Report tracks changes in doctoral education, impacts of COVID-19

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A report on the Survey of Earned Doctorates has been released.


December 5, 2022

The National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) has released its annual report on the Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), which is an annual census of individuals who earn research doctoral degrees from accredited U.S. academic institutions. The survey is sponsored by the NCSES within the National Science Foundation and by three other federal agencies: the National Institutes of Health, the Department of Education, and the National Endowment for the Humanities.

The report summarizes trends in U.S. doctoral education using data from the 2021 Survey of Earned Doctorates. Important trends in this population are highlighted, including the representation of women, minorities, and temporary visa holders; fields that are attracting graduate students; time to complete doctoral degree; employment opportunities after graduation; and educational pathways to the doctorate. A special section focuses on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on doctorate recipients’ graduate experiences and postgraduation plans. 

See the full report on doctorate recipients from U.S. universities.

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