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, 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 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 2021 in the United States, 44.7 percent of doctorate recipients fell within the age bracket of 26 to 30 years old. A further 30.9 percent of doctorate recipients were between the ages of 31 and 35 years old.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Apparel, Men and Boys by Education: Master's, Professional, Doctorate (CXUMENBOYSLB1309M) from 1996 to 2012 about doctoral degree, professional, males, apparel, tertiary schooling, expenditures, education, and USA.

United States - Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 20 to 24 years, Men was 100.00% in April of 2022, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 20 to 24 years, Men reached a record high of 100.00 in December of 2001 and a record low of 0.50 in January of 2022. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 20 to 24 years, Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

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.

United States - Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 16 years and over, Men was 1.50% in April of 2025, according to the United States Federal Reserve. Historically, United States - Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 16 years and over, Men reached a record high of 5.20 in June of 2020 and a record low of 0.20 in September of 2000. Trading Economics provides the current actual value, an historical data chart and related indicators for United States - Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 16 years and over, Men - last updated from the United States Federal Reserve on June of 2025.

Graph and download economic data for Civilian Labor Force - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 35 to 44 years, Men (CGDDLM3544) from Jan 2000 to Apr 2025 about 35 to 44 years, doctoral degree, males, tertiary schooling, civilian, education, labor force, labor, household survey, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Apparel, Men, 16 and over by Highest Education: College Graduate: Master's, Professional, Doctoral Degree (CXUMENSLB1409M) from 2012 to 2023 about doctoral degree, professional, males, apparel, tertiary schooling, expenditures, education, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 55 to 64 years, Men (CGDDUM5564) from Jan 2000 to Apr 2025 about doctoral degree, 55 to 64 years, males, tertiary schooling, education, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Rate - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 20 to 24 years, Men (CGDD2024M) from Apr 2000 to Apr 2022 about doctoral degree, 20 to 24 years, males, tertiary schooling, education, unemployment, rate, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Unemployment Level - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 16 years and over, Men (CGDDUM16O) from Jan 2000 to Apr 2025 about doctoral degree, males, tertiary schooling, 16 years +, education, household survey, unemployment, and USA.

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 Civilian Labor Force - College Graduates - Doctoral Degree, 25 years and over, Men (CGDDLM25O) from Jan 2000 to May 2025 about doctoral degree, males, 25 years +, tertiary schooling, civilian, education, labor force, labor, household survey, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Expenditures: Apparel, Men, 16 and over by Education: Master's, Professional, Doctorate (CXUMENSLB1309M) from 1996 to 2012 about doctoral degree, professional, males, apparel, tertiary schooling, expenditures, education, and USA.

Graph and download economic data for Consumer Unit Characteristics: Number of People in CU by Highest Education: College Graduate: Master's, Professional, Doctoral Degree (CXU980010LB1409M) from 2012 to 2023 about doctoral degree, consumer unit, professional, tertiary schooling, education, persons, and USA.

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 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.

As of 2022, there were approximately 4.86 million people in the United States who had completed their doctorate degree. Furthermore, there were 74.53 million people in the U.S. whose highest educational attainment was a high school degree.