Doctorate Awards Jump 9 percent in 2007; Double-Digit Growth in Engineering, Bio

Whether it's symptomatic of a tough job market or increased recognition of the economic rewards for obtaining an advanced degree, the number of doctoral degrees awarded and graduate enrollment in the U.S. rose sharply in 2007. Most trends for the past ten years also are positive; suggesting at first glance that a commitment to advanced education is permeating more of the population, particularly among women and minority groups.

Enrollment and awards of masters degrees are seeing much lower growth rates, and in some critical cases like engineering, experienced a decline. Consequently, rises in the number of engineering doctorates may be short-lived trends.

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) reported Sep. 16 that the number of doctorates conferred by U.S. graduate schools rose 9 percent between 2006 and 2007, compared to 2 percent average annual growth over the past decade. The survey includes responses from 683 institutions.

The survey report, Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1997 to 2007, reveals that five broad fields of study increased more than 10 percent in one year, including health sciences (up 18 percent), engineering (14 percent), and biological sciences (11percent). The number of doctorates awarded to women rose 10 percent in 2007, compared to 8 percent growth among men. During the period 1997-2007, there was 4 percent average annual growth in doctorates to women, versus 1 percent for men.

The ten-year trend also shows that graduate enrollment of U.S. minority groups grew much faster than that of White, non-Hispanic students. There was 8 percent average annual growth for African-Americans, 7 percent for Hispanic students, 6 percent for Native Americans, and 4 percent for students of Asian/Pacific Island backgrounds, compared to 1 percent for White students.

Additionally, minorities made substantial one-year gains in enrollment in critical science and engineering fields last year. For example, African-American enrollment rose 7 percent in biological sciences and 6 percent in both engineering and physical sciences, while the number of Native American students in engineering rose 11 percent in 2007.

CGS' annual report presents statistics on applications for admission, enrollment, and degrees conferred in 2007, as well as trend data for one-, five- and ten-year periods. Highlights include:

One-year changes

• Total graduate enrollment increased 3 percent last year (compared to no growth in 2006), with the fastest growth among international students, up 7 percent.
• Enrollment of men grew faster than for women, 4 percent vs. 3 percent (compared to no growth for men in 2006).
• The proportion of female graduate students held steady at 59 percent overall in 2007, though it is 66 percent at master's-level institutions. Racial/ethnic minorities comprise 28 percent of enrollment.
• First-time enrollment increased 4 percent overall last year, including a 10 percent rise in international students and 3 percent growth in domestic students (compared to a 1 percent decline in 2006).
• The number of doctoral degrees awarded to women increased 14 percent at private universities and 7 percent at public institutions (compared to 3 percent and 8 percent for men, respectively).
• The number of master's degrees awarded in 2007 increased 4 percent overall, but declined in several fields: down 5 percent in business, engineering (-3 percent) and education (-2 percent).

Ten-year trends

• Total enrollment growth has averaged 3 percent annually, with 4 percent average yearly growth for women and 5 percent for international students.
• The representation of minorities in science has steadily increased. For example, the average annual enrollment growth for Hispanic students was 7 percent in biological sciences and 6 percent in physical sciences, compared to 1 percent for White, non-Hispanics in those fields.
• Health sciences continues to be the fastest-growing field, with 4 percent average annual enrollment growth overall, although the fastest-growing field for international students was public administration, up an average of 7 percent annually.
• Health sciences also significantly outpaced all other fields in the growth of doctorates awarded, with 12 percent average annual growth; no other field had more than 3 percent annual growth.
• Growth in the number of master's degrees awarded was more consistent between fields of study, with average annual increases between 1 percent and 3 percent.

Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1997 to 2007 is available at: http://www.cgsnet.org