Who earns degrees in engineering, and in what subfields?

In 2012, women received 19% of all bachelor’s degrees conferred in engineering: 15,981 degrees compared to men’s 67,282 degrees. Mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering were the top 4 subfields for both women and men, although they ranked differently by sex.

In 2012, women received 23% of all master’s degrees conferred in engineering: 9,896 degrees compared to men’s 33,254 degrees. Electrical, civil, mechanical, and industrial engineering were the top 4 subfields for both women and men. Electrical engineering ranked first for both groups, but the other subfields ranked differently for women and men.

In 2012, women received 23% of all doctoral degrees conferred in engineering, the same share as at the master’s level. Women earned 2,006 doctoral degrees in engineering compared to men’s 6,867 degrees. Electrical, mechanical, chemical, and civil engineering were the top 4 subfields for both women and men. Electrical engineering ranked first and civil engineering ranked third for both groups. The other subfields ranked differently for women and men.

In 2012, U.S. citizens and permanent residents earned 76,932 bachelor’s degrees in engineering (92% of the total awarded), and temporary residents earned 6,331 engineering degrees (8%). The top 4 subfields for temporary residents, and for every racial/ethnic group among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, were mechanical, electrical, civil, and chemical engineering, although the rank order varied by group.

In 2012, U.S. citizens and permanent residents earned 25,567 master’s degrees in engineering (59% of the total awarded), and temporary residents earned 17,583 engineering degrees (41%, compared to 8% at the bachelor’s level). The top 4 subfields for temporary residents, and for every racial/ethnic group among U.S. citizens and permanent residents, were electrical, civil, mechanical, and industrial engineering, although the rank order varied by group.

In 2012, temporary residents received 4,947 doctoral degrees in engineering, earning a 56% majority of degrees (versus 41% at the master’s level and 8% at the bachelor’s level). U.S. citizens and permanent residents earned 3,926 doctoral degrees in engineering (44% of the total). Electrical engineering was the top subfield for temporary residents, U.S. citizens and permanent residents as a whole, and every racial/ethnic group except American Indians/Alaska Natives. There was variation in the subfields rounding out the top 4 for the different groups.

• In 2012, women’s top 4 subfields of engineering at the bachelor’s level were civil (3,428 degrees), mechanical (2,538), chemical (2,535), and electrical (1,923) engineering. Relative to their overall 19% share of engineering bachelor’s degrees, women earned above-average shares of degrees in chemical (30%), materials (28%), industrial (27%), and civil (23%) engineering.
• Among men, mechanical engineering ranked first (18,351 degrees), followed by electrical (15,457), civil (11,747), and chemical (5,809) engineering. Relative to their overall 81% share of engineering bachelor’s degrees, men earned above-average shares of degrees in electrical (89%), mechanical (88%), and aerospace (87%) engineering.
• See “Chart Data” below for trend data by sex from 2002 to 2012.

• In 2012, women’s top 4 engineering subfields at the master’s level were electrical (2,514 degrees), civil (1,854), industrial (1,439), and mechanical (751) engineering. Relative to their overall 23% share of engineering master’s degrees, women earned above-average shares of degrees in materials (32%), chemical (31%), civil (29%), and industrial (27%) engineering.
• Among men, the top 4 engineering subfields were electrical (10,128), mechanical (5,226), civil (4,551), and industrial (3,907) engineering. Relative to their overall 77% share of engineering master’s degrees, men earned above-average shares of degrees in mechanical (87%), aerospace (86%), and electrical (80%) engineering.
• See “Chart Data” below for trend data by sex from 2002 to 2012.

• In 2012, women’s top 4 engineering subfields at the doctoral level were electrical (424 degrees), chemical (293), civil (241), and mechanical (194) engineering. Relative to their overall 23% share of engineering doctoral degrees, women earned above-average shares of degrees in chemical (30%), industrial (30%), civil (26%), and materials (24%) engineering.
• Among men, the top 4 engineering subfields were electrical (2,051), mechanical (1,083), civil (681), and chemical (676) engineering. Relative to their overall 77% share of engineering doctoral degrees (the same share as at the master’s level), men earned above-average shares of doctoral degrees in aerospace (85%), mechanical (85%), and electrical (83%) engineering.
• See “Chart Data” below for trend data by sex from 2002 to 2012.

• Whites earned 52,352 bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 68% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Mechanical engineering was whites’ top subfield at the bachelor’s level (14,426 degrees), followed by civil (10,263), electrical (9,114), and chemical (5,009) engineering. Whites earned above-average shares of degrees in mechanical (73%), aerospace (73%), and civil (71%) engineering.
• Asians/Pacific Islanders received 9,243 bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2012, accounting for the second largest share (12%) among U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Electrical engineering was their top subfield (2,522 degrees), followed by mechanical (1,720), civil (1,269), and chemical (1,049) engineering. Asians/Pacific Islanders earned above-average shares of degrees in electrical (16%), chemical (14%), and materials (13%) engineering.
• Hispanics earned 7,173 bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 9% of all engineering degrees awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Mechanical engineering was their top subfield (1,712 degrees), nearly matched by electrical engineering (1,710). Civil engineering (1,586 degrees) ranked third among Hispanics, and chemical engineering (606 degrees) ranked fourth. Hispanics earned above-average shares of degrees in industrial (13%), civil (11%), and electrical (11%) engineering.
• Blacks received 3,218 bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 4% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Electrical engineering was blacks’ top subfield (996 degrees), followed by mechanical (610), civil (513), and chemical (337) engineering. Blacks earned above-average shares of degrees in electrical (6%), industrial (6%), and chemical (5%) engineering.
• American Indians/Alaska Natives earned 309 bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 0.4% of all engineering degrees awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Mechanical engineering was their top subfield (78 degrees), followed by civil (61), electrical (56), and chemical (31) engineering. American Indians/Alaska Natives earned an above-average share of degrees in aerospace engineering (0.5%).
• Temporary residents received 6,331 bachelor’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 8% of the total conferred by U.S. colleges and universities. Electrical engineering was their top subfield (1,999 degrees), followed by mechanical (1,119), chemical (899), and civil (709) engineering. Temporary residents received above-average shares of degrees in industrial and electrical engineering (12% each), and also in chemical engineering (11%).
• See “Chart Data” below for trend data by citizenship and race/ethnicity from 2002 to 2012

• Whites earned 16,004 master’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 63% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Civil engineering was whites’ top subfield at the master’s level (3,183 degrees), followed by mechanical (2,699), electrical (2,690), and industrial (1,787) engineering. Whites earned above-average shares of degrees in aerospace (75%), mechanical (70%), and civil and materials (68% each) engineering.
• Asians/Pacific Islanders received 3,829 engineering degrees at the master’s level in 2012, accounting for the second largest share (15%) among U.S. citizens and permanent residents. As at the bachelor’s level, electrical engineering was their top subfield (1,266 master’s degrees), followed by civil (519), mechanical (432), and industrial (338) engineering. Asians/Pacific Islanders earned above-average shares of degrees in electrical (25%) and chemical (18%) engineering.
• Hispanics earned 1,984 master’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 8% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Industrial and civil engineering were Hispanics’ top two subfields (406 and 405 degrees, respectively), followed by electrical (363) and mechanical (277) engineering. Hispanics earned above-average shares of degrees in industrial (13%) and civil (9%) engineering.
• Blacks received 1,244 master’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 5% of all engineering degrees awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Electrical engineering was blacks’ top subfield (254 degrees), as it was at the bachelor’s level. The other subfields in blacks’ top 4 were industrial (230), civil (169), and mechanical (116) engineering. Blacks earned an above-average share of degrees in industrial engineering (7%).
• American Indians/Alaska Natives earned 92 master’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 0.4% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents (and the same share as at the bachelor’s level). Their top subfield was industrial engineering (20 degrees), followed by civil (17), electrical (15), and mechanical (13) engineering. American Indians/Alaska Natives received above-average shares of degrees in industrial and materials engineering (0.6% each).
• Temporary residents earned 17,583 master’s degrees in engineering in 2012 – 41% of all engineering master’s degrees conferred by U.S. colleges and universities. Electrical engineering was their top subfield (7,553 degrees), followed by industrial (2,232), mechanical (2,147), and civil (1,748) engineering. Temporary residents earned majorities of master's degrees in electrical (60%) and chemical (52%) engineering, and above-average shares also in materials (46%) and industrial (42%) engineering.
• See “Chart Data” below for trend data by citizenship and race/ethnicity from 2002 to 2012.

• Whites earned 2,592 doctoral degrees in engineering in 2012 – 66% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Electrical engineering was whites’ top subfield (486 degrees), followed by mechanical (402), chemical (296), and civil (257) engineering. Whites earned above-average shares of doctorates in mechanical (72%), civil and materials (70% each), aerospace (69%), and chemical (67%) engineering.
• Asians/Pacific Islanders received 575 engineering degrees at the doctoral level in 2012, and the second largest share among U.S. citizens and permanent residents (15%, the same as at the master’s level). Electrical engineering was their top subfield (184 degrees), as it was at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Their other top subfields were chemical (66 degrees), materials (56), and mechanical (48) engineering. Asians/Pacific Islanders earned an above-average share of doctorates in electrical engineering (22%).
• Hispanics earned 191 doctoral degrees in engineering in 2012 – 5% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Electrical engineering was their top subfield (36 degrees), followed by chemical (30), mechanical (28), and civil (27) engineering. Hispanics earned above-average shares of doctorates in civil (7%), chemical (7%), and aerospace (6%) engineering.
• Blacks received 175 doctoral degrees in engineering in 2012 – 4% of all engineering degrees awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Electrical engineering was blacks’ top subfield (43 degrees), as it was at the bachelor’s and master’s levels. Also in their top 4 were mechanical (21 degrees), industrial (18), and materials (14) engineering. Blacks earned above-average shares of doctorates in industrial (15%), aerospace (6%), and electrical (5%) engineering.
• American Indians/Alaska Natives earned 11 doctoral degrees in engineering in 2012 – 0.3% of the total awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents. Their top subfields were civil and mechanical engineering (2 degrees each). American Indians/Alaska Natives earned 1 doctorate in each of the five other selected subfields. They received above-average shares of doctorates in industrial (0.8%), aerospace (0.6%), civil (0.5%), and mechanical (0.4%) engineering.
• Temporary residents earned 4,947 doctoral degrees in engineering in 2012 – (56%) of all engineering doctorates conferred by U.S. colleges and universities. Electrical engineering was their top subfield (1,628 degrees). Temporary residents earned more than twice as many degrees in electrical engineering than in their second largest subfield, mechanical engineering (721). Rounding out their top 4 were civil (556 degrees) and chemical (527) engineering. Temporary residents earned majorities of doctoral degrees, and above-average shares, in electrical (66%), industrial (64%), and civil (60%) engineering. They also earned majorities in mechanical (56%) and chemical (54%) engineering.
• See “Chart Data” below for trend data by citizenship and race/ethnicity from 2002 to 2012.