Graduate Enrollment and Degrees:

1998 to 2008
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008

Nathan E. Bell
Director, Research and Policy Analysis
Council of Graduate Schools

The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is jointly sponsored by:

Council of Graduate Schools Graduate Record Examinations Board

The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is jointly sponsored by the Council of
Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Graduate Record Examinations Board (GRE). Conducted annually
since 1986, the survey is designed to provide information about applications to graduate school, gradu-
ate student enrollment, and graduate degrees and certificates conferred. A PDF version of this survey
report is available on the CGS website at www.cgsnet.org (click “CGS Research” on the main menu). Also
available on the CGS website is a companion report with data tables on first-time and total enrollment by
fine field and demographics. For more information about the survey or the survey reports, please contact:

Council of Graduate Schools Graduate Record Examinations Program

One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 230 Educational Testing Service
Washington, DC 20036-1173 Rosedale Road
Princeton, NJ 08541-6000
www.cgsnet.org
www.ets.org/gre
Nathan E. Bell
(202) 223-3791 Carol A. Hawkes
nbell@cgs.nche.edu (609) 683-2237
chawkes@ets.org

Suggested citation:

Bell, N. (2009). Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008. Washington, DC: Council of Graduate Schools.

Copyright © 2009 Council of Graduate Schools, Washington, DC

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this work covered by the copyright herein may be reproduced or used in any
form by any means—graphic, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, taping, Web distribution,
or information storage and retrieval systems—without the prior written permission of the Council of Graduate Schools,
One Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 230, Washington, DC 20036-1173.

Printed in the United States

Table of Contents

List of Figures and Tables ..........................................................................................................................................................................................ii

Acknowledgments ......................................................................................................................................................................................................vi
Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................................................................................vii
Chapter 1 Introduction, Data, and Methods.............................................................................................................................................................1
Introduction .............................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Methodology............................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Data.........................................................................................................................................................................................................................1
Report Contents ......................................................................................................................................................................................................3
Chapter 2 Graduate Applications, First-Time Enrollment, and Total Enrollment, Fall 2008, and Degrees Conferred, 2007-08 .....................5
Graduate Applications .............................................................................................................................................................................................5
First-Time Graduate Enrollment..............................................................................................................................................................................6
Total Graduate Enrollment ....................................................................................................................................................................................11
Graduate Certificates and Degrees ......................................................................................................................................................................15
Data Tables ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................19
Chapter 3 Trends in Graduate Applications, First-Time Enrollment, Total Enrollment, and Degrees Conferred, 1998 to 2008...................49
Trends in Graduate Applications ...........................................................................................................................................................................49
Trends in First-Time Graduate Enrollment............................................................................................................................................................50
Trends in Total Graduate Enrollment ....................................................................................................................................................................56
Trends in Graduate Certificates and Degrees ......................................................................................................................................................62
Data Tables ...........................................................................................................................................................................................................67

Appendix A 2008 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Survey Instrument .......................................................................96
Appendix B CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Taxonomy of Fields of Study ..............................................................97
 List of Figures and Tables

Figure 2.1 Graduate Application Acceptance Rates by Carnegie Classification and Degree Level, Fall 2008 ...........................................................5
Figure 2.2 Graduate Application Acceptance Rates by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008 .............................................................................6
Figure 2.3 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie Classification and Attendance Status, Fall 2008 ................................................................7
Figure 2.4 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, Fall 2008 ....................................................................................................7
Figure 2.5 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status, Fall 2008...................................................................................8
Figure 2.6 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008...........................................................................................8
Figure 2.7 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie Classification and Citizenship, Fall 2008 ............................................................................9
Figure 2.8 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 2008 ..............................................................................................9
Figure 2.9 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Fall 2008 .........................................................................10
Figure 2.10 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity, Fall 2008...................................................10
Figure 2.11 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity and Broad Field, Fall 2008 ........................11
Figure 2.12 Total Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie Classification and Attendance Status, Fall 2008 .....................................................................11
Figure 2.13 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, Fall 2008.........................................................................................................12
Figure 2.14 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status, Fall 2008 .......................................................................................12
Figure 2.15 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008 ...............................................................................................13
Figure 2.16 Total Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie Classification and Citizenship, Fall 2008.................................................................................14
Figure 2.17 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 2008 ...................................................................................................14
Figure 2.18 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Fall 2008................................................................................14
Figure 2.19 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident Total Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity, Fall 2008 ...........................................................15
Figure 2.20 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident Total Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity and Broad Field, Fall 2008 ................................15
Figure 2.21 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 2007-08 .............................................................................................................................16
Figure 2.22 Master’s Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 2007-08 .............................................................................................................................16
Figure 2.23 Graduate Certificates Awarded by Broad Field, 2007-08 .......................................................................................................................17
Figure 2.24 Graduate Certificates Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08 ...................................................................................................17
Figure 2.25 Master’s Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08 .........................................................................................................17
Figure 2.26 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08 .........................................................................................................18

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Table 2.1 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, and Degree Level, Fall 2008.....................19
Table 2.2 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008 ..................................................................21
Table 2.3 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008.......................22
Table 2.4 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008 ...................................................................24
Table 2.5 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Gender, Attendance Status, and Broad Field, Fall 2008 ...................................................................25
Table 2.6 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008 ..........................................................................................26
Table 2.7 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Degree Level, Gender, and Broad Field, Fall 2008 ...........................................................................27
Table 2.8 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, and Citizenship, Fall 2008 ................................................28
Table 2.9 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 2008 ..............................................................................................29
Table 2.10 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Fall 2008 .........................................................................30
Table 2.11 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only) ...........31
Table 2.12 Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008 .............................32
Table 2.13 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008 ..........................................................................34
Table 2.14 Total Graduate Enrollment by Gender, Attendance Status, and Broad Field, Fall 2008 ..........................................................................35
Table 2.15 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008.................................................................................................36
Table 2.16 Total Graduate Enrollment by Degree Level, Gender, and Broad Field, Fall 2008..................................................................................37
Table 2.17 Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, and Citizenship, Fall 2008.......................................................38
Table 2.18 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 2008.....................................................................................................39
Table 2.19 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Fall 2008 .................................................................................40
Table 2.20 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only)....................41
Table 2.21 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level, Institution Type, and Carnegie Classification, 2007-08........................42
Table 2.22 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level and Broad Field, 2007-08 .....................................................................44
Table 2.23 Graduate Certificates Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08.....................................................................................................45
Table 2.24 Master’s Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08...........................................................................................................46
Table 2.25 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08...........................................................................................................47
Figure 3.1 Trends in Graduate Applications by Carnegie Classification, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 ...............................................................................49
Figure 3.2 Percent Change in Graduate Applications by Broad Field, Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 ..................................................................................50
Figure 3.3 Trends in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie Classification, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008................................................................51
Figure 3.4 Trends in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 ....................................................51

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 Figure 3.5 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender,
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Figure 3.6 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .52
Figure 3.7 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status,
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .53
Figure 3.8 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . .54
Figure 3.9 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity,
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .55
Figure 3.10 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . .55
Figure 3.11 Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .56
Figure 3.12 Trends in Total Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie Classification, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Figure 3.13 Trends in Total Graduate Enrollment Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .57
Figure 3.14 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender,
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Figure 3.15 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .58
Figure 3.16 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status,
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .59
Figure 3.17 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . .60
Figure 3.18 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . .61
Figure 3.19 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . .61
Figure 3.20 Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .62
Figure 3.21 Trends in Graduate Degrees Awarded by Institution Type, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .63
Figure 3.22 Trends in Graduate Degrees Awarded by Gender and Degree Level, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .64
Figure 3.23 Average Annual Percentage Change in Master’s Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .65
Figure 3.24 Average Annual Percentage Change in Master’s Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . .65
Figure 3.25 Average Annual Percentage Change in Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .66
Figure 3.26 Average Annual Percentage Change in Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . .66
Table 3.1 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, and Degree Level, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . .67
Table 3.2 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Broad Field, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .68
Table 3.3 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type and Carnegie Classification, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .69

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Table 3.4 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
Table 3.5 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 72
Table 3.6 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, 1998 to 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
Table 3.7 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
Table 3.8 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, 1998 to 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
Table 3.9 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity, 1998 to 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only) . . . 76
Table 3.10 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, 1998 to 2008. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77
Table 3.11 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Degree Level, and Gender, 2007 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78
Table 3.12 Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type and Carnegie Classification, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
Table 3.13 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 81
Table 3.14 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 82
Table 3.15 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 83
Table 3.16 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 84
Table 3.17 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 85
Table 3.18 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity, 1998 to 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only) . . . . . . 86
Table 3.19 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, 1998 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87
Table 3.20 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Degree Level, and Gender, 2007 to 2008 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 88
Table 3.21 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level and Institution Type, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 89
Table 3.22 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level and Carnegie Classification, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 90
Table 3.23 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level, Institution Type, and Gender, 2006-07 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 91
Table 3.24 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level, Carnegie Classification, and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08. . . . . . . . . 92
Table 3.25 Graduate Level Certificates Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2006-07 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 93
Table 3.26 Master’s Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 94
Table 3.27 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95

v
 Acknowledgments
The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is conduct-
ed jointly by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Graduate
Record Examinations Board (GRE). The GRE is overseen by staff of the
Educational Testing Service (ETS).
Completion of this report on the 2008 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Enrollment and Degrees would not have been possible without the valu-
able contributions of many individuals. First, we would like to express our
appreciation for the efforts of ETS and the GRE program. We particular-
ly want to thank David Payne for his unwavering support and Dawn
Piacentino for her overall direction of the project at ETS.
We also want to recognize the important efforts of other ETS and CGS
staff. Thank you to Carol Hawkes of ETS for responding to questions from
vi
institutional respondents and for processing survey responses, to Janice
Goggins of CGS for management of the layout and publication process for
the final report, to Joshua Mahler for assisting with the data collection for
the survey and designing the cover, and to Robert Sowell for his advice
and his careful review of the report drafts and data. Thank you also to the
members of the CGS Advisory Task Force on Research and Information
Services who provided feedback on the redesign of the printed report.
Finally, and most importantly, a very special thank you goes to the grad-
uate deans, institutional researchers, and other staff at the 706 colleges
and universities who completed the very complex CGS/GRE Survey of
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees this year. We are extremely grateful
for the time and efforts these and other persons gave to the survey project
and report.
Executive Summary
The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is jointly
sponsored by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the
Graduate Record Examinations Board (GRE). Conducted annually
since 1986, the survey provides information about applications for
admission to graduate school, first-time and total graduate student
enrollment, and graduate degrees and certificates conferred. The 2008
survey was sent to 782 colleges and universities, and useable respon-
ses were received from 706 institutions, for a 90% response rate.
Graduate Applications
Institutions responding to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment
and Degrees received more than 1.53 million applications for admission
to graduate programs for studies beginning in fall 2008. About 45% of
all graduate applications were accepted for admission, with a higher
acceptance rate for applications to master’s degree and graduate cer-
tificate programs than doctoral programs. Business, engineering, and
social and behavioral sciences accounted for the largest numbers of
graduate applications in fall 2008.
Applications for admission to U.S. graduate schools increased 4.8%
between fall 2007 and fall 2008. The increase in graduate applications
in fall 2008 was slightly larger than that seen over the past decade.
Between fall 1998 and fall 2008, graduate applications grew at an aver-
age annual rate of 3.8%. Over the past decade, increases occurred in
graduate applications in all broad fields. The average annual increases
were greatest in physical sciences, engineering, and health sciences.
First-Time Graduate Enrollment
More than 428,000 students enrolled for the first time in graduate cer-
tificate, education specialist, master’s, or doctoral programs for the fall
term in 2008 at the institutions responding to the survey. Nearly two-
thirds of all first-time graduate students were enrolled at public institu-
tions, about one-third were at private, not-for-profit institutions, and the
remainder were at private, for-profit institutions.
The broad fields of education, business, and health sciences enrolled
the largest numbers of first-time graduate students, with about half of all
first-time students enrolled in one of these three broad fields. The major-
ity of all first-time graduate students in fall 2008 (85%) were enrolled in
programs leading to a master’s degree or a graduate certificate.
Sixty-two percent of all first-time graduate students were enrolled full-time
in fall 2008. About 59% of all first-time graduate students in fall 2008 were
women. Among first-time graduate students whose citizenship was
known, 82% were U.S. citizens and permanent residents and 18% were
temporary residents. Nearly one-quarter of all first-time graduate students
were members of U.S. citizen and permanent resident racial/ethnic
minority groups.
First-time graduate enrollment increased 4.5% between fall 2007 and
fall 2008. The one-year increase was greater at private, not-for-profit
institutions than at public institutions. First-time graduate enrollment has
increased 3.9% annually on average since fall 1998.
Much of the growth in first-time graduate enrollment over the past
decade has been the result of growth among temporary residents, but
fall 2008 marks the first time since fall 2004 that year-to-year growth
among U.S. citizens and permanent residents outpaced that of tempo-
rary residents. Over the past decade, growth in first-time graduate
enrollment among U.S. citizens and permanent residents has been
greater for racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites. Women have also
contributed to the growth in first-time enrollment, with a 4.3% average
vii
 annual increase since 1998, compared with a 3.4% average annual
increase for men.
First-time graduate enrollment increased in all broad fields between fall
2007 and fall 2008, as well as between fall 1998 and fall 2008. Between
2007 and 2008, growth was fastest in engineering, health sciences, and
business, and between 1998 and 2008, average annual increases were
greatest in engineering, health sciences, and physical sciences.
Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, first-time graduate enrollment
increased faster at the master’s degree and graduate certificate level
than at the doctoral level—4.5% vs. 4.2%.
Total Graduate Enrollment
The institutions responding to the survey enrolled nearly 1.75 million
students in graduate programs in fall 2008. Six out of ten graduate
students were enrolled at public institutions, three out of ten were at
private, not-for-profit institutions, and the remainder were at private,
for-profit institutions.
More than half of all graduate students in fall 2008 were enrolled in pro-
grams in education, business, or health sciences. About three-quarters
of all graduate students were enrolled in programs leading to a master’s
degree or a graduate certificate.
Fifty-five percent of all graduate students were enrolled full-time in fall
2008. About 59% of all graduate students in fall 2008 were women.
Among graduate students whose citizenship was known, 84% were
U.S. citizens and permanent residents and 16% were temporary resi-
dents. Nearly one-quarter of all graduate students were members of
U.S. citizen and permanent resident racial/ethnic minority groups.
Total graduate enrollment increased 3.0% between fall 2007 and fall
2008. The one-year increase was greater at private, not-for-profit insti-
tutions and private, for-profit institutions than at public institutions.
viii
Graduate enrollment has increased 3.2% annually on average since
fall 1998.
Much of the increase in total graduate enrollment has been the result of
increases in the numbers of temporary residents, women, and U.S.
racial/ethnic minorities. Temporary resident graduate enrollment has
increased 5.3% annually on average since 1998, compared with 2.6%
for U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Graduate enrollment has
increased at an average annual rate of 3.8% for women versus 2.3%
for men over the past decade. And, total enrollment has increased at a
faster rate for U.S. racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites in nearly
every broad field over the past ten years.
Total graduate enrollment increased in nearly all broad fields between
fall 2007 and fall 2008, as well as between fall 1998 and fall 2008.
Between 2007 and 2008, growth was fastest in business, health sci-
ences, and biological and agricultural sciences, and between 1998 and
2008, average annual increases were greatest in health sciences, busi-
ness, and engineering.
Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, total graduate enrollment increased
faster at the master’s degree and graduate certificate level than at the
doctoral level—2.9% vs. 2.2%.
Graduate Certificates and Degrees
The institutions responding to the survey awarded approximately
56,000 doctoral degrees, 488,000 master’s degrees, and 17,000 grad-
uate certificates in 2007-08. Public institutions awarded the majority of
the degrees at the doctoral degree, master’s degree, and graduate
certificate levels.
At the doctoral level, about 45% of all degrees awarded were in engi-
neering, physical sciences, or social and behavioral sciences. At the
master’s degree level, education and business were the largest broad
fields, accounting for 52% of all master’s degrees awarded in 2007-08.
Women earned about two-thirds of the graduate certificates awarded in
2007-08, 60% of the master’s degrees, and 49% of the doctorates.

Doctoral degree production increased 4.6% between 2006-07 and

2007-08, with stronger growth among women than men—5.7% vs.
3.5%. Over the past decade, the average annual rate of increase for
women also surpassed that of men—3.9% vs. 1.4%. Between 1997-98
and 2007-08, doctoral degree production increased in all broad fields
except arts and humanities. The average annual increases were great-
est in health sciences and engineering.

Master’s degree production increased by 2.9% between 2006-07 and

2007-08, also with stronger growth among women than men—3.3% vs.
2.5%. Over the past ten years, the average annual rate of increase for
women was 4.8% versus 3.0% for men. Between 1997-98 and 2007-
08, master’s degree production increased in all broad fields, with the
largest average annual increase in business and the smallest in public
administration and services.

ix
Chapter 1
Introduction, Data, and Methods
Introduction
The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is jointly spon-
sored by the Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) and the Graduate Record
Examinations Board (GRE). Conducted annually since 1986, the survey is
designed to provide information about applications for admission to gradu-
ate school, graduate student enrollment, and graduate degrees and certifi-
cates conferred. Both CGS and GRE believe that graduate education is a
vital part of U.S. higher education and that providing an annual examina-
tion of trends in graduate enrollment and degrees, by field, level, and
demographics, is essential for understanding the graduate education
enterprise.
Methodology
The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is sent elec-
tronically each fall to the U.S.-based institutions that as of November each
year are members of the Council of Graduate Schools or one of the four
regional graduate school associations—the Conference of Southern
Graduate Schools (CSGS), the Midwestern Association of Graduate
Schools (MAGS), the Northeastern Association of Graduate Schools
(NAGS), and the Western Association of Graduate Schools (WAGS).1
This year’s survey was sent to 782 colleges and universities. Useable
responses were received from 706 institutions, for a 90% response rate.
The response rate among CGS members was even higher, at 94%. While
the total number of responding institutions represents about 38% of the
approximately 1,860 colleges and universities in the United States that
1 While CGS also has member institutions in Canada and overseas affiliate members, the
survey population for the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees is limited
to graduate institutions in the United States. Data on graduate enrollment and degrees in
Canadian institutions are published by the Canadian Association for Graduate Studies and
are available online at www.cags.ca.
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
offer graduate programs at the certificate level or above, the responding
institutions enroll about 76% of the national total of approximately 2.29 mil-
lion graduate students and confer about 81% of the 605,000 master’s
degrees and 92% of the 60,600 doctorates awarded by U.S. colleges and
universities.2 Because the respondents represent such a large percentage
of enrollment and degrees at the graduate level in the United States, it is like-
ly that the trends reported here are representative of overall national figures.
Data
The CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees collects data
on four aspects of graduate education:
Applications: Includes the number of completed applications for admis-
sion to U.S. graduate schools for the fall term, the number of those appli-
cations accepted for admission, and the number of applications not accept-
ed. Data are collected by fine field and level (master’s and “other” vs. doc-
toral). The applications data exclude individuals who applied as transfers
or for readmission.
First-Time Enrollment: Includes the number of students enrolled for the
first time in graduate certificate, education specialist, master’s, or doctoral
programs for the fall term. Data are collected by fine field, level (master’s
and “other” vs. doctoral), gender, race/ethnicity, citizenship, and enrollment
status (full-time/part-time).
Total Enrollment: Includes the total number of students enrolled (first-time
and continuing students) in graduate certificate, education specialist, mas-
2 Data on the total number of graduate institutions in the United States, the number of
graduate students, and the number of graduate degrees conferred are for 2007 and come
from the U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated
Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS), Institutional Characteristics, Enrollment,
and Completions components, available online at http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds. Final data from
IPEDS for 2008 were not available at the time of this publication.
1
 ter’s, or doctoral programs for the fall term. Data are collected by fine field,
level (master’s and “other” vs. doctoral), gender, race/ethnicity, citizenship,
and enrollment status (full-time/part-time).
Degrees: Includes the number of master’s and doctoral degrees and post-
baccalaureate certificates awarded in the United States in a given aca-
demic year (July 1 through June 30). Degree data are collected by fine
field, level (graduate certificate, master’s/other, and doctoral), and gender.
The survey does not collect degree data by race/ethnicity or citizenship.
For both first-time and total enrollment, master’s and “other” enrollment is
defined as the number of students enrolled in programs specifically lead-
ing to the master’s degree and other non-doctoral programs, such as grad-
uate certificate programs and education specialist programs. Graduate cer-
tificates are awards that require the completion of an organized program of
study generally equivalent to 15 to 18 credit hours beyond the bachelor’s
degree. Education specialist programs are generally equivalent to 30 to 45
credit hours beyond the master’s degree. Doctoral enrollment is defined as
the number of students enrolled in programs leading directly to the doctor-
al degree as well as the total number of students enrolled in doctoral pro-
grams where a master’s degree is earned en route to the doctoral degree.
Full-time enrollment includes students enrolled for credit in graduate
degree programs who are engaged full time in training activities in their
field; these activities may embrace any appropriate combination of study,
teaching, and research, depending on the responding institution’s own pol-
icy. Part-time enrollment includes students enrolled in graduate degree
programs who are not pursuing graduate work full time as defined above.
The survey collects total data for each institution for the categories and
variables listed above, as well as data for up to 51 individual fields of study.
This printed report groups the data from the 51 fine fields of study into ten
broad fields. A special online report presents the fine field data for first-time
and total enrollment.3 For more information on the fine fields included in
3 The report, First-Time and Total Graduate Enrollment by Fine Field: 1998 to 2008, is
available online at www.cgsnet.org (click “CGS Research” on the main menu).
2
each broad field, see the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and
Degrees Taxonomy of Fields of Study in Appendix B.
The survey excludes students applying to, enrolled in, or graduating from
first-professional programs. These programs are Chiropractic (D.C. or
D.C.M.), Dentistry (D.D.S. or D.M.D.), Law (L.L.B., J.D.), Medicine (M.D.),
Optometry (O.D.), Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.), Pharmacy (Pharm.D.),
Podiatry (D.P.M., D.P., or Pod.D.), Theology (M.Div., M.H.L., B.D., or
Ordination), and Veterinary Medicine (D.V.M.). Data on all other graduate
level programs are collected, including programs in professional fields
such as business.
The racial/ethnic data included in this report are collected from institution-
al records that are based on graduate students’ self-reports. Accordingly,
the number of students in any given racial/ethnic category is subject to indi-
vidual interpretation on the part of students as they complete registration
forms. The citizenship and race/ethnicity categories are defined as follows:
Temporary Resident—A person who is not a citizen, national, or perma-
nent resident of the United States and who is in the country on a visa or
temporary basis and does not have the right to remain indefinitely.
American Indian/Alaskan Native—A U.S. citizen or permanent resident
having origins in any of the original peoples of North America, and who
maintains cultural identification through tribal affiliation or community
recognition.
Asian/Pacific Islander—A U.S. citizen or permanent resident having ori-
gins in any of the original peoples of the Far East, Southeast Asia, the
Indian subcontinent, or the Pacific Islands, including for example, China,
India, Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, Samoa, and Vietnam.
Black/African American—A U.S. citizen or permanent resident having
origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa (except those of Hispanic
origin).
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Hispanic/Latino—A U.S. citizen or permanent resident having origins in
any of the original peoples of Puerto Rico, Mexico, Cuba, Central America,
South America, or other Spanish culture, regardless of race.
White—A U.S. citizen or permanent resident having origins in any of the
original peoples of Europe, North Africa, or the Middle East (except those
of Hispanic origin).
Other/Unknown—Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents of two
or more races and individuals whose citizenship is not known.
In some sections of this report, data are presented by Carnegie classifica-
tion, based on the 2005 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher
Education, using the “basic” classification.4 The 33 “basic” classification
categories are aggregated to five categories in this report as follows:
Research Universities (very high research activity)—universities with
very high research activity that award at least 20 doctorates per year.
Research Universities (high research activity)—universities with high
research activity that award at least 20 doctorates per year.
Doctoral/Research Universities—other universities that award at least
20 doctorates per year.
Master’s Colleges and Universities—institutions that award at least 50
master's degrees and fewer than 20 doctorates per year.
Other—includes baccalaureate institutions awarding fewer than 50 mas-
ter’s degrees or 20 doctorates per year, as well as institutions awarding
graduate degrees where a high concentration of degrees is in a single field
or set of related fields (e.g. theological seminaries, medical schools, health
profession schools, school of engineering, etc.)
4 For more information on the 2005 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher
Education, see www.carnegiefoundation.org/classifications/index.asp.
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
In some cases, survey respondents were unable to provide data for one or
more categories or variables. Thus, not all tables and figures in this report
include data from all 706 institutions that responded to the 2008 CGS/GRE
Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees.
A copy of the 2008 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
survey instrument is provided in Appendix A.
Report Contents
The tables and analysis that follow are divided into two chapters. Both
Chapter 2 and Chapter 3 begin with interpretative text and figures, and con-
clude with data tables providing more detail on the information included in
each chapter.
Chapter 2 presents data and analysis on the numbers of applications for
admission to U.S. graduate schools for fall 2008 and application acceptance
rates by broad field and degree level. It also highlights first-time and total
enrollment in fall 2008, with data presented by broad field, degree level,
institution type, Carnegie classification, attendance status, gender,
race/ethnicity, and citizenship. The last part of Chapter 2 examines the num-
bers of graduate degrees and certificates conferred in the 2007-08 aca-
demic year (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008). Degree data are present-
ed by broad field, level, and gender.
Chapter 3 presents data and analysis on trends in graduate applications, first-
time enrollment, total enrollment, and degrees conferred over the past one,
five, and ten years. For this report, the one-year trends are based on data col-
lected for 2007 and 2008; the five-year trends compare data collected for
2003 and 2008; and the ten-year trends are based on data collected for 1998
and 2008. The trend data from these three time periods are designed to pro-
vide a more detailed comparison of the recent and longer-term trends in grad-
uate education. Since the institutions responding to the survey differ slightly
from year to year, the trend data are limited to institutions that responded to
3
 the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees in both of the
years being compared. The one-year trends include data from 665 colleges
and universities that responded to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Enrollment and Degrees in both 2007 and 2008, the five-year trends include
data from 568 institutions that responded to the survey in both 2003 and
2008, and the ten-year trends include data from 535 institutions that respond-
ed in both 1998 and 2008. Restricting the analyses to the same institutions in
both years being examined ensures that the trends being presented are
accurate and not a reflection of differing survey respondents.
In addition to the information included in this publication, a new companion
data report is available in PDF format on the CGS website, www.cgsnet.org
4
(click “CGS Research” on the main menu). This report includes data tables
on first-time and total enrollment by fine field and demographics. These
one-, five-, and ten-year trend data at the fine field level have not previous-
ly been published by CGS.
This annual printed report and the new online report are part of CGS’ con-
tinuing efforts to provide information that is useful to graduate deans, other
campus administrators, policy makers, and the media. Comments or sug-
gestions for improving the report—or for additional types of publications
based on these data—are welcome.
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Chapter 2
Graduate Applications, First-Time Enrollment, and Total Enrollment, Fall 2008, and Degrees Conferred, 2007-08

This chapter presents data and analysis on the numbers of applications for
admission to U.S. graduate schools for fall 2008 and application acceptance
rates by broad field and degree level. It also highlights first-time and total
enrollment in fall 2008, with data presented by broad field, degree level, insti-
tution type, Carnegie classification, attendance status, gender, race/ethnicity,
and citizenship. Additionally, the numbers of graduate degrees and certifi-
cates conferred in the 2007-08 academic year (July 1, 2007 through June 30,
2008) are presented by broad field, level, and gender. The chapter concludes
with the data tables referenced in the text.
Graduate Applications
rates than master’s-focused institutions.5 Among survey respondents classi-
fied as research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH), the
application acceptance rate was 31.8%, compared with 52.8% at research
universities with high research activity (RU/H), 62.8% at doctoral/research
universities, and 69.9% at master’s colleges and universities. This correlation
is seen at both the doctoral and master’s/graduate certificate levels with
lower acceptance rates at doctoral institutions than at master’s-focused insti-
tutions (Figure 2.1).
Figure 2.1 Graduate Application Acceptance Rates by
Carnegie Classification and Degree Level, Fall 2008

Other 58%
Institutions responding to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and 34%
Degrees received more than 1.53 million applications for admission to grad- 71%
Master's Colleges and Universities
50%
uate programs for studies beginning in fall 2008 (Table 2.1). Of those appli- Doctoral/Research Universities
66%
45%
cations, about 688,000 (44.8%) were accepted. The overall application
Research Univ. (high research) 58%
acceptance rate for master’s and other graduate programs was higher than 35%
41%
that for doctoral programs (54.5% vs. 25.2%). Research Univ. (very high research)
22%
55%
Total
25%
Among the survey respondents, public institutions received the majority
0% 20% 40% 60% 80%
(63.8%) of the graduate applications in fall 2008, with more than 979,000
Doctoral Master's/Other
received. Private, not-for-profit institutions received more than 544,000 grad-
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
uate applications, and private, for-profit institutions received over 10,500
graduate applications.
Business, engineering, and social and behavioral sciences accounted for the
The overall application acceptance rate at public institutions (45.2%) was largest numbers of graduate applications in fall 2008 (Table 2.2). Nearly forty-
slightly higher than that at private, not-for-profit institutions (43.3%). While the two percent of all graduate applications in fall 2008 were for programs in one
acceptance rate at private, for-profit institutions was considerably higher of these three broad fields.6
(92.9%), this percentage is based on a small number of institutions and might
simply reflect the nature of these specific institutions rather than all for-profit
institutions and should therefore be interpreted cautiously. 5 Carnegie classifications are based on the 2005 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of
Higher Education, using the “basic” classification. See page 3 for more information.

Application acceptance rates typically correlate with an institution’s Carnegie 6 For more information on the fine fields included in each broad field, see the CGS/GRE
classification, with doctoral research institutions having lower acceptance Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Taxonomy of Fields of Study in Appendix B.

5
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 At the doctoral level, social and behavioral sciences, physical sciences services, but were lowest in arts and humanities and biological and agricul-
(including mathematics and computer science), and engineering were the tural sciences. The lowest acceptance rate overall was in business at the
three largest broad fields, representing 56.3% of all doctoral applications. At doctoral level (16.9%) and the highest was in education at the master’s/other
the opposite end of the spectrum, public administration and services, ‘other’ level (74.9%).
fields, and business received the smallest numbers of applications, and
together accounted for just 7.4% of all doctoral applications. For more detailed information about graduate applications, see Tables 2.1
and 2.2.
At the master’s degree, graduate certificate, and education specialist level,
business, education, and engineering were the three most popular broad First-Time Graduate Enrollment
fields, accounting for 47.6% of all master’s/other applications in fall 2008.
Biological and agricultural sciences, public administration and services, and More than 428,000 students enrolled for the first time in graduate certificate,
social and behavioral sciences received the smallest numbers of applica- education specialist, master’s, or doctoral programs for the fall term in 2008
tions, comprising 16.8% of all master’s/other applications. at the institutions responding to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Enrollment and Degrees (Table 2.3). First-time enrollees represented 24.5%
Application acceptance rates varied considerably by degree level and broad of all graduate students in fall 2008.
field of study (Figure 2.2). At the doctoral level, acceptance rates were high-
est in education and public administration and services and lowest in busi- Nearly two-thirds (62.9%) of all first-time graduate students were enrolled at
ness and social and behavioral sciences. At the master’s/other level, accept- public institutions in fall 2008, and about one-third (34.9%) were at private,
ance rates were also highest in education and public administration and not-for-profit institutions. Only 2.2% of first-time graduate students were at
private, for-profit institutions, but this figure is based on a small number of for-
profit institutions that responded to the survey, and should therefore be inter-
Figure 2.2 Graduate Application Acceptance Rates by Broad
preted cautiously.
Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008

80%
By Carnegie classification, 35.0% of all first-time graduate students were
enrolled at research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH),
Doctoral
60% Master's/Other
20.9% were at research universities with high research activity (RU/H),
12.5% were at doctoral/research universities, 28.5% were at master’s col-
leges and universities, and 3.1% were at institutions with other basic
75%

40%
67%

Carnegie classifications.
57%
58%
48%
49%
49%

45%

47%
45%
39%

20%
34%
32%

30%
28%

28%

Sixty-two percent of all first-time graduate students were enrolled full-time in

22%

19%
20%

17%

fall 2008, and 38.0% were enrolled part-time. Research universities with very
0%
high research activity had the highest percentage of full-time students
& Svcs.

Behavioral Sci.
Physical
Arts &

Social &
Biological &
Agric. Sci.

Public Admin.
Humanities

Business

Engineering

Health
Education

Sciences

Sciences

Other Fields

(80.9%), and master’s colleges and universities had the lowest percentage
(44.0%) as shown in Figure 2.3.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Research universities with very high research activity also had the highest
proportion of male first-time graduate students (49.7%), compared with
6
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 (76.5%), and education (75.3%). Fifty percent of all female first-time
Figure 2.3 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie enrollees in fall 2008 were in one of these three broad fields. Women com-
Classification and Attendance Status, Fall 2008
prised the smallest shares of first-time enrollment in engineering (22.4%),
Other 67% 33% physical sciences (33.7%), and business (42.2%), and just 19.7% of all
female first-time enrollees were in one of these three broad fields.
Master's Colleges and Universities 44% 56%

Doctoral/Research Universities 49% 51% Men comprised the majority of first-time students in just three broad fields in
Research Univ. (high research) 62% 38% fall 2008—engineering (77.6%), physical sciences (66.3%), and business
(57.8%). These three broad fields accounted for 51.0% of all male first-time
Research Univ. (very high research) 81% 19%
enrollees.
Total 62% 38%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% While 62.0% of all first-time graduate students were enrolled full-time in fall
Full-Time Part-Time 2008, there was considerable variation by broad field (Figure 2.5). Biological
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees and agricultural sciences had the highest share of full-time enrollees
(84.2%), followed by physical sciences (77.9%), engineering (77.7%), and
arts and humanities (77.0%). In contrast, just 41.6% of all first-time graduate
44.3% in research universities with high research activity, 32.5% in doctor- students in education were enrolled full-time. This was the only broad field in
al/research universities, 33.9% in master’s colleges and universities, and which the majority of first-time students were part-time.
32.6% in institutions with other basic Carnegie classifications. Overall,
41.4% of all first-time graduate students in fall 2008 were men and 58.6% Among first-time enrollees in fall 2008, men were more likely to be enrolled
were women. full-time than women—67.3% of men vs. 58.3% of women (Table 2.5).

Collectively, 30.2% of all female first-time graduate students attended

Figure 2.4 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
research universities with very high research activity, compared with 42.2%
Gender, Fall 2008
of male first-time graduate students. Conversely, 32.1% of all female first-
time graduate students attended master’s colleges and universities, com- Other Fields 38% 62%
Social & Behavioral Sci. 36% 64%
pared with 23.3% of male first-time enrollees.
Public Admin. & Svcs. 24% 77%
Physical Sciences 66% 34%
The broad fields of education, business, and health sciences enrolled the Health Sciences 21% 79%
largest numbers of first-time graduate students in fall 2008 (Table 2.4). Engineering 78% 22%
Education 25% 75%
Overall, 23.0% of all first-time enrollees were in education, 16.8% were in
Business 58% 42%
business, and 9.9% were in health sciences. At the opposite end of the spec- Biological & Agric. Sci. 45% 55%
trum, just 4.5% of all first-time graduate students were in biological and agri- Arts and Humanities 42% 58%
cultural sciences, 5.5% were in public administration and services, and 7.2% Total 41% 59%

were in physical sciences. 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Men Women
As shown in Figure 2.4, women comprised the largest shares of first-time Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
enrollees in health sciences (79.3%), public administration and services
7
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 with the lowest percentages of students enrolled at the master’s/other level
Figure 2.5 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
were biological and agricultural sciences (58.3%), physical sciences
Attendance Status, Fall 2008
(63.9%), and social and behavioral sciences (72.2%).
Other Fields 60% 40%
Social & Behavioral Sci. 75% 25%
Among first-time students in programs leading to a master’s degree or a grad-
Public Admin. & Svcs. 65% 35%
Physical Sciences 78% 22%
uate certificate, students in the two largest broad fields (education and busi-
Health Sciences 65% 35% ness) collectively accounted for 44.1% of all first-time master’s degree or
Engineering 78% 22% graduate certificate students. In contrast, first-time students in doctoral pro-
Education 42% 58% grams in education and business accounted for just 16.6% of all doctoral stu-
Business 61% 39%
dents in fall 2008. At the doctoral level, the two largest fields were physical
Biological & Agric. Sci. 84% 16%
Arts and Humanities 77% 23% sciences and social and behavioral sciences, and collectively students in
Total 62% 38% these two broad fields accounted for 32.1% of all first-time doctoral students.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Full-Time Part-Time As noted above, 58.6% of all first-time graduate students in fall 2008 were
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
women, but women comprised a larger share of first-time enrollees at the
master’s degree and graduate certificate level (59.8%) than at the doctoral
level (50.7%). Despite the variation in their representation by level, women
Engineering and public administration and services were the only two broad still comprised the majority of first-time graduate students at both levels. Men
fields in which women were more likely to be enrolled full-time than men. In comprised 40.2% of all master’s/other first-time students in fall 2008 and
engineering, 79.6% of female first-time enrollees were attending full-time, 49.3% of all first-time doctoral enrollees (Table 2.7).
compared with 77.3% of male first-time enrollees, and in public administra-
tion and services 65.5% of female first-time enrollees were attending full-
time, compared with 62.3% of male first-time enrollees. In two broad fields Figure 2.6 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
(health sciences and ‘other’ fields) men were considerably more likely than Degree Level, Fall 2008
their female counterparts to be attending full-time. In health sciences, 72.9%
Other Fields 7% 93%
of male first-time enrollees versus 63.3% of female first-time enrollees were Social & Behavioral Sci. 28% 72%
attending full-time, and in ‘other’ fields, 64.6% of male first-time enrollees Public Admin. & Svcs. 4% 96%
versus 56.4% of female first-time enrollees were attending full-time. Physical Sciences 36% 64%
Health Sciences 17% 83%
Engineering 24% 76%
The majority of all first-time graduate students in fall 2008 (84.8%) were
Education 9% 91%
enrolled in programs leading to a master’s degree or a graduate certificate
Business 3% 97%
(Table 2.6). Just 15.2% of all first-time students were enrolled in doctoral Biological & Agric. Sci. 42% 58%
programs. Arts and Humanities 23% 77%
Total 15% 85%

In business, nearly all first-time students were enrolled at the master’s/other 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
level (97.2%). As shown in Figure 2.6, high percentages of students were Doctoral Master's/Other
also enrolled at the master’s/other level in public administration and servic- Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
es (96.2%), ‘other’ fields (92.6%), and education (90.6%). The broad fields
8
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
At the master’s degree and graduate certificate level, women accounted for
Figure 2.7 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie
the largest share of first-time graduate students in health sciences (80.8%),
Classification and Citizenship, Fall 2008
followed by public administration and services (77.1%), and education
(75.8%). They comprised the smallest share of students in engineering Other 89% 11%
(21.6%), physical sciences (34.3%), and business (42.0%). At the doctoral
Master's Colleges and Universities 91% 9%
level, women were most highly represented in health sciences (71.6%),
education (69.9%), and public administration and services (61.5%), and Doctoral/Research Universities 91% 9%

least represented in engineering (24.8%), physical sciences (32.6%), and Research Univ. (high research) 80% 20%
business (44.8%).
Research Univ. (very high research) 73% 27%

Total 82% 18%

Among first-time graduate enrollees in fall 2008 whose citizenship was
known, 82.0% were U.S. citizens or permanent residents and 18.0% were 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
temporary residents (Table 2.8). The citizenship distributions at public insti- U.S. Citizens & Perm. Res. Temporary Residents

tutions and private, not-for-profit institutions were similar to the overall distri- Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

bution. At public institutions 17.5% of the first-time enrollees were temporary

residents, and at private, not-for-profit institutions 19.8% were temporary Temporary residents comprised the largest share of first-time graduate stu-
residents. Private, for-profit institutions had a smaller share of temporary res- dents in engineering in fall 2008 (52.7%), followed by physical sciences
ident first-time enrollees (3.5%), but as noted above, this figure is based on (46.4%), and biological and agricultural sciences (24.7%) (Table 2.9 and
a small number of for-profit institutions that responded to the survey, and Figure 2.8). They accounted for the smallest shares of students in education
should therefore be interpreted cautiously. (3.7%), public administration and services (5.1%), and health sciences
(7.4%).
The citizenship distribution of first-time enrollees varied considerably by
Carnegie classification, with temporary residents more highly represented in Figure 2.8 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
research universities than at other types of institutions (Figure 2.7). At Citizenship, Fall 2008
research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH) 27.0% of all
Other Fields 87% 13%
first-time enrollees were temporary residents, and at research universities Social & Behavioral Sci. 85% 15%
with high research activity (RU/H) 20.2% were temporary residents. In con- Public Admin. & Svcs. 95% 5%
trast, just 9.5% of the first-time graduate students at doctoral/research uni- Physical Sciences 54% 46%
versities and 9.2% of those at master’s colleges and universities were tem- Health Sciences 93% 7%
Engineering 47% 53%
porary residents.
Education 96% 4%
Business 77% 23%
Overall, 53.6% of all temporary resident first-time graduate students were Biological & Agric. Sci. 75% 25%
enrolled at research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH), Arts and Humanities 86% 14%
while only 31.8% of all U.S. citizen and permanent resident first-time Total 82% 18%

enrollees were at these institutions. In contrast, 30.7% of all U.S. citizen and 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
permanent resident first-time enrollees but only 14.2% of all temporary resi- U.S. Citizens & Perm. Res. Temporary Residents

dents were at master’s colleges and universities. Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

9
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Overall, temporary residents were more highly represented in natural sci- Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 28.3% of all first-time
ence and engineering fields than in other fields. In fall 2008, 50.6% of all tem- enrollees were racial/ethnic minorities (Table 2.11). As seen in Figure 2.10,
porary resident first-time graduate students were in engineering, physical sci- 0.7% of U.S. citizen and permanent resident first-time enrollees were
ences, or biological and agricultural sciences, while just 14.3% of U.S. citi- American Indian/Alaskan Native, 7.0% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 11.6%
zens and permanent resident first-time enrollees were in these fields. In con- were Black/African American, and 9.1% were Hispanic/Latino. White stu-
trast, 27.0% of all U.S. citizen and permanent resident first-time graduate stu- dents accounted for seven out of ten (71.7%) U.S. citizen and permanent
dents were enrolled in education, the largest broad field, compared with just resident first-time enrollees in fall 2008.
4.6% of temporary residents.
Figure 2.10 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident First-Time
Among first-time graduate students in fall 2008 whose citizenship and Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity, Fall 2008
race/ethnicity was known, nearly one-quarter (23.2%) were members of U.S.
American Asian/Pacific
citizen and permanent resident racial/ethnic minority groups (Table 2.10). Indian/Alaskan Islander, 7.0%
American Indians/Alaskan Natives comprised 0.6% of all first-time enrollees, Native, 0.7%
Black/African
Asians/Pacific Islanders 5.7%, Blacks/African Americans 9.5%, and American, 11.6%

Hispanics/Latinos 7.4%.
Hispanic/Latino,
9.1%
As seen in Figure 2.9, women comprised a larger share of underrepresent-
ed minority populations (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black/African
American, and Hispanic/Latino) than other citizenship and race/ethnicity cat- White, 71.7%

egories. For example, 70.7% of Black/African American first-time enrollees

were women, compared with just 41.0% of temporary residents.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

Figure 2.9 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship,

Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Fall 2008 Underrepresented minority first-time graduate students were less likely than
their Asian/Pacific Islander and White peers to be enrolled in the natural sci-
Other/Unknown 42% 58%
ences and engineering in fall 2008. Among American Indian/Alaskan Native
Temporary Residents 59% 41% first-time enrollees, 12.0% were enrolled in biological and agricultural sci-
White 39% 61% ences, engineering, or physical sciences, along with 8.7% of Black/African
Hispanic/Latino 35% 65% American, and 11.1% of Hispanic/Latino first-time graduate students. In com-
Black/African American 29% 71%
parison, 14.4% of Whites and 26.2% of Asians/Pacific Islanders were
enrolled in one of these three broad fields (Figure 2.11).
Asian/Pacific Islander 45% 55%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 35% 65%

Asian/Pacific Islander first-time enrollees were less likely to be in education
Total 41% 59%
fields than other U.S. citizens and permanent resident racial/ethnic groups.
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% While 25.6% of American Indian/Alaskan Native, 30.2% of Black/African
Men Women American, 31.2% of Hispanic/Latino, and 27.4% of White first-time enrollees
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees were in education, just 12.9% of Asians/Pacific Islanders were. In contrast,

10
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 at research universities with high research activity (RU/H), 11.9% were at
Figure 2.11 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident First-Time
doctoral/research universities, 33.4% were at master’s colleges and univer-
Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity and Broad Field, Fall 2008
sities, and 4.1% were at institutions with other basic Carnegie classifications.
White 14% 9% 12% 15% 27% 23%
Hispanic/Latino 11% 12% 8% 15% 31% 23% More than half (54.8%) of all graduate students were enrolled full-time in fall
Black/African American 9% 11% 11% 17% 30% 22% 2008, and 45.2% were enrolled part-time. Research universities with very
Asian/Pacific Islander 26% 8% 13% 24% 13% 16% high research activity had the highest percentage of full-time students
American Indian/Alaskan Native 12% 12% 10% 11% 26% 29% (72.6%), and master’s colleges and universities had the lowest percentage
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% (43.3%) as shown in Figure 2.12.
Natural Sciences & Engineering
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Research universities with very high research activity also had the highest
Health Sciences
Business
proportion of male graduate students (50.0%), compared with 44.2% in
Education research universities with high research activity, 33.1% in doctoral/research
All Other Fields universities, 33.5% in master’s colleges and universities, and 35.2% in insti-
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees tutions with other basic Carnegie classifications. Overall, 41.1% of all gradu-
ate students in fall 2008 were men and 58.9% were women.
Asian/Pacific Islander first-time enrollees were more likely to be enrolled in
business than other U.S. citizen and permanent resident racial/ethnic groups. Collectively, 28.0% of all female graduate students attended research uni-
versities with very high research activity, compared with 40.2% of male grad-
For more detailed information about first-time graduate enrollment, see uate students. Conversely, 35.4% of all female graduate students attended
Tables 2.3 through 2.11. master’s colleges and universities, compared with 25.6% of male enrollees.

Total Graduate Enrollment

The institutions responding to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment Figure 2.12 Total Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie
Classification and Attendance Status, Fall 2008
and Degrees enrolled a total of nearly 1.75 million students in graduate cer-
tificate, education specialist, master’s, or doctoral programs in fall 2008 (Table Other 53% 47%
2.12). Six out of ten (60.7%) graduate students were enrolled at public insti-
Master's Colleges and Universities 43% 57%
tutions in fall 2008, and three out of ten (30.8%) were at private, not-for-profit
institutions. The remainder (8.5%) were at private, for-profit institutions.7 Doctoral/Research Universities 46% 54%

Research Univ. (high research) 51% 49%

By Carnegie classification, 31.5% of all graduate students were enrolled at
Research Univ. (very high research) 73% 27%
research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH), 19.2% were
Total 55% 45%

7 As mentioned previously in this chapter, the response rate among for-profit institutions 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
was not as high as among public institutions and private, not-for-profit institutions. While Full-Time Part-Time
more for-profit institutions supplied data on total enrollment than on first-time enrollment and
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
applications, the figures for for-profit institutions in this section are likely not representative
of the entire universe of for-profit institutions in the United States.

11
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 The broad fields of education, business, and health sciences enrolled the
largest numbers of graduate students in fall 2008 (Table 2.13). Overall, 24.8%
of all graduate students were in education, 17.6% were in business, and 9.3%
were in health sciences. At the opposite end of the spectrum, just 4.2% of all
graduate students were in public administration and services, 5.1% were in
biological and agricultural sciences, and 7.0% were in ‘other’ fields.
As shown in Figure 2.13, women comprised the largest shares of enrollees
in health sciences (79.9%), education (75.2%), and public administration and
services (74.5%). Half (49.7%) of all female enrollees in fall 2008 were in one
of these three broad fields. Women comprised the smallest shares of total
graduate enrollment in engineering (22.0%), physical sciences (33.1%), and
business (45.7%), and just 20.9% of all female enrollees were in one of these
three broad fields.
Men comprised the majority of graduate students in just three broad fields
in fall 2008—engineering (78.0%), physical sciences (66.9%), and business
(54.3%). These three broad fields accounted for half (50.4%) of all male
enrollees.
While 54.8% of all graduate students were enrolled full-time in fall 2008,
attendance status varied by broad field (Figure 2.14). Biological and agricul-
tural sciences had the highest share of full-time enrollees (78.8%), followed
by physical sciences (70.9%), and engineering (68.5). In contrast, just 39.4%
of all graduate students in education were enrolled full-time.
Among all graduate students in fall 2008, men were more likely to be enrolled
full-time than women—59.5% of men vs. 52.9% of women (Table 2.14). By
broad field, men and women had similar rates of full-time attendance in all
but three broad fields. In public administration and services women were
more likely to be enrolled full-time than men—60.7% of women were attend-
ing full-time, compared with 53.1% of men. In both health sciences and ‘oth-
er’ fields, men were more likely to be enrolled full-time than women—67.0%
of men and 59.8% of women in health sciences, and 55.0% of men and
45.8% of women in ‘other’ fields.
About three-quarters (75.6%) of graduate students in fall 2008 were
enrolled in programs leading to a master’s degree or a graduate certificate.
One-quarter (24.4%) were enrolled in doctoral programs (Table 2.15).

Figure 2.13 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Figure 2.14 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
Gender, Fall 2008 Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Other Fields 38% 62% Other Fields 49% 51%

Social & Behavioral Sci. 36% 64% Social & Behavioral Sci. 68% 32%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 25% 75% Public Admin. & Svcs. 59% 41%
Physical Sciences 67% 33% Physical Sciences 71% 29%
Health Sciences 20% 80% Health Sciences 61% 39%
Engineering 78% 22% Engineering 69% 31%
Education 25% 75% Education 39% 61%
Business 54% 46% Business 56% 44%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 46% 54% Biological & Agric. Sci. 79% 21%

Arts and Humanities 43% 57% Arts and Humanities 68% 32%

Total 41% 59% Total 55% 45%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Full-Time Part-Time
Men Women
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

12
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 At the master’s degree and graduate certificate level, women accounted for
Figure 2.15 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
the largest share of graduate students in health sciences (82.4%), followed
Degree Level, Fall 2008
by education (76.4%), and public administration and services (75.7%). They
Other Fields 15% 85% comprised the smallest share of graduate students in engineering (21.5%),
Social & Behavioral Sci. 42% 58%
physical sciences (35.0%), and business (45.7%). At the doctoral level,
Public Admin. & Svcs. 8% 92%
women were most highly represented in health sciences (70.6%), education
Physical Sciences 50% 50%
Health Sciences 21% 79%
(69.7%), and public administration and services (61.8%), and least repre-
Engineering 40% 60% sented in engineering (22.8%), physical sciences (31.2%), and business
Education 17% 83% (44.7%).
Business 5% 95%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 61% 39%
Among graduate students in fall 2008 whose citizenship was known, 83.9%
Arts and Humanities 41% 59%
Total 24% 76%
were U.S. citizens or permanent residents and 16.1% were temporary resi-
dents (Table 2.17). The citizenship distributions at public institutions and pri-
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
vate, not-for-profit institutions were similar to the overall distribution. At pub-
Doctoral Master's/Other
lic institutions 16.8% of the graduate students were temporary residents, and
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
at private, not-for-profit institutions 17.3% were temporary residents. Private,
for-profit institutions had a smaller share of temporary resident graduate stu-
In business, nearly all graduate students were enrolled at the master’s/other dents (5.9%), but as previously noted, this figure is based on a small num-
level (94.7%). As shown in Figure 2.15, high percentages of students were ber of for-profit institutions that responded to the survey, and should there-
also enrolled at the master’s/other level in public administration and services fore be interpreted cautiously.
(91.5%), ‘other’ fields (85.1%), and education (83.0%). The broad fields with
the lowest percentages of students enrolled at the master’s/other level were The citizenship distribution of graduate students varied considerably by
biological and agricultural sciences (39.3%), physical sciences (49.7%), and Carnegie classification, with temporary residents more highly represented in
social and behavioral sciences (58.1%). research universities than at other types of institutions (Figure 2.16). At
research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH), 26.0% of all
Among graduate students in programs leading to a master’s degree or a graduate students were temporary residents, and at research universities with
graduate certificate, students in the two largest broad fields (education and high research activity (RU/H), 18.2% were temporary residents. In contrast,
business) collectively accounted for 49.9% of all master’s degree or gradu- just 9.0% of graduate students at doctoral/research universities and 7.7% of
ate certificate students. At the doctoral level, the two largest fields were edu- those at master’s colleges and universities were temporary residents.
cation and social and behavioral sciences, and collectively students in these
two broad fields accounted for 31.7% of all doctoral students. Overall, 54.3% of all temporary resident graduate students were enrolled at
research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH), while only
As noted above, 58.9% of all graduate students in fall 2008 were women, but 29.7% of all U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate students were at
women comprised a larger share of total enrollees at the master’s degree and these institutions. In contrast, 33.5% of all U.S. citizen and permanent resi-
graduate certificate level (61.4%) than at the doctoral level (51.1%). Despite dent graduate students but only 14.6% of all temporary residents were at
the variation in their representation, women still comprised the majority of master’s colleges and universities.
graduate students at both levels. Men comprised 38.6% of all master’s/other
students in fall 2008 and 48.9% of all doctoral enrollees (Table 2.16).
13
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Overall, temporary residents were more highly represented in natural sci-
Figure 2.16 Total Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie
ence and engineering fields than in other fields. In fall 2008, 53.3% of all tem-
Classification and Citizenship, Fall 2008
porary resident graduate students were in engineering, physical sciences, or
Other 92% 8% biological and agricultural sciences, while just 14.9% of U.S. citizens and
permanent resident graduate students were in these fields. In contrast,
Master's Colleges and Universities 92% 8%
28.8% of all U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate students were
Doctoral/Research Universities 91% 9% enrolled in education, the largest broad field, compared with just 5.2% of
Research Univ. (high research) 82% 18% temporary residents.
Research Univ. (very high research) 74% 26%
Among graduate students in fall 2008 whose citizenship and race/ethnicity
Total 84% 16%
was known, nearly one-quarter (24.0%) were members of U.S. citizen and
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% permanent resident racial/ethnic minority groups (Table 2.19). American
U.S. Citizens & Perm. Res. Temporary Residents Indians/Alaskan Natives comprised 0.6% of all graduate students,
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Asians/Pacific Islanders 5.3%, Blacks/African Americans 11.2%, and
Hispanics/Latinos 6.8%.

Temporary residents comprised the largest share of graduate students in
engineering in fall 2008 (50.4%), followed by physical sciences (42.5%), and
biological and agricultural sciences (26.2%) (Table 2.18 and Figure 2.17).
They accounted for the smallest shares of students in education (3.5%), pub-
lic administration and services (5.0%), and health sciences (7.6%).
As seen in Figure 2.18, women comprised a larger share of underrepresent-
ed minority populations (American Indian/Alaskan Native, Black/African
American, and Hispanic/Latino) than other citizenship and race/ethnicity cat-
egories. For example, 72.6% of Black/African American graduate students
were women, compared with just 40.6% of temporary residents.

Figure 2.17 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Figure 2.18 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship,
Citizenship, Fall 2008 Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Fall 2008

Other Fields 89% 11% Other/Unknown 41% 59%

Social & Behavioral Sci. 86% 14%
Temporary Residents 59% 41%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 95% 5%
Physical Sciences 57% 43% White 39% 61%
Health Sciences 92% 8%
Hispanic/Latino 36% 64%
Engineering 50% 50%
Black/African American 27% 73%
Education 97% 3%
Business 83% 17% Asian/Pacific Islander 45% 55%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 74% 26%
American Indian/Alaskan Native 35% 65%
Arts and Humanities 86% 14%
Total 84% 16% Total 41% 59%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
U.S. Citizens & Perm. Res. Temporary Residents Men Women

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

14
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Black/African American, and 8.1% were Hispanic/Latino. White students
Figure 2.19 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident Total
accounted for seven out of ten (71.3%) U.S. citizen and permanent resident
Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity, Fall 2008
enrollees in fall 2008.
American Asian/Pacific
Indian/Alaskan Islander, 6.4%
Native, 0.8% Underrepresented minority graduate students were less likely than their
Black/African Asian/Pacific Islander and White peers to be enrolled in the natural sciences
American, 13.4%
and engineering in fall 2008. Among American Indian/Alaskan Native gradu-
ate students, 11.3% were enrolled in biological and agricultural sciences,
Hispanic/Latino,
8.1% engineering, or physical sciences, along with 7.5% of Black/African
American, and 11.9% of Hispanic/Latino graduate students. In comparison,
White, 71.3%
15.5% of Whites and 27.5% of Asian/Pacific Islanders were enrolled in one
of these three broad fields (Figure 2.20).

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, 28.7% of all graduate stu-
dents were racial/ethnic minorities (Table 2.20). As seen in Figure 2.19, 0.8%
of U.S. citizen and permanent resident graduate students were American
Indian/Alaskan Native, 6.4% were Asian/Pacific Islander, 13.4% were
Asian/Pacific Islander graduate students were less likely to be in education
fields than other U.S. citizens and permanent resident racial/ethnic groups.
While 28.8% of American Indian/Alaskan Native, 32.8% of Black/African
American, 31.3% of Hispanic/Latino, and 29.1% of White graduate students
were in these fields, just 13.4% of Asians/Pacific Islanders were.
Asian/Pacific Islander and Black/African American graduate students were
more likely to be enrolled in business than other U.S. citizen and permanent
resident racial/ethnic groups.

For more detailed information about total graduate enrollment, see Tables
Figure 2.20 U.S. Citizen and Permanent Resident Total
Graduate Enrollment by Race/Ethnicity and Broad Field, Fall 2.12 through 2.20.
2008

White 15% 9% 11% 15% 29% 20%

Graduate Certificates and Degrees
Hispanic/Latino 12% 12% 7% 18% 31% 21%
Black/African American 7% 10% 9% 24% 33% 16%
The institutions responding to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment
Asian/Pacific Islander 27% 8% 12% 25% 13% 14%
and Degrees awarded a total of more than 561,000 graduate certificates and
American Indian/Alaskan Native 11% 13% 10% 14% 29% 23% degrees in academic year 2007-08 (July 1, 2007 through June 30, 2008),
including 55,962 doctoral degrees, 488,133 master’s degrees, and 17,369
0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
graduate certificates (Table 2.21).
Natural Sciences & Engineering
Social & Behavioral Sciences
Health Sciences At the doctoral level, public institutions awarded more than two-thirds (67.4%)
Business
of all degrees awarded in 2007-08; private, not-for-profit institutions awarded
Education
All Other Fields three out of every ten (30.5%); and private, for-profit institutions awarded the
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees remaining 2.1% of all doctoral degrees.8 At the master’s level, 58.0% of all
degrees were awarded by public institutions, 33.7% by private, not-for-profit
15
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 institutions, and 8.3% by private, for-profit institutions. At the graduate certifi-
Figure 2.21 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 2007-08
cate level, 51.9% were awarded by public institutions, 47.8% by private, not-
for-profit institutions, and 0.3% by private, for-profit institutions. Social & Arts &
Behavioral Humanities, 9.6%
Other Fields,
Sciences, 14.3% 4.0% Biological &
By Carnegie classification, nearly two-thirds (63.3%) of all doctoral degrees Agricultural
Sciences, 13.6%
were awarded by research universities with very high research activity
Public Admin. &
(RU/VH), 20.0% by research universities with high research activity (RU/H), Services, 1.0%
8.2% by doctoral/research universities, 4.0% by master’s colleges and uni-
Business, 3.1%
versities, and 4.5% by institutions with other basic Carnegie classifications.
Physical
Sciences, 15.0%
At the master’s degree level, the largest percentage of degrees were award- Education,
ed by master’s colleges and universities (37.9%), followed by research uni- Health Sciences, 14.1%
10.2% Engineering,
versities with very high research activity (29.0%), research universities with 15.2%
high research activity (18.7%), doctoral/research universities (11.3%), and Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

institutions with other basic Carnegie classifications (3.2%).

Master’s colleges and universities also awarded more graduate certificates
than institutions with other Carnegie classifications, awarding 37.6% of all
graduate certificates conferred in 2007-08. Research universities with very
high research activity (RU/VH) and research universities with high research
activity (RU/H) each awarded 22.9% of all graduate certificates conferred,
doctoral/research universities awarded 9.4%, and institutions with other
basic Carnegie classifications awarded 7.2%.
At the master’s degree level, education and business were the largest broad
fields, accounting for 28.6% and 23.4%, respectively, of the master’s
degrees awarded (Table 2.22 and Figure 2.22). The smallest broad field at
the master’s level was biological and agricultural sciences, accounting for
just 2.6% of all master’s degrees awarded in 2007-08. The natural sciences
and engineering (biological and agricultural sciences, engineering, and phys-

At the doctoral level, engineering accounted for the largest number of Figure 2.22 Master's Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 2007-08
Social &
degrees in 2007-08, with 15.2% of the total, followed by physical sciences Behavioral Arts &
Other Fields,
Humanities, 5.5%
(15.0%), and social and behavioral sciences (14.3%) (Table 2.22 and Figure Sciences, 7.5% 6.6% Biological &
2.21). Only 1.0% of the doctoral degrees awarded in 2007-08 were in public Agricultural
Sciences, 2.6%
Public Admin. &
administration and services and only 3.1% were in business (3.1%). Natural Services, 5.4%
sciences and engineering (biological and agricultural sciences, engineering,
and physical sciences) accounted for 43.9% of all doctoral degrees. Business, 23.4%
Physical
Sciences, 5.5%

Health Sciences,
7.9%
8 As mentioned previously in this chapter, the response rate among for-profit institutions
Engineering,
was not as high as among public institutions and private, not-for-profit institutions. While Education,
7.0%
more for-profit institutions supplied data on graduate certificates and degrees and total 28.6%
enrollment than on first-time enrollment and applications, the degree data for for-profit insti-
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
tutions in this section are likely not representative of the entire universe of for-profit institu-
tions in the United States.

16
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Figure 2.23 Graduate Certificates Awarded by Broad Field, Figure 2.24 Graduate Certificates Awarded by Broad Field and
2007-08 Gender, 2007-08

Arts & Biological & Other Fields 39% 61%

Other Fields,
Social & Humanities, 4.1% Agricultural
7.8% Social & Behavioral Sci. 29% 71%
Behavioral Sciences, 1.8%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 27% 73%
Sciences, 16.7%
Physical Sciences 65% 35%
Business, 9.2%
Health Sciences 29% 71%
Public Admin. & Engineering 73% 27%
Services, 3.1% Education 26% 74%
Business 53% 47%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 45% 55%
Physical Education, Arts and Humanities 35% 65%
Sciences, 4.1% 38.2% Total 35% 65%
Health Sciences, 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
Engineering,
9.9%
5.1% Men Women
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

ical sciences) accounted for 15.2% of all master’s degrees, about one-third
the size of the share of these broad fields at the doctoral level.
Education was also the largest broad field for graduate certificates, with
38.2% of the total, followed by social and behavioral sciences (16.7%) (Table
2.22 and Figure 2.23).
53.9% of all master’s degrees earned by women. Men earned the majority of
the master’s degrees in engineering (76.6%), physical sciences (65.7%), and
business (56.0%). These three broad fields accounted for 55.4% of all mas-
ter’s degrees earned by men. Men earned two-thirds (66.8%) of all master’s

Women earned about two-thirds (65.4%) of the graduate certificates awar- Figure 2.25 Master's Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and
ded in 2007-08, 60.3% of the master’s degrees, and 49.1% of the doctorates Gender, 2007-08
(Tables 2.23, 2.24, and 2.25).
Other Fields 37% 63%
Social & Behavioral Sci. 34% 66%
At the graduate certificate level, women earned the majority of the certifi- Public Admin. & Svcs. 23% 77%
Physical Sciences 66% 34%
cates awarded in all broad fields except engineering, physical sciences, and
Health Sciences 19% 81%
business (Figure 2.24). Women earned the highest percentages of the cer- Engineering 77% 23%
tificates awarded in education (74.2%), public administration and services Education 24% 76%
Business 56% 44%
(72.8%), and social and behavioral sciences (71.5%).
Biological & Agric. Sci. 42% 58%
Arts and Humanities 40% 60%
At the master’s level, women also earned the majority of the degrees award- Total 40% 60%

ed in all broad fields except engineering, physical sciences, and business 0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%
(Figure 2.25). Women earned the highest percentages of the degrees award- Men Women
ed in health sciences (80.8%), public administration and services (76.8%), Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
and education (76.5%). Collectively, these three broad fields represented
17
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Figure 2.26 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and
Gender, 2007-08

Other Fields 55% 45%

Social & Behavioral Sci. 39% 61%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 39% 61%
Physical Sciences 71% 29%
Health Sciences 30% 70%
Engineering 78% 22%
Education 32% 68%
Business 61% 39%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 51% 49%
Arts and Humanities 46% 54%
Total 51% 49%

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100%

Men Women

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

degrees awarded in the natural sciences and engineering (biological and

agricultural sciences, engineering, and physical sciences) in 2007-08.

At the doctoral level, women earned the majority of the degrees awarded in
five of the ten broad fields (Figure 2.26). Women earned the highest per-
centages of the degrees awarded in health sciences (69.8%), education
(67.7%), and public administration and services (61.3%). Collectively, these
three broad fields represented 35.5% of all doctoral degrees earned by
women. Men earned the highest percentages of the doctoral degrees in
engineering (77.6%), physical sciences (70.6%), and business (60.6%).
These three broad fields accounted for 47.3% of all doctoral degrees earned
by men. Men earned two-thirds (67.0%) of all doctoral degrees awarded in
the natural sciences and engineering in 2007-08.

For more detailed information about graduate degrees and certificates, see
Tables 2.21 through 2.25.

18
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.1 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Institution Type,
Carnegie Classification, and Degree Level, Fall 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other * Total

Carnegie Classification and Accepted Accepted Accepted

Total Total Total
Institution Type ** Applications Applications Applications

Total 510,064 128,364 25.2% 995,846 542,656 54.5% 1,534,021 687,956 44.8%

Public 321,689 89,401 27.8% 641,405 343,451 53.5% 979,041 442,541 45.2%

Private, not-for-profit 186,172 37,118 19.9% 346,086 191,238 55.3% 544,422 235,603 43.3%

Private, for-profit 2,203 1,845 83.7% 8,355 7,967 95.4% 10,558 9,812 92.9%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 399,204 86,941 21.8% 432,896 177,913 41.1% 832,100 264,854 31.8%

Public 254,573 64,592 25.4% 304,984 131,993 43.3% 559,557 196,585 35.1%

Private, not-for-profit 144,631 22,349 15.5% 127,912 45,920 35.9% 272,543 68,269 25.0%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/H) 71,114 24,902 35.0% 220,814 128,338 58.1% 298,284 157,348 52.8%

Public 47,613 17,793 37.4% 148,510 84,542 56.9% 202,479 106,443 52.6%

Private, not-for-profit 23,501 7,109 30.2% 72,304 43,796 60.6% 95,805 50,905 53.1%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Continued on the following page.

See notes at end of table.

19
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.1 (continued) Applications for Admission to Graduate School by
Institution Type, Carnegie Classification, and Degree Level, Fall 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other * Total

Carnegie Classification and Accepted Accepted Accepted

Total Total Total
Institution Type ** Applications Applications Applications

Doctoral/Research Universities 13,448 6,026 44.8% 82,827 54,964 66.4% 109,364 68,661 62.8%
Public 4,824 2,282 47.3% 34,121 24,408 71.5% 41,149 28,132 68.4%
Private, not-for-profit 8,624 3,744 43.4% 48,706 30,556 62.7% 68,215 40,529 59.4%
Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Master's Colleges and Universities 9,689 4,839 49.9% 236,051 167,867 71.1% 253,167 176,921 69.9%
Public 5,496 2,697 49.1% 145,949 98,580 67.5% 158,619 105,239 66.3%
Private, not-for-profit 3,999 1,948 48.7% 83,879 63,231 75.4% 88,131 65,432 74.2%
Private, for-profit S S S S S S

Other 16,609 5,656 34.1% 23,258 13,574 58.4% 41,106 20,172 49.1%
Public 9,183 2,037 22.2% 7,841 3,928 50.1% 17,237 6,142 35.6%
Private, not-for-profit 5,417 1,968 36.3% 13,285 7,735 58.2% 19,728 10,468 53.1%
Private, for-profit S S S S S S

* Includes applications to graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

** See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. N/A = Not applicable. S = Suppressed due to small
number of institutional respondents in this category.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

20
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.2 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Broad Field
and Degree Level, Fall 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other * Total

Accepted Accepted Accepted

Broad Field Total Total Total
Applications Applications Applications

Total 510,064 128,364 25.2% 995,846 542,656 54.5% 1,534,021 687,956 44.8%

Arts and Humanities 62,094 12,222 19.7% 83,389 32,262 38.7% 146,858 45,506 31.0%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 62,714 13,707 21.9% 33,151 14,930 45.0% 96,609 28,916 29.9%

Business 17,416 2,952 16.9% 185,059 91,373 49.4% 203,125 94,857 46.7%

Education 22,114 10,015 45.3% 122,903 92,025 74.9% 146,207 102,866 70.4%

Engineering 80,096 22,042 27.5% 111,672 52,433 47.0% 192,699 75,069 39.0%

Health Sciences 28,635 9,207 32.2% 86,015 41,940 48.8% 115,138 51,396 44.6%

Physical Sciences 89,377 24,598 27.5% 71,170 34,405 48.3% 161,271 59,413 36.8%

Public Administration and Services 3,505 1,189 33.9% 43,767 29,438 67.3% 47,583 30,905 64.9%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 103,711 19,725 19.0% 70,721 41,109 58.1% 174,893 60,959 34.9%

Other Fields 15,142 4,580 30.2% 73,185 41,789 57.1% 89,504 47,501 53.1%

* Includes applications to graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

21
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.3 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie
Classification, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Carnegie Classification and

Total Men Women Full-Time Part-Time
Institution Type *

Total 428,162 176,609 41.4% 250,191 58.6% 262,127 62.0% 160,688 38.0%

Public 269,282 112,466 41.9% 155,879 58.1% 168,358 63.1% 98,601 36.9%

Private, not-for-profit 149,332 62,036 41.7% 86,871 58.3% 87,606 59.9% 58,702 40.1%

Private, for-profit 9,548 2,107 22.1% 7,441 77.9% 6,163 64.5% 3,385 35.5%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 149,901 74,442 49.7% 75,459 50.3% 120,548 80.9% 28,376 19.1%

Public 107,762 51,814 48.1% 55,948 51.9% 85,329 79.2% 22,433 20.8%

Private, not-for-profit 42,139 22,628 53.7% 19,511 46.3% 35,219 85.6% 5,943 14.4%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/H) 89,500 39,364 44.3% 49,566 55.7% 54,094 61.8% 33,405 38.2%

Public 64,746 27,840 43.4% 36,336 56.6% 39,187 60.9% 25,180 39.1%

Private, not-for-profit 24,754 11,524 46.6% 13,230 53.4% 14,907 64.4% 8,225 35.6%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Continued on the following page.

See notes at end of table.

22
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.3 (continued) First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type,
Carnegie Classification, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Carnegie Classification and

Total Men Women Full-Time Part-Time
Institution Type *

Doctoral/Research Universities 53,682 17,460 32.5% 36,222 67.5% 26,143 48.7% 27,539 51.3%

Public 19,009 6,401 33.7% 12,608 66.3% 9,369 49.3% 9,640 50.7%

Private, not-for-profit 28,277 9,712 34.3% 18,565 65.7% 12,782 45.2% 15,495 54.8%

Private, for-profit S S S S S

Master's Colleges and Universities 121,844 41,173 33.9% 80,304 66.1% 52,770 44.0% 67,130 56.0%

Public 73,428 24,931 34.1% 48,130 65.9% 31,399 43.9% 40,085 56.1%

Private, not-for-profit 48,416 16,242 33.5% 32,174 66.5% 21,371 44.1% 27,045 55.9%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Other 13,235 4,170 32.6% 8,640 67.4% 8,572 66.9% 4,238 33.1%

Public 4,337 1,480 34.1% 2,857 65.9% 3,074 70.9% 1,263 29.1%

Private, not-for-profit 5,746 1,930 36.3% 3,391 63.7% 3,327 62.5% 1,994 37.5%

Private, for-profit S S S S S

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender or
attendance status. N/A = Not applicable. S = Suppressed due to small number of institutional respondents in this category.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

23
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.4 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Gender, and
Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Broad Field Total Men Women Full-Time Part-Time

Total 428,162 176,609 41.4% 250,191 58.6% 262,127 62.0% 160,688 38.0%

Arts and Humanities 27,102 11,370 42.1% 15,654 57.9% 20,696 77.0% 6,180 23.0%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 16,773 7,488 44.9% 9,185 55.1% 13,994 84.2% 2,627 15.8%

Business 62,951 36,384 57.8% 26,510 42.2% 38,659 61.4% 24,275 38.6%

Education 86,014 21,197 24.7% 64,524 75.3% 35,641 41.6% 50,111 58.4%

Engineering 32,609 25,238 77.6% 7,274 22.4% 25,175 77.7% 7,217 22.3%

Health Sciences 36,965 7,629 20.7% 29,303 79.3% 24,085 65.3% 12,802 34.7%

Physical Sciences 26,940 17,839 66.3% 9,060 33.7% 20,821 77.9% 5,918 22.1%

Public Administration and Services 20,588 4,835 23.5% 15,720 76.5% 13,304 64.8% 7,237 35.2%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 33,545 12,140 36.3% 21,341 63.7% 25,043 75.1% 8,318 24.9%

Other Fields 31,184 11,815 38.0% 19,311 62.0% 18,565 59.6% 12,609 40.4%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender or
attendance status. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

24
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.5 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Gender, Attendance Status,
and Broad Field, Fall 2008

Men Women

Broad Field Full-Time Part-Time Full-Time Part-Time

Total 117,468 67.3% 57,122 32.7% 144,089 58.3% 103,199 41.7%

Arts and Humanities 8,924 79.3% 2,327 20.7% 11,692 75.3% 3,830 24.7%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 6,316 85.0% 1,112 15.0% 7,596 83.7% 1,483 16.3%

Business 23,077 63.5% 13,241 36.5% 15,476 58.5% 10,995 41.5%

Education 9,062 42.8% 12,087 57.2% 26,446 41.1% 37,864 58.9%

Engineering 19,392 77.3% 5,696 22.7% 5,736 79.6% 1,471 20.4%

Health Sciences 5,549 72.9% 2,068 27.1% 18,472 63.3% 10,727 36.7%

Physical Sciences 13,929 78.8% 3,743 21.2% 6,823 76.1% 2,145 23.9%

Public Administration and Services 3,008 62.3% 1,818 37.7% 10,272 65.5% 5,410 34.5%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 9,241 76.9% 2,778 23.1% 15,710 74.0% 5,507 26.0%

Other Fields 7,629 64.6% 4,185 35.4% 10,880 56.4% 8,422 43.6%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known attendance
status. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

25
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.6 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level,
Fall 2008

Broad Field Total Doctoral Master's/Other *

Total 428,162 64,376 15.2% 360,004 84.8%

Arts and Humanities 27,102 6,364 23.4% 20,886 76.6%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 16,773 7,039 41.7% 9,847 58.3%

Business 62,951 1,797 2.8% 61,411 97.2%

Education 86,014 8,069 9.4% 77,981 90.6%

Engineering 32,609 7,952 24.2% 24,868 75.8%

Health Sciences 36,965 6,145 16.7% 30,759 83.3%

Physical Sciences 26,940 9,775 36.1% 17,297 63.9%

Public Administration and Services 20,588 775 3.8% 19,818 96.2%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 33,545 9,312 27.8% 24,229 72.2%

Other Fields 31,184 2,316 7.4% 29,053 92.6%

* Includes first-time enrollment in graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known degree
levels. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

26
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.7 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Degree Level, Gender, and
Broad Field, Fall 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other *

Broad Field Men Women Men Women

Total 31,663 49.3% 32,512 50.7% 144,008 40.2% 214,393 59.8%

Arts and Humanities 3,047 47.9% 3,316 52.1% 8,392 40.4% 12,394 59.6%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 3,294 47.2% 3,688 52.8% 4,211 43.3% 5,517 56.7%

Business 992 55.2% 805 44.8% 35,569 58.0% 25,795 42.0%

Education 2,423 30.1% 5,617 69.9% 18,770 24.2% 58,845 75.8%

Engineering 5,966 75.2% 1,971 24.8% 19,387 78.4% 5,334 21.6%

Health Sciences 1,744 28.4% 4,401 71.6% 5,894 19.2% 24,841 80.8%

Physical Sciences 6,559 67.4% 3,179 32.6% 11,334 65.7% 5,906 34.3%

Public Administration and Services 298 38.5% 477 61.5% 4,529 22.9% 15,209 77.1%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 3,752 40.4% 5,543 59.6% 8,385 34.7% 15,787 65.3%

Other Fields 1,108 47.8% 1,208 52.2% 10,791 37.2% 18,187 62.8%

* Includes first-time enrollment in graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender.
See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

27
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.8 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie
Classification, and Citizenship, Fall 2008

Institution Type and Carnegie U.S. Citizens and

Total Temporary Residents
Classification Permanent Residents

Total 428,162 316,585 82.0% 69,339 18.0%

Institution Type

Public 269,282 205,296 82.5% 43,673 17.5%

Private, not-for-profit 149,332 103,010 80.2% 25,367 19.8%

Private, for-profit 9,548 8,279 96.5% 299 3.5%

Carnegie Classification *

Research Universities (RU/VH) 149,901 100,647 73.0% 37,168 27.0%

Research Universities (RU/H) 89,500 65,025 79.8% 16,476 20.2%

Doctoral/Research Universities 53,682 43,931 90.5% 4,599 9.5%

Master's Colleges and Universities 121,844 97,051 90.8% 9,876 9.2%

Other 13,235 9,931 89.1% 1,220 10.9%

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
citizenship.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

28
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.9 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship,
Fall 2008

U.S. Citizens and

Broad Field Total Temporary Residents
Permanent Residents

Total 428,162 316,585 82.0% 69,339 18.0%

Arts and Humanities 27,102 20,795 86.5% 3,258 13.5%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 16,773 11,732 75.3% 3,858 24.7%

Business 62,951 43,868 76.9% 13,170 23.1%

Education 86,014 75,069 96.3% 2,874 3.7%

Engineering 32,609 14,557 47.3% 16,193 52.7%

Health Sciences 36,965 31,288 92.6% 2,512 7.4%

Physical Sciences 26,940 13,445 53.6% 11,619 46.4%

Public Administration and Services 20,588 17,426 94.9% 937 5.1%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 33,545 25,510 85.2% 4,417 14.8%

Other Fields 31,184 24,318 86.7% 3,720 13.3%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
citizenship. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

29
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.10 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity,
and Gender, Fall 2008

Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity Total Men Women

Total 428,162 176,609 41.4% 250,191 58.6%

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents 316,585 119,056 37.6% 197,175 62.4%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 2,309 808 35.0% 1,500 65.0%

Asian/Pacific Islander 22,004 9,804 44.6% 12,184 55.4%

Black/African American 36,585 10,711 29.3% 25,870 70.7%

Hispanic/Latino 28,693 9,982 34.8% 18,701 65.2%

White 226,994 87,751 38.7% 138,920 61.3%

Temporary Residents 69,339 40,917 59.0% 28,397 41.0%

Other/Unknown 39,482 16,410 41.6% 23,072 58.4%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
gender within each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. See page 2 for a description of each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. See
Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

30
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.11 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity,
Fall 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only)

American Indian/ Asian/Pacific Black/African

Broad Field Hispanic/Latino White
Alaskan Native Islander American

Total 2,309 0.7% 22,004 7.0% 36,585 11.6% 28,693 9.1% 226,994 71.7%

Arts & Humanities 146 0.7% 996 4.8% 1,135 5.5% 2,080 10.0% 16,438 79.0%

Biological & Agricultural Sciences 95 0.8% 1,196 10.2% 714 6.1% 709 6.0% 9,018 76.9%

Business 221 0.5% 4,729 10.8% 5,225 11.9% 3,810 8.7% 29,883 68.1%

Education 510 0.7% 2,501 3.3% 9,194 12.2% 7,698 10.3% 55,166 73.5%

Engineering 66 0.5% 2,385 16.4% 910 6.3% 1,045 7.2% 10,151 69.7%

Health Sciences 207 0.7% 2,582 8.3% 3,219 10.3% 1,850 5.9% 23,430 74.9%

Physical Sciences 78 0.6% 1,512 11.2% 1,010 7.5% 993 7.4% 9,852 73.3%

Public Administration & Services 215 1.2% 786 4.5% 3,297 18.9% 1,864 10.7% 11,264 64.6%

Social & Behavioral Sciences 233 0.9% 1,522 6.0% 3,320 13.0% 2,841 11.1% 17,594 69.0%

Other Fields 221 0.9% 1,243 5.1% 2,386 9.8% 1,770 7.3% 18,698 76.9%

Notes: This table only includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents. See Table 2.9 for first-time enrollment by broad field for temporary
residents. Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
race/ethnicity. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

31
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.12 Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie
Classification, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Carnegie Classification and

Total Men Women Full-Time Part-Time
Institution Type *

Total 1,749,216 679,229 41.1% 974,230 58.9% 943,822 54.8% 779,922 45.2%

Public 1,062,028 424,748 42.0% 585,468 58.0% 553,943 52.7% 496,255 47.3%

Private, not-for-profit 538,719 213,698 42.2% 292,741 57.8% 271,037 51.6% 254,040 48.4%

Private, for-profit 148,469 40,783 29.8% 96,021 70.2% 118,842 80.0% 29,627 20.0%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 550,771 272,824 50.0% 272,617 50.0% 397,304 72.6% 150,243 27.4%

Public 404,660 196,867 48.6% 207,793 51.4% 282,489 69.8% 122,171 30.2%

Private, not-for-profit 146,111 75,957 54.0% 64,824 46.0% 114,815 80.4% 28,072 19.6%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/H) 335,320 144,643 44.2% 182,282 55.8% 166,771 50.7% 162,055 49.3%

Public 254,731 106,873 43.4% 139,463 56.6% 128,600 50.7% 124,824 49.3%

Private, not-for-profit 80,589 37,770 46.9% 42,819 53.1% 38,171 50.6% 37,231 49.4%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A N/A N/A

Continued on the following page.

See notes at end of table.

32
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.12 (continued) Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type,
Carnegie Classification, Gender, and Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Carnegie Classification and

Total Men Women Full-Time Part-Time
Institution Type *

Doctoral/Research Universities 208,015 65,439 33.1% 132,533 66.9% 94,594 46.2% 110,318 53.8%

Public 71,970 21,884 33.5% 43,401 66.5% 26,050 37.8% 42,817 62.2%

Private, not-for-profit 104,182 36,731 36.4% 64,093 63.6% 43,208 41.5% 60,974 58.5%

Private, for-profit S S S S S

Master's Colleges and Universities 583,597 173,634 33.5% 345,055 66.5% 248,480 43.3% 325,297 56.7%

Public 309,906 92,895 33.6% 183,470 66.4% 103,648 34.2% 199,026 65.8%

Private, not-for-profit 186,304 56,526 33.9% 110,076 66.1% 64,757 35.2% 118,959 64.8%

Private, for-profit 87,387 S S 80,075 91.6% 7,312 8.4%

Other 71,513 22,689 35.2% 41,743 64.8% 36,673 53.4% 32,009 46.6%

Public 20,761 6,229 35.5% 11,341 64.5% 13,156 63.9% 7,417 36.1%

Private, not-for-profit 21,533 6,714 38.1% 10,929 61.9% 10,086 53.4% 8,804 46.6%

Private, for-profit 29,219 9,746 33.4% 19,473 66.6% 13,431 46.0% 15,788 54.0%

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender or
attendance status. N/A = Not applicable. S = Suppressed due to small number of institutional respondents in this category.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

33
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.13 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Gender, and
Attendance Status, Fall 2008

Broad Field Total Men Women Full-Time Part-Time

Total 1,749,216 679,229 41.1% 974,230 58.9% 943,822 54.8% 779,922 45.2%

Arts and Humanities 105,368 44,596 42.7% 59,895 57.3% 70,288 67.7% 33,593 32.3%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 74,063 33,724 45.8% 39,884 54.2% 57,700 78.8% 15,559 21.2%

Business 255,215 137,886 54.3% 115,878 45.7% 141,934 55.9% 112,111 44.1%

Education 359,167 88,538 24.8% 268,927 75.2% 140,998 39.4% 216,771 60.6%

Engineering 116,522 90,439 78.0% 25,581 22.0% 79,370 68.5% 36,432 31.5%

Health Sciences 134,686 27,079 20.1% 107,357 79.9% 82,046 61.3% 51,817 38.7%

Physical Sciences 108,264 72,173 66.9% 35,700 33.1% 76,138 70.9% 31,303 29.1%

Public Administration and Services 60,639 15,366 25.5% 44,934 74.5% 35,422 58.7% 24,924 41.3%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 134,056 47,610 35.6% 86,229 64.4% 90,784 68.1% 42,620 31.9%

Other Fields 100,945 38,360 38.1% 62,452 61.9% 49,784 49.3% 51,132 50.7%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender or
attendance status. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

34
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.14 Total Graduate Enrollment by Gender, Attendance Status,
and Broad Field, Fall 2008

Men Women

Broad Field Full-Time Part-Time Full-Time Part-Time

Total 399,056 59.5% 272,175 40.5% 508,733 52.9% 453,651 47.1%

Arts and Humanities 31,031 70.2% 13,150 29.8% 39,066 65.8% 20,336 34.2%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 26,519 79.4% 6,867 20.6% 30,916 78.5% 8,485 21.5%

Business 76,818 55.7% 61,001 44.3% 64,910 56.0% 50,932 44.0%

Education 34,531 39.1% 53,846 60.9% 106,200 39.6% 162,175 60.4%

Engineering 61,076 67.9% 28,852 32.1% 18,015 71.0% 7,357 29.0%

Health Sciences 17,982 67.0% 8,874 33.0% 63,708 59.8% 42,909 40.2%

Physical Sciences 51,371 71.8% 20,214 28.2% 24,549 69.4% 10,838 30.6%

Public Administration and Services 8,138 53.1% 7,202 46.9% 27,216 60.7% 17,652 39.3%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 32,511 68.8% 14,775 31.2% 58,027 67.7% 27,694 32.3%

Other Fields 21,089 55.0% 17,260 45.0% 28,591 45.8% 33,843 54.2%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known attendance
status. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

35
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.15 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level, Fall 2008

Broad Field Total Doctoral Master's/Other *

Total 1,749,216 403,750 24.4% 1,247,837 75.6%

Arts and Humanities 105,368 42,345 40.5% 62,131 59.5%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 74,063 44,886 60.7% 29,089 39.3%

Business 255,215 13,512 5.3% 241,190 94.7%

Education 359,167 60,670 17.0% 296,347 83.0%

Engineering 116,522 46,931 40.3% 69,561 59.7%

Health Sciences 134,686 28,686 21.4% 105,645 78.6%

Physical Sciences 108,264 54,381 50.3% 53,800 49.7%

Public Administration and Services 60,639 5,119 8.5% 55,360 91.5%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 134,056 55,973 41.9% 77,747 58.1%

Other Fields 100,945 14,921 14.9% 85,535 85.1%

* Includes total enrollment in graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known degree
levels. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

36
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.16 Total Graduate Enrollment by Degree Level, Gender, and
Broad Field, Fall 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other *

Broad Field Men Women Men Women

Total 197,036 48.9% 205,672 51.1% 479,139 38.6% 762,691 61.4%

Arts and Humanities 19,566 46.2% 22,776 53.8% 24,898 40.3% 36,942 59.7%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 21,235 47.7% 23,288 52.3% 12,296 42.9% 16,376 57.1%

Business 7,478 55.3% 6,034 44.7% 130,381 54.3% 109,818 45.7%

Education 18,322 30.3% 42,105 69.7% 69,738 23.6% 225,407 76.4%

Engineering 36,140 77.2% 10,687 22.8% 54,309 78.5% 14,906 21.5%

Health Sciences 8,437 29.4% 20,249 70.6% 18,596 17.6% 86,865 82.4%

Physical Sciences 37,291 68.8% 16,934 31.2% 34,790 65.0% 18,705 35.0%

Public Administration and Services 1,945 38.2% 3,151 61.8% 13,359 24.3% 41,654 75.7%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 22,068 39.5% 33,816 60.5% 25,413 32.8% 52,156 67.2%

Other Fields 7,334 49.2% 7,587 50.8% 30,889 36.2% 54,517 63.8%

* Includes total enrollment in graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender.
See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

37
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.17 Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type, Carnegie
Classification, and Citizenship, Fall 2008

Institution Type and Carnegie U.S. Citizens and

Total Temporary Residents
Classification Permanent Residents

Total 1,749,216 1,252,695 83.9% 241,150 16.1%

Institution Type

Public 1,062,028 782,469 83.2% 158,112 16.8%

Private, not-for-profit 538,719 365,184 82.7% 76,427 17.3%

Private, for-profit 148,469 105,042 94.1% 6,611 5.9%

Carnegie Classification *

Research Universities (RU/VH) 550,771 372,520 74.0% 130,884 26.0%

Research Universities (RU/H) 335,320 244,263 81.8% 54,220 18.2%

Doctoral/Research Universities 208,015 162,136 91.0% 15,948 9.0%

Master's Colleges and Universities 583,597 419,895 92.3% 35,166 7.7%

Other 71,513 53,881 91.6% 4,932 8.4%

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
citizenship.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

38
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.18 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall 2008

U.S. Citizens and

Broad Field Total Temporary Residents
Permanent Residents

Total 1,749,216 1,252,695 83.9% 241,150 16.1%

Arts and Humanities 105,368 80,544 86.1% 13,025 13.9%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 74,063 50,719 73.8% 18,018 26.2%

Business 255,215 185,275 83.1% 37,733 16.9%

Education 359,167 313,141 96.5% 11,330 3.5%

Engineering 116,522 54,134 49.6% 55,016 50.4%

Health Sciences 134,686 112,893 92.4% 9,340 7.6%

Physical Sciences 108,264 57,428 57.5% 42,489 42.5%

Public Administration and Services 60,639 51,379 95.0% 2,705 5.0%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 134,056 102,636 85.9% 16,834 14.1%

Other Fields 100,945 80,659 88.9% 10,103 11.1%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
citizenship. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

39
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.19 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity,
and Gender, Fall 2008

Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity Total Men Women

Total 1,749,216 679,229 41.1% 974,230 58.9%

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents 1,252,695 467,442 37.6% 776,400 62.4%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 9,692 3,368 34.9% 6,296 65.1%

Asian/Pacific Islander 79,873 35,690 44.8% 43,921 55.2%

Black/African American 167,348 45,738 27.4% 121,113 72.6%

Hispanic/Latino 102,079 36,460 35.8% 65,381 64.2%

White 893,703 346,186 39.1% 539,689 60.9%

Temporary Residents 241,150 142,806 59.4% 97,552 40.6%

Other/Unknown 154,552 63,526 41.2% 90,606 58.8%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known gender
within each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. See page 2 for a description of each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. See
Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

40
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.20 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity,
Fall 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only)

American Indian/ Asian/Pacific Black/African

Broad Field Hispanic/Latino White
Alaskan Native Islander American

Total 9,692 0.8% 79,873 6.4% 167,348 13.4% 102,079 8.1% 893,703 71.3%

Arts & Humanities 610 0.8% 3,640 4.5% 4,430 5.5% 7,122 8.8% 64,742 80.4%

Biological & Agricultural Sciences 358 0.7% 4,900 9.7% 3,085 6.1% 3,112 6.1% 39,264 77.4%

Business 1,210 0.7% 17,861 9.6% 33,227 17.9% 15,164 8.2% 117,813 63.6%

Education 2,446 0.8% 9,490 3.0% 45,780 14.6% 26,940 8.6% 228,485 73.0%

Engineering 286 0.5% 8,324 15.4% 3,372 6.2% 3,642 6.7% 38,510 71.1%

Health Sciences 863 0.8% 8,501 7.5% 12,443 11.0% 5,979 5.3% 85,065 75.4%

Physical Sciences 313 0.5% 6,208 10.8% 3,950 6.9% 3,467 6.0% 43,490 75.7%

Public Administration & Services 582 1.1% 2,092 4.1% 10,288 20.0% 5,209 10.1% 33,208 64.6%

Social & Behavioral Sciences 1,108 1.1% 5,838 5.7% 14,619 14.2% 9,928 9.7% 71,143 69.3%

Other Fields 723 0.9% 3,889 4.8% 8,242 10.2% 5,634 7.0% 62,171 77.1%

Notes: This table only includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents. See Table 2.18 for total enrollment by broad field for temporary residents.
Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known race/ethnicity. See
Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

41
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.21 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level,
Carnegie Classification, and Institution Type, 2007-08

Carnegie Classification and

Doctoral Degrees Master's Degrees Certificates
Institution Type *

Total 55,962 100.0% 488,133 100.0% 17,369 100.0%

Public 37,700 67.4% 283,206 58.0% 9,023 51.9%

Private, not-for-profit 17,093 30.5% 164,463 33.7% 8,302 47.8%

Private, for-profit 1,169 2.1% 40,464 8.3% 44 0.3%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 35,407 63.3% 141,417 29.0% 3,986 22.9%

Public 25,576 72.2% 99,812 70.6% 2,373 59.5%

Private, not-for-profit 9,831 27.8% 41,605 29.4% 1,613 40.5%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/H) 11,208 20.0% 91,385 18.7% 3,978 22.9%

Public 8,627 77.0% 67,296 73.6% 2,219 55.8%

Private, not-for-profit 2,581 23.0% 24,089 26.4% 1,759 44.2%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Continued on the following page.

See notes at end of table.

42
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.21 (continued) Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by
Degree Level, Carnegie Classification, and Institution Type, 2007-08

Carnegie Classification and

Doctoral Degrees Master's Degrees Certificates
Institution Type *

Doctoral/Research Universities 4,581 8.2% 55,120 11.3% 1,625 9.4%

Public 1,313 28.7% 19,883 36.1% 833 51.3%

Private, not-for-profit 3,052 66.6% 28,793 52.2% 792 48.7%

Private, for-profit 216 4.7% 6,444 11.7% 0 0.0%

Master's Colleges and Universities 2,264 4.0% 184,832 37.9% 6,530 37.6%

Public 1,115 49.2% 91,901 49.7% 3,248 49.7%

Private, not-for-profit 926 40.9% 64,331 34.8% 3,245 49.7%

Private, for-profit 223 9.8% 28,600 15.5% 37 0.6%

Other 2,502 4.5% 15,379 3.2% 1,250 7.2%

Public 1,069 42.7% 4,314 28.1% 350 28.0%

Private, not-for-profit 703 28.1% 5,645 36.7% 893 71.4%

Private, for-profit 730 29.2% 5,420 35.2% 7 0.6%

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: N/A = Not applicable. Percentages for Carnegie classifications are the percent of all degrees awarded at that level by institutions with
that Carnegie classification. Percentages for institution types are the percent of degrees awarded at that level by institutions with that
Carnegie classification.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

43
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.22 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level
and Broad Field, 2007-08

Broad Field Doctoral Degrees Master's Degrees Certificates

Total 55,962 100.0% 488,133 100.0% 17,369 100.0%

Arts and Humanities 4,735 9.6% 22,665 5.5% 706 4.1%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 6,749 13.6% 10,702 2.6% 308 1.8%

Business 1,511 3.1% 95,863 23.4% 1,561 9.2%

Education 6,978 14.1% 117,456 28.6% 6,513 38.2%

Engineering 7,538 15.2% 28,912 7.0% 862 5.1%

Health Sciences 5,040 10.2% 32,319 7.9% 1,682 9.9%

Physical Sciences 7,426 15.0% 22,664 5.5% 702 4.1%

Public Administration and Services 499 1.0% 22,081 5.4% 523 3.1%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 7,072 14.3% 30,727 7.5% 2,844 16.7%

Other Fields 1,968 4.0% 26,980 6.6% 1,333 7.8%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
broad fields. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

44
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.23 Graduate Certificates Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08

Broad Field Total Men Women

Total 17,369 5,692 34.6% 10,775 65.4%

Arts and Humanities 706 241 34.7% 453 65.3%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 308 138 44.8% 170 55.2%

Business 1,561 777 52.7% 696 47.3%

Education 6,513 1,647 25.8% 4,734 74.2%

Engineering 862 630 73.1% 232 26.9%

Health Sciences 1,682 492 29.3% 1,190 70.7%

Physical Sciences 702 419 65.5% 221 34.5%

Public Administration and Services 523 142 27.2% 381 72.8%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 2,844 811 28.5% 2,033 71.5%

Other Fields 1,333 513 39.2% 797 60.8%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
gender. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

45
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.24 Master's Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08

Broad Field Total Men Women

Total 488,133 190,044 39.7% 288,747 60.3%

Arts and Humanities 22,665 9,074 40.3% 13,434 59.7%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 10,702 4,469 42.4% 6,077 57.6%

Business 95,863 53,257 56.0% 41,914 44.0%

Education 117,456 27,353 23.5% 89,012 76.5%

Engineering 28,912 22,017 76.6% 6,744 23.4%

Health Sciences 32,319 6,195 19.2% 26,043 80.8%

Physical Sciences 22,664 14,763 65.7% 7,698 34.3%

Public Administration and Services 22,081 5,097 23.2% 16,889 76.8%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 30,727 10,371 34.0% 20,165 66.0%

Other Fields 26,980 10,027 37.4% 16,805 62.6%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
gender. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

46
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 2.25 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 2007-08

Broad Field Total Men Women

Total 55,962 28,250 50.9% 27,286 49.1%

Arts and Humanities 4,735 2,184 46.1% 2,551 53.9%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 6,749 3,417 51.1% 3,272 48.9%

Business 1,511 912 60.6% 593 39.4%

Education 6,978 2,232 32.3% 4,677 67.7%

Engineering 7,538 5,832 77.6% 1,680 22.4%

Health Sciences 5,040 1,521 30.2% 3,519 69.8%

Physical Sciences 7,426 5,234 70.6% 2,178 29.4%

Public Administration and Services 499 193 38.7% 306 61.3%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 7,072 2,744 38.9% 4,319 61.1%

Other Fields 1,968 1,081 54.9% 887 45.1%

Notes: Because not all institutions responded to all items, details may not sum to totals. Percentages are based on total of known
gender. See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

47
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Chapter 3
Trends in Graduate Applications, First-Time Enrollment, Total Enrollment, and Degrees Conferred, 1998 to 2008

This chapter presents data and analysis on trends in graduate applications,
first-time enrollment, total enrollment, and degrees conferred over the past
one, five, and ten years. The one-year trends are based on data collected
for 2007 and 2008; the five-year trends compare data collected for 2003 and
2008; and the ten-year trends are based on data collected for 1998 and
2008. The trend data from these three time periods are designed to provide
a more detailed comparison of the recent and longer-term trends in gradu-
ate education.
2008 (Table 3.1). The one-year increase in graduate applications was larger
at private, not-for-profit institutions (5.5%) than at public institutions (4.4%).
The increase in graduate applications in fall 2008 was slightly larger than that
seen over the past decade. Between fall 1998 and fall 2008, graduate appli-
cations grew at an average annual rate of 3.8%, and the average annual
increase over the ten-year time period was 5.3% at private, not-for-profit
institutions and 3.2% at public institutions.

Since the institutions responding to the survey differ slightly from year to
year, the trend data are limited to institutions that responded to the
CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees in both of the years
being compared. The one-year trends include data from 665 colleges and
universities that responded to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Enrollment and Degrees in both 2007 and 2008, the five-year trends include
data from 568 institutions that responded to the survey in both 2003 and
2008, and the ten-year trends include data from 535 institutions that
responded in both 1998 and 2008. Restricting the analyses to the same
institutions in both years being examined ensures that the trends being pre-
sented are accurate and not a reflection of differing survey respondents. For
this reason, readers of this report should not compare the numbers in
Chapter 2 of this report with numbers provided in previous written reports to
determine trends in graduate education.
By basic Carnegie classification, graduate applications increased most at
doctoral/research universities between fall 2007 and fall 2008 (14.3%), and
least at research universities with very high research activity (3.6%), as
shown in Figure 3.1. Over the five-year period between fall 2003 and fall
2008, the average annual increase was greatest at doctoral/research uni-
versities (6.9%), but graduate applications fell 1.0% annually on average in
this time period at research universities with very high research activity.
Figure 3.1 Trends in Graduate Applications by Carnegie
Classification, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
16%
% Change 2007 to 2008
12% Avg. Annual % Chg. '03 to '08
Avg. Annual % Chg. '98 to '08

14.3%
8%

This chapter begins with an examination of trends in graduate applications,

9.2%
6.9%
4%

6.2%
0.9%
4.8%

5.6%
5.2%

4.6%
4.3%

4.0%
3.8%
followed by trends in first-time graduate enrollment, total graduate enroll-

3.6%

3.5%

3.5%
3.7%
2.7%
ment, and graduate certificates and degrees. The chapter concludes with the 0%
data tables referenced in the text. -1.0%
-4%

Master's
Total

Universities

Universities

Universities

Universities
Research

(RU/VH)

Research

(RU/H)

Doctoral/
Research

Other
Colleges &
Trends in Graduate Applications

Applications for admission to U.S. graduate schools increased 4.8%

between fall 2007 and fall 2008 at the institutions that responded to the Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees for both 2007 and
49
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Between fall 1998 and fall 2008, graduate applications increased across all annual increase, followed by business (2.9%), and public administration and
Carnegie classifications, with the largest average annual increase in doctor- services (2.6%).
al/research universities (6.2%), and the smallest in research universities with
very high research activity (3.5%). Over the past decade, increases occurred in graduate applications in all
broad fields. The average annual increases were greatest in physical sci-
Much of the one-year increase in graduate applications in fall 2008 was the ences (5.5%), engineering (4.5%), and health sciences (3.6%). Average
result of an increase in applications for master’s-level and graduate certifi- annual increases were smallest in public administration and services (0.6%),
cate programs. Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, graduate applications ‘other’ fields (1.0%), and education (1.8%) between fall 1998 and fall 2008.
increased 5.7% at the master’s/certificate level and 1.9% at the doctoral
level. Five- and ten-year trends are unavailable for applications by level. For more detailed information about trends in graduate applications, see
Tables 3.1 through 3.2.
The largest one-year change in graduate applications occurred in health sci-
ences, with a 13.1% increase between fall 2007 and fall 2008 (Table 3.2 and Trends in First-Time Graduate Enrollment
Figure 3.2). Strong growth was also seen in business (12.0%), and engi-
neering (4.7%). Two fields saw slight declines in graduate applications over First-time graduate enrollment increased 4.5% between fall 2007 and fall
the one-year period: education (-0.5%) and arts and humanities (-0.1%). 2008 at the institutions that responded to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Enrollment and Degrees for both 2007 and 2008 (Table 3.3). Over the one-
Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, four broad fields experienced average year period, the increase in first-time enrollment was greater at private, not-
annual declines in graduate applications: engineering (-3.5%), physical sci- for-profit institutions (7.0%) than at public institutions (2.0%).
ences (-1.8%), education (-0.9%), and ‘other’ fields (-0.3%). Growth was
strongest over the five-year period in health sciences with a 5.0% average Growth in first-time graduate enrollment has been consistent over the last
five- and ten-year periods, with 3.3% and 3.9% average annual increases,
respectively. Similarly, both public institutions and private, not-for-profit insti-
tutions have experienced steady gains. Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, first-
Figure 3.2 Percent Change in Graduate Applications by Broad
Field, Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 time graduate enrollment increased 3.0% annually on average at public insti-
tutions and 3.8% at private, not-for-profit institutions. Between fall 1998 and
Other Fields 1.3%
fall 2008, first-time graduate enrollment increased 3.9% annually on average
Social & Behavioral Sci. 2.8%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 4.0% at both public institutions and private, not-for-profit institutions.
Physical Sciences 3.9%
Health Sciences 13.1% By basic Carnegie classification, first-time graduate enrollment increased
Engineering 4.7%
most between fall 2007 and fall 2008 at doctoral/research universities
Education -0.5%
(16.5%), but much of this one-year increase was the result of large increas-
Business 12.0%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 1.0%
es at two institutions with this Carnegie classification, one a large, for-profit
Arts and Humanities -0.1% institution and one a large private, not-for-profit institution. The increases in
Total 4.8% first-time graduate enrollment ranged from 2.2% to 5.3% over the one-year
-2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14% period for all other Carnegie classifications (Figure 3.3). Between fall 2003
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
and fall 2008, the average annual rates of increase in first-time enrollment
ranged from 1.4% at research universities with very high research activity
50
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Figure 3.3 Trends in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Figure 3.4 Trends in First-Time Graduate Enrollment by
Carnegie Classification, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
20% 16%
% Change 2007 to 2008 % Change 2007 to 2008
16% Avg. Annual % Chg. '03 to '08 Avg. Annual % Chg. 2003 to 2008
12%
Avg. Annual % Chg. '98 to '08 Avg. Annual % Chg. 1998 to 2008
12%
8%

16.5%

10.6%
8%

8.8%

8.4%
8.3%
7.6%
6.9%

6.5%
6.7%
4%

6.3%

1.8%

5.7%
5.5%
5.6%
5.2%
8.4%
2.2%

4.5%

3.9%
6.3%

3.5%
4%

3.3%

3.3%
6.0%
1.4%

3.1%
5.3%

2.3%
4.7%
4.6%
4.5%

3.9%

3.6%
3.6%
3.4%
3.3%

3.2%

3.0%
2.9%

0%
0%

Temporary
Total

Native

Islander
American
Indian/Alaskan

Black/African
American

Hispanic/Latino

Residents
Asian/Pacific

White
Master's
Total

Universities

Universities

Universities

Universities
Research

(RU/VH)

Research

(RU/H)

Doctoral/
Research

Other
Colleges &
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

(RU/VH) to 6.3% at doctoral/research universities, and over the ten-year
period ranged from 2.9% at research universities with very high research
activity (RU/VH) to 8.4% at doctoral/research universities.
Much of the growth in first-time graduate enrollment over the past decade
has been the result of an increase in temporary residents, with 5.5% aver-
age annual growth between fall 1998 and fall 2008, compared with 3.4% for
U.S. citizens and permanent residents (Table 3.4). Between fall 2007 and fall
2008, however, this trend shifted. Over the one-year period, first-time gradu-
ate enrollment increased 4.7% among U.S. citizens and permanent resi-
dents, compared with 3.3% for temporary residents. This marks the first time
since fall 2004 that year-to-year growth among U.S. citizens and permanent
residents outpaced that of temporary residents.
Over the latest one-, five-, and ten-year periods, growth in first-time gradu-
ate enrollment among U.S. citizens and permanent residents has been
greater for racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites (Figure 3.4). Between fall
2007 and fall 2008, Hispanic/Latino first-time enrollment increased fastest
at 10.6%, compared with 3.5% for Whites. Similarly, over the five- and ten-
year periods, Hispanics/Latinos had the greatest average annual growth
and Whites the least.
Men and women experienced identical rates of increase (4.2%) in first-time
graduate enrollment between 2007 and 2008 (Table 3.5).9 Over the five- and
ten-year periods, however, growth has been stronger for women than for
men. Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, first-time graduate enrollment grew at
an average annual rate of 3.7% for women versus 2.8% for men, and
between fall 1998 and fall 2008 by 4.3% for women versus 3.4% for men.
Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, men and women also expe-
rienced identical rates of increase between 2007 and 2008, with 4.9% gains
in first-time graduate enrollment for both genders. Among temporary resi-
dents, the increases for women (4.5%) outpaced those for men (3.1%).
Between fall 1998 and fall 2008, average annual growth was greater for
9 Three institutions that provided data on overall first-time enrollment in both fall 2007 and
fall 2008 (as presented in Table 3.3) were unable to provide data by gender in one or more
of those years. This differing number of respondents included in the analyses for Tables 3.3
and 3.5 is the reason why it appears that the overall increase in first-time graduate enroll-
ment (4.5%) is greater than the increases for both men and women (4.2%).

51
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 women than for men for both U.S. citizens and permanent residents and tion over the one-year period. Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, average
temporary residents. Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, first- annual growth in first-time enrollment was greatest in health sciences (5.7%),
time graduate enrollment increased 3.9% annually on average for women engineering (4.7%), and business (3.9%), compared with average annual
and 2.7% for men over the ten-year period, while for temporary residents increases of 0.4% in ‘other’ fields, 1.4% in physical sciences, and 1.8% in
first-time enrollment increased 6.9% for women and 4.7% for men over the arts and humanities. And over the past decade, average annual growth in
same time period. first-time graduate enrollment ranged from a high of 5.1% in engineering to
a low of 1.6% in public administration and services (Figure 3.6).
The trend of stronger growth for women than for men over the 1998 to 2008
time period held true for all U.S. racial/ethnic groups (Figure 3.5). Among Between fall 2007 and fall 2008 among first-time enrollees, part-time grad-
U.S. citizen and permanent resident women, average annual growth was uate enrollment grew faster than full-time enrollment—7.1% vs. 2.7%
strongest for Hispanics/Latinas (9.2%), and least for Whites (2.8%). Among (Table 3.7). By broad field, growth in part-time enrollment exceeded that of
U.S. citizen and permanent resident men, average annual increases in first- full-time enrollment in all but three fields: business, physical sciences, and
time graduate enrollment ranged from a high of 7.1% for Hispanics/Latinos ‘other’ fields.
to a low of 1.9% for Whites.
First-time, full-time graduate enrollment increased fastest in engineering in
First-time graduate enrollment increased over the one-, five-, and ten-year fall 2008, with a 7.7% one-year increase, followed by business (7.6%), and
periods in all broad fields (Table 3.6). Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, growth physical sciences (4.6%). Full-time graduate enrollment among first-time
was fastest in engineering (7.9%), health sciences (6.7%), and business enrollees dropped 2.6% in education and 0.7% in arts and humanities, and
(5.6%). In contrast, first-time enrollment increased just 1.2% in arts and increased just 0.3% in public administration and services.
humanities, 2.4% in public administration and services, and 3.1% in educa-

Figure 3.5 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time Figure 3.6 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time
Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
10% Other Fields 2.2%

Men Social & Behavioral Sci. 3.1%

8%
Women Public Admin. & Svcs. 1.6%

6% Physical Sciences 3.5%

9.2%

Health Sciences 4.8%

8.3%

7.1%

4%
6.9%
6.4%
6.4%

Engineering 5.1%
5.8%

4.9%
4.9%

4.7%
4.3%
3.4%

2% Education 2.7%
2.8%
1.9%

Business 3.4%
0%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 2.8%
Temporary
Total

Native

Islander
American
Indian/Alaskan

Black/African
American

Hispanic/Latino

Residents
Asian/Pacific

White

Arts & Humanities 1.9%

Total 3.9%

0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6%

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

52
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
First-time, part-time graduate enrollment increased in all broad fields
Figure 3.7 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time
between fall 2007 and fall 2008, with the strongest gains in social and behav-
Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status,
ioral sciences (11.5%), health sciences (10.9%), and biological and agricul- Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
tural sciences (9.5%), and the smallest increases in physical sciences
1.4%
Other Fields
(2.3%), and business and ‘other’ fields (both 2.5%). 3.3%
2.5%
Social & Behavioral Sci. Part-Time
3.3%
1.3% Full-Time
Over the past decade, full-time and part-time graduate enrollment increased Public Admin. & Svcs. 1.8%
across all broad fields for first-time enrollees, and the growth in first-time, full- Physical Sciences 0.2%
4.6%
time graduate enrollment outpaced the growth in first-time, part-time enroll- Health Sciences 7.1%
3.8%
ment in all broad fields except health sciences (Figure 3.7). Average annual Engineering 2.9%
5.9%
growth in first-time, full-time graduate enrollment ranged from a high of 5.9% Education 2.7%
3.5%
in engineering to a low of 1.8% in public administration and services. For 2.2%
Business 3.5%
first-time, part-time enrollees, average annual increases ranged from a high 0.3%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 3.2%
of 7.1% in health sciences to a low of 0.2% in physical sciences.
1.4%
Arts & Humanities
2.0%
3.4%
As noted above, the increase in first-time graduate enrollment was greater Total
4.3%
among U.S. citizens and permanent residents than temporary residents 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
between fall 2007 and fall 2008 (4.7% vs. 3.3%), but changes in first-time Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
enrollment over this one-year period varied considerably by citizenship and
broad field (Table 3.8). U.S. citizens and permanent residents experienced
gains in all broad fields, while first-time graduate enrollment declined for tem-
porary residents in three broad fields: arts and humanities (-4.1%), biological Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, first-time graduate enrollment increased for
and agricultural sciences (-1.1%), and health sciences (-0.4%). Despite both U.S. citizens and permanent residents and temporary residents in all
declines in these three broad fields, first-time graduate enrollment increased broad fields, with one exception: first-time graduate enrollment fell 1.1%
faster for temporary residents than for U.S. citizens and permanent residents annually on average for U.S. citizens and permanent residents in physical
in four other broad fields: business, physical sciences, public administration sciences over the five-year time period. Temporary residents in business
and services, and ‘other’ fields. experienced the greatest increase between fall 2003 and fall 2008, with 7.8%
average annual growth in first-time graduate enrollment.
Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, first-time graduate enrollment increased
fastest for U.S. citizens and permanent residents in engineering (10.9%), Over the past decade, first-time graduate enrollment increased for both
health sciences (7.2%), and business (6.2%). Gains were smallest for U.S. U.S. citizens and permanent residents and temporary residents in all broad
citizens and permanent residents in arts and humanities (1.6%), physical sci- fields (Figure 3.8). For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, average
ences (1.9%), and public administration and services (2.0%). For temporary annual increases in first-time enrollment ranged from a high of 5.5% in
residents, first-time graduate enrollment increased fastest over the one-year health sciences to a low of 1.3% in both arts and humanities and public
period in physical sciences (7.9%), public administration and services administration and services. For temporary residents, first-time graduate
(7.3%), and business (6.9%). As noted above, temporary resident first-time enrollment increases ranged from a high of 7.4% in health sciences to a
enrollment declined in arts and humanities, biological and agricultural sci- low of 0.9% in arts and humanities. Average annual growth among U.S. cit-
ences, and health sciences between fall 2007 and fall 2008. izens and permanent residents in first-time enrollment outpaced that of
53
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 business to a low of 1.5% in education. For Asians/Pacific Islanders, average
Figure 3.8 Average Annual Percentage Change in First-Time annual growth was also greatest in business at 7.7%, and was lowest in
Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship,
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 physical sciences (1.0%). Health sciences (13.0%) led in terms of average
Temporary Residents
annual growth for Blacks/African Americans, with arts and humanities show-
2.0%
Other Fields
1.9% U.S. Citizens & Perm. Res. ing the least growth with a 1.6% average annual increase. For
2.2%
Social & Behavioral Sci.
3.5% Hispanics/Latinos, average annual increases typically exceeded those of
4.9%
Public Admin. & Svcs.
1.3%
other racial/ethnic groups, with a high of 15.1% in health sciences and a low
Physical Sciences 5.8% of 4.7% in ‘other’ fields. For Whites, growth was greatest in health sciences
1.8%
Health Sciences 7.4% (4.2%), and showed minimal change in public administration and services
5.5%
Engineering 6.4% (0.1%).
2.7%
6.3%
Education
3.2%
5.3%
Figure 3.9 shows first-time graduate enrollment by racial/ethnic group for four
Business
2.8% aggregated broad fields: business, education, social and behavioral sci-
Biological & Agric. Sci. 4.8%
2.3% ences and arts and humanities, and natural sciences and engineering (bio-
Arts & Humanities 0.9%
1.3% logical and agricultural sciences, engineering, and physical sciences). The
Total 5.5%
3.4% broad fields of health sciences, public administration and services, and ‘oth-
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% er’ fields are not included in the figure.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
While trends over time are smoothed by using an annual average, year-to-
year changes vary more dramatically due to the small numbers of
temporary residents in just two broad fields over the ten-year period—arts racial/ethnic minorities in many broad fields, particularly American
and humanities and social and behavioral sciences. Indians/Alaskan Natives. Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, changes in first-
time enrollment for American Indians/Alaskan Natives ranged from a 40.0%
As noted above, overall growth in first-time graduate enrollment among U.S. increase in biological and agricultural sciences, to a 13.5% decline in engi-
citizens and permanent residents over the latest one-, five-, and ten-year neering, but these changes should be interpreted cautiously given the small
periods has been greater for racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites. This number of American Indian/Alaskan Native first-time enrollees. For
trend was also evident by broad field over the last decade, with just two minor Asians/Pacific Islanders, first-time enrollment increased in all broad fields in
exceptions—average annual growth among White first-time enrollees fall 2008, ranging from a high of 15.2% in physical sciences to a low of 1.8%
increased by 2.5% in education between fall 1998 and fall 2008 compared in public administration and services. For Blacks/African Americans, first-
with 1.5% for Native Americans, and average annual growth among White time enrollment increased 10.2% in health sciences, the largest gain, com-
first-time enrollees increased by 1.3% in physical sciences over the ten-year pared with a 5.9% decline in ‘other’ fields. For Hispanics/Latinos, first-time
period compared with 1.0% for Asians/Pacific Islanders. In all other cases, enrollment increased 30.4% in engineering, but increased just 0.3% in bio-
growth was faster for racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites. First-time grad- logical and agricultural sciences. And for Whites, first-time enrollment
uate enrollment increased for all racial/ethnic groups in all broad fields over increased most in engineering (8.8%) between fall 2007 and fall 2008, but
the ten-year period (Table 3.9). decreased by 1.1% in physical sciences and 0.2% in public administration
and services.
For American Indians/Alaskan Natives, average annual growth in first-time
enrollment between fall 1998 and fall 2008 ranged from a high of 7.9% in
54
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Figure 3.9 Average Annual Percentage Change in Figure 3.10 Average Annual Percentage Change in
First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender,
Race/Ethnicity, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 Fall 1998 to Fall 2008

1.6% Other Fields 2.7%

1.6% 1.6%
White 2.5% Women
Social & Behavioral Sci. 3.7%
1.5% 2.4% Men
7.5% Public Admin. & Svcs. 1.8%
6.2% 0.8%
Hispanic/Latino 5.9% 3.8%
7.1% Physical Sciences
3.3%
6.4% Health Sciences 5.3%
Black/African 5.2% 2.8%
American 6.0% 7.0%
7.4% Engineering
4.8%
3.2% Education 2.8%
Asian/Pacific 5.4% 2.3%
Islander 6.5% 4.3%
7.7% Business
2.7%
4.2% Biological & Agric. Sci. 3.5%
American 2.2%
3.2%
Indian/Alaskan 1.5% 2.1%
Native 7.9% Arts & Humanities
1.4%
Total 4.3%
0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 3.4%
Business Education Social Sci. & Humanities Natural Sci. & Engineering
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
Note: Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

As described earlier, first-time enrollment growth has been stronger for
women than for men over the past five- and ten-year periods. This pattern
held true by broad field between fall 1998 and fall 2008, with the average
annual increases for women outpacing those for men in every broad field
over the ten-year period (Table 3.10 and Figure 3.10). For women, the aver-
age annual rates of increase were greatest in engineering (7.0%), health sci-
ences (5.3%), and business (4.3%). Average annual growth was smallest in
public administration and services (1.8%), arts and humanities (2.1%), and
‘other’ fields (2.7%) over the decade. For men, the largest average annual
gains were in engineering (4.8%), physical sciences (3.3%), and health sci-
ences (2.8%), and the smallest were in public administration and services
(0.8%), arts and humanities (1.4%), and ‘other’ fields (1.6%).
Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, both men and women experienced average
annual increases in first-time graduate enrollment in all broad fields. For
men, average annual increases over the five-year period ranged from a high
of 4.9% in engineering to a low of 0.7% in ‘other’ fields, and for women, the
largest increase was in health sciences (6.5%) and the smallest in ‘other’
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
fields (0.2%). While growth for women outpaced that for men in all broad
fields over the latest ten-year period, this was not the case over the five-year
period. The average annual increases in arts and humanities, biological and
agricultural sciences, engineering, and ‘other’ fields were all greater for men
than for women, and men and women experienced an identical average
annual rate of increase in education (2.7%) between fall 2003 and fall 2008.
First-time graduate enrollment also increased between fall 2007 and fall
2008 in all broad fields for both men and women, ranging for men from 8.4%
in engineering to 0.4% in arts and humanities, and ranging for women from
6.6% in health sciences to 1.6% in ‘other’ fields. First-time enrollment
increases were greater for men than for women in five broad fields: biologi-
cal and agricultural sciences, engineering, health sciences, public adminis-
tration and services, and ‘other’ fields.
First-time enrollment at the master’s degree and graduate certificate level
increased faster between fall 2007 and fall 2008 than first-time enrollment at
the doctoral level—4.5% vs. 4.2% (Table 3.11). As shown in Figure 3.11, at
55
 the master’s degree and graduate certificate level first-time enrollment
increased most in the one-year period in engineering (8.2%), biological and
agricultural sciences (6.4%), and business (5.8%), and increased least in
arts and humanities (1.5%), public administration and services (2.1%), and
education (2.2%). The one-year changes in first-time enrollment varied more
at the doctoral level than at the master’s/other level. Three broad fields expe-
rienced double-digit increases—public administration and services (20.7%),
business (18.1%), and health sciences (15.8%). Of these three fields, how-
ever, two (public administration and services and business) account for a
small share of first-time enrollment, and thus the increases are based on a
relatively small number of first-time doctoral students. First-time enrollment
at the doctoral level declined 10.0% in ‘other’ fields in fall 2008, but this broad
field also accounts for a small share of all first-time enrollees at the doctoral
level. First-time enrollment was flat in biological and agricultural sciences in
fall 2008, and increased just 1.2% in arts and humanities. Five- and ten-year
trends are unavailable for first-time graduate enrollment by degree level.
At the master’s degree and graduate certificate level, first-time enrollment
increased for both men and women in all broad fields in fall 2008, with one
exception—first-time enrollment declined among men in arts and humanities
by 0.3%. In contrast, first-time enrollment increased 9.0% for men in engi-
neering at the master’s/other level in fall 2008. For women, increases in first-
time enrollment at the master’s/other level ranged from a high of 6.8% in
social and behavioral sciences to a low of 1.6% in public administration and
services.
At the doctoral level, first-time enrollment declined for both men and women
in ‘other’ fields—by 9.1% for men and 10.8% for women. In addition, women
experienced declines in first-time enrollment in doctoral programs in arts and
humanities (-0.7%) and biological and agricultural sciences (-1.0%). For
men, the largest increase occurred in public administration and services
(18.8%), and for women the largest increase occurred in business (26.4%),
although as noted above, these increases are based on small numbers of
students in these doctoral programs.

For more detailed information about trends in first-time graduate enrollment,

see Tables 3.3 through 3.11.
Figure 3.11 Percentage Change in First-Time Graduate
Enrollment by Broad Field and Degree Level,
Fall 2007 to Fall 2008 Trends in Total Graduate Enrollment
4.4%
Other Fields Master'sOther
-10.0% Total graduate enrollment increased 3.0% between fall 2007 and fall 2008 at
5.1% Doctoral
Social & Behavioral Sci. 2.1% the institutions that responded to the CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
2.1%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 20.7% Enrollment and Degrees for both 2007 and 2008 (Table 3.12). Over the one-
5.7%
Physical Sciences 2.2% year period, the increase in total enrollment was greater at private, not-for-
5.2% profit institutions and private, for-profit institutions (both 3.7%) than at public
Health Sciences 15.8%
Engineering
8.2% institutions (2.5%).
7.3%
2.2%
Education 6.8%
Business 5.8% Growth in total graduate enrollment has been relatively consistent over the
18.1%
6.4%
last five- and ten-year periods, with 2.2% and 3.2% average annual increas-
Biological & Agric. Sci.
0.0%
1.5%
es, respectively. Similarly, both public and private, not-for-profit institutions
Arts & Humanities
1.2% have experienced steady gains. Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, total grad-
Total 4.5%
4.2% uate enrollment increased 1.5% annually on average at public institutions
-15% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% and 2.6% at private, not-for-profit institutions. Between fall 1998 and fall
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees 2008, total graduate enrollment increased 2.4% annually on average at pub-
lic institutions and 3.1% at private, not-for-profit institutions.
56
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Over the latest one-, five-, and ten-year periods, growth in total graduate
Figure 3.12 Trends in Total Graduate Enrollment by Carnegie
enrollment among U.S. citizens and permanent residents has been greater
Classification, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
for racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites, with the exception of American
10%
% Change 2007 to 2008
Indians/Alaskan Natives over the one-year period (Figure 3.13). Between fall
8% Avg. Annual % Chg. '03 to '08 2007 and fall 2008, Black/African American total enrollment increased fastest
Avg. Annual % Chg. '98 to '08 at 6.9%, compared with 2.2% for Whites. Similarly, over the five- and ten-
6% year periods, Blacks/African Americans had the greatest average annual
growth and Whites the least.

7.9%
6.8%
4%

6.3%
5.2%
4.6%

4.3%
Total graduate enrollment grew faster for women (2.7%) than men (1.6%)
3.2%

3.2%
3.0%

2%

3.0%
2.9%
2.6%
2.2%

2.2%

2.1%
Research 1.9%

1.9%
between 2007 and 2008 (Table 3.14).10 Over the five- and ten-year periods,
Universities 1.2%

0% total graduate enrollment also increased faster for women than men.

Master's
Total

Universities

Universities

Universities
(RU/VH)

Research

(RU/H)

Doctoral/
Research

Other
Colleges &
Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, total graduate enrollment grew at an aver-
age annual rate of 2.8% for women versus 1.3% for men, and between fall
1998 and fall 2008 by 3.8% for women versus 2.3% for men.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

Figure 3.13 Trends in Total Graduate Enrollment by

Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
12%
By basic Carnegie classification, total graduate enrollment increased most
% Change 2007 to 2008
between fall 2007 and fall 2008 at specialized and baccalaureate institutions
Avg. Annual % Chg. '03 to '08
(6.3%). (These institutions are listed as ‘other’ on Table 3.12). The increases 8% Avg. Annual % Chg. '98 to '08
in graduate enrollment ranged from 1.9% to 4.6% over the one-year period
for all other Carnegie classifications (Figure 3.12). Between fall 2003 and fall

8.8%
6.9%
2008, the average annual rates of increase in total enrollment ranged from 4%

6.6%

6.4%
6.5%

5.5%
5.6%

5.3%
1.5%
4.8%
4.5%

1.1%
1.2% at research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH) to

3.6%
3.0%

3.2%

2.9%
2.2%

2.2%
2.1%

2.0%
2.0%
7.9% at ‘other’ institutions, and over the ten-year period ranged from 1.9% at
0%
research universities with high research activity (RU/H) to 6.8% at ‘other’

Temporary
Total

Native

Islander
American
Indian/Alaskan

Black/African
American

Hispanic/Latino

Residents
Asian/Pacific

White
institutions.

Much of the growth in total graduate enrollment over the past decade has
been the result of an increase in temporary residents, with 5.3% average
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
annual growth between fall 1998 and fall 2008, compared with 2.6% for U.S.
citizens and permanent residents (Table 3.13). Between fall 2007 and fall
2008, however, total graduate enrollment increased faster among U.S. citi- 10 Ninety-six institutions that provided data on overall total enrollment in both fall 2007 and
zens and permanent residents (3.2%), than among temporary residents fall 2008 (as presented in Table 3.12) did not provide data by gender in one or more of
those years. This differing number of respondents included in the analyses for Tables 3.12
(2.0%).
and 3.14 is the reason why it appears that the overall increase in total graduate enrollment
(3.0%) exceeds the increases for both men (1.6%) and women (2.7%).

57
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, total graduate enrollment Total graduate enrollment increased over the one-, five-, and ten-year peri-
also increased faster for women than men between 2007 and 2008, with a ods in nearly all broad fields (Table 3.15). Between fall 2007 and fall 2008,
4.1% increase for women and a 1.8% gain for men. Among temporary res- growth was fastest in business (5.7%), health sciences (5.0%), and biologi-
idents, the increases for men (2.3%) outpaced those for women (1.7%). cal and agricultural sciences (3.8%). In contrast, total enrollment increased
Between fall 1998 and fall 2008, average annual growth was greater for just 0.5% in both education and ‘other’ fields, and 1.1% in arts and humani-
women than for men for both U.S. citizens and permanent residents and ties over the one-year period. Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, average
temporary residents. Among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, total annual growth in total enrollment was greatest in health sciences (6.1%), bio-
graduate enrollment increased 3.4% annually on average for women and logical and agricultural sciences (2.9%), and social and behavioral sciences
1.5% for men over the ten-year period, while for temporary residents total (2.6%). Total enrollment declined by 0.8% annually on average in ‘other’
enrollment increased 6.9% for women and 4.5% for men over the same fields in the five-year period, and increased by 0.5% in physical sciences and
time period. 1.2% in arts and humanities. Over the past decade, average annual growth
in total graduate enrollment ranged from a high of 4.8% in health sciences to
The trend of stronger growth for women than for men over the 1998 to 2008 a low of 0.9% in arts and humanities (Figure 3.15).
time period held true for all U.S. racial/ethnic groups (Figure 3.14). Among
U.S. citizen and permanent resident women, average annual growth was Between fall 2007 and fall 2008 among total enrollees, full-time graduate
strongest for Blacks/African Americans (10.2%), and least for Whites (2.0%). enrollment and part-time graduate enrollment increased at similar rates—
Among U.S. citizen and permanent resident men, average annual increases 3.3% and 3.2%, respectively (Table 3.16). By broad field, growth in part-time
in total graduate enrollment ranged from a high of 6.1% for Blacks/African enrollment exceeded that of full-time enrollment in five broad fields: arts and
Americans to a low of 0.7% for Whites. humanities, biological and agricultural sciences, education, health sciences,
and public administration and services.

Figure 3.14 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total Figure 3.15 Average Annual Percentage Change in Total
Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and Gender, Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
Other Fields 1.7%
12%
Men Social & Behavioral Sci. 2.6%
10%
Women Public Admin. & Svcs. 1.3%
8%
Physical Sciences 2.8%
6% Health Sciences 4.8%
10.2%
8.1%

Engineering 3.5%
7.3%

4%
6.9%
6.1%
5.6%
4.6%

4.5%
4.8%

0.7%

Education 1.8%
3.8%

3.4%

2%
2.3%

2.0%

Business 4.0%
0%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 2.6%
Temporary
Total

Native

Islander
American
Indian/Alaskan

Black/African
American

Hispanic/Latino

Residents
Asian/Pacific

White

Arts & Humanities 0.9%

Total 3.2%

0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5%

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

58
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Full-time graduate enrollment increased fastest in business in fall 2008, with
a 9.4% one-year increase, followed by health sciences (4.5%), and engi-
neering (3.6%). In contrast, full-time enrollment increased just 0.2% in edu-
cation, 0.6% in arts and humanities, and 1.5% in ‘other’ fields.
Part-time graduate enrollment experienced the strongest gains in fall 2008 in
biological and agricultural sciences (6.5%), health sciences (5.5%), and pub-
lic administration and services (2.8%). Part-time enrollment dropped 1.4% in
social and behavioral sciences and 0.8% in ‘other’ fields, and increased just
0.3% in education.
ties, between fall 2007 and fall 2008, and increased just 0.1% in biological
and agricultural sciences.
Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, total graduate enrollment increased for both
U.S. citizens and permanent residents and temporary residents in all broad
fields, with one exception; total graduate enrollment fell 0.7% annually on
average for U.S. citizens and permanent residents in ‘other’ fields over the
five-year time period. U.S. citizens and permanent residents in health sci-
ences experienced the greatest increase between fall 2003 and fall 2008,
with 7.3% average annual growth in total graduate enrollment.

Over the past decade, full-time and part-time graduate enrollment increased
or remained level in all broad fields, and the growth in full-time graduate
enrollment outpaced the growth in part-time enrollment in all broad fields
(Figure 3.16). Average annual growth in full-time graduate enrollment ranged
from a high of 6.8% in business to a low of 1.4% in both arts and humanities
and public administration and services. For part-time enrollees, average
annual increases ranged from a high of 3.9% in health sciences to a low of
0.0% in arts and humanities.
Over the past decade, total graduate enrollment increased for both U.S. cit-
izens and permanent residents and temporary residents in all broad fields
(Figure 3.17). For U.S. citizens and permanent residents, average annual
increases in total enrollment ranged from a high of 5.1% in health sciences
to a low of 0.1% in arts and humanities. For temporary residents, total grad-
uate enrollment increases ranged from a high of 6.7% in business to a low

Figure 3.16 Average Annual Percentage Change in

As noted above, the increase in total graduate enrollment was greater Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and
among U.S. citizens and permanent residents than temporary residents Attendance Status, Fall 1998 to Fall 2008
between fall 2007 and fall 2008 (3.2% vs. 2.0%), but changes in total enroll- 1.0%
Other Fields 2.8%
ment over this one-year period varied considerably by citizenship and broad
1.2%
Social & Behavioral Sci. Part-Time
field (Table 3.17). U.S. citizens and permanent residents experienced gains 3.3%
1.3% Full-Time
in all broad fields except ‘other’ fields, and total graduate enrollment Public Admin. & Svcs.
1.4%
0.4%
increased for temporary residents in all broad fields except health sciences Physical Sciences 4.0%
and arts and humanities. Health Sciences 3.9%
5.7%
Engineering 1.4%
4.6%
Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, total graduate enrollment increased fastest Education
1.5%
2.4%
for U.S. citizens and permanent residents in business (5.5%), health sci- Business
1.4%
6.8%
ences (5.4%), and biological and agricultural sciences (4.6%). Total enroll- 0.6%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 3.2%
ment dropped 0.3% for U.S. citizens and permanent residents in ‘other’ 0.0%
Arts & Humanities
fields, and gains were smallest in arts and humanities (0.7%) and education 1.4%
2.0%
Total
(1.0%). For temporary residents, total graduate enrollment increased fastest 4.5%

over the one-year period in business (6.9%), public administration and serv- 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%

ices (4.1%), and physical sciences (3.6%). Temporary resident graduate Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
enrollment declined 2.4% in health sciences and 0.8% in arts and humani-
59
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 health sciences to a low of 1.4% in arts and humanities. For Asians/Pacific
Figure 3.17 Average Annual Percentage Change in Islanders, average annual growth was also greatest in business at 7.0%, and
Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship, Fall
1998 to Fall 2008 was lowest in physical sciences (0.4%). Business (17.1%) also led in terms
of average annual growth for Blacks/African Americans, but this increase is
1.3%
Other Fields
1.2% Temporary Residents based on a relatively small number of Blacks/African Americans in business
3.0% U.S. Citizens & Perm. Res.
Social & Behavioral Sci.
2.4% in 1998. Arts and humanities showed the smallest growth for Blacks/African
Public Admin. & Svcs. 4.9% Americans with a 1.6% average annual increase. For Hispanics/Latinos,
0.8%
Physical Sciences 4.8% average annual increases ranged from a high of 10.3% in health sciences
1.4%
Health Sciences 5.8% and a low of 2.9% in ‘other’ fields. For Whites, growth was also greatest in
5.1%
Engineering 6.3% health sciences (4.0%). Total enrollment declined by 0.2% annually on aver-
1.2%
5.1% age for Whites over the ten-year time period in both arts and humanities and
Education
1.5%
6.7%
public administration and services.
Business
3.0%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 4.1%
2.0% Figure 3.18 shows total graduate enrollment by racial/ethnic group for four
Arts & Humanities 1.8%
0.1% aggregated broad fields: business, education, social and behavioral sci-
Total 5.3%
2.6% ences and arts and humanities, and natural sciences and engineering (bio-
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% logical and agricultural sciences, engineering, and physical sciences). The
broad fields of health sciences, public administration and services, and ‘oth-
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
er’ fields are not included in the figure.

of 1.3% in ‘other’ fields. Average annual growth in enrollment among tempo-
rary residents outpaced that of U.S. citizens and permanent residents in all
broad fields over the ten-year period.
As noted above, overall growth in total graduate enrollment among U.S. cit-
izens and permanent residents over the latest one-, five-, and ten-year peri-
ods has generally been greater for racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites.
This trend was also evident by broad field over the last decade, with just one
minor exception—average annual growth among White enrollees increased
by 1.0% in physical sciences between fall 1998 and fall 2008 compared with
0.4% for Asians/Pacific Islanders. In all other cases, growth was faster for
racial/ethnic minorities than for Whites over the ten-year period. Total gradu-
ate enrollment increased for all racial/ethnic minorities in all broad fields over
the ten-year period, but declined slightly for Whites in two broad fields—arts
and humanities and public administration and services (Table 3.18).
For American Indians/Alaskan Natives, average annual growth in graduate
enrollment between fall 1998 and fall 2008 ranged from a high of 11.8% in
60
Between fall 2007 and fall 2008, changes in total graduate enrollment for
American Indians/Alaskan Natives ranged from a 10.0% increase in social
and behavioral sciences, to a 0.5% decline in education, but these changes
should be interpreted cautiously given the small number of American
Indian/Alaskan Native graduate students. For Asians/Pacific Islanders,
changes in total enrollment ranged an 11.3% increase in biological and agri-
cultural sciences to a 2.1% decline in ‘other’ fields. For Blacks/African
Americans, total enrollment increased 11.7% in physical sciences, the
largest gain, compared with a 4.5% decline in ‘other’ fields. For
Hispanics/Latinos, total enrollment increased in all broad fields, with the
largest increase in business (9.3%), and the smallest in ‘other’ fields (1.3%).
And for Whites, total enrollment increased most in health sciences (5.2%)
between fall 2007 and fall 2008, but decreased by 0.4% in arts and human-
ities and 0.2% in education.
As described earlier, total enrollment growth has been stronger for women
than for men over the past one-, five- and ten-year periods. This pattern held
true by broad field between fall 1998 and fall 2008, with the average annual
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Figure 3.18 Average Annual Percentage Change in Figure 3.19 Average Annual Percentage Change in
Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity, Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, Fall
Fall 1998 to Fall 2008 1998 to Fall 2008

0.9% Other Fields 2.0%

0.4% 1.1%
White Women
0.7% 3.8%
Social & Behavioral Sci.
0.7% 1.1% Men
6.6% Public Admin. & Svcs. 1.6%
5.2% 0.5%
Hispanic/Latino
6.2% 3.7%
6.0% Physical Sciences
2.3%
5.6% Health Sciences 5.8%
Black/African 5.1% 1.8%
American 3.9% 6.1%
17.1% Engineering
3.0%
2.3% 1.5%
Asian/Pacific Education
3.5% 0.9%
Islander 5.7% 6.4%
7.0% Business
3.3%
American 4.3% 4.3%
3.7% Biological & Agric. Sci.
Indian/Alaskan 1.0%
4.4% 1.1%
Native 9.0% Arts & Humanities
0.6%
3.8%
0% 5% 10% 15% 20% Total
2.3%
Business Education Social Sci. & Humanities Natural Sci. & Engineering
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8%
Note: Includes U.S. citizens and permanent residents only.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

increases for women outpacing those for men in every broad field over the
ten-year period (Table 3.19 and Figure 3.19). For women, the average annu-
al rates of increase were greatest in business (6.4%), engineering (6.1%),
and health sciences (5.8%). Average annual growth was smallest in arts and
humanities (1.1%), education (1.5%), and public administration and services
(1.6%) over the decade. For men, the largest average annual gains were in
business (3.3%), engineering (3.0%), and physical sciences (2.3%), and the
smallest were in public administration and services (0.5%), arts and human-
ities (0.6%), and education (0.9%).
Between fall 2003 and fall 2008, both men and women experienced average
annual increases in total graduate enrollment in all broad fields except ‘oth-
er’ fields. For men, average annual increases over the five-year period
ranged from a high of 2.5% in public administration and services to a 0.7%
decline in ‘other fields, and for women, the largest increase was in health sci-
ences (7.4%), compared with a 0.9% decline in ‘other’ fields. While growth
for women outpaced that for men in all broad fields over the latest ten-year
period, this was not the case over the five-year period. The average annual
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
increase in arts and humanities was greater for men than for women, and
men and women experienced an identical average annual rate of increase in
public administration and services (2.5%) between fall 2003 and fall 2008. In
addition, while both men and women experienced a decline in ‘other’ fields
over the five-year period, the decline was greater for women (-0.9%) than
men (-0.7%).
Over the latest one-year period, changes in total graduate enrollment for
men ranged from a 4.7% increase in business to a 0.4% decline in educa-
tion. For women, the largest increase was in business (6.1%), but total enroll-
ment in ‘other’ fields declined by 0.1%. One-year total enrollment increases
were greater for women than for men in seven broad fields: biological and
agricultural sciences, business, education, health sciences, physical sci-
ences, public administration and services, and social and behavioral sci-
ences.
Total enrollment at the master’s degree and graduate certificate level
increased faster between fall 2007 and fall 2008 than total enrollment at the
61
 doctoral level—2.9% vs. 2.2% (Table 3.20). As shown in Figure 3.20, at the
master’s degree level total enrollment increased most in the one-year period
in biological and agricultural sciences (6.1%), business (5.5%), and engi-
neering (4.3%), remained flat in education (0.0%), and increased least in arts
and humanities (0.5%) and ‘other’ fields (0.7%). The one-year changes in
total enrollment varied more at the doctoral level than at the master’s/other
level. Health sciences (8.3%), public administration and services (7.8%), and
business (4.3%) experienced the largest increases in total enrollment. Total
enrollment declined in two broad fields at the doctoral level in fall 2008—‘oth-
er’ fields (-2.2%) and social and behavioral sciences (-0.6%). Five- and ten-
year trends are unavailable for total graduate enrollment by degree level.
At the doctoral level, total enrollment declined for both men and women in
‘other’ fields—by 3.2% for men and 1.2% for women. In addition, total enroll-
ment declined for women in doctoral programs in social and behavioral sci-
ences (-1.2%). For men, the largest increase at the doctoral level occurred
in public administration and services (7.5%), and for women the largest
increase occurred in health sciences (9.9%).
For more detailed information about trends in total graduate enrollment, see
Tables 3.12 through 3.20.
Trends in Graduate Certificates and Degrees

At the master’s degree and graduate certificate level, total enrollment
increased for both men and women in all broad fields in fall 2008, with two
exceptions—total enrollment declined among men in education by 0.6% and
among women in ‘other’ fields by 0.1%. In contrast, total enrollment at the
master’s/other level increased 5.2% for men in business and 7.1% for
women in physical sciences.
The number of doctoral degrees awarded increased 4.6% between 2006-07
and 2007-08 at the institutions that responded to the CGS/GRE Survey of
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees for both 2007 and 2008 (Table 3.21).
Over the one-year period, the increase in doctoral degree production was
greater at private, for-profit institutions (7.4%) and public institutions (5.5%)
than at private, not-for-profit institutions (2.5%).11

Master’s degree production increased 2.9% in the one-year period, with the
Figure 3.20 Percentage Change in Total Graduate Enrollment
largest increase at private, not-for-profit institutions (3.1%) and the smallest
by Broad Field and Level, Fall 2007 to Fall 2008
at private, for-profit institutions (2.0%). Master’s degree production increased
Master'sOther 2.9% at public institutions.
0.7%
Other Fields -2.2% Doctoral
3.5%
Social & Behavioral Sci. -0.6% At the graduate certificate level, 6.6% more certificates were awarded in
1.7%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 7.8% 2007-08 than in 2006-07. The number of certificates awarded increased
Physical Sciences 3.0% 18.6% at private, not-for-profit institutions in the one-year time period and
2.3%
Health Sciences
4.0%
8.3%
decreased 2.7% at public institutions, but these figures are based on a rela-
Engineering
4.3% tively small number of awards compared with the number of master’s and
2.0%
Education
0.0% doctoral degrees awarded each year.
2.0%
Business 5.5%
4.3%
6.1%
Both master’s and doctoral degree production have remained strong
Biological & Agric. Sci.
2.4% throughout the last five years, with a 4.9% average annual increase in
Arts & Humanities 0.5%
2.0% degree production at the doctoral level between 2002-03 and 2007-08, and
Total 2.9%
2.2%
-4% -2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 11 Data on private, for-profit institutions are based on a small number of responding institu-
tions and should therefore be interpreted cautiously. The data on degrees awarded by pri-
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees vate, for-profit institutions are likely not representative of the entire universe of for-profit
institutions in the United States.

62
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
a 4.0% average annual increase at the master’s level. Over the last decade,
the number of master’s degrees awarded increased at a faster rate than the
number of doctorates. Doctoral degree production increased at an average
annual rate of 2.5% between 1997-98 and 2007-08 and master’s degree pro-
duction at 3.9% (Figure 3.21). Five- and ten-year trend data are not available
for graduate-level certificates.
At the doctoral level between 2006-07 and 2007-08, degree production
increased fastest at research universities with high research activity (RU/H)
with a 9.8% increase (Table 3.22). Doctoral degree production increased
3.9% at research universities with very high research activity (RU/VH), but
declined by 3.3% at doctoral/research universities in the one-year time peri-
od. Master’s colleges and universities awarded 7.0% more doctorates in
2007-08 than in 2006-07, but the numbers of doctoral awards at institutions
with this Carnegie classification are small.
Over the past five- and ten-year periods, doctoral degree production
increased across all Carnegie classifications. Between 2002-03 and 2007-
08, growth was strongest at specialized and baccalaureate institutions
(7.0%) and master’s colleges and universities (6.9%), but these institutions
Figure 3.21 Trends in Graduate Degrees Awarded by
Institution Type, 1997-98 to 2007-08
8%
6%
4%
5.5%
4.9%
% Change 2006-07 to 2007-08
Avg. Annual % Chg. 2002-03 to 2007-08
Avg. Annual % Chg. 1997-98 to 2007-08
award only a small percentage of all doctorates awarded in the United
States. Between 1997-98 and 2007-08, growth was also strongest at mas-
ter’s colleges and universities (13.4%) and specialized and baccalaureate
institutions (8.7%). Research universities with very high research activity
(RU/VH) awarded nearly two-thirds of the doctorates granted each year, and
degree production at these institutions increased by 5.2% annually on aver-
age between 2002-03 and 2007-08 and 1.8% annually on average between
1997-98 and 2007-08.
At the master’s level between 2006-07 and 2007-08, degree production
increased fastest at research universities with very high research activity
(RU/VH) with a 5.2% increase. Master’s degree production increased 3.0%
at research universities with high research activity (RU/H), 1.9% at master’s
colleges and universities, and 0.8% at doctoral/research universities. The
number of master’s degrees awarded by institutions with other Carnegie
classifications decreased by 0.5% in the one-year period.
As was the case at the doctoral level, master’s degree production increased
across all Carnegie classifications over the past five- and ten-year periods.
Between 2002-03 and 2007-08, growth was strongest at specialized and
baccalaureate institutions (8.4%) and doctoral/research universities (6.3%).
Between 1997-98 and 2007-08, growth was strongest at specialized and
baccalaureate institutions (7.2%) and master’s colleges and universities
(7.1%). The ten-year growth for master’s colleges and universities is of par-
ticular importance since institutions with this Carnegie classifications award
more than one-third of the master’s degrees granted each year.
Much of the growth in graduate degree production has been the result of an
increase in the number of women earning degrees (Table 3.23). Doctoral

5.0%

degree production increased 5.7% for women between 2006-07 and 2007-
4.6%

4.2%

4.0%
3.9%

3.4%

2%
3.2%
3.1%

08, compared with 3.5% for men (Figure 3.22). Between 1997-98 and 2007-
3.0%
2.9%

2.9%

2.7%
2.8%
2.5%

2.5%

1.6%

08, the average annual rate of increase for women also outpaced that for
0%
Total Doctoral Public Private, not- Total Master's Public Private, not-
men—3.9% vs. 1.4%. At the master’s level, degree production increased
Degrees Institutions for-profit Degrees Institutions for-profit 3.3% for women between 2006-07 and 2007-08, compared with 2.5% for
Institutions Institutions
men. And over the ten year period, the average annual rate of increase for
Doctoral Degrees Master's Degrees
women was 4.8% versus 3.0% for men.
Note: Degrees awarded by private, for-profit institutions are included in the totals but not shown separately.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

63
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008

Figure 3.22 Trends in Graduate Degrees Awarded by Gender
and Degree Level, 1997-98 to 2007-08
8%
% Change 2006-07 to 2007-08
Avg. Annual % Chg. 2002-03 to 2007-08
6%
Avg. Annual % Chg. 1997-98 to 2007-08
4%
5.7%
5.7%
4.2%
3.9%
3.5%
2%
2.7%
2.5%
1.4%
0%
Men Women Men
Doctoral Degrees
Note: Degrees awarded by private, for-profit institutions are included in the totals but not shown separately.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
At the doctoral level, the rate of increase in degree production for women sur-
passed that for men in both public institutions and private, not-for-profit insti-
tutions over the one-, five- and ten-year time periods. For example, at pri-
vate, not-for-profit institutions, the average annual rate of increase for women
between 2002-03 and 2007-08 was 4.7%, compared with 3.8% for men.
At the master’s degree level, the rate of increase in degree production for
women also exceeded that for men in both public institutions and private,
not-for-profit institutions, but only over the five- and ten-year periods.
Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, master’s degree production increased 3.4%
for men at public institutions, compared with 2.6% for women. At private, not-
for-profit institutions, however, women earned 3.9% more master’s degrees
in 2007-08 than in 2006-07, while the increase for men was 2.3%.
The growth in master’s and doctoral degree production for women exceed-
ed the growth for men in nearly all Carnegie classifications across the one-,
five-, and ten-year periods (Table 3.24). Most notably, doctoral degree pro-
duction for women increased 2.9% annually on average at research univer-
sities with very high research activity (RU/VH) between 1997-98 and 2007-
64
08, compared with a 0.9% increase for men. As noted above, institutions with
this Carnegie classification award the majority of all doctoral degrees.
The number of graduate certificates awarded increased 6.6% overall in
2007-08, but there was wide variation by field (Table 3.25). The one-year
changes ranged from an increase of 202.5% in social and behavioral sci-
ences to a 22.6% decline in biological and agricultural sciences, although
much of the fluctuation can be attributed to the small numbers of certificates
awarded in most broad fields. In education, the broad field in which the most
5.0%
4.8%
graduate certificates are awarded each year, the number of certificates
3.3%
3.0%
granted fell 1.6% in 2007-08. The decline for women in this broad field (-
8.2%) was partially offset by a 2.1% increase for men.
Women
Master's Degrees At the master’s level, degree production increased 2.9% overall between
2006-07 and 2007-08, with year-to-year changes by broad field ranging from
a high of 9.6% in engineering to a 0.6% decline in education (Table 3.26).
Growth was also strong over the one-year period in health sciences (8.0%),
social and behavioral sciences (5.7%), and business (5.3%).
Between 2002-03 and 2007-08, the average annual increases in master’s
degree production were greatest in social and behavioral sciences (7.2%)
and health sciences and public administration and services (both 5.3%). The
average annual rates of increase were lowest in physical sciences (1.2%),
business (2.2%), and ‘other’ fields (2.6%).
Over the last decade, master’s degree production increased in all broad
fields (Figure 3.23). The average annual increases were greatest in business
(5.0%) and smallest in public administration and services (0.7%).
As noted earlier, overall master’s degree production has increased in large
part due to a rise in the number of women earning degrees. This trend is also
seen at the broad field level. Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, the increase for
women exceeded that for men in seven of the ten broad fields. In one broad
field (education) both men and women experienced a decline in the one-year
period, but the decrease was smaller for women than for men.
Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, master’s degree production increased by
the largest percentage for men in health sciences (10.6%), engineering
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 in business (Table 3.27). However, these two broad fields are the smallest
Figure 3.23 Average Annual Percentage Change in Master's
at the doctoral level, so this increase and decrease are based on relatively
Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 1997-98 to 2007-08
few doctoral degrees. Growth was also strong over the one-year period in
health sciences (12.8%), ‘other’ fields (10.9%), and social and behavioral
Other Fields 1.9%
sciences (8.3%).
Social & Behavioral Sci. 3.5%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 0.7%
Between 2002-03 and 2007-08, the average annual increases in doctoral
Physical Sciences 2.8%
Health Sciences 2.1%
degree production were greatest in engineering (11.1%), health sciences
Engineering 2.5%
(10.2%), and physical sciences (8.6%). The average annual rates of
Education 2.7% increase were lowest in education (0.1%), arts and humanities (0.6%), and
Business 5.0% ‘other’ fields (1.2%).
Biological & Agric. Sci. 2.1%
Arts & Humanities 1.0% Over the last decade, doctoral degree production increased in all broad fields
Total 3.9% except arts and humanities (Figure 3.25). The average annual increases
0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% were greatest in health sciences (9.0%), compared with a 0.1% decline in
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
arts and humanities.

(9.1%), and ‘other’ fields (6.2%). In contrast, men earned 1.9% fewer mas-
ter’s degrees in education in 2007-08 than in 2006-07, and earned 0.6%
Figure 3.24 Average Annual Percentage Change in Master's
fewer in physical sciences. For women, engineering (12.1%), health sci- Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08
ences (7.2%), and business (6.9%) had the largest increases, and arts and
humanities (2.8%), ‘other’ fields (3.1%), and biological and agricultural sci-
2.3%
Other Fields
ences (3.2%), the smallest. Women earned 0.2% fewer degrees in educa- 1.1%
5.5%
tion in 2007-08 than in 2006-07. Social & Behavioral Sci. 1.1%
1.4%
Public Admin. & Svcs. -1.4% Women
3.2% Men
Between 1997-98 and 2007-08, both men and women experienced increas- Physical Sciences
2.7%
es in the number of master’s degrees awarded in all broad fields, with one 2.7%
Health Sciences
0.5%
exception; the number of master’s degrees awarded to men in public admin- Engineering
4.3%
2.0%
istration and services declined 1.4% annually on average over the ten-year Education
2.9%
2.0%
period (Figure 3.24). Growth for women exceeded that for men in all broad Business 8.0%
3.8%
fields. The average annual increases for women ranged from a high of 8.0% 3.8%
Biological & Agric. Sci.
0.2%
in business to a low of 1.1% in arts and humanities. For men, business 1.1%
Arts & Humanities
(3.8%) was the only field where growth exceeded three percent. 0.9%
Total 4.8%
3.0%

At the doctoral level, degree production increased 4.6% overall between -2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10%

2006-07 and 2007-08, with year-to-year changes by broad field ranging Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees
from a high of 16.7% in public administration and services to a 7.4% decline
65
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Figure 3.25 Average Annual Percentage Change in Doctoral Figure 3.26 Average Annual Percentage Change in Doctoral
Degrees Awarded by Broad Field, 1997-98 to 2007-08 Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08

Other Fields 1.4%

2.7% Other Fields 3.7%
Social & Behavioral Sci. 0.5% 1.8%
Social & Behavioral Sci. -0.8 % Women
Public Admin. & Svcs. 1.9% 2.5% Men
Public Admin. & Svcs. 0.3%
Physical Sciences 1.8%
3.4%
Physical Sciences 1.1%
Health Sciences 9.0%
12.0%
Engineering 3.3% Health Sciences 4.6%
Education 0.7% 8.5%
Engineering 2.3%
Business 1.8% 1.1%
Education -0.1%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 2.6%
Business 3.3%
Arts & Humanities -0.1% -0.1%
Biological & Agric. Sci. 5.2%
Total 2.5% 1.0%
Arts & Humanities 0.5%
-1% 0% 1% 2% 3% 4% 5% 6% 7% 8% 9% 10% -0.7 %
Total 3.9%
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees 1.4%

-2% 0% 2% 4% 6% 8% 10% 12% 14%

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

While doctoral degree production has also increased in large part due to a
rise in the number of women earning degrees, smaller numbers of women
and men in some broad fields result in relatively large year-to-year percent-
age changes. Between 2006-07 and 2007-08, doctoral degree production
increased most for women in health sciences (13.4%), public administration
and services (12.7%), and social and behavioral sciences (10.1%), but
decreased in two broad fields—business (-11.0%) and ‘other’ fields (-3.8%).
Doctoral degree production for men increased by 25.6% in ‘other’ fields and
23.3% in public administration and services, but these increases are based
on small numbers of men in these broad fields. Men earned 5.4% fewer doc-
torates in business in 2007-08 than in 2006-07, and earned 0.8% fewer doc-
torates in arts and humanities.
awarded to men declined in four broad fields (Figure 3.26). Growth for
women exceeded that for men in all broad fields except ‘other’ fields. The
average annual increases for women ranged from a high of 12.0% in health
sciences to a low of 0.5% in arts and humanities. For men, health sciences
(4.6%) and ‘other’ fields (3.7%) were the only fields where growth exceeded
three percent.
For more detailed information about trends in graduate degrees and certifi-
cates, see Tables 3.21 through 3.27.

Between 1997-98 and 2007-08, women experienced increases in the num-

ber of doctorates awarded in all broad fields, but the number of doctorates

66
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.1 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Institution Type,
Carnegie Classification, and Degree Level, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

Institution Type, Carnegie % Change,
% Change, % Change,
Classification, and Degree Level 2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.8% 0.9% 3.8%

Institution Type
Public 4.4% 0.4% 3.2%
Private, not-for-profit 5.5% 1.8% 5.3%
Private, for-profit S S N/A
Carnegie Classification *
Research Universities (RU/VH) 3.6% -1.0% 3.5%
Research Universities (RU/H) 5.2% 2.7% 3.7%
Doctoral/Research Universities 14.3% 6.9% 6.2%
Master's Colleges and Universities 4.3% 3.5% 4.6%
Other 9.2% 5.6% 4.0%
Degree Level
Doctoral 1.9% N/A N/A
Master's/Other ** 5.7% N/A N/A

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
** Includes applications to graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.
Notes: Five- and ten-year trend data are unavailable for applications by level. N/A = Not available. S = Suppressed due to small number of
institutional respondents in this category.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

67
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.2 Applications for Admission to Graduate School by Broad Field,
1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

% Change,
Broad Field % Change, % Change,
2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.8% 0.9% 3.8%

Arts and Humanities -0.1% 2.4% 3.2%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 1.0% 1.7% 2.8%

Business 12.0% 2.9% 2.2%

Education -0.5% -0.9% 1.8%

Engineering 4.7% -3.5% 4.5%

Health Sciences 13.1% 5.0% 3.6%

Physical Sciences 3.9% -1.8% 5.5%

Public Administration and Services 4.0% 2.6% 0.6%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 2.8% 1.0% 3.3%

Other Fields 1.3% -0.3% 1.0%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

68
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.3 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type and Carnegie
Classification, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

Carnegie Classification and % Change,
% Change, % Change,
Institution Type * 2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.5% 3.3% 3.9%

Public 2.0% 3.0% 3.9%

Private, not-for-profit 7.0% 3.8% 3.9%

Private, for-profit S N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/VH) 2.2% 1.4% 2.9%

Public 1.6% 1.3% 2.9%

Private, not-for-profit 3.8% 1.8% 3.0%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/H) 3.2% 4.7% 4.6%

Public 2.0% 5.3% 5.3%

Private, not-for-profit 6.6% 3.3% 3.3%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Continued on the following page.

See notes at end of table.

69
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.3 (continued) First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type and
Carnegie Classification, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

Carnegie Classification and % Change,
% Change, % Change,
Institution Type * 2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Doctoral/Research Universities 16.5% 6.3% 8.4%

Public 3.4% 5.8% 9.8%

Private, not-for-profit 17.2% 6.7% 7.5%

Private, for-profit S N/A N/A

Master's Colleges and Universities 3.4% 3.6% 3.6%

Public 2.7% 3.1% 3.4%

Private, not-for-profit 4.3% 4.7% 4.0%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Other 5.3% 6.0% 3.0%

Public 0.0% 4.3% 4.2%

Private, not-for-profit 14.3% 7.3% 2.0%

Private, for-profit S N/A N/A

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: N/A = Not available. S = Suppressed due to small number of institutional respondents in this category.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

70
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.4 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity,
1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

% Change,
Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity % Change, % Change,
2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.5% 3.3% 3.9%

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents 4.7% 2.8% 3.4%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 8.8% 6.9% 5.2%

Asian/Pacific Islander 6.7% 3.1% 5.6%

Black/African American 6.5% 6.3% 7.6%

Hispanic/Latino 10.6% 8.4% 8.3%

White 3.5% 1.8% 2.3%

Temporary Residents 3.3% 5.7% 5.5%

Other/Unknown 1.3% 4.3% N/A

Notes: See page 2 for a description of each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. Ten-year trend data are not available for 'Other/Unknown.'
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

71
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.5 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity,
and Gender, 1998 to 2008

Men Women

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.2% 2.8% 3.4% 4.2% 3.7% 4.3%

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents 4.9% 1.9% 2.7% 4.9% 3.3% 3.9%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 5.9% 6.7% 4.9% 10.7% 7.1% 5.8%

Asian/Pacific Islander 7.1% 2.0% 4.9% 6.5% 4.2% 6.4%

Black/African American 8.3% 5.7% 6.4% 6.1% 6.6% 8.3%

Hispanic/Latino 9.8% 6.6% 7.1% 11.5% 9.5% 9.2%

White 3.8% 1.1% 1.9% 3.6% 2.2% 2.8%

Temporary Residents 3.1% 5.1% 4.7% 4.5% 5.9% 6.9%

Other/Unknown 0.3% 3.4% N/A 1.9% 5.2% N/A

Note: See page 2 for a description of each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. Ten-year trend data are not available for 'Other/Unknown.'
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

72
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.6 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

% Change,
Broad Field % Change, % Change,
2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.5% 3.3% 3.9%

Arts and Humanities 1.2% 1.8% 1.9%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 3.4% 2.7% 2.8%

Business 5.6% 3.9% 3.4%

Education 3.1% 2.7% 2.7%

Engineering 7.9% 4.7% 5.1%

Health Sciences 6.7% 5.7% 4.8%

Physical Sciences 4.1% 1.4% 3.5%

Public Administration and Services 2.4% 3.4% 1.6%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 4.3% 1.9% 3.1%

Other Fields 3.2% 0.4% 2.2%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

73
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.7 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance Status,
1998 to 2008

Full-Time Part-Time

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Broad Field
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 2.7% 3.0% 4.3% 7.1% 3.8% 3.4%

Arts and Humanities -0.7% 1.9% 2.0% 8.3% 1.2% 1.4%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 2.4% 2.7% 3.2% 9.5% 1.6% 0.3%

Business 7.6% 3.9% 3.5% 2.5% 3.7% 2.2%

Education -2.6% 1.1% 3.5% 7.7% 4.2% 2.7%

Engineering 7.7% 4.0% 5.9% 9.0% 7.2% 2.9%

Health Sciences 4.5% 4.5% 3.8% 10.9% 8.3% 7.1%

Physical Sciences 4.6% 2.1% 4.6% 2.3% -0.9% 0.2%

Public Administration and Services 0.3% 3.3% 1.8% 6.3% 3.4% 1.3%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 2.1% 1.6% 3.3% 11.5% 2.8% 2.5%

Other Fields 3.7% 1.8% 3.3% 2.5% -1.4% 1.4%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

74
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.8 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship,
1998 to 2008

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Temporary Residents

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Broad Field
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.7% 2.8% 3.4% 3.3% 5.7% 5.5%

Arts and Humanities 1.6% 1.7% 1.3% -4.1% 1.5% 0.9%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 4.7% 2.7% 2.3% -1.1% 3.8% 4.8%

Business 6.2% 2.9% 2.8% 6.9% 7.8% 5.3%

Education 3.6% 2.0% 3.2% 3.5% 5.3% 6.3%

Engineering 10.9% 1.7% 2.7% 5.5% 7.6% 6.4%

Health Sciences 7.2% 7.2% 5.5% -0.4% 3.9% 7.4%

Physical Sciences 1.9% -1.1% 1.8% 7.9% 5.5% 5.8%

Public Administration and Services 2.0% 3.3% 1.3% 7.3% 5.3% 4.9%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 5.4% 3.4% 3.5% 2.3% 0.6% 2.2%

Other Fields 2.3% 0.0% 1.9% 5.4% 2.5% 2.0%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

75
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.9 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity,
1998 to 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only)

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.

% Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual %
Broad Field
'07 - '08 Change, Change, '07 - '08 Change, Change, '07 - '08 Change, Change,
'03 - '08 '98 - '08 '03 - '08 '98 - '08 '03 - '08 '98 - '08

American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian/Pacific Islander Black/African American

Total 8.8% 6.9% 5.2% 6.7% 3.1% 5.6% 6.5% 6.3% 7.6%
Arts & Humanities -7.4% 4.1% 2.2% 16.4% 3.0% 3.1% 0.9% 2.3% 1.6%
Bio. & Agric. Sci. 40.0% 9.2% 4.2% 6.2% 8.6% 7.6% -1.0% 9.0% 6.2%
Business 10.3% 11.5% 7.9% 3.9% 2.8% 7.7% 9.2% 10.0% 7.4%
Education 8.5% 4.2% 1.5% 2.8% 3.8% 6.5% 4.2% 3.0% 6.0%
Engineering -13.5% -0.4% 4.3% 13.8% 1.0% 3.3% 10.0% 5.1% 5.4%
Health Sciences -3.0% 12.8% 7.3% 7.5% 7.6% 7.2% 10.2% 10.0% 13.0%
Physical Sciences 9.1% 6.5% 4.1% 15.2% -3.8% 1.0% 7.9% 3.9% 7.5%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 4.5% 3.0% 2.0% 1.8% 5.2% 4.3% 5.0% 5.2% 3.0%
Social & Behav. Sci. 5.9% 3.4% 4.3% 9.0% 2.7% 7.6% 9.2% 6.7% 7.5%
Other Fields 25.0% 18.7% 7.5% 3.2% 1.1% 4.2% -5.9% 0.1% 3.2%

Hispanic/Latino White
Total 10.6% 8.4% 8.3% 3.5% 1.8% 2.3%
Arts & Humanities 10.6% 7.6% 5.2% 0.0% 1.1% 0.9%
Bio. & Agric. Sci. 0.3% 5.9% 7.7% 5.0% 1.5% 1.3%
Business 11.2% 8.4% 7.1% 5.4% 1.5% 1.5%
Education 16.7% 10.7% 5.9% 1.9% 1.0% 2.5% Notes: See Appendix B for the survey
Engineering 30.4% 5.0% 8.0% 8.8% 1.4% 2.1% taxonomy. See page 2 for a
Health Sciences 13.5% 13.1% 15.1% 6.4% 6.4% 4.2% description of each race/ethnicity
Physical Sciences 7.3% 8.3% 6.5% -1.1% -1.7% 1.3% category.
Public Admin. & Svcs. 10.8% 7.6% 9.0% -0.2% 2.2% 0.1%
Social & Behav. Sci. 4.4% 15.6% 7.2% 4.5% 1.8% 2.4% Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Other Fields 7.5% -2.3% 4.7% 2.7% 0.1% 1.4% Enrollment and Degrees

76
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.10 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender,
1998 to 2008

Men Women

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Broad Field
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 4.2% 2.8% 3.4% 4.2% 3.7% 4.3%

Arts and Humanities 0.4% 2.0% 1.4% 1.7% 1.5% 2.1%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 5.0% 3.3% 2.2% 2.0% 2.4% 3.5%

Business 5.5% 2.7% 2.7% 5.8% 5.8% 4.3%

Education 2.3% 2.7% 2.3% 3.2% 2.7% 2.8%

Engineering 8.4% 4.9% 4.8% 6.3% 4.1% 7.0%

Health Sciences 6.9% 3.1% 2.8% 6.6% 6.5% 5.3%

Physical Sciences 4.0% 1.2% 3.3% 4.2% 1.9% 3.8%

Public Administration and Services 4.2% 3.3% 0.8% 1.8% 3.4% 1.8%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 2.5% 1.7% 2.4% 5.3% 2.0% 3.7%

Other Fields 5.9% 0.7% 1.6% 1.6% 0.2% 2.7%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

77
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.11 First-Time Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Degree Level, and
Gender, 2007 to 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other *

% Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, 2007 to 2008

Broad Field Total Men Women Total Men Women

Total 4.2% 3.0% 5.2% 4.5% 4.4% 4.5%

Arts and Humanities 1.2% 3.2% -0.7% 1.5% -0.3% 2.5%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 0.0% 1.2% -1.0% 6.4% 8.9% 4.5%

Business 18.1% 12.0% 26.4% 5.8% 6.0% 5.5%

Education 6.8% 1.4% 9.4% 2.2% 2.1% 2.6%

Engineering 7.3% 6.5% 10.5% 8.2% 9.0% 5.1%

Health Sciences 15.8% 16.3% 15.7% 5.2% 4.7% 5.5%

Physical Sciences 2.2% 1.2% 3.9% 5.7% 6.0% 5.0%

Public Administration and Services 20.7% 18.8% 21.9% 2.1% 3.6% 1.6%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 2.1% 3.2% 1.3% 5.1% 2.1% 6.8%

Other Fields -10.0% -9.1% -10.8% 4.4% 7.7% 2.5%

* Includes first-time enrollment in graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy. Five- and ten-year trend data are unavailable for first-time graduate enrollment by level.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

78
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.12 Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type and Carnegie
Classification, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

Carnegie Classification and % Change,
% Change, % Change,
Institution Type * 2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 3.0% 2.2% 3.2%

Public 2.5% 1.5% 2.4%

Private, not-for-profit 3.7% 2.6% 3.1%

Private, for-profit 3.7% S S

Research Universities (RU/VH) 1.9% 1.2% 2.2%

Public 1.9% 0.8% 2.0%

Private, not-for-profit 1.8% 2.3% 2.7%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/H) 3.2% 2.1% 1.9%

Public 3.1% 1.9% 2.1%

Private, not-for-profit 3.7% 2.4% 1.3%

Private, for-profit N/A N/A N/A

Continued on the following page.

See notes at end of table.

79
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.12 (continued) Total Graduate Enrollment by Institution Type and
Carnegie Classification, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

Carnegie Classification and % Change,
% Change, % Change,
Institution Type * 2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Doctoral/Research Universities 4.6% 2.6% 4.3%

Public 2.0% 2.3% 3.8%

Private, not-for-profit 3.6% 2.9% 4.7%

Private, for-profit S N/A N/A

Master's Colleges and Universities 3.0% 2.9% 5.2%

Public 3.0% 1.6% 3.0%

Private, not-for-profit 5.0% 2.6% 4.3%

Private, for-profit S S S

Other 6.3% 7.9% 6.8%

Public 2.7% 7.9% 4.6%

Private, not-for-profit 6.9% 4.6% 2.2%

Private, for-profit S S S

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: N/A = Not available. S = Suppressed due to small number of institutional respondents in this category.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

80
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.13 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity,
1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

% Change,
Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity % Change, % Change,
2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 3.0% 2.2% 3.2%

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents 3.2% 2.1% 2.6%

American Indian/Alaskan Native 2.1% 5.6% 6.5%

Asian/Pacific Islander 3.6% 2.9% 4.5%

Black/African American 6.9% 6.6% 8.8%

Hispanic/Latino 5.5% 4.8% 6.4%

White 2.2% 1.1% 1.5%

Temporary Residents 2.0% 2.0% 5.3%

Other/Unknown 1.0% 4.8% N/A

Note: See page 2 for a description of each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. Ten-year trend data are not available for 'Other/Unknown.'
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

81
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.14 Total Graduate Enrollment by Citizenship, Race/Ethnicity, and
and Gender, 1998 to 2008

Men Women

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Citizenship and Race/Ethnicity
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 1.6% 1.3% 2.3% 2.7% 2.8% 3.8%

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents 1.8% 1.1% 1.5% 4.1% 2.9% 3.4%

American Indian/Alaskan Native -0.2% 4.5% 4.6% 3.2% 6.4% 8.1%

Asian/Pacific Islander 2.4% 1.8% 3.4% 4.6% 4.0% 5.6%

Black/African American 6.1% 4.7% 6.1% 7.3% 7.6% 10.2%

Hispanic/Latino 4.0% 3.8% 4.8% 6.3% 5.6% 7.3%

White 1.0% 0.5% 0.7% 3.1% 1.7% 2.0%

Temporary Residents 2.3% 1.4% 4.5% 1.7% 3.3% 6.9%

Other/Unknown 1.2% 3.5% N/A 1.1% 5.7% N/A

Note: See page 2 for a description of each citizenship and race/ethnicity category. Ten-year trend data are not available for 'Other/Unknown.'
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

82
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.15 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, 1998 to 2008

Average Annual Average Annual

% Change,
Broad Field % Change, % Change,
2007 to 2008
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 3.0% 2.2% 3.2%

Arts and Humanities 1.1% 1.2% 0.9%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 3.8% 2.9% 2.6%

Business 5.7% 1.9% 4.0%

Education 0.5% 1.6% 1.8%

Engineering 3.3% 1.5% 3.5%

Health Sciences 5.0% 6.1% 4.8%

Physical Sciences 2.7% 0.5% 2.8%

Public Administration and Services 2.7% 2.5% 1.3%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 1.6% 2.6% 2.6%

Other Fields 0.5% -0.8% 1.7%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

83
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.16 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Attendance
Status, 1998 to 2008

Full-Time Part-Time

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Broad Field
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 3.3% 2.7% 4.5% 3.2% 1.5% 2.0%

Arts and Humanities 0.6% 1.5% 1.4% 2.5% 0.4% 0.0%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 3.2% 3.1% 3.2% 6.5% 1.4% 0.6%

Business 9.4% 2.5% 6.8% 1.7% 1.1% 1.4%

Education 0.2% 2.9% 2.4% 0.3% 0.7% 1.5%

Engineering 3.6% 1.3% 4.6% 2.7% 2.0% 1.4%

Health Sciences 4.5% 5.8% 5.7% 5.5% 6.5% 3.9%

Physical Sciences 3.1% 1.4% 4.0% 1.6% -1.2% 0.4%

Public Administration and Services 1.6% 3.1% 1.4% 2.8% 1.6% 1.3%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 3.2% 3.7% 3.3% -1.4% 0.0% 1.2%

Other Fields 1.5% 0.3% 2.8% -0.8% -1.9% 1.0%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

84
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.17 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Citizenship,
1998 to 2008

U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Temporary Residents

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Broad Field
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 3.2% 2.1% 2.6% 2.0% 2.0% 5.3%

Arts and Humanities 0.7% 0.8% 0.1% -0.8% 0.6% 1.8%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 4.6% 2.8% 2.0% 0.1% 3.0% 4.1%

Business 5.5% 1.8% 3.0% 6.9% 6.0% 6.7%

Education 1.0% 1.0% 1.5% 1.9% 5.3% 5.1%

Engineering 3.1% 1.9% 1.2% 3.3% 0.7% 6.3%

Health Sciences 5.4% 7.3% 5.1% -2.4% 1.7% 5.8%

Physical Sciences 1.9% 0.1% 1.4% 3.6% 0.6% 4.8%

Public Administration and Services 1.6% 2.2% 0.8% 4.1% 6.1% 4.9%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 1.5% 3.2% 2.4% 1.3% 1.1% 3.0%

Other Fields -0.3% -0.7% 1.2% 0.3% 0.0% 1.3%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

85
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.18 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Race/Ethnicity,
1998 to 2008 (U.S. Citizens and Permanent Residents Only)

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.

% Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual %
Broad Field
'07 - '08 Change, Change, '07 - '08 Change, Change, '07 - '08 Change, Change,
'03 - '08 '98 - '08 '03 - '08 '98 - '08 '03 - '08 '98 - '08

American Indian/Alaskan Native Asian/Pacific Islander Black/African American

Total 2.1% 5.6% 6.5% 3.6% 2.9% 4.5% 6.9% 6.6% 8.8%
Arts & Humanities 5.1% 3.5% 1.4% 4.4% 1.1% 1.4% 3.1% 1.5% 1.6%
Bio. & Agric. Sci. 8.7% 6.1% 6.1% 11.3% 7.6% 5.1% 7.2% 10.5% 6.0%
Business 1.7% 5.6% 9.0% 6.6% 3.2% 7.0% 8.8% 9.4% 17.1%
Education -0.5% 3.0% 4.4% -0.9% 4.1% 5.7% 5.7% 4.7% 3.9%
Engineering 7.5% 4.5% 6.2% 4.8% 1.7% 2.5% 3.9% 5.3% 4.9%
Health Sciences 7.2% 14.5% 11.8% 5.8% 6.8% 6.8% 6.6% 11.1% 11.6%
Physical Sciences 2.2% 4.9% 1.6% 5.0% -3.0% 0.4% 11.7% 4.5% 5.8%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 0.2% 0.8% 2.1% 4.2% 5.6% 4.1% 4.4% 4.0% 2.2%
Social & Behav. Sci. 10.0% 5.5% 5.6% 4.3% 3.6% 5.5% -1.3% 9.8% 7.0%
Other Fields 4.8% 10.8% 10.7% -2.1% 2.4% 2.6% -4.5% -0.5% 2.3%

Hispanic/Latino White
Total 5.5% 4.8% 6.4% 2.2% 1.1% 1.5%
Arts & Humanities 7.6% 4.8% 3.4% -0.4% 0.3% -0.2%
Bio. & Agric. Sci. 8.0% 9.0% 8.8% 3.3% 1.5% 1.1%
Business 9.3% 4.2% 6.1% 4.3% 0.1% 0.7%
Education 5.3% 4.5% 6.2% -0.2% 0.1% 0.7% Notes: See Appendix B for the survey
Engineering 7.7% 4.6% 5.0% 2.2% 1.5% 0.5% taxonomy. See page 2 for a description
Health Sciences 5.5% 7.0% 10.3% 5.2% 6.8% 4.0% of each race/ethnicity category.
Physical Sciences 4.0% 2.9% 6.9% 0.5% 0.1% 1.0%
Public Admin. & Svcs. 4.1% 7.0% 6.4% 0.2% 1.1% -0.2%
Social & Behav. Sci. 4.1% 7.3% 6.9% 1.4% 1.9% 1.2% Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate
Other Fields 1.3% -0.1% 2.9% 0.2% -0.9% 0.9% Enrollment and Degrees

86
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.19 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field and Gender, 1998 to 2008

Men Women

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Broad Field
2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, % Change,
2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008 2003 to 2008 1998 to 2008

Total 1.6% 1.3% 2.3% 2.7% 2.8% 3.8%

Arts and Humanities 1.5% 1.5% 0.6% 1.0% 1.0% 1.1%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 3.3% 2.0% 1.0% 4.4% 4.0% 4.3%

Business 4.7% 1.2% 3.3% 6.1% 4.0% 6.4%

Education -0.4% 1.2% 0.9% 0.5% 1.8% 1.5%

Engineering 3.5% 1.3% 3.0% 2.5% 2.7% 6.1%

Health Sciences 3.2% 1.9% 1.8% 5.3% 7.4% 5.8%

Physical Sciences 1.3% 0.1% 2.3% 5.2% 1.3% 3.7%

Public Administration and Services 1.9% 2.5% 0.5% 2.2% 2.5% 1.6%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 0.9% 1.8% 1.1% 2.1% 3.1% 3.8%

Other Fields 1.1% -0.7% 1.1% -0.1% -0.9% 2.0%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

87
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.20 Total Graduate Enrollment by Broad Field, Degree Level, and
Gender, 2007 to 2008

Doctoral Master's/Other *

% Change, 2007 to 2008 % Change, 2007 to 2008

Broad Field Total Men Women Total Men Women

Total 2.2% 1.4% 2.9% 2.9% 2.8% 2.8%

Arts and Humanities 2.0% 2.6% 1.4% 0.5% 0.4% 0.6%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences 2.4% 2.3% 2.6% 6.1% 5.1% 6.9%

Business 4.3% 2.3% 7.2% 5.5% 5.2% 6.1%

Education 2.0% 0.4% 2.8% 0.0% -0.6% 0.3%

Engineering 2.0% 1.8% 2.8% 4.3% 4.8% 2.4%

Health Sciences 8.3% 4.4% 9.9% 4.0% 3.1% 4.4%

Physical Sciences 2.3% 1.8% 3.5% 3.0% 0.7% 7.1%

Public Administration and Services 7.8% 7.5% 8.0% 1.7% 1.1% 1.8%

Social and Behavioral Sciences -0.6% 0.3% -1.2% 3.5% 1.2% 4.7%

Other Fields -2.2% -3.2% -1.2% 0.7% 2.2% -0.1%

* Includes total enrollment in graduate-level certificate and education specialist programs.

Notes: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy. Five- and ten-year trend data are unavailable for total graduate enrollment by level.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

88
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.21 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level and
Institution Type, 1997-98 to 2007-08

Average Annual Average Annual

% Change,
Degree Level and Institution Type % Change, % Change,
'06-07 to '07-08
'02-03 to '07-08 '97-98 to '07-08

Doctoral Degrees 4.6% 4.9% 2.5%

Public 5.5% 5.0% 2.8%

Private, not-for-profit 2.5% 4.2% 1.6%

Private, for-profit 7.4% S S

Master's Degrees 2.9% 4.0% 3.9%

Public 2.9% 3.0% 2.7%

Private, not-for-profit 3.1% 3.2% 3.4%

Private, for-profit 2.0% S S

Graduate-Level Certificates 6.6% N/A N/A

Public -2.7% N/A N/A

Private, not-for-profit 18.6% N/A N/A

Private, for-profit S N/A N/A

Notes: N/A = Not available. S = Suppressed due to small number of institutional respondents in this category. Five- and ten-year trend data are
unavailable for graduate-level certificates.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

89
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.22 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level and
Carnegie Classification, 1997-98 to 2007-08

Average Annual Average Annual

Degree Level and Carnegie % Change,
% Change, % Change,
Classification * '06-07 to '07-08
'02-03 to '07-08 '97-98 to '07-08

Doctoral Degrees 4.6% 4.9% 2.5%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 3.9% 5.2% 1.8%
Research Universities (RU/H) 9.8% 4.3% 3.2%
Doctoral/Research Universities -3.3% 1.4% 6.4%
Master's Colleges and Universities 7.0% 6.9% 13.4%
Other 5.5% 7.0% 8.7%

Master's Degrees 2.9% 4.0% 3.9%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 5.2% 2.9% 2.4%
Research Universities (RU/H) 3.0% 3.0% 1.7%
Doctoral/Research Universities 0.8% 6.3% 5.7%
Master's Colleges and Universities 1.9% 4.9% 7.1%
Other -0.5% 8.4% 7.2%

Graduate-Level Certificates 6.6% N/A N/A

Research Universities (RU/VH) 27.1% N/A N/A
Research Universities (RU/H) 26.0% N/A N/A
Doctoral/Research Universities 17.5% N/A N/A
Master's Colleges and Universities -18.0% N/A N/A
Other 92.7% N/A N/A

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: N/A = Not available. Five- and ten-year trend data are unavailable for graduate-level certificates.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

90
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.23 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level,
Institution Type, and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08

Men Women

Average Average Average Average

% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Degree Level and
'06-07 to % Change, % Change, '06-07 to % Change, % Change,
Institution Type
'07-08 '02-03 to '97-98 to '07-08 '02-03 to '97-98 to
'07-08 '07-08 '07-08 '07-08

Doctoral Degrees 3.5% 4.2% 1.4% 5.7% 5.7% 3.9%

Public 5.2% 4.2% 1.8% 5.8% 5.9% 4.1%

Private, not-for-profit -0.4% 3.8% 0.4% 5.4% 4.7% 3.2%

Private, for-profit 8.9% S S 6.8% S S

Master's Degrees 2.5% 2.7% 3.0% 3.3% 5.0% 4.8%

Public 3.4% 2.4% 2.2% 2.6% 3.4% 3.2%

Private, not-for-profit 2.3% 2.1% 2.5% 3.9% 4.2% 3.9%

Private, for-profit -4.8% S S 6.0% S S

Graduate-Level Certificates 13.3% N/A N/A 4.6% N/A N/A

Public 3.2% N/A N/A -7.3% N/A N/A

Private, not-for-profit 27.1% N/A N/A 21.6% N/A N/A

Private, for-profit S N/A N/A S N/A N/A

Notes: N/A = Not available. S = Suppressed due to small number of institutional respondents in this category. Five- and ten-year trend data are
unavailable for graduate-level certificates.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

91
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.24 Graduate Degrees and Certificates Awarded by Degree Level,
Carnegie Classification, and Gender, 1997-98 to 2007-08
Men Women
Average Average Average Average
% Change, Annual Annual % Change, Annual Annual
Degree Level and
'06-07 to % Change, % Change, '06-07 to % Change, % Change,
Carnegie Classification *
'07-08 '02-03 to '97-98 to '07-08 '02-03 to '97-98 to
'07-08 '07-08 '07-08 '07-08

Doctoral Degrees 3.5% 4.2% 1.4% 5.7% 5.7% 3.9%

Research Universities (RU/VH) 2.3% 4.4% 0.9% 5.9% 6.6% 2.9%
Research Universities (RU/H) 11.4% 3.9% 2.0% 7.9% 3.9% 4.5%
Doctoral/Research Universities -3.1% 1.2% 5.2% -3.5% 1.7% 6.7%
Master's Colleges and Universities 10.1% 6.7% 8.1% 5.5% 7.3% 19.8%
Other -7.2% 3.0% 4.3% 14.2% 10.1% 13.5%
Master's Degrees 2.5% 2.7% 3.0% 3.3% 5.0% 4.8%
Research Universities (RU/VH) 5.2% 2.1% 2.1% 5.2% 3.6% 2.7%
Research Universities (RU/H) 3.8% 2.1% 1.4% 2.4% 3.5% 1.9%
Doctoral/Research Universities -1.6% 3.2% 2.9% 1.4% 8.2% 7.6%
Master's Colleges and Universities 0.2% 3.8% 6.2% 3.1% 5.8% 8.3%
Other -6.5% 6.7% 7.4% 3.3% 10.4% 8.2%
Graduate-Level Certificates 13.3% N/A N/A 4.6% N/A N/A
Research Universities (RU/VH) 36.8% N/A N/A 22.5% N/A N/A
Research Universities (RU/H) 25.8% N/A N/A 26.3% N/A N/A
Doctoral/Research Universities 39.1% N/A N/A 12.0% N/A N/A
Master's Colleges and Universities -15.8% N/A N/A -19.8% N/A N/A
Other 76.7% N/A N/A 100.0% N/A N/A

* See page 3 for information about the Carnegie Classification system. RU/VH = very high research acitivity. RU/H = high research activity.
Notes: N/A = Not available. Five- and ten-year trend data are unavailable for graduate-level certificates.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

92
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.25 Graduate-Level Certificates Awarded by Broad Field and Gender,
2006-07 to 2007-08

Total Men Women

% Change, % Change, % Change,

Broad Field 2006-07 to 2006-07 to 2006-07 to
2007-08 2007-08 2007-08

Total 6.6% 13.3% 4.6%

Arts and Humanities 46.4% 45.5% 52.5%

Biological and Agricultural Sciences -22.6% 26.6% -1.2%

Business -20.7% -12.3% -19.6%

Education -1.6% 2.1% -8.2%

Engineering 64.4% 58.3% 83.3%

Health Sciences 7.7% 2.8% 9.2%

Physical Sciences 12.9% 17.1% 3.2%

Public Administration and Services -2.0% -25.3% 10.6%

Social and Behavioral Sciences 202.5% 153.7% 228.8%

Other Fields 87.1% 95.5% 76.8%

Note: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy. Five- and ten-year trend data are unavailable for graduate-level certificates.
Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

93
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.26 Master's Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender,
1997-98 to 2007-08

Total Men Women

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.

% Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual %
Broad Field '06/07 - Change, Change, '06/07 - Change, Change, '06/07 - Change, Change,
'07/08 '02/03 - '97/98 - '07/08 '02/03 - '97/98 - '07/08 '02/03 - '97/98 -
'07/08 '07/08 '07/08 '07/08 '07/08 '07/08

Total 2.9% 4.0% 3.9% 2.5% 2.7% 3.0% 3.3% 5.0% 4.8%

Arts & Humanities 1.8% 3.5% 1.0% 0.3% 3.8% 0.9% 2.8% 3.2% 1.1%

Bio. & Agric. Sci. 3.4% 4.4% 2.1% 4.1% 3.9% 0.2% 3.2% 5.1% 3.8%

Business 5.3% 2.2% 5.0% 4.9% 1.4% 3.8% 6.9% 3.3% 8.0%

Education -0.6% 3.8% 2.7% -1.9% 3.5% 2.0% -0.2% 4.0% 2.9%

Engineering 9.6% 3.1% 2.5% 9.1% 2.6% 2.0% 12.1% 5.3% 4.3%

Health Sciences 8.0% 5.3% 2.1% 10.6% 1.4% 0.5% 7.2% 6.4% 2.7%

Physical Sciences 0.9% 1.2% 2.8% -0.6% 1.7% 2.7% 3.3% 1.0% 3.2%

Public Admin. & Svcs. 5.1% 5.3% 0.7% 1.8% 4.3% -1.4% 5.9% 5.4% 1.4%

Social & Behav. Sci. 5.7% 7.2% 3.5% 4.4% 5.7% 1.1% 6.6% 8.0% 5.5%

Other Fields 4.2% 2.6% 1.9% 6.2% 2.1% 1.1% 3.1% 2.6% 2.3%

Notes: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

94
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Table 3.27 Doctoral Degrees Awarded by Broad Field and Gender,
1997-98 to 2007-08

Total Men Women

Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg. Avg.

% Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual % % Change, Annual % Annual %
Broad Field '06/07 - Change, Change, '06/07 - Change, Change, '06/07 - Change, Change,
'07/08 '02/03 - '97/98 - '07/08 '02/03 - '97/98 - '07/08 '02/03 - '97/98 -
'07/08 '07/08 '07/08 '07/08 '07/08 '07/08

Total 4.6% 4.9% 2.5% 3.5% 4.2% 1.4% 5.7% 5.7% 3.9%

Arts & Humanities 4.1% 0.6% -0.1% -0.8% -0.7% -0.7% 8.6% 2.0% 0.5%

Bio. & Agric. Sci. 4.9% 6.5% 2.6% 1.3% 3.8% 1.0% 9.2% 10.2% 5.2%

Business -7.4% 8.4% 1.8% -5.4% 7.1% -0.1% -11.0% 11.0% 3.3%

Education 3.8% 0.1% 0.7% 8.8% 0.8% -0.1% 1.3% -0.2% 1.1%

Engineering 2.7% 11.1% 3.3% 1.0% 10.3% 2.3% 8.4% 14.1% 8.5%

Health Sciences 12.8% 10.2% 9.0% 11.6% 2.6% 4.6% 13.4% 14.7% 12.0%

Physical Sciences 4.3% 8.6% 1.8% 4.7% 8.4% 1.1% 3.9% 9.2% 3.4%

Public Admin. & Svcs. 16.7% 6.9% 1.9% 23.3% 4.3% 0.3% 12.7% 8.2% 2.5%

Social & Behav. Sci. 8.3% 1.7% 0.5% 5.4% -0.1% -0.8% 10.1% 3.2% 1.8%

Other Fields 10.9% 1.2% 2.7% 25.6% 5.0% 3.7% -3.8% -2.8% 1.4%

Notes: See Appendix B for the survey taxonomy.

Source: CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees

95
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Appendix A
2008 CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment Questionnaire

96
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Appendix B
CGS/GRE Survey of Graduate Enrollment and Degrees Taxonomy of Fields of Study

ARTS AND HUMANITIES Philosophy Marine Biology Insurance

Arts—History, Theory, and All Philosophy Fields Microbiology Leadership
Criticism Neurosciences International Business
Art History and Criticism Arts and Humanities, Other Nutrition Management
Music History, Musicology, and Classics Pathology Management Information Systems
Theory Comparative Language and Pharmacology Marketing and Distribution
Arts—History, Theory, and Literature Physiology Marketing Management and Public
Criticism, Other Humanities Radiobiology Policy – Business
Linguistics Toxicology Real Estate
Arts—Performance and Studio Religious Studies Zoology Research
Art Speech and Debate Biological Sciences, Other Risk Management
Dance Arts and Humanities, Other Supply Chain Management
Design BUSINESS Sports Management
Drama/Theatre Arts BIOLOGICAL AND Accounting Strategy
Fine Arts AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES Accounting Statistics and Operational
Industrial Design Agriculture Auditing Research
Music Agricultural Economics Taxation Transportation
Arts—Performance and Studio, Agricultural Production Business Fields, Other
Other Agricultural Sciences Banking and Finance
Agronomy Commercial Banking EDUCATION
English Language and Literature Animal Sciences Finance Education Administration
American Language and Literature Fishery Sciences Investments and Securities Educational Administration
Creative Writing Food Sciences Educational Leadership
English Language and Literature Forestry and Related Sciences Business Administration and Educational Supervision
English Language and Literature, Horticulture Management
Other Parks and Recreation Management Business Administration and Curriculum and Instruction
Plant Sciences Management Curriculum and Instruction
Foreign Languages and Literatures Renewable Natural Resources E-Commerce
Asiatic Languages Resource Management Entrepreneurship Early Childhood Education
Classical Languages Soil Sciences General MBA Programs Early Childhood Education
Foreign Literature Wildlife Management Hospitality Services Management
French Agriculture, Other Human Resources Development Elementary Education
Germanic Languages Institutional Management Elementary Education
Italian Biological Sciences Labor/Industrial Relations Elementary-Level Teaching Fields
Russian Anatomy Management Science
Semitic Languages Bacteriology Manufacturing & Technology Evaluation and Research
Spanish Biochemistry Management Educational Psychology
Foreign Languages, Other Biology Operations Management Educational Statistics and
Biometry Organizational Behavior Research
History Biophysics Personnel Management Educational Testing, Evaluation,
American History Botany Business Management, Other and Measurement
European History Cell and Molecular Biology Elementary and Secondary
History of Science Developmental Biology Business, Other Research
History, Other Ecology Actuarial Science – Business Higher Education Research
Entomology and Parasitology Business Economics School Psychology
Genetics Consulting

97
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
 Higher Education
Educational Policy
Higher Education
Secondary Education
Secondary Education
Secondary-Level Teaching Fields
Special Education
Education of Gifted Students
Education of Handicapped
Students
Education of Students with Specific
Learning Disabilities
Remedial Education
Special Education
Other Special Education Fields
Student Counseling and Personnel
Services
Personnel Services
Student Counseling
Student Counseling and Personnel
Services, Other
Education, Other
Adult and Continuing Education
Agricultural Education
Bilingual/Cross-Cultural Education
Educational Media
Educational Technology
Junior High/Middle School
Education
Physical Education
Pre-Elementary Education
Social Foundations
Teaching English as a Second
Language/Foreign Language
Vocational/Technical Education
Other Education Fields
ENGINEERING
Chemical Engineering
Chemical Engineering
Pulp and Paper Production
Wood Science
Civil Engineering
Architectural Engineering
Civil Engineering
Environmental/Sanitary
Engineering
98
Electrical and Electronics
Engineering
Communications Engineering
Computer Engineering
Electrical Engineering
Electronics Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Industrial Engineering
Operations Research
Materials Engineering
Ceramic Engineering
Materials Engineering
Materials Science
Metallurgical Engineering
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering Mechanics
Mechanical Engineering
Engineering, Other
Aeronautical Engineering
Aerospace Engineering
Agricultural Engineering
Bioengineering
Bioinformatics
Biomedical Engineering
Engineering Physics
Engineering Science
Geological Engineering
Mining Engineering
Naval Architecture and Marine
Engineering
Nuclear Engineering
Ocean Engineering
Petroleum Engineering
Systems Engineering
Textile Engineering
Engineering, Other
HEALTH AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
Allied Health
Audiology
Chiropractic
Dental Sciences
Environmental Health
Epidemiology
Exercise Physiology
Health Science Administration
Immunology
Kinesiology
Medical Sciences
Medicinal Chemistry
Nursing
Occupational Therapy
Optometry
Osteopathic Medicine
Pharmaceutical Sciences
Physical Therapy
Podiatry
Public Health
Speech/Language Pathology
Veterinary Medicine
Veterinary Science
Health and Medical Sciences,
Other
PHYSICAL SCIENCES
Chemistry
Analytical Chemistry
Chemistry, General
Inorganic Chemistry
Organic Chemistry
Pharmaceutical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry
Polymer Chemistry
Chemistry, Other
Computer and Information
Sciences
Computer Programming
Computer Sciences
Data Processing
Information Sciences
Microcomputer Applications
Systems Analysis
Computer Sciences, Other
Earth, Atmospheric, and Marine
Sciences
Atmospheric Sciences
Earth Sciences
Environmental Sciences
Geochemistry
Geology
Geophysics and Seismology
Marine Sciences
Meteorology
Oceanography
Paleontology
Other Geosciences
Earth, Atmospheric, and Marine
Sciences, Other
Mathematical Sciences
Actuarial Sciences
Applied Mathematics
Mathematics
Probability and Statistics
Mathematical Sciences, Other
Physics and Astronomy
Astronomy
Astrophysics
Atomic/Molecular Physics
Elementary Particles
Nuclear Physics
Optics
Physics
Planetary Science
Solid State Physics
Physics and Astronomy, Other
Physical Sciences, Other
Other Natural Sciences
PUBLIC ADMINISTRATION AND
SERVICES
Public Administration
Public Administration
Social Work
Social Work
SOCIAL AND BEHAVIORAL
SCIENCES
Anthropology and Archaeology
Anthropology
Archaeology
Economics
Econometrics
Economics
Political Science
International Relations
Political Science and Government
Public Policy Studies
Psychology
Clinical Psychology
Cognitive Psychology
Community Psychology
Comparative Psychology
Counseling Psychology
Developmental Psychology
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Experimental Psychology Communications
Industrial and Organizational Advertising
Psychology Communications Research
Personality Psychology Journalism and Mass
Physiological Psychology Communications
Psycholinguistics Public Relations
Psychology Radio, TV, and Film
Psychometrics Speech Communication
Psychopharmacology Communications, Other
Quantitative Psychology
Social Psychology Home Economics
Psychology, Other Consumer Economics
Family Counseling
Sociology Family Relations
Demography Home Economics, Other
Sociology
Library and Archival Sciences
Social and Behavioral Sciences, Archival Science
Other Library Science
American Studies
Area Studies Religion and Theology
Criminal Justice/Criminology Ordained Ministry/Rabbinate
Area, Ethnic, and Gender Studies Religion
Geography Theology
Gerontology
Public Affairs Other Fields
Urban Studies Interdisciplinary Programs
Social and Behavioral Sciences, Other Fields Not Previously
Other Classified

OTHER FIELDS
Architecture and Environmental
Design
Architecture
City and Regional Planning
Environmental Design
Interior Design
Landscape Architecture
Urban Design
Architecture and Environmental
Design, Other

99
Graduate Enrollment and Degrees: 1998 to 2008
Council of Graduate Schools
One Dupont Circle, NW
Suite 230
Washington, DC 20036-1173
Phone: (202) 223-3791
http://www.cgsnet.org
September 2009