In 2021, at a total of 24,710, the majority of doctorate recipients in the United States were white or Caucasian. Another 14,595 doctorate recipients were Asian, and a further 4,013 recipients were Hispanic or Latino.

In the academic year of 2020/21, about 690 doctoral degrees were earned by American Indian or Alaskan Native students in the United States. In that year, a further 23,479 non-resident aliens earned doctoral degrees in the U.S.

In the academic year of 2020/2021 in the United States, 85,581 doctoral degrees were earned in health professions and related programs - the most out of any field of study. A further 35,976 doctoral degrees were earned in legal professions and studies.

In the academic year of 2020/21, about 194,059 students were awarded their doctoral degrees in the United States. This figure is expected to increase until the academic year of 2031/32, when it is forecasted that 229,601 people will earn a doctoral degree.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 25 years and over (CGDD25O) from Jan 2000 to Jun 2025 about doctoral degree, 25 years +, tertiary schooling, education, unemployment, rate, and USA.

In 2021, the majority of temporary visa holders completing a doctorate in the United States came from China, with 6,148 Chinese students studying for a PhD in the United States. In that same year, a further 2,291 temporary visa holders from India were studying for a PhD in the United States.

The Survey of Doctorate Recipients (SDR) is a dataset created by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) under the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF). It provides comprehensive data on individuals who earned research doctorates in science, engineering, or health (SEH) fields from U.S. academic institutions. The survey captures demographic information, educational background, career trajectories, employment status, and work experiences of doctorate holders, both within the U.S. and abroad. Its primary purpose is to inform policy and research on the SEH workforce, offering insights into career patterns, labor market dynamics, and the long-term impacts of doctoral education. Key features include its representative sampling of doctorate recipients (including those retired or seeking work), expanded coverage of specialized fields, and an online format to enhance data quality and participation. Unique aspects include integrated data on international and domestic recipients, enabling analysis of global career trends. The SDR is widely used by researchers, policymakers, and institutions to track workforce development, assess the return on investment in higher education, and shape STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) initiatives. Regular updates ensure relevance to evolving scientific and economic landscapes.

In the academic year of 2020/21, about 85,370 male and 108,690 female students earned a doctoral degree in the United States. By the academic year of 2031/32, these figures are expected to increase to about 88,110 and 141,500 respectively.

In 2021, a total 5,892 doctorates were awarded in California, a significantly higher number than in any other U.S. state. Texas, New York, Massachusetts, and Pennsylvania rounded out the top five states for doctorate recipients in that year.

In 2021, there were 52,250 doctorate recipients in total across the United States. Of these, there were 7,582 male and 2,656 female doctorate recipients in the field of engineering. Engineering was the leading field of study for male doctorate recipients in that year.

In 2021 in the United States, **** percent of doctorate recipients fell within the age bracket of 26 to 30 years old. A further **** percent of doctorate recipients were between the ages of 31 and 35 years old.

The number of science and engineering doctorate recipients in the United States has increased over time. In 2021, the number of science and engineering doctorate recipients totaled about 52,250, a decrease from the previous year.

In the academic year of 2022, it is expected that 551,460 female and 331,530 male students will earn a Master’s degree in the United States. These figures are a significant increase from the academic year of 1950, when 16,980 female students and 41,220 male students earned a Master’s degree.

What is a Master’s degree?

A Master’s degree is an academic degree granted by universities after finishing a Bachelor’s degree. Master’s degrees focus in on a specific field and are more specialized than a Bachelor’s. A typical Master’s program is about two years long, with the final semester focusing on the thesis. Master’s degree programs are usually harder to get into than Bachelor’s degree programs, due to the rigor of the program. Because these programs are so competitive, those with a Master’s degree are typically paid more than those with a Bachelor’s degree.

Master’s degrees in the United States

The number of master’s degrees granted in the United States has steadily increased since the 1970s and is expected to continue to increase. In 2021, the Master’s degree program with the worst job prospects in the United States by mid-career median pay was counseling, while the program with the best job prospects was a physician's assistant.

In the academic year 2023/24, there were 331,602 international students from India studying in the United States. International students The majority of international students studying in the United States are originally from India and China, totaling 331,602 students and 277,398 students respectively in the 2023/24 school year. In 2022/23, there were 467,027 international graduate students , which accounted for over one third of the international students in the country. Typically, engineering and math & computer science programs were among the most common fields of study for these students. The United States is home to many world-renowned schools, most notably, the Ivy League Colleges which provide education that is sought after by both foreign and local students. International students and college Foreign students in the United States pay some of the highest fees in the United States, with an average of 24,914 U.S. dollars. American students attending a college in New England paid an average of 14,900 U.S. dollars for tuition alone and there were about 79,751 international students in Massachusetts . Among high-income families, U.S. students paid an average of 34,700 U.S. dollars for college, whereas the average for all U.S. families reached only 28,026 U.S. dollars. Typically, 40 percent of families paid for college tuition through parent income and savings, while 29 percent relied on grants and scholarships.

In an impressive increase from years past, 39 percent of women in the United States had completed four years or more of college in 2022. This figure is up from 3.8 percent of women in 1940. A significant increase can also be seen in males, with 36.2 percent of the U.S. male population having completed four years or more of college in 2022, up from 5.5 percent in 1940.

4- and 2-year colleges

In the United States, college students are able to choose between attending a 2-year postsecondary program and a 4-year postsecondary program. Generally, attending a 2-year program results in an Associate’s Degree, and 4-year programs result in a Bachelor’s Degree.

Many 2-year programs are designed so that attendees can transfer to a college or university offering a 4-year program upon completing their Associate’s. Completion of a 4-year program is the generally accepted standard for entry-level positions when looking for a job.

Earnings after college

Factors such as gender, degree achieved, and the level of postsecondary education can have an impact on employment and earnings later in life. Some Bachelor’s degrees continue to attract more male students than female, particularly in STEM fields, while liberal arts degrees such as education, languages and literatures, and communication tend to see higher female attendance.

All of these factors have an impact on earnings after college, and despite nearly the same rate of attendance within the American population between males and females, men with a Bachelor’s Degree continue to have higher weekly earnings on average than their female counterparts.

In 2023 the mean earnings of Bachelor's degree holders in the United States amounted to 86,970 U.S. dollars. People with higher education degrees tended to earn more than those without. For example, high school graduates, including those with a GED, had mean earnings of 46,720 U.S. dollars.

In 2023, the mean income of women with a doctorate degree in the United States stood at 139,100 U.S. dollars. For men with the same degree, mean earnings stood at 175,500 U.S. dollars. On average in 2023, American men earned 91,590 U.S. dollars, while American women earned 65,987 U.S. dollars.