Who earns bachelor’s degrees in science and engineering?

From 2000 to 2012, about one-third of all bachelor’s degrees conferred by U.S. colleges and universities each year were in S&E fields. The number of S&E bachelor's degrees awarded annually rose steadily from 398,602 in 2000 to 589,330 in 2012. Women received a slim majority of these degrees in every year.

Women have earned about 57% of all bachelor’s degrees and half of all S&E bachelor's degrees since the late 1990s. These percentages are larger than women’s 49% share of the U.S. college-age population in 2012. Women tend to study different fields than men.

The racial/ethnic composition of S&E bachelor's degree recipients has changed over time, reflecting population changes and increasing college attendance by members of minority groups.

In 2012, whites received 59–70% of the bachelor’s degrees conferred in the major S&E fields. The minority group receiving the next largest share varied by field.

• The number of S&E bachelor’s degrees awarded to women rose from 200,952 in 2000 to 297,539 in 2012. The number of S&E bachelor’s degrees earned by men over this period increased from 197,650 to 291,791.
• Between 2000 and 2012, the annual number of S&E bachelor’s degrees increased by 48% for both women and men.

• In 2012, women earned more than three-fourths of all bachelor's degrees awarded in psychology (77%) and more than half of the degrees in biological/agricultural sciences (58%) and social sciences (55%).
• Although women accounted for only 40% of the bachelor’s degrees in the broad field of physical sciences in 2012, they earned nearly half (49%) of the degrees in the subfield of chemistry.
• With minor fluctuations, women earned about the same proportions of bachelor’s degrees in physical sciences, biological/agricultural sciences, psychology, and social sciences every year from 2000 to 2012.
• The percentage of S&E bachelor's degrees awarded to women declined in engineering, mathematics/statistics, and most notably, computer sciences (from 28% in 2000 to 18% in 2012).
• Women are overrepresented, compared to their 49% share of the U.S. college-age population in 2012, among recipients of bachelor’s degrees in psychology, biological/agricultural sciences, and social sciences. They remain underrepresented in engineering, mathematics/statistics, computer sciences, and physical sciences other than chemistry.

• Although the number of S&E bachelor’s degrees earned by whites increased from 2000 to 2012, whites’ share of degrees declined from 71% in 2000 to 63% in 2012.
• Hispanics are the only other group to show notable change since 2000. Their share of S&E bachelor’s degrees rose from 7% in 2000 to 10% in 2012, increasing in all years but one.
• Asians/Pacific Islanders’ share rose slightly from 9% to almost 10% between 2000 and 2012, but has been basically flat since the mid-2000s. The percentages of S&E bachelor’s degrees earned by blacks and American Indians/Alaska Natives also have shown little change since 2000.
• Whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders are overrepresented among S&E bachelor’s degree recipients relative to their proportions in the U.S. college-age population in 2012 (56% and 5%, respectively). Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaska Natives remain underrepresented in S&E bachelor’s degrees compared to their shares of the population (15%, 21%, and 0.9%, respectively).

• Asians/Pacific Islanders earned more bachelor’s degrees in biological/agricultural sciences (14%), engineering (12%), mathematics/statistics (11%), and physical sciences (10%) than any other minority group in 2012.
• After whites, blacks accounted for the largest number of bachelor’s degrees in computer sciences (11%).
• Hispanics received more bachelor’s degrees in psychology (12%) and in social sciences (12%) in 2012 than any other minority group, but blacks earned nearly as many degrees in both fields: just under 12% of all psychology degrees conferred and 11% of all social science degrees.
• American Indians/Alaska Natives received 0.7% (their largest shares) of all bachelor’s degrees awarded in social sciences and psychology.
• Whites earned their largest shares of S&E bachelor’s degrees in mathematics/statistics and physical sciences (70% each) and in engineering (68%).
• In every major S&E field at the bachelor’s level, whites and Asians/Pacific Islanders are overrepresented relative to their proportions in the U.S. college-age population in 2012 (56% and 5%, respectively). Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians/Alaska Natives remain underrepresented in every S&E field compared to their shares of the population (15%, 21%, and 0.9%, respectively).