Increase of Women earning the majority of doctorates! and other exciting changes to enrollment and degrees….

The Council of Graduate Schools (CGS) has reported the enrollment and degrees report for 2008-2009. There have been major differences in enrollment and degrees in 2009 compared to 2008. Here are some of the highlights!

1. Enrollment of new students at U.S. graduate schools grew 5.5% from 2008 to 2009, compared to 4.5% the previous year. Total enrollment grew 4.7% in 2009 after gaining 3.0% in 2008
2. Growth in both first-time and total graduate enrollment in 2009 was higher for men than for women, reversing a long-term trend (6.7% to 4.7%)
3. While women have long earned the majority of master’s degrees awarded in the U.S., the 2008-09 academic year was the first year ever that women earned the majority (50.4%) of doctorates as well. The one-year increase in doctorates was substantially stronger for women than for men, 6.3% vs. 1.0%. 
4. First-time enrollment growth for U.S. minority groups ranged from 6.2% for American Indian/Alaskan Natives to 9.3% for Asian/Pacific Islanders, compared to 5.3% for White, non-Hispanic students. 
5. Applications for admission to U.S. graduate schools grew 8.3% from 2008 to 2009.
6. The representation of minority groups in U.S. graduate schools continued to increase in 2009, rising from 28.3% to 29.1% of first-time domestic enrollment
7. The share of women students varied by citizenship and race/ethnicity: women comprised almost 71% of Black/African American first-time enrollment, compared to just over 42% of international students.

As one can see there definitely a shift in people enrolling and obtaining their doctorate degrees. Why? Well, this could be because of the competitiveness of jobs, women becoming more independent, and the acknowledgement of obtaining a great education.

As you read on my last post (see below), "The Struggle of Women in Science", you can see how we really need a change, as in 2009 it was the first year ever that women earned the majority (50.4%) of doctorates. I can already predict that there will be more women professors, researchers, and educators in many fields including science and that we (current women graduate students) are definitely apart of this group!  

What do you think??

Jess (Blog Manager)