From 1963 through 1979, the counts and the upward trend were similar among temporary visa holders intending to stay in the United States after earning a doctorate and among those intending to leave after graduation. From 1980 onward, the number of temporary visa holders intending to stay in the United States after earning a doctorate increased at an average annual rate of 5.4%, whereas the growth in number of temporary visa holders intending to leave the United States after graduation has been more modest (2.8% average annual increase). As a result, in 2015, the number of temporary visa holders intending to stay in the United States was nearly three times as great as the number intending to leave (11,508 versus 3,885) (figure A).
Doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders, by intent to stay in the United States after earning a doctorate: 1963–2015
| Year | Intend to stay in the United States | Intend to leave the United States |
|---|---|---|
| 1963 | 647 | 641 |
| 1964 | 728 | 772 |
| 1965 | 914 | 875 |
| 1966 | 1,015 | 925 |
| 1967 | 1,151 | 923 |
| 1968 | 1,287 | 997 |
| 1969 | 1,227 | 1,124 |
| 1970 | 1,274 | 1,310 |
| 1971 | 1,227 | 1,468 |
| 1972 | 1,219 | 1,627 |
| 1973 | 1,517 | 1,694 |
| 1974 | 1,740 | 1,657 |
| 1975 | 1,903 | 1,659 |
| 1976 | 1,878 | 1,688 |
| 1977 | 1,868 | 1,621 |
| 1978 | 1,884 | 1,591 |
| 1979 | 1,914 | 1,708 |
| 1980 | 2,012 | 1,684 |
| 1981 | 2,198 | 1,795 |
| 1982 | 2,467 | 1,787 |
| 1983 | 2,652 | 1,903 |
| 1984 | 3,043 | 1,854 |
| 1985 | 3,240 | 2,012 |
| 1986 | 3,426 | 1,892 |
| 1987 | 3,803 | 1,857 |
| 1988 | 4,314 | 1,927 |
| 1989 | 4,692 | 1,985 |
| 1990 | 5,030 | 3,110 |
| 1991 | 5,769 | 3,605 |
| 1992 | 5,991 | 3,989 |
| 1993 | 5,726 | 4,238 |
| 1994 | 5,094 | 4,327 |
| 1995 | 4,871 | 3,960 |
| 1996 | 5,875 | 3,865 |
| 1997 | 5,899 | 3,295 |
| 1998 | 5,695 | 3,060 |
| 1999 | 5,688 | 2,875 |
| 2000 | 6,145 | 3,018 |
| 2001 | 6,700 | 2,685 |
| 2002 | 6,545 | 2,816 |
| 2003 | 6,966 | 3,224 |
| 2004 | 7,727 | 3,426 |
| 2005 | 9,012 | 3,490 |
| 2006 | 10,372 | 3,408 |
| 2007 | 11,233 | 3,551 |
| 2008 | 11,214 | 3,422 |
| 2009 | 10,415 | 3,661 |
| 2010 | 9,421 | 3,848 |
| 2011 | 9,984 | 3,897 |
| 2012 | 10,458 | 3,999 |
| 2013 | 10,989 | 4,090 |
| 2014 | 11,261 | 3,998 |
| 2015 | 11,508 | 3,885 |
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2015. Related detailed data: table 1.
