Table 52. Definite postgraduation commitments of doctorate recipients, by sex and major field of study: 2016
Sex and major field of study |
All recipients |
Recipients with definite commitments |
Location of definite commitments |
United States |
Abroad |
Unknown |
Total |
Postdoctoral study |
Academic employment |
Industry employmenta |
Otherb |
All doctorate recipientsc |
54,904 |
29,300 |
26,514 |
10,209 |
7,268 |
5,639 |
3,398 |
2,740 |
46 |
Life sciences |
12,568 |
6,660 |
6,148 |
3,847 |
882 |
865 |
554 |
503 |
9 |
Agricultural sciences and natural resources |
1,385 |
710 |
591 |
264 |
119 |
130 |
78 |
D |
D |
Biological and biomedical sciences |
8,884 |
4,716 |
4,414 |
3,193 |
374 |
577 |
270 |
D |
D |
Health sciences |
2,299 |
1,234 |
1,143 |
390 |
389 |
158 |
206 |
D |
D |
Physical sciences and earth sciences |
6,252 |
3,466 |
3,088 |
1,824 |
253 |
831 |
180 |
D |
D |
Chemistry |
2,704 |
1,436 |
1,324 |
757 |
108 |
418 |
41 |
112 |
0 |
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences |
1,227 |
738 |
646 |
414 |
74 |
92 |
66 |
92 |
0 |
Physics and astronomy |
2,321 |
1,292 |
1,118 |
653 |
71 |
321 |
73 |
D |
D |
Mathematics and computer sciences |
3,957 |
2,330 |
2,089 |
610 |
437 |
916 |
126 |
237 |
4 |
Computer and information sciences |
2,085 |
1,212 |
1,112 |
220 |
201 |
616 |
75 |
97 |
3 |
Mathematics and statistics |
1,872 |
1,118 |
977 |
390 |
236 |
300 |
51 |
140 |
1 |
Psychology and social sciences |
9,078 |
5,175 |
4,586 |
1,740 |
1,543 |
544 |
759 |
579 |
10 |
Psychology |
3,946 |
2,297 |
2,210 |
1,232 |
411 |
247 |
320 |
84 |
3 |
Anthropology |
460 |
197 |
162 |
72 |
58 |
10 |
22 |
34 |
1 |
Economics |
1,238 |
857 |
623 |
87 |
258 |
147 |
131 |
232 |
2 |
Political science and government |
745 |
431 |
374 |
94 |
193 |
25 |
62 |
57 |
0 |
Sociology |
615 |
362 |
326 |
82 |
186 |
14 |
44 |
36 |
0 |
Other social sciences |
2,074 |
1,031 |
891 |
173 |
437 |
101 |
180 |
136 |
4 |
Engineering |
9,469 |
4,846 |
4,396 |
1,469 |
412 |
2,133 |
382 |
433 |
17 |
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering |
369 |
215 |
198 |
68 |
24 |
59 |
47 |
17 |
0 |
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering |
1,089 |
538 |
511 |
287 |
36 |
167 |
21 |
26 |
1 |
Chemical engineering |
923 |
485 |
440 |
161 |
14 |
248 |
17 |
44 |
1 |
Civil engineering |
565 |
278 |
245 |
91 |
40 |
85 |
29 |
31 |
2 |
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering |
1,827 |
929 |
860 |
186 |
56 |
537 |
81 |
66 |
3 |
Industrial and manufacturing engineering |
256 |
135 |
110 |
20 |
25 |
55 |
10 |
24 |
1 |
Materials science engineering |
985 |
474 |
436 |
184 |
23 |
202 |
27 |
34 |
4 |
Mechanical engineering |
1,299 |
662 |
606 |
199 |
60 |
291 |
56 |
54 |
2 |
Other engineering |
2,156 |
1,130 |
990 |
273 |
134 |
489 |
94 |
137 |
3 |
Education |
5,153 |
2,787 |
2,634 |
201 |
1,415 |
116 |
902 |
D |
D |
Education administration |
829 |
461 |
450 |
11 |
183 |
14 |
242 |
11 |
0 |
Education research |
2,386 |
1,303 |
1,228 |
127 |
672 |
74 |
355 |
D |
D |
Teacher education |
181 |
D |
D |
D |
48 |
D |
32 |
D |
0 |
Teaching fields |
1,167 |
649 |
596 |
41 |
366 |
16 |
173 |
53 |
0 |
Other education |
590 |
D |
D |
D |
146 |
D |
100 |
D |
0 |
Humanities and arts |
5,484 |
2,386 |
2,124 |
408 |
1,311 |
88 |
317 |
260 |
2 |
Foreign languages and literature |
599 |
263 |
235 |
37 |
173 |
D |
D |
28 |
0 |
History |
1,147 |
492 |
441 |
124 |
222 |
19 |
76 |
50 |
1 |
Letters |
1,533 |
699 |
648 |
102 |
463 |
D |
D |
51 |
0 |
Other humanities and arts |
2,205 |
932 |
800 |
145 |
453 |
44 |
158 |
131 |
1 |
Otherd |
2,943 |
1,650 |
1,449 |
110 |
1,015 |
146 |
178 |
199 |
2 |
Business management and administration |
1,510 |
923 |
789 |
24 |
613 |
90 |
62 |
132 |
2 |
Communication |
673 |
346 |
317 |
40 |
222 |
24 |
31 |
29 |
0 |
Non-S&E fields not elsewhere classified |
760 |
381 |
343 |
46 |
180 |
32 |
85 |
38 |
0 |
Unknown field |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Male |
29,616 |
16,187 |
14,405 |
5,615 |
3,339 |
3,856 |
1,595 |
1,759 |
23 |
Life sciences |
5,643 |
3,078 |
2,809 |
1,852 |
333 |
421 |
203 |
267 |
2 |
Agricultural sciences and natural resources |
760 |
407 |
332 |
138 |
67 |
79 |
48 |
74 |
1 |
Biological and biomedical sciences |
4,163 |
2,283 |
2,129 |
1,574 |
161 |
277 |
117 |
153 |
1 |
Health sciences |
720 |
388 |
348 |
140 |
105 |
65 |
38 |
40 |
0 |
Physical sciences and earth sciences |
4,286 |
2,429 |
2,154 |
1,296 |
149 |
597 |
112 |
274 |
1 |
Chemistry |
1,713 |
939 |
859 |
517 |
59 |
265 |
18 |
80 |
0 |
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences |
716 |
443 |
383 |
242 |
38 |
63 |
40 |
60 |
0 |
Physics and astronomy |
1,857 |
1,047 |
912 |
537 |
52 |
269 |
54 |
134 |
1 |
Mathematics and computer sciences |
2,998 |
1,787 |
1,596 |
469 |
292 |
741 |
94 |
187 |
4 |
Computer and information sciences |
1,666 |
990 |
910 |
178 |
148 |
525 |
59 |
77 |
3 |
Mathematics and statistics |
1,332 |
797 |
686 |
291 |
144 |
216 |
35 |
110 |
1 |
Psychology and social sciences |
3,749 |
2,195 |
1,843 |
569 |
686 |
244 |
344 |
349 |
3 |
Psychology |
1,138 |
660 |
626 |
316 |
134 |
84 |
92 |
33 |
1 |
Anthropology |
171 |
78 |
58 |
22 |
24 |
D |
D |
20 |
0 |
Economics |
820 |
582 |
412 |
55 |
168 |
94 |
95 |
169 |
1 |
Political science and government |
462 |
275 |
229 |
56 |
107 |
17 |
49 |
46 |
0 |
Sociology |
259 |
144 |
134 |
35 |
75 |
D |
D |
10 |
0 |
Other social sciences |
899 |
456 |
384 |
85 |
178 |
38 |
83 |
71 |
1 |
Engineering |
7,277 |
3,803 |
3,451 |
1,151 |
299 |
1,695 |
306 |
342 |
10 |
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering |
313 |
185 |
D |
61 |
D |
51 |
38 |
D |
0 |
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering |
687 |
345 |
326 |
179 |
25 |
108 |
14 |
18 |
1 |
Chemical engineering |
626 |
326 |
293 |
121 |
7 |
157 |
8 |
33 |
0 |
Civil engineering |
438 |
225 |
200 |
75 |
29 |
72 |
24 |
25 |
0 |
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering |
1,532 |
798 |
741 |
161 |
46 |
461 |
73 |
55 |
2 |
Industrial and manufacturing engineering |
185 |
101 |
D |
15 |
17 |
41 |
D |
D |
0 |
Materials science engineering |
723 |
358 |
332 |
144 |
D |
146 |
D |
24 |
2 |
Mechanical engineering |
1,097 |
574 |
527 |
177 |
44 |
258 |
48 |
45 |
2 |
Other engineering |
1,676 |
891 |
780 |
218 |
91 |
401 |
70 |
108 |
3 |
Education |
1,550 |
888 |
813 |
50 |
443 |
37 |
283 |
75 |
0 |
Education administration |
306 |
D |
D |
D |
67 |
6 |
112 |
D |
0 |
Education research |
719 |
413 |
381 |
35 |
234 |
24 |
88 |
32 |
0 |
Teacher education |
43 |
D |
D |
D |
11 |
0 |
9 |
D |
0 |
Teaching fields |
315 |
170 |
137 |
D |
84 |
D |
43 |
33 |
0 |
Other education |
167 |
D |
D |
5 |
47 |
D |
31 |
D |
0 |
Humanities and arts |
2,639 |
1,146 |
1,002 |
188 |
588 |
43 |
183 |
142 |
2 |
Foreign languages and literature |
228 |
108 |
93 |
18 |
65 |
D |
D |
15 |
0 |
History |
621 |
257 |
228 |
59 |
114 |
11 |
44 |
28 |
1 |
Letters |
600 |
278 |
256 |
39 |
175 |
D |
D |
22 |
0 |
Other humanities and arts |
1,190 |
503 |
425 |
72 |
234 |
22 |
97 |
77 |
1 |
Otherd |
1,474 |
861 |
737 |
40 |
549 |
78 |
70 |
123 |
1 |
Business management and administration |
933 |
585 |
494 |
13 |
387 |
56 |
38 |
90 |
1 |
Communication |
261 |
140 |
128 |
14 |
90 |
14 |
10 |
12 |
0 |
Non-S&E fields not elsewhere classified |
280 |
136 |
115 |
13 |
72 |
8 |
22 |
21 |
0 |
Unknown field |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
Female |
25,278 |
13,113 |
12,109 |
4,594 |
3,929 |
1,783 |
1,803 |
981 |
23 |
Life sciences |
6,923 |
3,582 |
3,339 |
1,995 |
549 |
444 |
351 |
236 |
7 |
Agricultural sciences and natural resources |
624 |
303 |
259 |
126 |
52 |
51 |
30 |
D |
D |
Biological and biomedical sciences |
4,720 |
2,433 |
2,285 |
1,619 |
213 |
300 |
153 |
D |
D |
Health sciences |
1,579 |
846 |
795 |
250 |
284 |
93 |
168 |
D |
D |
Physical sciences and earth sciences |
1,963 |
1,037 |
934 |
528 |
104 |
234 |
68 |
D |
D |
Chemistry |
991 |
497 |
465 |
240 |
49 |
153 |
23 |
32 |
0 |
Geosciences, atmospheric, and ocean sciences |
510 |
295 |
263 |
172 |
36 |
29 |
26 |
32 |
0 |
Physics and astronomy |
462 |
245 |
206 |
116 |
19 |
52 |
19 |
D |
D |
Mathematics and computer sciences |
959 |
543 |
493 |
141 |
145 |
175 |
32 |
50 |
0 |
Computer and information sciences |
419 |
222 |
202 |
42 |
53 |
91 |
16 |
20 |
0 |
Mathematics and statistics |
540 |
321 |
291 |
99 |
92 |
84 |
16 |
30 |
0 |
Psychology and social sciences |
5,329 |
2,980 |
2,743 |
1,171 |
857 |
300 |
415 |
230 |
7 |
Psychology |
2,808 |
1,637 |
1,584 |
916 |
277 |
163 |
228 |
51 |
2 |
Anthropology |
289 |
119 |
104 |
50 |
34 |
D |
D |
14 |
1 |
Economics |
418 |
275 |
211 |
32 |
90 |
53 |
36 |
63 |
1 |
Political science and government |
283 |
156 |
145 |
38 |
86 |
8 |
13 |
11 |
0 |
Sociology |
356 |
218 |
192 |
47 |
111 |
D |
D |
26 |
0 |
Other social sciences |
1,175 |
575 |
507 |
88 |
259 |
63 |
97 |
65 |
3 |
Engineering |
2,192 |
1,043 |
945 |
318 |
113 |
438 |
76 |
91 |
7 |
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering |
56 |
30 |
D |
7 |
D |
8 |
9 |
D |
0 |
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering |
402 |
193 |
185 |
108 |
11 |
59 |
7 |
8 |
0 |
Chemical engineering |
297 |
159 |
147 |
40 |
7 |
91 |
9 |
11 |
1 |
Civil engineering |
127 |
53 |
45 |
16 |
11 |
13 |
5 |
6 |
2 |
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering |
295 |
131 |
119 |
25 |
10 |
76 |
8 |
11 |
1 |
Industrial and manufacturing engineering |
71 |
34 |
D |
5 |
8 |
14 |
D |
D |
1 |
Materials science engineering |
262 |
116 |
104 |
40 |
D |
56 |
D |
10 |
2 |
Mechanical engineering |
202 |
88 |
79 |
22 |
16 |
33 |
8 |
9 |
0 |
Other engineering |
480 |
239 |
210 |
55 |
43 |
88 |
24 |
29 |
0 |
Education |
3,603 |
1,899 |
1,821 |
151 |
972 |
79 |
619 |
D |
D |
Education administration |
523 |
D |
D |
D |
116 |
8 |
130 |
D |
0 |
Education research |
1,667 |
890 |
847 |
92 |
438 |
50 |
267 |
D |
D |
Teacher education |
138 |
D |
D |
D |
37 |
D |
23 |
D |
0 |
Teaching fields |
852 |
479 |
459 |
D |
282 |
D |
130 |
20 |
0 |
Other education |
423 |
D |
185 |
D |
99 |
D |
69 |
6 |
0 |
Humanities and arts |
2,843 |
1,240 |
1,122 |
220 |
723 |
45 |
134 |
118 |
0 |
Foreign languages and literature |
371 |
155 |
142 |
19 |
108 |
D |
D |
13 |
0 |
History |
526 |
235 |
213 |
65 |
108 |
8 |
32 |
22 |
0 |
Letters |
933 |
421 |
392 |
63 |
288 |
D |
D |
29 |
0 |
Other humanities and arts |
1,013 |
429 |
375 |
73 |
219 |
22 |
61 |
54 |
0 |
Otherd |
1,466 |
789 |
712 |
70 |
466 |
68 |
108 |
76 |
1 |
Business management and administration |
576 |
338 |
295 |
11 |
226 |
34 |
24 |
42 |
1 |
Communication |
410 |
206 |
189 |
26 |
132 |
10 |
21 |
17 |
0 |
Non-S&E fields not elsewhere classified |
480 |
245 |
228 |
33 |
108 |
24 |
63 |
17 |
0 |
Unknown field |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |
0 |