Minorities Receiving S&E Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhDs Reach All-Time Highs in 2006

Underrepresented minorities were awarded 79,097 bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering related fields in 2006, an 18 percent increase from 2002, according to data released this month by the National Science Foundation. In 2006, 14,099 S&E master’s degrees and 1,661 S&E doctoral degrees were awarded to underrepresented minorities, a 32 percent and 12 percent increase, respectively, compared to five years earlier. Out of all science and engineering bachelor’s degrees awarded in 2006, 16.7 percent went to underrepresented minorities, compared to 11.7 percent of all S&E master’s degrees awarded and 5.6 percent of all S&E doctoral degree awarded. Science and Engineering Degrees, by Race/Ethnicity 1997-2006 can be accessed at: http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/nsf10300/