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.
Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender
(in 1,000s)
Year
Male
Female
2031-32*
88.11
141.5
2030-31*
86.71
138.01
2029-30*
85.36
134.55
2028-29*
83.91
131.18
2027-28*
82.42
128.02
2026-27*
81.68
125.62
2025-26*
82.18
123
2024-25*
83.36
119.7
2023-24*
86.24
119.94
2022-23*
85.29
116.97
2021-22*
85.23
112.25
2020-21
85.37
108.69
2019-20
85.22
104.91
0102030405060708090100110120130140150160
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* Projected.
Includes Ph.D., Ed.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level. Includes most degrees formerly classified as first-professional, such as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees.
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NCES. (December 31, 2022). Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender (in 1,000s) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved May 07, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/185167/number-of-doctoral-degrees-by-gender-since-1950/
NCES. "Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender (in 1,000s)." Chart. December 31, 2022. Statista. Accessed May 07, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/185167/number-of-doctoral-degrees-by-gender-since-1950/
NCES. (2022). Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender (in 1,000s). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: May 07, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/185167/number-of-doctoral-degrees-by-gender-since-1950/
NCES. "Number of Doctoral Degrees Earned in The United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by Gender (in 1,000s)." Statista, Statista Inc., 31 Dec 2022, https://www.statista.com/statistics/185167/number-of-doctoral-degrees-by-gender-since-1950/
NCES, Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender (in 1,000s) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/185167/number-of-doctoral-degrees-by-gender-since-1950/ (last visited May 07, 2025)
Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States from 1949/50 to 2031/32, by gender (in 1,000s) [Graph], NCES, December 31, 2022. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/185167/number-of-doctoral-degrees-by-gender-since-1950/
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