Table 27. Median age and age distribution of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study, sex, citizenship status, ethnicity, and race: 2016
(Percent distribution)
Broad field of study and demographic characteristic |
Median age at doctorate (years)a |
All ages |
25 and under |
26–30 |
31–35 |
36–40 |
41–45 |
Over 45 |
All fields |
31.6 |
100.0 |
0.7 |
43.6 |
31.0 |
11.7 |
5.3 |
7.8 |
Life sciencesb |
30.9 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
49.5 |
30.4 |
9.4 |
4.1 |
5.9 |
Physical sciences and earth sciences |
29.5 |
100.0 |
1.2 |
65.5 |
25.0 |
5.4 |
1.7 |
1.3 |
Mathematics and computer sciences |
30.3 |
100.0 |
1.5 |
54.7 |
29.6 |
8.1 |
2.7 |
3.4 |
Psychology and social sciences |
32.5 |
100.0 |
0.3 |
36.1 |
35.5 |
14.1 |
5.8 |
8.2 |
Engineering |
30.0 |
100.0 |
1.4 |
59.8 |
27.6 |
6.7 |
2.2 |
2.3 |
Education |
38.6 |
100.0 |
D |
11.5 |
26.2 |
22.0 |
D |
26.3 |
Humanities and arts |
34.1 |
100.0 |
D |
21.1 |
42.0 |
18.6 |
D |
10.4 |
Otherc |
34.7 |
100.0 |
0.3 |
23.2 |
34.1 |
17.9 |
9.7 |
14.8 |
Sex |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male |
31.3 |
100.0 |
0.8 |
46.1 |
31.3 |
11.4 |
4.7 |
5.7 |
Female |
32.0 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
40.6 |
30.7 |
12.0 |
5.9 |
10.2 |
Citizenship status |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. citizen or permanent resident |
32.0 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
41.2 |
29.1 |
12.3 |
6.3 |
10.6 |
Temporary visa holder |
31.0 |
100.0 |
0.9 |
48.8 |
35.2 |
10.3 |
3.1 |
1.6 |
Ethnicity and race (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hispanic or Latino |
32.7 |
100.0 |
0.5 |
37.3 |
30.4 |
14.0 |
7.7 |
10.1 |
Not Hispanic or Latino |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Indian or Alaska Native |
39.2 |
100.0 |
0.0 |
14.3 |
20.6 |
23.8 |
12.7 |
28.6 |
Asian |
31.4 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
45.0 |
30.1 |
12.8 |
5.8 |
5.7 |
Black or African American |
35.9 |
100.0 |
0.3 |
23.1 |
26.8 |
16.8 |
11.1 |
22.0 |
White |
31.8 |
100.0 |
0.7 |
42.7 |
29.1 |
11.6 |
5.7 |
10.2 |
More than one race |
31.2 |
100.0 |
0.7 |
47.3 |
29.5 |
11.1 |
4.7 |
6.8 |
Other race or race not reported |
33.1 |
100.0 |
0.8 |
33.1 |
31.4 |
14.4 |
9.3 |
11.0 |
Ethnicity not reported |
32.2 |
100.0 |
0.5 |
41.8 |
25.5 |
12.4 |
7.4 |
12.4 |