69 17 0 8 65 17 1 5 45 41 35 

U. Pittsburgh-Main Campus 335 12 19 4 19 33 46 45 0 22 30 8 1 5 25 50 16 

U. of the Sciences in Philadelphia 5 0 3 0 0 0 1 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Villanova U. 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 

Westminster Theological Seminary 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 

Widener U.-Main Campus 42 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 32 0 

PUERTO RICO 114 2 7 5 0 0 15 0 1 28 0 4 2 0 4 46 0 

Carlos Albizu U. 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 18 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 

Inter American U. PR-Metro 23 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 23 0 

U. PR-Mayaguez 6 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. PR-Medical Sciences Campus 6 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. PR-Rio Piedras Campus 58 2 7 0 0 0 9 0 0 10 0 4 2 0 1 23 0 

RHODE ISLAND 231 14 15 15 24 15 29 12 3 12 27 13 3 7 32 4 6 

Brown U. 148 12 10 3 20 5 23 1 0 5 26 12 1 5 25 0 0 

Providence C. 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 

Salve Regina U. 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 

U. RI 78 2 5 12 4 10 6 11 3 7 1 0 2 2 3 4 6 

SOUTH CAROLINA 417 4 25 9 10 59 73 36 14 25 19 7 9 5 24 73 25 

Clemson U. 116 1 7 1 0 35 25 1 14 6 2 0 0 0 1 14 9 

Medical U. SC 28 0 1 0 1 0 26 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

SC State U. 21 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 21 0 

U. SC at Columbia 252 3 17 8 9 24 22 35 0 19 17 7 9 5 23 38 16 

SOUTH DAKOTA 72 1 2 2 0 2 8 0 8 8 5 0 1 0 0 35 0 

SD School of Mines & Technology 5 1 0 2 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

SD State U. 18 0 2 0 0 0 3 0 8 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. SD 49 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 8 0 0 1 0 0 35 0 

TENNESSEE 681 17 21 8 15 62 91 42 10 76 41 12 9 12 45 180 40 

East TN State U. 35 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 33 0 

Meharry Medical C. 10 0 0 0 0 0 9 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Mid-America Baptist Seminary 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 4 

Middle TN State U. 25 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 2 1 2 4 2 12 0 

TN State U. 52 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 2 0 0 0 0 37 2 

TN Technological U. 7 0 0 2 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. TN, The 238 6 11 5 4 22 25 15 10 33 22 4 4 4 7 45 21 

U. TN Health Science Ctr., The 36 0 1 0 0 0 16 19 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. Memphis 81 0 2 0 4 3 1 4 0 22 2 3 0 0 6 27 7 

Vanderbilt U. 189 11 6 1 7 32 37 4 0 9 13 4 3 4 26 26 6 

TEXAS 2,429 79 93 54 117 348 377 120 57 166 151 38 22 37 199 421 150 

Baylor C. of Medicine 36 0 0 0 0 0 36 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Baylor U. 55 1 1 1 5 0 2 12 0 1 2 0 3 2 5 20 0 

Dallas Theological Seminary 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 7 0 6 

Lamar U.-Beaumont 5 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 

Rice U. 105 7 9 3 11 25 16 0 0 1 12 3 1 2 15 0 0 

Sam Houston State U. 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Southern Methodist U. 37 2 1 2 5 11 2 0 0 2 9 0 0 0 3 0 0 

Southwest TX State U. 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 8 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Southwestern Baptist Theological 

Seminary 25 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 12 2 9 

St. Mary’s U. 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 

Stephen F. Austin State U. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

TX A & M U. 470 13 27 18 24 114 57 2 35 18 29 7 5 6 4 83 28 

TX A & M U.-Commerce 32 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 1 30 0 

TX A & M U.-Corpus Christi 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 

TX A & M U.-Kingsville 13 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 

TX Christian U. 13 0 1 0 0 0 1 0 0 2 0 2 1 4 2 0 0 

TX Southern U. 23 0 1 1 0 0 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 

TX Tech U. 142 4 6 1 5 10 12 0 16 18 5 1 1 5 21 23 14 

TX Tech U. Health Sciences Ctr. 7 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 
Appendix Table A-7. Institutions granting doctorates, by major field, 2002, continued

105 

2002 

Total 

Physics & Astronomy Chemistry Earth, Atmos., & Marine Sci. Math and Computer Sci. Engineering Biosciences Health Sciences Agricultural Sciences Psychology Other Social Sciences History American Literature English Lang. & Lit. Other Humanities Education Professional/ Other Fields 

TX Woman’s U. 87 0 0 0 0 0 5 37 0 16 6 0 0 0 5 12 6 

U. TX at Arlington, The 71 0 2 0 9 21 3 0 0 6 4 2 0 0 4 0 20 

U. TX at Austin, The 637 34 31 11 28 134 44 25 0 36 44 11 3 11 86 94 45 

U. TX at Dallas, The 63 5 4 3 9 4 5 2 0 5 9 3 3 0 8 0 3 

U. TX at El Paso, The 27 0 0 8 0 4 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 0 0 11 1 

U. TX Health Science Ctr, The 83 0 0 1 0 0 52 29 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

U. TX Health Science-San Antonio, 

The 34 1 0 1 0 0 27 5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. TX Medical Branch-Galveston, 

The 40 0 0 0 0 0 32 6 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 0 0 

U. TX Southwest Medical Ctr.-Dallas, 

The 49 0 0 0 0 1 39 0 0 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. TX-Pan American, The 7 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 1 

U. Dallas 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 1 0 

U. Houston-University Park 157 7 6 4 9 21 9 1 0 22 7 3 2 3 6 47 10 

U. North TX 154 5 4 0 12 2 14 0 0 18 9 6 3 3 18 53 7 

U. North TX-Health Sci Ctr. at Ft. 

Worth 10 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

UTAH 355 11 32 7 18 45 71 19 9 50 22 4 0 4 11 36 16 

Brigham Young U. 64 2 7 0 2 10 7 5 0 21 3 0 0 0 0 7 0 

U. UT 221 5 24 7 13 28 49 14 0 17 12 4 0 4 11 17 16 

UT State U. 70 4 1 0 3 7 15 0 9 12 7 0 0 0 0 12 0 

VERMONT 57 0 2 0 2 7 19 0 5 14 0 0 0 0 3 5 0 

Middlebury C. 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 3 0 0 

U. VT & State Agricultural C. 54 0 2 0 2 7 19 0 5 14 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 

VIRGINIA 1,007 27 36 34 49 144 104 35 29 75 86 28 6 11 39 231 73 

C. of William and Mary 56 6 0 10 4 1 1 0 1 0 0 5 0 0 6 22 0 

George Mason U. 130 0 0 7 19 8 3 8 0 19 32 0 0 0 1 31 2 

Hampton U. 5 4 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

Norfolk State U. 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 

Old Dominion U. 59 4 0 5 3 9 10 3 0 3 5 0 0 0 0 10 7 

Regent U. 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 8 

Union Theological Seminary & 

Presbyterian School 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0 3 

U. VA-Main Campus 319 9 15 5 8 36 40 8 0 13 34 20 6 11 24 85 5 

VA Commonwealth U. 108 1 10 0 3 2 31 9 0 11 9 0 0 0 1 17 14 

VA Polytechnic Institute & State U. 310 3 11 7 12 88 19 6 28 29 6 3 0 0 0 66 32 

WASHINGTON 651 20 23 17 30 102 127 32 41 37 62 17 3 8 38 56 38 

Gonzaga U. 12 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 9 3 

Seattle Pacific U. 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

Seattle U. 11 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 11 0 

U. WA-Seattle Campus 455 17 16 14 27 80 99 28 17 13 48 9 3 6 36 20 22 

WA State U. 162 3 7 3 3 22 28 4 24 14 14 8 0 2 2 15 13 

WEST VIRGINIA 147 3 3 0 5 20 17 4 10 19 3 11 1 2 5 43 1 

Marshall U. 4 0 0 0 0 0 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

WV U. 143 3 3 0 5 20 13 4 10 19 3 11 1 2 5 43 1 

WISCONSIN 848 26 35 14 41 87 140 19 43 46 79 28 9 20 94 130 37 

Cardinal Stritch U. 38 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 37 1 

Marquette U. 59 0 3 0 0 6 5 0 0 12 0 3 2 4 19 4 1 

Medical C. WI 16 0 0 0 0 0 16 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 

U. WI-Madison 649 23 28 14 37 76 113 15 43 21 63 25 4 11 72 76 28 

U. WI-Milwaukee 86 3 4 0 4 5 6 4 0 13 16 0 3 5 3 13 7 

WYOMING 55 2 6 5 1 3 9 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 21 0 

U. WY 55 2 6 5 1 3 9 0 3 3 2 0 0 0 0 21 0 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
106 

Appendix Table A-8. Top 50 doctorate-granting institutions, 2002

Rank Institution Number 

1. U. CA Berkeley 799 

2. U. WI-Madison 649 

3. U. CA Los Angeles 642 

4. U. TX at Austin, The 637 

5. OH State U.-Main Campus 616 

6. U. MI-Ann Arbor 607 

7. U. IL at Urbana-Champaign 603 

8. U. MN-Twin Cities 565 

9. Harvard U. 552 

10. Nova Southeastern U. 541 

11. PA State U.-Main Campus 539 

12. Stanford U. 526 

13. MA Institute of Technology 501 

14. TX A & M U. 470 

15. U. WA-Seattle Campus 455 

16. U. MD-College Park 436 

17. MI State U. 431 

18. U. FL 426 

19. U. Southern CA 413 

20. Purdue U.-Main Campus 412 

21. U. GA 390 

22. U. NC at Chapel Hill 388 

23. Cornell U.-Endowed Colleges 382 [ 23. New York U. 382 

25. Columbia U. in The City of New York 380 

26. U. PA 379 

27. U. AZ 368 

28. Indiana U.-Bloomington 365 

29. Johns Hopkins U. 359 

30. U. CA Davis 347 

31. Rutgers U.-New Brunswick 336 

32. U. Pittsburgh-Main Campus 335 

33. U. Chicago, The 333 

34. U. IA 320 

35. U. VA-Main Campus 319 

36. VA Polytechnic Institute and State U. 310 

37. AZ State U.-Main Campus 307 

38. Yale U 301 

39. Northwestern U. 299 [ 39. NC State U. at Raleigh 299 

41. U. MA-Amherst 288 

42. CUNY Graduate School and University Center 269 

43. U. CO at Boulder 256 

44. GA Institute of Technology-Main Campus 256 

45. FL State U. 253 

46. U. SC at Columbia 252 

47. U. CA San Diego 251 

48. U. MO-Columbia 249 

49. Boston U. 245 

50. IA State U. 238 [ 50. U. TN 238 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
107 

APPENDIX B: Trend Tables, 1992-2002

Appendix B includes the following two tables: 

B-1: Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield, 1992-2002 

B-2: Number of doctorate recipients, by sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship, 1992-2002 

TABLE B-1: Table B-1 presents data for the most recent decade by subfield of doctorate. In 

general, the subfields correspond to the fields on the questionnaire’s Specialties List located in 

the questionnaire at the back of the Summary Report; some subfields, however, do not appear on 

the current Specialties List because they are no longer included in the survey taxonomy. A dash 

(—) in a column indicates that the field was not on the Specialties List for that year. 

 Field groupings in this table may differ from those in reports published by Federal 

sponsors of the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED); see inside the back cover of the Summary 

Report for a description of field groupings as reported in these tables. The “general” field 

categories—for example, “chemistry, general”—include individuals who either received the 

doctorate in the general subject area or did not indicate a particular specialty field. The “other” 

field categories—for example, “chemistry, other”—include individuals whose specified doctoral 

discipline was not among the specialty fields. 

 The eight tables in Appendix A present additional information on the most recent cohort 

of research doctorate recipients by field of doctorate. 

TABLE B-2: Table B-2 displays, by sex and citizenship, data on the race/ethnicity of doctorate 

recipients for 1992-2002. Table B-2 contains three panels, each displayed on a separate page. 

The first panel includes all doctorates; the others disaggregate the data by sex. 

 Since 1982, respondents have been asked to first indicate whether or not they are 

Hispanic, and then check one or more of the various racial group categories: American Indian or 

Alaska Native (indicating Tribal Affiliation since 2001), Asian, Native Hawaiians and Pacific 

Islanders, black, or white. In Table B-2, doctorate recipients who reported Hispanic heritage, 

regardless of racial designation, are counted as Hispanic. The remaining survey respondents 

are then counted in their respective racial groups or as "Other/Unknown" (which includes only 

those who did not indicate a specific race/ethnicity through 2000, and also includes those 

choosing "Multiple Race" or “Native Hawaiians and Pacific Islanders” since 2001). 
Appendix Table B-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield, 1992-2002 

108 

 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

TOTAL ALL FIELDS a 38,889 39,800 41,033 41,748 42,436 42,556 42,652 41,098 41,356 40,790 39,955 

PHYSICAL SCIENCES 6,501 6,496 6,822 6,808 6,675 6,679 6,743 6,322 6,074 5,969 5,715 

MATHEMATICS 1,058 1,146 1,118 1,190 1,122 1,123 1,177 1,083 1,050 1,007 917 

Applied Mathematics 213 188 206 211 230 242 265 252 238 214 225 

Algebra 69 84 78 82 78 78 75 84 82 68 65 

Analysis & Functional Analysis 105 105 107 99 100 103 130 86 81 91 74 

Geometry 45 44 35 45 72 70 54 65 59 40 52 

Logic 28 19 29 35 16 23 16 23 19 24 14 

Number Theory 25 42 37 35 42 46 46 50 40 35 26 

Mathematical Statistics 217 228 205 205 178 181 204 174 195 198 167 

Topology 58 54 38 51 55 62 65 65 50 54 39 

Computing Theory & Practice 12 18 16 14 18 14 18 14 17 11 11 

Operations Research 22 37 26 36 21 20 17 21 19 14 19 

Mathematics, General 209 276 269 305 233 153 163 116 151 155 133 

Mathematics, Other 55 51 72 72 79 131 124 133 99 103 92 

COMPUTER SCIENCE 869 880 903 997 920 909 927 855 859 826 811 

Computer Science 791 825 833 913 836 828 821 741 721 688 677 

Information Sciences & Systems 78 55 70 84 84 81 106 114 138 81 79 

Computer/Info Science, Other ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 57 55 

PHYSICS AND ASTRONOMY 1,537 1,544 1,692 1,652 1,677 1,599 1,585 1,430 1,389 1,378 1,268 

Astronomy 55 76 66 89 84 71 91 59 78 89 54 

Astrophysics 79 69 78 84 108 127 116 100 107 97 90 

Acoustics 18 27 20 18 19 19 18 16 10 10 18 

Chem. & Atomic/Molecular 85 95 140 110 129 106 100 100 110 81 81 

Elementary Particles 153 170 176 183 176 170 173 169 147 121 156 

Fluids 17 19 12 18 21 24 26 23 10 8 15 

Nuclear 86 82 90 91 87 106 92 77 74 80 74 

Optics 94 96 104 98 129 123 105 98 117 107 107 

Plasma & High-Temperature 65 62 79 46 48 39 55 49 38 39 29 

Polymer 17 29 29 23 33 19 24 28 21 18 22 

Solid State & Low-Temperature 408 336 388 371 364 328 314 307 279 295 298 

Physics, General 297 340 343 355 323 255 190 202 224 206 178 

Physics, Other 163 143 167 166 156 212 281 202 174 227 146 

CHEMISTRY 2,213 2,137 2,257 2,162 2,149 2,148 2,216 2,132 1,989 1,980 1,922 

Analytical 304 286 334 317 346 350 383 333 326 334 301 

Inorganic 267 237 262 258 249 279 287 279 221 280 246 

Nuclear 7 8 10 5 5 8 6 10 9 4 9 

Organic 512 518 544 483 507 567 598 563 525 522 523 

Medicinal/Pharmaceutical 69 99 102 96 96 105 114 131 107 115 99 

Physical 398 336 334 338 300 334 279 310 270 285 302 

Polymer 83 107 117 116 121 110 122 95 107 107 101 

Theoretical 59 53 52 40 57 48 41 56 52 40 48 

Chemistry, General 449 431 447 458 396 261 285 196 262 201 207 

Chemistry, Other 65 62 55 51 72 86 101 159 110 92 86 

EARTH, ATMOS., & MARINE SCI. 824 789 852 807 807 900 838 822 787 778 797 

Atmospheric Physics & Chemistry 36 13 27 27 22 45 38 43 39 33 39 

Atmospheric Dynamics 23 23 27 16 21 25 24 17 17 17 13 

Meteorology 28 34 32 25 35 28 25 22 34 20 15 

Atmos. Sci./Meteorology, General 27 22 37 44 33 36 22 32 36 34 27 

Atmos. Sci./Meteorology, Other 6 7 6 18 14 15 16 10 17 12 23 

Geology 166 197 194 186 162 165 171 157 124 115 131 

Geochemistry 62 50 59 42 49 49 58 55 49 41 70 

Geophysics & Seismology 108 101 106 93 101 108 106 100 70 88 91 

Paleontology 25 21 17 20 14 23 23 15 31 16 22 

Mineralogy, Petrology 29 9 21 19 23 19 14 14 5 15 13 

Stratigraphy, Sedimentation 23 28 27 16 12 23 24 17 13 13 7 

Geomorphology & Glacial Geology 12 16 13 11 11 26 20 18 14 10 16 

Geological & Related Sci., General 18 15 18 21 27 16 13 9 20 16 12 

Geological & Related Sci., Other 31 17 24 22 22 17 40 35 18 34 30 

Environmental Science 57 68 61 81 83 96 73 99 94 118 109 

Hydrology & Water Resources 29 25 30 24 31 43 35 32 43 45 35 

Oceanography 82 98 91 83 107 114 94 100 99 85 86 

Marine Sciences 32 27 34 32 27 30 18 30 35 36 41 

Misc. Physical Sci., Other 30 18 28 27 13 22 24 17 29 30 17 
Appendix Table B-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield, 1992-2002, continued 

109 

 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

ENGINEERING 5,438 5,698 5,821 6,008 6,309 6,118 5,926 5,332 5,319 5,501 5,073 

Aerospace, Aeronautic. & Astronautic. 234 228 230 252 287 273 242 207 214 203 208 

Agricultural 84 86 89 73 104 79 74 59 60 52 50 

Bioeng. & Biomedical 147 171 173 189 220 211 208 245 252 232 246 

Ceramic Sciences 42 42 39 39 41 39 24 33 22 17 13 

Chemical 607 624 630 602 681 662 669 576 618 633 607 

Civil 540 563 601 572 600 593 587 506 479 500 539 

Communications 30 22 33 29 32 33 40 39 42 47 21 

Computer 175 167 202 189 208 227 210 203 172 186 164 

Electrical, Electronics 1,278 1,354 1,438 1,513 1,501 1,461 1,346 1,236 1,328 1,343 1,208 

Engineering Mechanics 132 128 132 108 105 93 86 68 57 75 56 

Engineering Physics 25 21 17 17 37 24 15 28 26 22 16 

Engineering Science 51 55 46 56 52 45 49 49 34 53 31 

Environmental Health Engineering 54 61 82 84 98 63 63 78 76 94 87 

Ind./Manufacturing 196 236 228 284 259 246 229 212 176 205 229 

Materials Science 365 416 433 476 472 483 482 393 404 448 363 

Mechanical 855 902 883 917 947 930 937 787 806 878 773 

Metallurgical 78 77 67 73 61 60 59 43 25 32 19 

Mining & Mineral 26 24 23 19 31 33 21 18 10 10 8 

Nuclear 120 108 85 105 113 103 96 76 98 75 64 

Ocean 21 24 29 21 26 34 29 16 18 28 23 

Operations Research 56 56 47 48 74 74 62 67 51 55 66 

Petroleum 54 52 42 48 52 51 48 45 44 37 45 

Polymer/Plastics 64 61 53 58 65 54 59 53 62 57 53 

Systems 37 57 51 47 47 49 68 42 34 47 45 

Engineering, General 64 47 39 60 60 51 29 40 42 25 19 

Engineering, Other 103 116 129 129 136 147 194 213 169 147 120 

LIFE SCIENCES 7,115 7,395 7,738 7,917 8,253 8,326 8,540 8,106 8,531 8,311 8,350 

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES 4,799 5,092 5,202 5,376 5,723 5,789 5,846 5,582 5,854 5,687 5,680 

Biochemistry 715 846 804 824 794 832 800 760 776 727 781 

Biomedical Sciences ----- ----- ----- 93 141 158 183 176 155 155 217 

Biophysics 125 103 123 155 142 147 166 173 164 162 151 

Biotechnology Research ----- 8 14 4 6 11 12 19 14 9 13 

Bacteriology 13 14 18 13 16 13 13 13 15 17 12 

Plant Genetics 33 41 30 35 41 30 40 31 35 31 57 

Plant Pathology 32 41 40 32 38 33 18 36 25 31 24 

Plant Physiology 68 48 70 55 73 47 61 54 39 45 43 

Botany, Other 107 105 117 102 105 91 113 67 92 75 84 

Anatomy 75 76 66 64 47 50 35 33 39 29 21 

Biometrics & Biostatistics 63 74 72 67 80 84 75 76 92 90 81 

Cell Biology 188 231 237 236 233 251 300 281 337 315 303 

Ecology 180 177 201 203 245 255 293 273 296 337 311 

Developmental Biology/Embryology 48 57 62 64 96 115 127 108 111 107 94 

Endocrinology 27 16 26 20 24 17 30 19 20 18 14 

Entomology 139 114 123 121 136 123 138 114 137 89 113 

Biological Immunology 181 169 161 190 238 214 245 223 239 266 276 

Molecular Biology 527 582 598 617 651 775 736 716 707 709 617 

Microbiology 377 433 423 426 444 410 383 383 382 396 383 

Neuroscience 238 276 284 308 404 437 413 431 495 485 490 

Nutritional Sciences 132 134 147 136 142 124 139 102 150 135 141 

Parasitology 17 17 22 14 22 17 15 13 19 22 17 

Toxicology 105 100 120 126 138 180 155 114 123 133 122 

Human & Animal Genetics 142 172 203 202 212 217 197 216 228 197 223 

Human & Animal Pathology 114 130 128 109 135 106 90 120 106 116 115 

Human & Animal Pharmacology 279 274 259 278 316 300 255 254 267 257 267 

Human & Animal Physiology 266 271 289 262 275 227 258 244 241 215 206 

Zoology, Other 134 114 117 145 100 97 111 126 133 103 122 

Biological Sciences, General 315 305 288 348 291 209 217 182 200 195 185 

Biological Sciences, Other 159 164 160 127 138 219 228 225 217 221 197 

HEALTH SCIENCES 1,112 1,197 1,296 1,329 1,324 1,421 1,500 1,407 1,591 1,620 1,659 

Speech-Lang. Pathology & Audiology 82 98 95 106 94 88 95 86 106 92 100 

Environmental Health 44 38 51 51 58 67 54 69 52 56 51 

Health Systems/Services Admin. ----- 35 53 62 60 66 62 62 59 51 55 

Public Health 157 153 142 152 156 138 156 173 207 215 217 

Epidemiology 108 120 168 153 149 151 165 179 191 168 199 

Exercise Physiology/Sci., Kinesiology ----- ----- 87 118 105 105 129 104 130 152 148 

Nursing 338 373 336 354 354 420 399 353 414 363 437 

Pharmacy 160 146 148 144 145 142 156 137 164 148 161 
Appendix Table B-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield, 1992-2002, continued 

110 

 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Rehabilitation/Therapeutic Services 25 36 43 20 26 34 35 26 40 118 73 

Veterinary Medicine 63 61 56 55 65 47 49 49 50 60 56 

Health Sciences, General 30 38 41 35 22 45 17 32 49 35 38 

Health Sciences, Other 105 99 76 79 90 118 183 137 129 162 124 

AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES 1,204 1,106 1,240 1,212 1,206 1,116 1,194 1,117 1,086 1,004 1,011 

Agricultural Economics 141 137 162 173 169 133 155 149 138 154 119 

Agricultural Business & Management 0 1 0 3 2 1 2 2 5 3 1 

Animal Breeding & Genetics 23 18 17 19 12 24 18 21 22 16 14 

Animal Nutrition 41 52 58 50 54 55 45 47 45 45 49 

Dairy Science 14 11 11 14 9 14 10 12 9 2 7 

Poultry Science 22 16 21 11 11 9 11 8 9 11 10 

Fisheries Science & Management 26 38 48 49 46 45 30 38 43 44 53 

Animal Sciences, Other 97 74 86 85 90 62 60 70 73 71 70 

Agronomy & Crop Science 123 104 143 114 110 77 97 106 70 75 73 

Plant Breeding & Genetics 82 68 81 72 63 67 69 44 68 37 59 

Plant Pathology 63 58 55 52 90 65 66 66 63 51 53 

Plant Sciences, Other 29 28 24 30 21 20 37 38 29 23 26 

Food Distribution ----- ----- 1 ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- ----- 

Food Engineering 14 9 16 7 7 11 13 7 10 13 7 

Food Sciences, Other 151 141 152 135 142 175 153 137 142 128 129 

Soil Chemistry/Microbiology 24 26 21 27 29 32 27 29 26 23 29 

Soil Sciences, Other 63 59 69 72 78 56 74 67 64 55 54 

Horticulture Science 65 62 65 67 73 44 60 66 55 37 46 

Forest Biology 29 18 20 24 19 22 20 14 22 27 19 

Forest Engineering 2 3 0 4 0 13 2 1 3 0 3 

Forest Management 16 17 17 20 22 21 27 17 13 13 14 

Wood Sci. & Pulp/Paper Tech. 21 20 26 26 18 25 25 21 11 20 29 

Conserv./Renewable Nat. Res. 9 13 21 24 13 17 25 25 19 32 27 

Forestry & Related Sci., Other 62 55 59 71 55 50 69 50 54 48 56 

Wildlife/Range Mgt 55 54 52 50 64 50 56 44 56 40 37 

Agricultural Sciences, General 9 10 4 6 5 10 8 8 10 2 4 

Agricultural Sciences, Other 23 14 11 7 4 18 35 30 27 34 23 

SOCIAL SCIENCES & PSYCHOLOGY 6,216 6,545 6,613 6,635 6,823 7,045 7,074 7,046 7,110 6,835 6,611 

SOCIAL SCIENCES 2,953 3,125 3,234 3,206 3,328 3,484 3,398 3,373 3,492 3,391 3,412 

Anthropology 320 342 384 375 397 434 425 463 446 410 495 

Area Studies 33 36 34 27 28 10 14 11 14 19 25 

Criminology 37 39 41 44 60 49 55 51 66 62 55 

Demography/Population Studies 17 22 23 15 11 24 30 28 19 12 20 

Economics 885 906 913 952 979 999 976 911 933 914 889 

Econometrics 25 24 26 27 29 31 25 15 15 13 14 

Geography 111 137 146 150 165 149 154 144 197 186 197 

International Relations/Affairs 76 102 112 73 99 88 96 119 77 91 82 

Political Science & Government 513 507 589 599 622 665 662 655 669 658 606 

Public Policy Analysis 107 98 94 94 104 127 97 125 137 139 146 

Sociology 495 513 525 540 517 577 549 544 616 565 545 

Statistics 29 48 46 48 48 56 61 72 60 49 54 

Urban Affairs/Studies 86 123 132 103 108 92 77 57 79 80 92 

Social Sciences, General 33 32 21 35 26 26 30 25 38 25 33 

Social Sciences, Other 186 196 148 124 135 157 147 153 126 168 159 

PSYCHOLOGY 3,263 3,420 3,379 3,429 3,495 3,561 3,676 3,673 3,618 3,444 3,199 

Clinical 1,309 1,373 1,285 1,290 1,327 1,258 1,344 1,444 1,353 1,262 1,212 

Cognitive & Psycholinguistics 101 104 129 104 128 166 113 143 140 141 121 

Comparative 2 5 8 4 3 6 6 11 7 5 2 

Counseling 507 488 497 471 465 488 448 460 475 482 469 

Developmental and Child 170 202 179 152 188 215 267 193 203 193 173 

Human/Individual & Family Develop. ----- ----- 129 150 151 126 119 135 148 137 137 

Experimental 154 143 139 151 128 146 149 139 133 134 112 

Educational 91 91 69 74 92 61 61 64 97 48 54 

Family & Marriage Counseling ----- ----- ----- 57 51 64 51 56 54 45 67 

Industrial & Organizational 138 159 137 155 162 187 189 159 188 173 154 

Personality 17 22 19 16 24 26 25 16 23 11 17 

Physiological/Psychobiology 55 85 93 92 80 77 92 87 89 92 87 

Psychometrics 5 9 5 10 11 11 9 15 13 2 9 

Quantitative 10 16 17 13 19 17 15 14 8 10 13 

School 88 95 84 91 82 84 106 121 99 109 89 

Social 139 125 153 155 170 181 186 176 207 198 181 

Psychology, General 295 306 280 306 281 318 300 236 239 225 150 

Psychology, Other 182 197 156 138 133 130 196 204 142 177 152 
Appendix Table B-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield, 1992-2002, continued 

111 

 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

HUMANITIES 4,444 4,481 4,742 5,062 5,115 5,435 5,514 5,459 5,637 5,593 5,373 

GENERAL HUMANITIES 2,879 2,852 3,101 3,208 3,366 3,564 3,612 3,656 3,754 3,802 3,612 

History, American 277 269 310 344 355 373 408 418 443 425 421 

History, Asian ----- ----- ----- 43 54 54 70 68 51 51 67 

History, European 176 162 180 185 187 245 230 235 243 246 232 

History/Philosophy of Sci. & Tech. 28 37 27 41 37 36 44 50 42 40 46 

History, General 102 116 140 148 101 82 86 75 102 75 82 

History, Other 141 142 144 128 123 176 152 164 180 190 182 

Classics 58 61 84 62 72 53 85 77 64 55 57 

Comparative Literature 163 153 163 191 164 181 164 166 189 203 175 

Linguistics 266 214 221 201 230 244 220 251 230 229 195 

Speech & Rhetoric al Studies 98 111 142 139 155 138 169 150 143 126 137 

Letters, General 18 18 22 43 28 23 22 19 55 34 33 

Letters, Other 38 37 25 34 61 60 82 82 93 94 81 

American Studies 81 101 88 94 115 84 100 98 113 127 97 

Archeology 33 38 34 35 21 35 34 26 36 40 27 

Art History/Criticism/Conservation 154 158 182 181 177 188 221 188 228 223 217 

Music 641 613 683 713 697 727 696 767 748 786 763 

Philosophy 279 274 302 298 369 446 410 389 364 412 360 

Religion 231 257 252 248 317 303 327 334 348 342 348 

Drama/Theater Arts 95 91 102 80 103 116 92 99 82 104 92 

LANGUAGE AND LITERATURE 1,465 1,523 1,537 1,718 1,618 1,746 1,721 1,648 1,711 1,597 1,591 

American Literature 291 293 296 327 314 408 389 372 460 385 365 

English Language & Literature 612 655 647 752 699 686 689 650 610 592 603 

French 124 137 129 151 142 150 137 148 143 141 121 

German 96 105 67 93 88 82 106 90 83 84 68 

Italian 20 19 32 35 24 23 33 20 16 16 23 

Spanish 179 178 212 209 196 249 207 201 218 233 243 

Russian 28 28 38 28 37 39 43 25 29 27 26 

Slavic 15 13 10 16 11 9 15 17 14 12 19 

Chinese 20 21 25 20 29 23 19 27 21 16 22 

Japanese 12 11 12 7 10 19 11 10 18 17 15 

Hebrew 20 15 10 11 12 7 8 4 11 6 8 

Arabic 12 10 4 8 6 4 9 12 15 6 5 

Other Language & Literature 36 38 55 61 50 47 55 72 73 62 73 

OTHER HUMANITIES 100 106 104 136 131 125 181 155 172 194 170 

Humanities, General 21 30 32 25 39 25 23 24 40 29 19 

Humanities, Other 79 76 72 111 92 100 158 131 132 165 151 

EDUCATION 6,677 6,689 6,711 6,650 6,785 6,580 6,573 6,547 6,429 6,336 6,488 

RESEARCH & ADMINISTRATION 4,894 4,997 4,929 4,942 5,235 5,039 4,993 5,066 4,950 4,991 5,368 

Curriculum & Instruction 900 856 819 896 899 918 885 993 966 884 987 

Educational Admin. and Supervision 1,290 1,340 1,207 1,086 1,172 1,020 952 895 813 838 791 

Educational Leadership 694 783 793 890 993 1,033 1,116 1,149 1,214 1,225 1,548 

Educ./Instruct. Media Design 62 96 112 121 107 92 91 123 138 140 171 

Educ. Stat./Research Methods 61 64 68 63 76 58 56 57 55 65 67 

Educ. Assess., Test., & Meas. 45 23 28 19 32 30 35 39 45 44 31 

Educational Psychology 346 290 311 297 309 359 327 298 278 281 301 

School Psychology 88 86 97 71 114 118 112 108 137 123 169 

Social/Phil. Found. of Educ. 101 109 140 130 125 138 129 125 135 141 126 

Special Education 260 277 241 254 278 270 247 262 259 229 213 

Counseling Educ./Couns. & Guidance 259 288 284 268 278 207 270 260 212 211 256 

Higher Educ./ Evaluation & Research 381 357 428 457 481 506 431 465 438 515 446 

Pre-elementary/Early Childhood 98 97 91 70 81 43 54 49 34 49 50 

Elementary Education 73 65 71 61 46 56 62 59 53 55 52 

Secondary Education 28 33 24 24 34 27 54 31 23 22 22 

Adult & Continuing Education 208 233 215 235 210 164 172 153 150 169 138 

TEACHING FIELDS 1,008 943 960 924 864 919 954 892 822 721 684 

Agricultural Education 43 54 52 35 32 38 25 38 22 22 28 

Art Education 46 38 33 39 41 30 46 47 31 31 30 

Business Education 16 27 25 21 20 26 31 45 37 19 12 

English Education 61 53 56 60 57 62 53 64 44 56 53 

Foreign Languages Education 50 48 54 60 45 47 73 62 43 47 41 

Health Education 98 83 97 99 90 58 70 58 71 65 38 

Home Economics Education 12 14 11 15 13 13 8 10 14 8 9 

Technical/Industrial Arts Education 11 16 20 15 11 19 30 21 21 16 7 
Appendix Table B-1. Number of doctorate recipients, by subfield, 1992-2002, continued 

112 

 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Mathematics Education 62 69 74 92 100 93 115 101 90 80 88 

Music Education 96 80 89 96 91 101 93 79 78 62 80 

Nursing Education 29 19 24 18 23 21 14 22 11 5 7 

Physical Education & Coaching 167 161 139 104 101 109 109 115 83 80 73 

Reading Education 121 95 97 85 66 70 76 68 89 72 66 

Science Education 73 73 85 73 96 77 109 58 60 72 61 

Social Science Education 19 9 10 14 12 26 15 9 35 12 10 

Technical Education 35 21 30 20 24 32 18 27 20 10 23 

Trade & Industrial Education 11 24 24 13 12 16 14 14 12 7 5 

Teacher Ed./Spec. Acad. & Voc., Other 58 59 40 65 30 81 55 54 61 57 53 

OTHER EDUCATION 775 749 822 784 686 622 626 589 657 624 436 

Education, General 443 411 484 429 353 336 235 197 253 256 158 

Education, Other 332 338 338 355 333 286 391 392 404 368 278 

PROFESSIONAL/OTHER FIELDS 2,498 2,496 2,586 2,668 2,476 2,373 2,282 2,286 2,256 2,245 2,345 

BUSINESS AND MANAGEMENT 1,248 1,281 1,283 1,329 1,277 1,244 1,172 1,107 1,064 1,053 1,095 

Accounting 180 183 179 168 156 150 154 154 110 115 110 

Banking/Financial Support Services 172 170 134 163 114 69 83 74 72 66 76 

Business Admin. & Management 241 324 319 341 393 426 348 315 322 348 339 

Business/Managerial Economics 21 33 40 37 38 48 57 42 52 50 38 

International Business ----- ----- 22 23 36 39 33 34 32 29 23 

Mgmt. Inf. Sys./Business Data Proc. 103 102 117 111 95 100 86 83 85 98 89 

Marketing Mgmt. & Research 139 166 167 153 153 153 142 127 141 113 132 

Operations Research 67 63 54 60 64 45 57 52 61 40 36 

Organizational Behavior 81 73 102 100 108 122 103 100 98 118 173 

Bus. Mgmt./Admin. Serv., General 112 87 87 92 67 28 38 49 36 20 33 

Bus. Mgmt./Admin. Serv., Other 132 80 62 81 53 64 71 77 55 56 46 

COMMUNICATIONS 330 321 371 381 389 332 373 379 389 389 399 

Communications Research 45 33 40 40 60 51 52 50 53 60 64 

Mass Communications 85 117 156 121 137 117 142 153 154 153 156 

Communication Theory 47 41 45 53 37 40 48 47 39 40 43 

Communications, General 76 69 68 78 81 74 62 69 77 78 70 

Communications, Other 77 61 62 89 74 50 69 60 66 58 66 

OTHER PROFESSIONAL FIELDS 880 867 891 932 771 773 721 768 797 801 801 

Architectural Environmental Design 60 54 67 55 61 66 52 65 60 66 67 

Home Economics 58 57 31 31 28 36 18 23 23 20 24 

Law 20 29 33 38 24 27 31 37 41 34 50 

Library Science 51 70 42 47 49 40 34 39 45 40 32 

Parks/Recreation/Leisure/Fitness 0 44 37 54 29 24 38 29 45 41 51 

Public Administration 108 117 135 128 103 95 104 117 103 96 104 

Social Work 248 237 272 303 256 247 235 224 257 260 237 

Theology/Religious Education 292 243 262 273 213 178 158 162 171 194 173 

Professional Fields, General 1 1 1 1 2 4 0 9 3 8 7 

Professional Fields, Other 42 15 11 2 6 56 51 63 49 42 56 

OTHER FIELDS 40 27 41 26 39 24 16 32 6 2 50 

NOTE: Dashes (-----) indicate that the field was not on the questionnaire's Specialties List that year. Field groupings may differ from those in reports published by federal sponsors of the 

Survey of Earned Doctorates. 

a Includes respondents missing data for doctoral field: 5 in 1997; 7 in 1998; 1 in 1999; 5 in 2000; 1 in 2001; 2 in 2002. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
113 

Appendix Table B-2a. Number of doctorate recipients, by sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship, 1992-2002 - Total all doctorates

Year of doctorate

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Total all doctorates a 38,889 39,800 41,033 41,748 42,436 42,556 42,652 41,098 41,356 40,790 39,955 

 U.S. citizens 26,009 26,449 27,149 27,742 27,775 28,160 28,457 27,986 27,966 27,021 25,936 

 Permanent visas 1,980 2,259 3,747 4,317 3,765 2,931 2,702 2,308 1,957 1,836 1,646 

 Temporary visas 9,953 9,932 9,403 8,814 9,617 9,193 9,496 9,058 9,652 9,824 9,707 

 Unknown citizenship 947 1,158 732 872 1,278 2,272 1,997 1,746 1,781 2,109 2,663 

Total Known race/ethnicity 37,204 38,297 39,847 40,347 40,706 38,911 39,392 38,684 38,779 38,047 36,685 

 U.S. citizens 25,661 26,221 26,900 27,447 27,445 27,074 27,541 27,527 27,411 26,547 25,450 

 Permanent visas 1,906 2,225 3,700 4,275 3,732 2,868 2,614 2,269 1,899 1,802 1,600 

 Temporary visas 9,537 9,677 9,115 8,549 9,379 8,852 9,089 8,800 9,361 9,498 9,350 

 Unknown citizenship 100 174 132 76 149 117 148 88 108 200 285 

American Indian b 152 121 146 148 188 167 190 214 169 164 154 

 U.S. citizens 149 120 143 148 185 167 189 214 169 149 146 

 Permanent visas c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 2 3 

 Temporary visas c 2 1 3 0 2 0 0 0 0 12 5 

 Unknown citizenship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 1 0 

Asian d 8,280 8,659 9,352 9,693 9,802 9,006 8,563 7,993 8,052 8,102 7,864 

 U.S. citizens 839 876 937 1,129 1,066 1,296 1,155 1,304 1,363 1,394 1,364 

 Permanent visas 915 1,126 2,596 3,168 2,608 1,813 1,552 1,191 910 776 744 

 Temporary visas 6,505 6,604 5,796 5,375 6,095 5,865 5,826 5,469 5,756 5,910 5,724 

 Unknown citizenship 21 53 23 21 33 32 30 29 23 22 32 

Black/ African-American 1,427 1,610 1,681 1,807 1,825 1,760 1,914 2,051 2,094 2,008 2,009 

 U.S. citizens 966 1,109 1,099 1,293 1,305 1,335 1,486 1,629 1,629 1,612 1,644 

 Permanent visas 143 169 178 168 141 139 119 133 119 117 87 

 Temporary visas 311 319 389 335 363 276 297 281 334 265 256 

 Unknown citizenship 7 13 15 11 16 10 12 8 12 14 22 

Hispanic e 1,402 1,430 1,534 1,544 1,632 1,694 1,879 1,899 1,962 1,904 2,020 

 U.S. citizens 778 833 884 922 957 1,063 1,205 1,184 1,180 1,126 1,233 

 Permanent visas 131 139 146 142 156 135 122 140 128 144 131 

 Temporary visas 482 454 502 472 513 484 543 561 648 619 646 

 Unknown citizenship 11 4 2 8 6 12 9 14 6 15 10 

White 25,912 26,434 27,085 27,081 27,158 26,250 26,786 26,413 26,374 25,454 24,239 

 U.S. citizens 22,903 23,245 23,795 23,891 23,847 23,181 23,454 23,094 22,956 21,923 20,720 

 Permanent visas 714 791 779 795 823 781 819 801 741 752 628 

 Temporary visas 2,235 2,294 2,419 2,359 2,394 2,225 2,417 2,481 2,610 2,650 2,670 

 Unknown citizenship 60 104 92 36 93 63 96 37 67 129 221 

Other/unknown race/ethnicity f

 1,716 1,546 1,235 1,475 1,831 3,679 3,320 2,528 2,705 3,158 3,669 

 U.S. citizens 374 266 291 359 415 1,118 968 561 669 817 829 

 Permanent visas 77 34 48 44 36 63 90 43 59 45 53 

 Temporary visas 418 260 294 273 250 343 413 266 304 368 406 

 Unknown citizenship 847 984 600 796 1,130 2,155 1,849 1,658 1,673 1,928 2,378 

a Total includes doctorate recipients whose gender was unknown. 

b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c In most cases, non-U.S. American Indians are citizens of Canada or of a Latin American country. d Includes Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2001 per revised OMB guidelines issued for 2001. e Persons reporting an Hispanic ethnicity, whether singly or in combination with another race/ethnicity, are included in the respondent-selected Hispanic ethnicity category. f

 Includes only those with unknown race/ethnicity through 2000. In 2001 this category was expanded to include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and respondents choosing 

multiple races (excluding those selecting an Hispanic ethnicity). 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
114 

Appendix Table B-2b. Number of doctorate recipients, by sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship, 1992-2002 - Total men

Year of doctorate

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Total all doctorates a 24,234 24,384 25,058 25,161 25,285 24,950 24,639 23,436 23,166 22,786 21,760 

 U.S. citizens 14,517 14,513 14,733 14,965 14,720 15,049 14,873 14,514 14,152 13,632 12,823 

 Permanent visas 1,290 1,468 2,636 2,907 2,483 1,834 1,665 1,379 1,142 999 867 

 Temporary visas 7,946 7,835 7,304 6,844 7,392 6,974 7,007 6,631 6,843 7,022 6,736 

 Unknown citizenship 481 567 384 442 689 1,093 1,094 912 1,029 1,133 1,332 

Total known race/ethnicity 23,171 23,538 24,327 24,308 24,274 23,017 22,728 22,068 21,621 21,241 20,022 

 U.S. citizens 14,265 14,346 14,567 14,759 14,498 14,439 14,332 14,222 13,823 13,348 12,532 

 Permanent visas 1,236 1,444 2,602 2,881 2,461 1,795 1,605 1,352 1,103 978 841 

 Temporary visas 7,606 7,642 7,093 6,632 7,215 6,717 6,714 6,445 6,641 6,794 6,486 

 Unknown citizenship 64 106 65 36 99 66 77 49 54 121 163 

American Indian b 82 61 74 80 102 79 104 96 76 78 72 

 U.S. citizens 82 60 71 80 101 79 104 96 76 67 67 

 Permanent visas c 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 2 

 Temporary visas c 0 1 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 8 3 

 Unknown citizenship 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 

Asian d 6,414 6,596 7,052 7,095 7,197 6,425 6,027 5,526 5,344 5,425 5,136 

 U.S. citizens 529 543 582 662 603 742 641 764 740 746 747 

 Permanent visas 603 732 1,877 2,197 1,787 1,142 985 711 502 424 373 

 Temporary visas 5,264 5,282 4,575 4,221 4,783 4,522 4,385 4,030 4,086 4,238 3,997 

 Unknown citizenship 18 39 18 15 24 19 16 21 16 17 19 

Black/African-American 768 839 888 877 929 857 821 909 880 864 849 

 U.S. citizens 394 441 410 487 531 528 525 609 560 589 606 

 Permanent visas 122 138 142 125 107 108 86 91 82 84 61 

 Temporary visas 246 250 329 260 285 212 203 204 233 186 177 

 Unknown citizenship 6 10 7 5 6 9 7 5 5 5 5 

Hispanic e 860 874 866 914 935 980 1,060 991 1,070 1,017 1,036 

 U.S. citizens 410 423 438 463 480 543 610 510 546 498 536 

 Permanent visas 72 94 80 79 87 81 72 69 63 71 61 

 Temporary visas 371 356 346 369 364 350 375 405 459 443 434 

 Unknown citizenship 7 1 2 3 4 6 3 7 2 5 5 

White 15,031 15,146 15,420 15,307 15,063 14,660 14,683 14,496 14,193 13,651 12,745 

 U.S. citizens 12,837 12,859 13,042 13,037 12,744 12,532 12,423 12,200 11,850 11,286 10,428 

 Permanent visas 437 480 503 479 480 464 461 478 455 393 342 

 Temporary visas 1,724 1,751 1,837 1,778 1,774 1,632 1,748 1,802 1,857 1,890 1,841 

 Unknown citizenship 33 56 38 13 64 32 51 16 31 82 134 

Other/unknown race/ethnicity f

 1,079 868 758 888 1,059 1,949 1,944 1,418 1,603 1,751 1,922 

 U.S. citizens 265 187 190 236 261 625 570 335 380 446 439 

 Permanent visas 56 24 34 27 22 39 61 30 40 25 28 

 Temporary visas 341 195 214 216 185 258 296 190 208 257 284 

 Unknown citizenship 417 461 319 406 591 1,027 1,017 863 975 1,023 1,169 

a Total includes doctorate recipients whose gender was unknown. 

b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c In most cases, non-U.S. American Indians are citizens of Canada or of a Latin American country. d Includes Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2001 per revised OMB guidelines issued for 2001. e Persons reporting an Hispanic ethnicity, whether singly or in combination with another race/ethnicity, are included in the respondent-selected Hispanic ethnicity category. f

 Includes only those with unknown race/ethnicity through 2000. In 2001 this category was expanded to include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and respondents choosing 

multiple races (excluding those selecting an Hispanic ethnicity). 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
115 

Appendix Table B-2c. Number of doctorate recipients, by sex, race/ethnicity, and citizenship, 1992-2002 - Total women

Year of doctorate

1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 

Total all doctorates a 14,436 15,121 15,821 16,417 16,956 17,247 17,849 17,485 18,121 17,935 18,124 

 U.S. citizens 11,491 11,931 12,413 12,775 13,055 13,077 13,570 13,472 13,811 13,389 13,112 

 Permanent visas 687 788 1,110 1,409 1,282 1,096 1,021 929 813 837 779 

 Temporary visas 1,990 2,069 2,077 1,953 2,214 2,204 2,469 2,423 2,808 2,801 2,965 

 Unknown citizenship 268 332 220 280 405 870 789 661 689 908 1,267 

Total known race/ethnicity 14,020 14,740 15,506 16,031 16,427 15,881 16,639 16,615 17,156 16,806 16,662 

 U.S. citizens 11,396 11,873 12,330 12,688 12,947 12,632 13,206 13,305 13,587 13,199 12,917 

 Permanent visas 669 779 1,097 1,393 1,271 1,072 1,001 917 796 824 759 

 Temporary visas 1,921 2,022 2,015 1,911 2,160 2,126 2,362 2,354 2,720 2,704 2,864 

 Unknown citizenship 34 66 64 39 49 51 70 39 53 79 122 

American Indian b 70 60 72 68 86 88 86 118 93 86 82 

 U.S. citizens 67 60 72 68 84 88 85 118 93 82 79 

 Permanent visas c 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 

 Temporary visas c 2 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 4 2 

 Unknown citizenship 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 

Asian d 1,855 2,049 2,291 2,591 2,600 2,574 2,520 2,466 2,708 2,677 2,728 

 U.S. citizens 310 332 354 467 463 553 513 540 623 648 617 

 Permanent visas 311 392 718 970 821 671 560 480 408 352 371 

 Temporary visas 1,231 1,312 1,216 1,148 1,308 1,337 1,434 1,438 1,670 1,672 1,727 

 Unknown citizenship 3 13 3 6 8 13 13 8 7 5 13 

Black/African-American 659 769 791 930 896 903 1,091 1,142 1,214 1,144 1,160 

 U.S. citizens 572 668 689 806 774 807 961 1,020 1,069 1,023 1,038 

 Permanent visas 21 31 36 43 34 31 32 42 37 33 26 

 Temporary visas 65 68 59 75 78 64 93 77 101 79 79 

 Unknown citizenship 1 2 7 6 10 1 5 3 7 9 17 

Hispanic e 542 555 668 630 697 714 817 908 891 887 984 

 U.S. citizens 368 410 446 459 477 520 594 674 633 628 697 

 Permanent visas 59 45 66 63 69 54 50 71 65 73 70 

 Temporary visas 111 97 156 103 149 134 167 156 189 176 212 

 Unknown citizenship 4 3 0 5 2 6 6 7 4 10 5 

White 10,879 11,286 11,662 11,773 12,095 11,584 12,098 11,917 12,180 11,803 11,493 

 U.S. citizens 10,066 10,385 10,751 10,854 11,103 10,647 11,030 10,894 11,106 10,637 10,291 

 Permanent visas 277 311 276 316 343 316 358 323 286 359 286 

 Temporary visas 511 542 581 581 620 590 665 679 753 760 829 

 Unknown citizenship 25 48 54 22 29 31 45 21 35 47 87 

Other/unknown race/ethnicity f

 431 402 337 425 582 1,384 1,237 934 1,035 1,338 1,677 

 U.S. citizens 108 76 101 121 154 462 387 226 287 371 390 

 Permanent visas 19 9 14 17 14 24 21 13 17 20 25 

 Temporary visas 70 50 65 46 58 79 110 73 95 110 116 

 Unknown citizenship 234 266 156 241 356 819 719 622 636 837 1,145 

a Total includes doctorate recipients whose gender was unknown. 

b Includes Alaskan Natives. 

c In most cases, non-U.S. American Indians are citizens of Canada or of a Latin American country. d Includes Native Hawaiians/Other Pacific Islanders through 2000, but excludes them in 2001 per revised OMB guidelines issued for 2001. e Persons reporting an Hispanic ethnicity, whether singly or in combination with another race/ethnicity, are included in the respondent-selected Hispanic ethnicity category. f

 Includes only those with unknown race/ethnicity through 2000. In 2001 this category was expanded to include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders and respondents choosing 

multiple races (excluding those selecting an Hispanic ethnicity). 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
116 
117 

Appendix C: Technical Notes 

Appendix C includes the following three tables: 

C-1. Survey response rates 

C-2. Profiles of respondents versus nonrespondents for critical item data, by source of 

response, 2002 

C-3. Item response rates, 1992-2002 

Survey Overview 

The Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED) is designed to obtain data on the number and 

characteristics of individuals receiving research doctoral degrees from U.S. institutions. The 

results of the survey are used to assess trends in doctorate production. This information is vital 

for educational and labor force planners within the Federal Government and in academia. The 

survey has been completed by individuals receiving research doctorates since 1958. The 

graduate schools are responsible for submitting completed forms and sending them to be 

compiled in the Doctorate Records File (DRF). 

Key variables of the survey include: 

Academic institution attended 

Citizenship status at graduation 

Country of birth 

Country of citizenship 

Date of birth 

Disability status 

Educational attainment of parents 

Educational history after high school 

Field of degree specialty (N= 285) 

Field of employment 

Field of science and engineering 

Level of degree 

Marital status 

Number of dependents 

Place of birth 

Postgraduate plans 

Primary type of financial support 

Race and Hispanic ethnicity (by subgroup) 

Sex 

Type of academic institution that conferred degrees 
118 

Type of employment planned 

Type of financial support (e.g., fellowship, research assistantship, etc.) 

Type of institutional control (public versus private) 

Work activity planned after doctoral degree 

A complete questionnaire is contained in appendix D. 

Data Collection 

The population eligible for the 2002 survey consisted of all individuals who received a 

research doctorate (only first doctorates are included) from a U.S. academic institution in the 

12-month period ending on June 30, 2002. The total universe consisted of 39,955 persons in 

more than 400 institutions that confer research doctorates awards in 2002. 

Survey instruments were mailed to institutional coordinators in the graduate schools who 

distributed the survey forms to individuals receiving a research doctorate. The institutional 

coordinators also collected the forms and returned them to the contractor for editing/processing. 

Follow-up of missing critical items and forms is also conducted. 

Since the survey collects a complete college education history, coding of institutions is 

very important. Because about 30 percent of doctorate recipients from U.S. universities are from 

foreign countries, a coding manual for foreign institutions of higher education was developed by 

the U.S. Department of Education, entitled "Mapping the World of Education: The Comparative 

Database System" (three volumes). 

The survey was conducted by the National Research Council of the National Academy of 

Sciences under contract to the National Science Foundation until 1997; the National Opinion 

Research Center (Chicago, Illinois) currently conducts the survey under contract. 

Survey Response Rates 

Of the 39,955 new research doctorates granted in 2002, 91 percent of degree 

recipients returned their completed survey instruments. Limited records (containing field of 

study, doctorate institution and sex) for nonrespondents are constructed based on information 

collected from administrative lists of the university -- commencement programs, graduation lists, 

and other similar public records. Nonresponse was concentrated in certain institutions; graduates 

from 10 institutions accounted for 30 percent of the total nonrespondents. 
119 

Appendix Table C-1. Survey response rates a

Year 

Self-report 

rate Year 

Self-report 

rate 

1967 97.3 1985 94.8 

1968 97.6 1986 93.5 

1969 96.6 1987 93.1 

1970 98.1 1988 92.9 

1971 97.5 1989 92.3 

1972 97.3 1990 93.6 

1973 97.5 1991 94.6 

1974 94.2 1992 95.1 

1975 97.3 1993 94.7 

1976 97.2 1994 94.6 

1977 96.6 1995 94.1 

1978 96.3 1996 92.9 

1979 96.4 1997 91.5 

1980 96.2 1998 91.9 

1981 95.7 1999 91.9 

1982 95.3 2000 92.3 

1983 95.5 2001 92.5 

1984 95.1 2002 91.0 

a The rates for 1967-2001 reflect late responses. The rate for 2002 may increase slightly in the next year if additional 

questionnaires are received after survey closure. 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 

The percentage of doctorate recipients completing the survey form is referred to as the 

“self-report” rate. The remaining doctorate recipients have either “skeletal” records containing 

only doctoral institution, degree date, field of degree, and gender, or “institution provided” 

records including the skeletal information above as well as information provided by the 

institution in "missing information rosters (MIRs)" where available. 

 Wherever possible this report includes data from all Ph.D. records whether complete or 

skeletal; thus the reported total number of doctorate recipients for 2002 (39,955) includes both 

respondents and non-respondents. It should also be noted that, in keeping with the practice of 

earlier data collection cycles, counts for previous years were corrected by the addition of data 

from surveys received after the close of data collection for a given year. 

A Comparison of Self-Reported and Institution-Supplied Data 

TABLE C-2: Table C-2 presents the results of a chi-square test comparing respondentcompleted cases and nonresponding cases where institutions supplied data on critical items. The 

profile of nonrespondents is significantly different from the profile of respondents in five of the 

eight critical item variables. Nonrespondents appear to be slightly older than respondents. 

Nonrespondents are more likely to be non-white. These findings should be considered suggestive 

only, as there is a high proportion of missing data from institutions on citizenship status, 

bachelor's institution, year of bachelor's degree and postgraduation location. 
120 

 Appendix Table C-2. Profiles of respondents versus nonrespondents for critical item data, by source of response, 2002 

Critical item (variable name) 

Respondents 

(self-report) 

Nonrespondents 

(institution-provided) Difference 

Year of Birth* 

 Missing data 1.2 12.6 

 Before 1970 58.3 65.6 -7.3 

 1970 and later 41.7 34.4 7.3 

Sex 

 Missing data 0.0 0.5 

 Male 54.8 54.9 -.1 

 Female 45.2 45.1 .1 

Citizenship Status 

 Missing data .5 24.2 

 U.S. citizen 69.6 66.3 3.3 

 Permanent resident 4.4 4.7 -.3 

 Temporary resident 25.9 29.1 -3.2 

Country of Citizenship (for non-U.S. citizens only)* 

 Country reported 99.7 76.0 23.7 

 Country not reported 0.3 24.0 -23.7 

Race/Ethnicity* (U.S. citizens & perm residents only) 

 Missing data 0.8 8.3 

 American Indian a 0.5 0.8 -.3 

 Asian b 7.7 7.6 .1 

 Black 6.2 12.9 -6.7 

 Hispanic c 5.0 5.7 -.7 

 White 78.5 68.2 10.3 

 Other d 2.2 4.9 -2.7 

 Bachelor's Institution 

 Missing data 2.3 42.2 

 U.S. 72.6 70.1 0.5 

 Non-U.S. 27.4 39.9 -0.5 

 Year of Bachelor's Degree* 

 Missing data 2.6 39.3 

 Before 1992 50.1 55.8 -5.7 

 1992-after 49.2 44.2 5.7 

 Postgraduation location 

 Missing data 1.6 60.0 

 U.S. 90.1 91.1 -1.0 

 Non-U.S. 9.9 8.9 1.0 

*Significant at .05 level, chi-square test performed on non-missing data. 

Note: Missing data percentages calculated from all data, missing and non-missing. All other percentages calculated on non-missing 

data. 

a Includes Alaskan Natives. 

b Does not include Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders. 

c Persons reporting an Hispanic ethnicity, whether singly or in combination with another race/ethnicity, are included in the respondentselected Hispanic ethnicity category. 

d Includes Native Hawaiians and other Pacific Islanders, respondents choosing multiple races (excluding those selecting an Hispanic 

ethnicity), and respondents with unknown race/ethnicity.

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates.
121 

Item Response Rates 

Item nonresponse rates in 2002 for the main SED demographic variables ranged from 

0.2 percent for sex to 9.0 percent for postgraduation location. No imputation was performed for 

missing data items. 

 

 Key variable Item response rate 

 Sex 99.8 

 Citizenship 93.3 

 Race/ethnicity 92.8 

 Country of citizenship 93.0 

 Postgraduation location 91.0 

TABLE C-3: Table C-3 on the following pages shows the response rates for each item in the 

Survey of Earned Doctorates for 1992 through 2002. The numbers and percentages shown in the 

tables and figures in the body of the summary report are based only on the number of research 

doctorate recipients who responded to the applicable survey items. For cross-tabulations, the 

response rate for a given tabulation will be no greater than the lowest response rate for the items 

involved in the tabulation. 
122 

Appendix Table C-3. Item response rates, 1992-2002 

Variable name Field 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 AMERIND American Indian/Alaska Native race indicator 94.9 95.4 96.2 95.6 94.8 90.2 90.8 92.4 ASIAN Asian race indicator 94.9 95.4 96.2 95.6 94.8 90.2 90.8 92.4 BAFIELD B.A. field 92.3 91.9 91.6 90.9 89.3 82.8 84.2 84.5 BAINST B.A. Institution 97.4 97.5 97.9 97.4 96.5 89.5 91.2 92.5 BAMONTH Month of B.A. 90.7 90.3 90.2 90.0 88.6 82.2 82.9 83.6 BAYEAR Year of B.A. 96.9 96.8 97.4 97.1 96.4 88.6 90.6 92.3 BIRTHMO Month of birth 97.7 97.3 98.1 97.5 96.7 92.7 92.9 95.0 BIRTHPL Place of birth 95.1 94.8 94.9 94.5 93.1 90.6 90.9 91.2 BIRTHYR Year of birth 97.7 97.4 98.2 97.5 96.8 92.9 92.7 95.0 BLACK Black race indicator 94.9 95.4 96.2 95.6 94.8 90.2 90.8 92.4 CEPLACE Place of college entry 92.7 92.8 92.3 92.1 90.6 82.5 90.4 90.6 CEYEAR Year of college entry 92.1 91.7 91.5 91.3 89.2 82.7 88.7 89.1 

CITIZ Type of citizenship 97.6 97.1 98.2 97.9 97.0 94.7 95.3 95.7 CNTRYCIT Country of citizenship 97.1 96.7 98.0 97.7 96.7 92.6 93.7 94.7 DEBTIND Debt level indicator 93.3 92.8 92.8 92.3 91.3 89.3 89.7 90.6 DEPENDS Number of dependents 89.7 89.8 89.7 89.4 89.5 88.3 88.7 89.1 DEPEND5 Number of dependents - ages 5 or younger NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA DEPEND18 Number of dependents - ages 6-18 NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA DEPEND19 Number of dependents - ages 19 and older NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA EDFATHER Father’s education 93.0 92.7 92.7 92.3 91.5 89.5 89.8 90.4 EDMOTHER Mother’s education 93.0 92.6 92.5 92.2 91.7 89.7 90.0 90.7 GDEBTLVL Graduate debt level NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA GEYEAR Year of graduate entry 89.5 88.6 88.2 87.4 85.7 77.4 81.4 84.8 

HANDICAP Handicapped status 93.9 93.6 93.7 93.3 91.8 90.1 90.1 90.3 HAWAIIAN Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander race indicator NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA HISPANIC Hispanic origin indicator 96.7 96.8 97.7 97.2 96.5 93.1 93.6 95.1 

HISPORIG Hispanic origin specified 94.3 92.7 98.4 98.1 97.2 94.9 94.8 90.8 HSPLACE Place of high school 94.4 94.0 93.9 93.5 92.2 90.2 90.8 91.4 JRCOLL Junior college indicator 92.7 92.9 92.5 92.4 90.6 91.5 91.9 91.8 MAFIELD Masters field 76.9 76.1 76.1 75.3 74.6 68.8 70.4 70.7 MAINST Masters institution 79.0 86.2 86.9 86.3 87.3 79.0 80.7 80.5 MAMONTH Month of masters 73.4 80.0 80.3 79.8 81.0 73.3 75.3 75.8 MARITAL Marital status 91.9 91.5 91.5 91.0 91.7 89.3 90.2 90.8 MAYEAR Year of masters 77.7 84.7 85.1 84.7 85.6 77.8 80.4 79.5 PDEMPLOY Post doc employer type 92.8 92.5 92.6 92.0 91.4 88.0 89.2 89.3 PDLOC Postgraduation location 94.4 93.8 94.6 94.2 92.7 83.7 89.6 92.0 PDOCPLAN Postgraduation plans 92.7 92.4 92.4 91.9 91.3 87.1 88.0 89.3 PDOCSTAT Postgraduation status 92.1 91.8 91.7 91.0 91.0 89.0 89.7 90.4 PDSTDSUP Postdoctoral study support 92.7 92.4 92.4 91.9 91.3 87.7 88.5 89.5 PDUSFOR Postgraduation location: U.S. or foreign 94.4 93.8 94.6 94.2 92.7 83.7 89.6 92.0 PDWK1ED Edited primary work activity 92.7 92.4 92.4 91.9 91.3 88.0 89.1 89.4 PDWK2ED Edited secondary work activity 92.7 92.4 92.4 91.9 91.3 87.9 89.0 89.3 PDWKPRIM Primary work activity 92.7 92.4 92.4 91.9 91.3 88.1 89.3 89.4 PDWKSEC Secondary work activity 92.7 92.4 92.4 91.9 91.3 87.9 89.0 89.3 

PHDCY Calendar year of Ph.D. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 

PHDDISS Dissertation field NA 92.7 93.3 92.4 92.2 89.2 90.1 90.9 PHDENTRY First year entry PHDINST after B.A. NA 86.9 86.7 86.5 85.6 79.0 83.7 85.9 PHDFIELD Ph.D. field 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 PHDFY Fiscal year of Ph.D. 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 PHDINST Doctoral institution 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 PHDMONTH Month of doctorate 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 
123 

Appendix Table C-3. Item response rates, 1992-2002, continued 

Variable name Field 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 PHDTYPE1 Type of doctorate 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 PHDTYPE2 Applied research doctorate type 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 100.0 74.0 100.0 94.4 

QUESTYR Year questionnaire filled out 95.1 94.7 94.5 94.1 92.9 91.5 91.9 91.9 RACE Edited race/ethnic code 96.7 96.8 97.7 97.2 96.5 93.1 93.6 95.1 RACEOTH Other/multiple race indicator 94.9 95.4 96.2 95.6 94.8 90.2 90.8 92.4 REGTTD Registered time to degree 88.9 87.8 87.5 86.7 84.9 76.8 80.6 84.1 SEX Sex of student 99.4 99.3 99.6 99.6 99.5 99.2 99.6 99.6 SRCE1ED Edited primary source of support 69.7 66.2 72.4 74.9 88.0 87.8 88.6 89.9 SRCEPRIM Primary source support 69.7 66.2 72.4 74.9 88.0 87.8 88.7 89.9 TOTTTD Total time to degree 96.0 95.7 96.2 95.5 94.7 88.2 90.1 91.7 TUITREMS Tuition remission - full or partial NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA UDEBTLVL Undergraduate debt level NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA WHITE White race indicator 94.9 95.4 96.2 95.6 94.8 90.2 90.8 92.4 YRSCOURS Years of coursework NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA YRSDISST Years preparing dissertation NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA YRSGRAD Years from graduate entry to doctorate NA NA NA NA NA NA NA NA 

NOTE: NA = not available. 1. For the purposes of this analysis, “response rate” is the percent of cases providing data on the item divided by the universe of doctorate recipients eligible to answer that item. On m

doctorate recipients establishes the universe of eligible respondents. However, on a number of items, only a subset of the full universe is eligible to answer the item. Variables DEPEGDEBTLVL, PHDDISS2, UDEBTLVL, YRSCOURS, YRSDISST and YRSGRAD appeared for the first time on the 2001 survey form. Because about 15 percent of AY 2001 respond

versions of the survey form, response rates for these variables are not reported. Response rates for these variables are reported in 2002 and later because the entire universe had t

these questions. 

2. The time-to-degree measures (REGTTD and TOTTTD) result from the Doctorate Data Project’s calculation of these figures from six variables measuring durations spent inside and o

between bachelor’s degree receipt and doctorate receipt. The time-to-degree measures are presented here because they are more meaningful summaries of valid data than the respcomponent variables used to calculate them. 

3. The items DEPENDS and DEBTLEVL are not collected on current SED survey forms. They are calculated from other current variables and presented here so as to illustrate trends w

items were asked. The response rate for the variable CNTRYCIT counts as respondents all doctorate recipients who reported being U.S. citizens and non-citizens who also provided 

4. Each survey round incorporates data from questionnaires submitted after previous years’ data collection periods are closed. For that reason, response rates reported here will differ 

in earlier Doctorate Data Project publications. Changes in response rates are generally greatest in the year directly previous to the current survey round (in this case, AY 2001). 

SOURCE: NSF/NIH/USED/NEH/USDA/NASA, Survey of Earned Doctorates. 
124 

Derived Variables 

The following derived variables deserve further explanation. 

Postdoctoral Plans to Stay in the United States 

 Starting in 1997, the planned postdoctoral location of doctorate recipients was coded in a 

new variable called PDLOC using FIPS codes for U.S. states and territories and countries. 

Values of PDLOC of less than ‘100’ indicate a postdoctoral location in the United States. Values 

between ‘100’ and ‘555’ indicate a non-U.S. location. A value of ‘-1’ on PDLOC indicates a 

respondent refusal to provide data. 

 Also beginning in 1997, a dichotomous variable, PDUSFOR, was created to index 

whether the planned postdoctoral location reported by the respondent was in the United States or 

in a foreign location, with 1 = U.S. and 2 = Non-U.S. Data in PDUSFOR and PDLOC can be 

slightly different because PDUSFOR will capture a respondent’s report of postgraduation 

location (in the U.S. or outside the U.S.) even if the respondent does not indicate a specific state 

or country. 

Firm Postdoctoral Plans 

 Postdoctoral plans are coded using the values of PDOCSTAT, which indicate that the 

doctorate recipient’s postdoctoral plans were definite at the time the survey was completed. That 

is, codes 0, 1, or A on PDOCSTAT indicate that the respondent had definite postdoctoral plans, 

whereas codes 2, 3, and 4 indicate that the respondent was still seeking to determine postdoctoral 

placement. 

The following is the SAS code used to derive FIRMPLAN from PDOCSTAT : 

if PDOCSTAT in ("0","1","A") then FIRMPLAN=1; /* Definite */ 

if PDOCSTAT in ("2","3","4") FIRMPLAN=2; /* Seeking */ 

if PDOCSTAT eq " " then FIRMPLAN=.; 

Firm Plans to Stay in the United States 

 This variable is derived from PDUSFOR and FIRMPLAN. A respondent is coded as 

having firm plans to stay in the United States if the reported postdoctoral location was in the 

United States and the reported postdoctoral plans were coded “definite.” 

The following is the SAS code that creates the variable PDUSFOR from USPLAN and 

FIRMPLAN as described above. 

FIRMUS=2; 

if (USPLAN eq 1 and FIRMPLAN eq 1) then FIRMUS=1; 

if USPLAN eq . or FIRMPLAN eq . then FIRMUS=.; 
125 

Time to Doctorate 

Total time to degree (TTD): TTD measures the total elapsed time between the 

baccalaureate and the doctorate (including time not enrolled in school). TTD can be computed 

only for individuals whose baccalaureate year is known. Baccalaureate year is often obtained 

from commencement programs or doctorate institutions when not reported by the recipient. 

Months are now included in the computation (see note below). 

Registered time to degree (RTD): RTD gauges the time in attendance at colleges and 

universities between receipt of the baccalaureate and the doctorate. Enrollment may include 

years of attendance not related to a recipient’s doctoral program. RTD can only be computed for 

individuals who provided all years of college attendance after the baccalaureate. Months are 

now included in the computation (see note below). 

Note about medians: The method of computing medians, beginning with Summary 

Report 1994, is as follows. Months (of birth, baccalaureate, and doctorate) are included in the 

calculations whenever available; if months are missing, month values are assigned to the midpoint of the range of days, with a leap year factor included (i.e. assignment to a value of 181.25). 

(However, medians are not computed for years prior to 1969 because doctorate month is 

unavailable for all doctorate recipients.) Medians presented in previous summary reports were 

based only on years. Some medians would be the same regardless of the method of computation, 

but the new method generally computes slightly different results. While differences are small 

(usually one- or two-tenths of a year), readers should consider these differences when comparing 

medians presented in the report with those in earlier reports. 

Race and Hispanic Ethnicity 

 Beginning in 2001, a new set of questionnaire items was used to collect information 

about citizenship. Just as in the past, respondents have been asked to first indicate whether or 

not they are Hispanic, and then check one or more of the various racial group categories (e.g., 

American Indian, indicating Tribal Affiliation, Asian (including Native Hawaiians and Pacific 

Islanders through the year 2000), black, or white). Doctorate recipients who reported Hispanic 

heritage, regardless of racial designation, are counted as Hispanic in this report. The remaining 

survey respondents are then counted in their respective racial groups or as “Other/Unknown” 

(which includes only those who did not indicate a specific race/ethnicity through 2000, and also 

includes those choosing “Multiple Race” in 2001 and 2002). (Note: Doctorate recipients who 

checked the category “American Indian or Alaskan Native” are identified as American Indian in 

this report.) 

Citizenship 

As in the past, the variable CITIZ is used to identify non-U.S. citizens for whom visa 

status was unknown. The new code frame for the data introduced in the year 2000 was as 

follows: 
126 

Code Citizenship Category

0 U.S. Native 

1 U.S. Naturalized Citizen 

2 Non-U.S. Immigrant (Permanent Resident) 

3 Non-U.S. Non-immigrant (Temporary Resident) 

4 Non-U.S., Visa Status Unknown 

Blank Missing/Citizenship Unknown 

Beginning in 2000, a logical assignment to code 4 was made if all follow-up attempts for missing 

citizenship were unsuccessful. The assignment was made for 1997-2002 records if three out of 

four variables – BIRTHPL, HSPLACE, CEPLACE, PDLOC – were non-U.S. locations. For the 

purposes of the tabulations in this report, code 4 was combined with code 3. This is consistent 

with what was done in previous rounds and seems well justified by an examination of the data. 

However, the existence of this new code will allow the data user to exclude the cases for which 

visa status is unknown if desired. One should keep in mind that the number of cases in this 

group (code 4) is not sufficient to warrant analysis as a separate group. 

 To match the numbers in this report, use the following code before analyzing citizenship: 

/*RECODE CITIZ 4 */ 

IF (CITIZ eq '4') THEN CITIZ='3'; 

Debt 

This item indexing debt was changed in AY 2001 to allow the identification of debt due 

to undergraduate education separately from that due to graduate education (see item A9). The 

resulting variables identify nine ranges of debt for each referent (undergraduate or graduate). To 

estimate overall debt, we took the midpoint of the chosen range for undergraduate and for 

graduate debt. These two values were summed to yield a total debt amount. These amounts 

were then assigned to the appropriate range as shown below: 

Cumulative Debt 

No Debt

$5,000 OR LESS

$5,001-$10,000

$10,001-$15,000

$15,001-$20,000

$20,001-$25,000

$25,001-$30,000

$30,001-$35,000

$35,001 and up
127 

Availability of Data 

The survey has collected information on doctoral recipients annually since 1957. More 

limited information is contained on the SED data file for research doctorate recipients from 

1920-1956. 

The data from this survey are published annually in Detailed Statistical Tables in the 

series Science and Engineering Doctorate Awards, available on the SRS Web site at 

(www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/ssed/ssedmeth.htm). These reports focus on science and engineering 

fields of study. (The list of how fields of study are grouped for this report is shown at the end of 

the Technical Notes.) Companion data from this survey for earlier years (1960-1991) were 

published in Detailed Statistical Tables in the report Science and Engineering Doctorates: 

1960-91 (NSF 93-301). This report is out of print, but tables from it are available on request. 

Information from the survey is also included in the report series Science and Engineering 

Degrees; in Science and Engineering Indicators; in Women, Minorities, and Persons With 

Disabilities in Science and Engineering; in Foreign Participation in U.S. Academic Science and 

Engineering; and in special occasional publications such as Undergraduate Origins of Recent 

Science and Engineering Doctorate Recipients. 

Results are also included in a publication series on ALL fields of study -- Doctorate 

Recipients from United States Universities: Summary Report; this interagency report is 

sponsored by the Federal agencies that support the Survey of Earned Doctorates (six in 2002). 

The report is available on the Web at: www.norc.uchicago.edu/issues/docdata.htm. 

Selected summary data from this survey are available on the NSF-SRS Web site and in 

the NSF-SRS WebCASPAR database by institution. Access to restricted data for researchers 

interested in analyzing microdata can be arranged through a licensing agreement. 

A complete methodology report for the 2002 SED is available upon request from NSFSRS. A complete list of methodological research concerning the Survey of Earned Doctorates is 

also available upon request from NSF-SRS. 

Additional information about this survey can be obtained by contacting: 

Joan S. Burrelli, Ph.D. 

Science Resources Analyst 

Division of Science Resources Studies 

National Science Foundation 

4201 Wilson Boulevard, Room 965 S 

Arlington, VA 22230 

Phone: (703) 292-7793 

E-mail: jburrell@nsf.gov

Or Tom Hoffer 

Doctorate Data Project 

NORC at the University of Chicago 

1155 E. 60th Street 

Chicago, IL 60637 

Phone: (773) 256-6097 

E-mail: hoffer-tom@norc.net
128 
129 

APPENDIX D 

Survey of Earned Doctorates Questionnaire 

Academic Year 2002 
130 
Survey of Earned Doctorates

July 1, 2001, to June 30, 2002

Conducted by

The National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago

for

The National Science Foundation

The National Institutes of Health

The U.S. Department of Education

The National Endowment for the Humanities

The U.S. Department of Agriculture

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Please print your name in full:

First Name Middle Name Last Name Suffix (e.g., Jr.)

Cross reference: Birth name or former name legally changed

Name of Doctoral Institution City or Branch Date Degree Granted (mm/yyyy)

This information is solicited under the authority of the National Science Foundation Act of 1950, as amended. ALL

INFORMATION YOU PROVIDE WILL BE TREATED AS CONFIDENTIAL and used only for research or statistical purposes

by your doctoral institution, the survey sponsors, their contractors, and collaborating researchers for the purpose of

analyzing data, preparing scientific reports and articles, and selecting samples for a limited number of carefully defined

follow-up studies. Any information publicly released (such as statistical summaries) will be in a form that does not personally identify you. Your response is voluntary and failure to provide some or all of the requested information will not

in any way adversely affect you. Your Social Security number is also solicited under the NSF Act of 1950, as amended; providing it is also voluntary. It is used for survey quality control, program evaluation, and for matching with other

databases. 

The time needed to complete this form varies according to individual circumstances, but the average time is estimated

to be 20 minutes. If you have comments regarding this time estimate, you may write to the National Science Foundation,

4201 Wilson Blvd., Arlington, VA 22230, Attention: NSF Reports Clearance Officer.

OMB No.: 3145-0019 

Approval Expires 05/31/2003 

131
132

INSTRUCTIONS

Thank you for taking the time to complete this questionnaire. Directions are provided for each question. Because not all 

questions will apply to everyone, you may be asked to skip certain questions.

• If you have not already done so, please print your name on the front cover.

• Please print all responses; you may use either a pen or pencil.

• When answering questions that require marking a box, please use an "X."

• If you need to change an answer, please make sure that your old answer is either completely erased or clearly 

crossed out.

• On page 7 (inside the back cover) is a Specialties List for classifying your field(s) of specialization in questions 

A2 and A8.

A1. What is the title of your dissertation?

Please mark (X) this box if the title below refers to a 

performance, project report, or a musical or literary 

composition required instead of a dissertation.

A2. Using the Specialties List (page 7), please write the name 

and number of the primary field of your dissertation research.

Name of Field 

Number of Field 

If you had a secondary field for your dissertation research, list the 

name and number.

Name of Field 

Number of Field 

A3. Please name the department (or interdisciplinary committee, 

center, institute, etc.) of the university that supervised your

doctoral program.

Mark (X) box if none

Department/Committee/Center/Institute/Program

A4. Please name the school or college within the university that 

supervised your doctoral program.

Mark (X) box if not applicable

School or College within University

School or College within University

A5. Which of the following were sources of support during 

graduate school?

Mark (X) Yes or No for each Yes No

a. Fellowship, scholarship 1 2 

b. Dissertation grant 1 2 

c. Teaching assistantship 1 2 

d. Research assistantship 1 2 

e. Traineeship 1 2 

f. Internship or residency 1 2 

g. Loans (from any source) 1 2 

h. Foreign (non-U.S.) support 1 2 

i. Personal savings 1 2 

j. Personal earnings during graduate school

(other than sources listed above) 1 2 

k. Spouse's, partner's, 

or family earnings or savings 1 2 

l. Employer reimbursement/assistance 1 2 

m. Other - Specify 1 2 

A6. Which TWO sources listed in A5 provided the most support?

Enter letters of primary and secondary sources

1.______Primary source of support

Mark (X) if no primary source

2.______Secondary source of support

Mark (X) if no secondary source

A7. If you received full or partial tuition remission for your

doctoral studies, was it:

0 I did not receive any tuition remission

1 for less than 1/3 of tuition

2 between 1/3 and 2/3 of tuition

3 more than 2/3 of tuition

PART A - Education

Title
A8. Please list below, chronologically, all colleges (including 2-year) and graduate institutions you have attended and each degree earned (if any). Be sure to give 

the years attended for ALL institutions attended. INCLUDE YOUR DOCTORAL INSTITUTION(S) AND DOCTORAL DEGREE AT THE END.

Mark (X) box if bachelor's degree (or equivalent) was never received. Mark (X) box if master's degree (or equivalent) was never received. 

133

Institution

Indian Institute of Technology

EXAMPLE

Institution and Location

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

Madras India

From

1990

To

1992

Years

Attended

Field Name 

Mathematics

Number

498

Title

--

Mo.

--

Yr.

--

Use Specialties List, page 7

Field of Study

Granted

Degree (if any)

Institution

University of California

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

Berkeley CA

From

1993

To

1995

Field Name 

Mechanical

Engineering

Number

345

Title

B.S.

Mo.

6

Yr.

1995

Institution

University of California

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

Berkeley CA

From

1997

To

2000

Field Name 

Mechanical

Engineering

Number

345

Title

M.S.

Mo.

6

Yr.

2000

Institution

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

From To Field Name Number Title Mo. Yr.

Institution

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

From To Field Name Number Title Mo. Yr.

Institution

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

From To Field Name Number Title Mo. Yr.

Institution

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

From To Field Name Number Title Mo. Yr.

Institution

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

From To Field Name Number Title Mo. Yr.

If you have attended more than six institutions of higher education, please continue this list in the “Comments” section on the back cover.

Remember to include your doctoral institution and degree.

Institution

Branch or City State or Province Country (if not U.S.)

From To Field Name Number Title Mo. Yr.

Institution and Location Years Attended

Use specialties List, page 7

Field of Study

Granted

Degree (if any)
134

A9. When you receive your doctoral degree, how much money will 

you owe that is directly related to your undergraduate and 

graduate education? 

Mark (X) one in each column

Undergraduate Graduate

0 None 0 None

1 $5,000 or less 1 $5,000 or less

2 $5,001 - $10,000 2 $5,001 - $10,000

3 $10,001 - $15,000 3 $10,001 - $15,000

4 $15,001 - $20,000 4 $15,001 - $20,000

5 $20,001 - $25,000 5 $20,001 - $25,000

6 $25,001 - $30,000 6 $25,001 - $30,000

7 $30,001 - $35,000 7 $30,001 - $35,000

8 $35,001 - or more 8 $35,001 - or more

A10. How many years were there between the date you first 

entered graduate school in any program or capacity and the 

date your doctorate was granted? 

Years Round to whole years

A11. How many years were you taking courses or preparing for

exams required for or related to your doctoral degree?

Years Round to whole years

A12. How many years did you spend on your dissertation 

(non-course related preparation or research, writing and 

defense)?

Years Round to whole years

B1. How definite are your immediate (within the next year) 

postgraduate plans?

Mark (X) one

0 Am returning to, or continuing in, 

predoctoral employment

1 Have signed contract or made definite 

commitment for other work or study

2 Am negotiating with one or more specific

organizations

3 Am seeking position but have no specific 

prospects

4 Other - Specify

B2. Please name the organization and geographic location where 

you will work or study.

Name

City State Country

(if U.S.) (if not U.S.)

B3. In what state or country do you intend to live after graduation 

(within the next year)?

0 in U.S. State 

1 not in U.S. Country

B4. What best describes your immediate (within the next year) 

postgraduate plans?

Mark (X) one

Further Training or Study

0 Postdoctoral fellowship

1 Postdoctoral research associateship

2 Traineeship

3 Other study - Specify

Career Employment

4 Employment (other than 0, 1, 2, 3)

5 Military service

6 Other - Specify

B5. What will be the main source of financial support for your

postdoctoral study/research within the next year?

Mark (X) one

0 U.S. Government

1 Industry/Business

2 College or university

3 Private foundation

4 Nonprofit, other than private foundation

5 Other - Specify

6 Unknown

PART B - Postgraduation Plans

GO

TO B2

SKIP

TO B4

SKIP

TO B3

GO

TO B5

SKIP

TO B6

SKIP

TO C1
135

B6. For what type of employer will you be working within the next 

year?

Mark (X) one

EDUCATION

a. U.S. 4-year college or university other than medical school 

b. U.S. medical school (including university-affiliated hospital 

or medical center)

c. U.S. junior or community college or technical institute

d. Preschool, elementary, or secondary school in the U.S.

e. Foreign educational institution

GOVERNMENT

f. Foreign government

g. U.S. federal government

h. U.S. state government

i. U.S. local government

PRIVATE SECTOR

j. Nonprofit organization

k. Industry or business

l. Self-employed

OTHER

m. Other - Specify

B7. From the list below, please indicate what your primary and 

secondary work activities will be by entering the numbers of 

your selections in the appropriate boxes:

Enter numbers from below:

a. Primary Activity

b. Secondary Activity

0 Research and development

1 Teaching

2 Administration

3 Professional services to individuals

4 Other - Specify

C1. Are you -

1 Male

2 Female

C2. What is your marital status?

Mark (X) one

1 Married

2 Living in a marriage-like relationship

3 Widowed

4 Separated/divorced

5 Never married

C3. Not including yourself (or your spouse/partner), how many 

dependents do you have - that is, how many others receive at 

least one half of their support from you?

Mark (X) box if none

Number

5 years of age or younger

6 to 18 years

19 years or older

C4. What is the highest educational attainment of your mother and

father?

Mark (X) one for each parent 

a. Mother b. Father

Less than high school/secondary school 1 1 

High-school/secondary-school graduate 2 2 

Some college 3 3 

Bachelor's degree 4 4 

Master's degree 5 5 

Professional degree 6 6 

Doctoral degree 7 7 

C5. What is your place of birth?

State (if U.S.) 

Country (if not U.S.)

C6. What is your date of birth?

Month Day Year

C7. What is your citizenship status?

Mark (X) one

U.S. Citizen:

0 Native Born

1 Naturalized

Non-U.S. Citizen:

2 With a Permanent U.S. Resident Visa 

("Green Card")

3 With a Temporary U.S. Visa

C8. (IF A NON-U.S. CITIZEN) Of which country are you a 

citizen?

(Specify country of present citizenship)

PART C - Background Information

SKIP

TO C9

GO

TO C8

OR

1 9
136

C9. In what state or country was the high school/secondary school 

that you last attended?

State (if U.S.)

Country (if not U.S.)

C10. Are you a person with a disability?

1 Yes GO TO C11

2 No SKIP TO C12

C11. (IF YES) Which of the following categories describes your

disability(ies)?

Mark (X) one or more

a. Blind/Visually Impaired

b. Deaf/Hard of Hearing

c. Physical/Orthopedic Disability

d. Learning/Cognitive Disability

e. Vocal/Speech Disability

f. Other - Specify

C12. Are you Hispanic (or Latino)?

1 Yes GO to C13

2 No SKIP to C14

C13. (IF YES TO C12) Which of the following describes your

Hispanic origin or descent?

1 Mexican American or Chicano

2 Puerto Rican

3 Cuban

4 Other Hispanic - Specify

C14. What is your racial background?

Mark (X) one or more

a. American Indian or Alaska Native 

Specify tribal affiliation(s)

b. Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

c. Asian

d. Black or African-American

e. White

C15. Please fill in your U.S. Social Security number.

C16. In case we need to clarify some of the information you have 

provided, please list an E-mail address, website address 

(if applicable), and telephone numbers where you can be 

reached.

E-mail address 

Website address

Daytime telephone 

Evening telephone

C17. Please provide your address and the name and address of a

person through which you could always be reached.

Current Address

Number Street

City State Country Zip or Postal Code

Contact Person

Name

Number Street

City State Country Zip or Postal Code

Phone Number (including area or country code)

E-mail Address

C18. Please sign and date.

Signature Date 

Mark (X) box if you would like a summary of the results of this

survey (available as funding permits).

Results of the Survey of Earned Doctorates can be found on the

National Science Foundation's World Wide Web page at

http://www.nsf.gov/sbe/srs/ssed/start.htm

Please use the back cover to make any additional comments you may

have about this survey.

Thank you for completing the questionnaire. Please return it to the

GRADUATE DEAN for forwarding to Survey of Earned Doctorates,

NORC at the University of Chicago, 1 N. State Street, Floor 16,

Chicago, IL 60602. If you have questions or concerns about the survey,

you may contact us by e-mail at 4800-sed@norcmail.uchicago.edu 

or phone at 1-800-248-8649.

OR
137

AGRICULTURAL

SCIENCES

000 Agricultural 

Economics

002 Agricultural Business

& Mgmt.

005 Animal Breeding & 

Genetics

010 Animal Nutrition

012 Dairy Science

014 Poultry Science

019 Animal Sciences, 

Other*

020 Agronomy & Crop 

Science

025 Plant Breeding & 

Genetics

030 Plant Pathology 

(See also 120)

039 Plant Sciences, 

Other*

043 Food Engineering

044 Food Sciences, 

Other*

046 Soil Chemistry/ 

Microbiology

049 Soil Sciences, Other*

050 Horticulture 

Science

055 Fisheries Sci. & 

Management

066 Forest Biology

068 Forest Engineering

070 Forest Management

072 Wood Sci. & 

Pulp/Paper Tech.

074 Conserv./

Renewable 

Natural Res.

079 Forestry & Related 

Sci., Other*

080 Wildlife/Range 

Management

098 Agricultural Sci., 

General

099 Agricultural Sci., 

Other*

BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES

100 Biochemistry

103 Biomedical Sciences

105 Biophysics

107 Biotechnology 

Research

110 Bacteriology

115 Plant Genetics

120 Plant Pathology 

(See also 030)

125 Plant Physiology

129 Botany, Other*

130 Anatomy

133 Biometrics & 

Biostatistics

136 Cell Biology 

(See also 154)

139 Ecology

142 Developmental 

Bio./Embryology

145 Endocrinology

148 Entomology

151 Biological 

Immunology

154 Molecular Biology

157 Microbiology

160 Neuroscience

163 Nutritional Sciences

166 Parasitology

169 Toxicology

170 Genetics, Human & 

Animal

175 Pathology, Human & 

Animal

(See also 120)

180 Pharmacology, 

Human & Animal

185 Physiology, 

Human & Animal

189 Zoology, Other*

198 Biological 

Sciences, General

199 Biological Sciences, 

Other*

HEALTH SCIENCES

200 Speech-Lang.

Path. & Audiology

210 Environmental 

Health

212 Health Systems/ 

Service Admin.

215 Public Health

220 Epidemiology 

(See also 133)

222 Exercise Physiology/

Sci., Kinesiology

230 Nursing

240 Pharmacy

245 Rehabilitation/ 

Therapeutic Services

250 Veterinary 

Medicine

298 Health Sciences, 

General

299 Health Sciences, 

Other*

ENGINEERING

300 Aerospace, Aeronaut.

& Astronaut.

303 Agricultural

306 Bioengineering & 

Biomedical

309 Ceramic Sciences

312 Chemical

315 Civil

318 Communications

321 Computer

324 Electrical & 

Electronics

327 Engineering 

Mechanics

330 Engineering Physics

333 Engineering Science

336 Environmental 

Health Engineering

339 Industrial & 

Manufacturing

342 Materials Science

345 Mechanical

348 Metallurgical

351 Mining & Mineral

357 Nuclear

360 Ocean

363 Operations 

Research

(See also 465, 930)

366 Petroleum

369 Polymer & Plastics

372 Systems

398 Engineering, 

General

399 Engineering, 

Other*

COMPUTER AND 

INFORMATION

SCIENCES

400 Computer Science

410 Info. Sci. & Sys.

419 Computer/Info. Sci , 

Other*

MATHEMATICS

420 Applied Mathematics

425 Algebra

430 Analysis & 

Functional Analysis

435 Geometry

440 Logic 

(See also 785)

445 Number Theory

450 Mathematical 

Statistics

455 Topology

460 Computing Theory & 

Practice

465 Operations 

Research 

(See also 363, 930)

498 Mathematics, 

General

499 Mathematics, 

Other*

PHYSICAL SCIENCES

Astronomy

500 Astronomy

505 Astrophysics

Atmospheric Sci. and

Meteorology

510 Atmospheric Physics 

& Chemistry

512 Atmospheric 

Dynamics

514 Meteorology

518 Atmos. Sci./Meteorol,

General

519 Atmos. Sci./Meteorol,

Other*

Chemistry

520 Analytical

522 Inorganic

524 Nuclear

526 Organic

528 Medicinal/

Pharmaceutical

530 Physical

532 Polymer

534 Theoretical

538 Chemistry, 

General

539 Chemistry, Other*

(See 100 Biochemistry)

Geological & Related 

Sciences

540 Geology

542 Geochemistry

544 Geophysics & 

Seismology

546 Paleontology

548 Mineralogy & 

Petrology

550 Stratigraphy & 

Sedimentation

552 Geomorphology & 

Glacial Geology

558 Geolog. & Related 

Sci., General

559 Geolog. & Related 

Sci., Other*

Physics

560 Acoustics

561 Chemical & 

Atomic/Molecular

564 Elementary 

Particle

566 Fluids

568 Nuclear

569 Optics

570 Plasma & HighTemperature

572 Polymer

574 Solid State & LowTemperature

578 Physics, General

579 Physics, Other*

Miscellaneous Physical 

Sciences

580 Environmental 

Science

585 Hydrology & Water 

Resources

590 Oceanography

595 Marine Sciences

599 Misc. Physical 

Sciences, Other*

PSYCHOLOGY

600 Clinical

603 Cognitive & 

Psycholinguistics

606 Comparative

609 Counseling

612 Developmental & 

Child

613 Human/Indiv. & 

Family Devlpmt.

615 Experimental

618 Educational 

(See also 822)

620 Family & Marriage 

Counseling

621 Indust. & Organiz. 

(See also 935)

624 Personality

627 Physiological/

Psychobiology

630 Psychometrics

633 Quantitative

636 School 

(See also 825)

639 Social

648 Psychology, 

General

649 Psychology, Other*

SOCIAL SCIENCES

650 Anthropology

652 Area Studies

658 Criminology

662 Demography/

Population Studies

666 Economics

668 Econometrics

670 Geography

674 International 

Relations/Affairs

678 Political Sci. & 

Government

682 Public Policy 

Analysis

686 Sociology

690 Statistics 

(See also 450)

694 Urban Affairs/Studies

698 Social Sciences, 

General

699 Social Sciences, 

Other*

HUMANITIES

History

700 History, American

703 History, Asian

705 History, European

710 History/Philosophy 

of Sci. & Tech.

718 History, General

719 History, Other*

Letters

720 Classics

723 Comparative 

Literature

729 Linguistics

732 Literature, American

733 Literature, English

734 English Language

736 Speech & Rhetorical 

Studies

738 Letters, General

739 Letters, Other*

Foreign Languages and

Literature

740 French

743 German

746 Italian

749 Spanish

752 Russian

755 Slavic (other than 

Russian)

758 Chinese

762 Japanese

765 Hebrew

768 Arabic

769 Other Languages & 

Literature*

Other Humanities

770 American Studies

773 Archeology

776 Art History/

Criticism/Conserv.

780 Music

785 Philosophy 

(See also 440)

790 Religion 

(See also 984)

795 Drama/

Theater Arts

798 Humanities, 

General

799 Humanities, Other*

EDUCATION

800 Curriculum & 

Instruction

805 Educational Admin. &

Supervision

807 Educational 

Leadership

810 Educ./Instruct. 

Media Design

815 Educ. Stat./

Research Methods

820 Educ. Assess./

Test./Meas.

822 Educ. Psychology 

(See also 618)

825 School Psychology 

(See also 636)

830 Social/Phil. Found. 

of Education

835 Special Education

840 Couns. 

Educ./Couns. & 

Guid. Serv.

845 Higher 

Education/Eval. & 

Research

Teacher Education

850 Pre-elementary/

Early Childhood

852 Elementary

856 Secondary

858 Adult & Continuing

Teaching Fields

860 Agricultural 

Education

861 Art Education

862 Business 

Education

864 English Education

866 Foreign Languages 

Education

868 Health Education

870 Home Economics 

Education

872 Tech. & Indust. Arts 

Education

874 Mathematics 

Education

876 Music Education

878 Nursing Education

880 Physical Education &

Coaching

882 Reading Education

884 Science Education

885 Social Science 

Education

887 Technical Education

888 Trade & Industrial 

Education

889 Teacher Educ., 

Specific Acad. & Voc.

Prog., Other* 

Other Education

898 Education, General

899 Education, Other*

PROFESSIONAL FIELDS

Business Management

and Administrative

Services

900 Accounting

905 Banking/Financial 

Support Serv.

910 Business Admin. & 

Management

915 Business/Managerial 

Economics

916 International 

Business

917 Mgmt. Info. Sys./Bus.

Data Proc.

920 Marketing Mgmt. & 

Research

930 Operations Research

(See also 363, 465)

935 Organiz. Behavior 

(See also 621)

938 Bus. Mgmt./Admin. 

Serv., Gen.

939 Bus. Mgmt./Admin. 

Serv., Other*

Communications

940 Communications 

Research

947 Mass 

Communications

957 Communication 

Theory

958 Communications, 

General

959 Communications, 

Other*

(See also 736)

Other Professional 

Fields

960 Architec. Environ. 

Design

964 Home Economics

968 Law

972 Library Science

974 Parks/

Rec./Leisure/Fitness

976 Public Administration

980 Social Work

984 Theol./Religious 

Education

(See also 790)

988 Professional Fields, 

General

989 Professional Fields, 

Other*

OTHER FIELDS

999 Other*

SPECIALTIES LIST

INSTRUCTIONS: The following field listing is to be used in responding to items A2 and A8. If you choose a field marked

with an asterisk (*), please write in your field of specialization in the space provided in those items.
138

Case ID Instit. Code: Grad Date: Main Disp.:

PROCESSING

Ver. Adjust Retrieval Updates

Initials Date Initials Date Initials Date

To the Doctorate Recipient:

Congratulations on earning a doctoral degree! This is an important accomplishment for you. Your accomplishment is

also significant for both this nation and others, as the new knowledge generated by research doctorates enhances the

quality of life in this country and throughout the world. Because of the importance of persons earning research doctorates, several Federal agencies—listed on the cover—sponsor this Survey of Earned Doctorates.

The basic purpose of this survey is to gather objective data about doctoral graduates. These data are important in

improving graduate education both at your home institution and beyond. Often, decisions made by governmental and

private agencies to develop new programs, or to support present ones, are based in part on the data developed from

this survey. If you have any comments about the survey, please provide them in the space below.

On behalf of the sponsoring Federal agencies, I thank you for your participation in this survey. 

Best wishes,

Dr. Lynda Carlson

National Science Foundation

Comments About This Survey

Receipt Editing CADE

Initials Date Initials Date Initials Date

Please return this questionnaire to your GRADUATE DEAN for forwarding to

Survey of Earned Doctorates, NORC at the University of Chicago,

1 N. State Street, Floor 16, Chicago, IL 60602.

If you have questions or concerns about the survey, you may contact us by e-mail at 

4800-sed@norcmail.uchicago.edu or phone at 1-800-248-8649.
139 

APPENDIX E 

Field Classification and Research Degree Titles 
140 
141

APPENDIX E: Field Classification and Research Degree Titles 

The appendix tables present data according to the following field classifications. Appendix Tables A-1 and A-2 and Appendix Table B-1 display 

all subfields that are on the survey Specialties List. Appendix Tables A-4, A-5, and A-6 show data by seven broad fields only. Appendix 

Tables A-3 and A-7 include the additional field groupings indicated below. 

SCIENCES 

Physical Sciences (400-599) 

 Physics and Astronomy (500 -505, 560-579) 

 Chemistry (520-539) 

 Earth, Atmospheric, and Marine Sciences 

 (510-519, 540-559, 590-599) 

 Mathematics (420-499) 

 Computer Sciences (400410) 

Engineering (300-399) 

Life Sciences (000-299) 

 Biological Sciences (100 -199) 

 Biochemistry (100) 

 Other Biological Sciences (103 -199) 

 Health Sciences (200-299) 

 Agricultural Sciences (000 -099) 

Social Sciences (600-699) 

 Psychology (600-649) 

 Economics and Econometrics (666, 668) 

 Anthropology and Sociology (650, 686) 

 Political Science and International Relations 

 (674,678) 

 Other Social Sciences 

 (652-662, 670, 672, 682, 690-699) 

NONSCIENCES 

Humanities (700-799) 

 History (700-719) 

 English and American Language 

 and Literature (732 -734) 

 Foreign Languages and Literature 

 (740-769) 

 Other Humanities 

 (720-729, 736-739, 770-799) 

Education (800-899) 

Professional and Other Fields (900-999) 

 Business and Management (900 -939) 

 Other Professional Fields (940 -989) 

 Other Fields (999) 

NOTE: Doctorate recipients indicate their fields of specialty. 

Their choices may differ from departmental names.

TITLES OF RESEARCH DEGREES INCLUDED IN THE SURVEY OF EARNED DOCTORATES 

DA/DAT Doctor of Arts/Arts in Teaching DMM Doctor of Music Ministry 

DArch Doctor of Architecture DMSc Doctor of Medical Science 

DAS Doctor of Applied Science DNSc Doctor of Nursing Science 

DBA Doctor of Business Administration DPA Doctor of Public Administration 

DChem Doctor of Chemistry DPE Doctor of Physical Education 

DCJ Doctor of Criminal Justice DPH Doctor of Public Health 

DCL Doctor of Comparative Law/Civil Law DPS Doctor of Professional Studies 

DCrim Doctor of Criminology DrDES Doctor of Design 

DED Doctor of Environmental Design DRec/DR Doctor of Recreation 

DEng Doctor of Engineering DSc/ScD Doctor of Science 

DEnv Doctor of Environment DScD Doctor of Science in Dentistry 

DESc/ScDE Doctor of Engineering Science DScH Doctor of Science and Hygiene 

DF Doctor of Forestry DScVM Doctor of Science in Veterinary Medicine 

DFA Doctor of Fine Arts DSM Doctor of Sacred Music 

DGS Doctor of Geological Science DSSc Doctor of Social Science 

DHL Doctor of Hebrew Literature/Letters DSW Doctor of Social Work 

DHS Doctor of Health and Safety EdD Doctor of Education 

DHS Doctor of Hebrew Studies JCD Doctor of Canon Law 

DIT Doctor of Industrial Technology JSD Doctor of Juristic Science 

DLS Doctor of Library Science LScD Doctor of Science of Law 

DM Doctor of Music PhD Doctor of Philosophy 

DMA Doctor of Musical Arts RhD Doctor of Rehabilitation 

DME Doctor of Musical Education SJD Doctor of Juridical Science 

DML Doctor of Modern Languages ThD Doctor of Theology 

} Combined in Table A -7

} Combined in Table A -7

} Combined in Table A -7
NSF Publications from the Doctorate Data Project

InfoBriefs InfoBriefs Reports 

Healthy Economy Yields Even 

Lower Unemployment Rate for 

Doctoral Scientists and Engineers 

Interstate Migration Patterns of 

Recent Science and Engineering 

Doctorate Recipients 

Gender Differences in the Careers 

of Academic Scientists and 

Engineers: A Literature Review 

Declines in U.S. Doctorate Awards 

in Physics and Engineering 

Employment Preferences and 

Outcomes of Recent Science and 

Engineering Doctorate Holders in 

the Labor Market 

Science and Engineering 

Doctorate Awards: 2001 

Despite Increases, Women and 

Minorities Still Underrepresented in 

Undergraduate Science and 

Engineering Education 

Academic Employment of Recent 

Science and Engineering 

Doctorate Holders 

Characteristics of Doctoral 

Scientists and Engineers in the 

U.S.: 2001 

Doctoral Awards Increase in S&E 

Overall, But Computer Science 

Declines for First Time 

What’s Happening in the Labor 

Market for Recent Science and 

Engineering Ph.D. Recipients? 

Trend Tables on Doctoral 

Scientists and Engineers in the 

U.S.: 1993-97 (Web only) 

Employment of Scientists and 

Engineers Reaches 3.2 Million in 

1995 

Is the Gender Gap in 

Unemployment Disappearing? 

Older Doctoral Scientists and 

Engineers: Selected Labor Force 

Characteristics

How Large is the U.S. S&E 

Workforce? 

Employment Preferences and 

Outcomes of Recent Science and 

Engineering Doctorate Holders in 

the Labor Market 

Science and Engineering State 

Profiles 2000 

Data sources and 

publications sources:

International Mobility of Scientists 

and Engineers to the United 

States – Brain Drain or Brain 

Circulation 

Doctoral Scientists and Engineers 

in the U.S.: 2001 Profile Tables 

These publications contain data from 

1) the annual Survey of Earned 

Doctorates(a universe survey on the 

education of research doctorates) or 

What is the Debt Burden of New 

Science and Engineering 

Ph.D.’s? 

Modes of Financial Support in the 

Graduate Education of S&E 

Doctorate Recipients 

2) the biennial Survey of Doctorate 

Recipients (a longitudinal sample 

survey of workforce characteristics).

Are Forms of Financial Support 

and Employment Choices of 

Recent Science and Engineering 

Ph.D.’s Related? 

Statistical Profiles of Foreign 

Doctoral Recipients in Science 

and Engineering: Plans to Stay in 

the United States 

Complete electronic information on 

these surveys and publications may be 

obtained on the web at:

Does the Educational Debt 

Burden of Science and 

Engineering Doctorates Differ by 

Race/Ethnicity and Sex? 

Women, Minorities, and Persons 

with Disabilities in Science and 

Engineering: 2002 

www.nsf.gov/sbe/stats.htm. Degrees and Occupations in 

Engineering: How Do They 

Diverge? 

Science and Engineering 

Degrees: 1966-2000 

Written reports may be ordered online 

(www.nsf.gov/home/orderpub.htm) 

or by calling 301-947-2722. 

Has the Use of Postdocs 

Changed? 

Science and Engineering 

Degrees, by Race/Ethnicity of 

Recipients: 1991-2000 

For further information, please 

contact Joan Burrelli, Acting 

Director, Doctorate Data Project, 

jburrell@nsf.gov. 

How Much Does the U.S. Rely on 

Immigrant Engineers? 

SESTAT: A Tool for Studying 

Scientists and Engineers in the 

United States