Primary source of support
Primary source of financial support during graduate education differed substantially depending on the student's age at the time the doctorate was awarded. Among those age 30 or younger when they received a doctorate in 2016, 94% reported research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships or grants as their primary source of support. These sources of support were less common for those age 31 to 40 (79%) and for those age 41 or older at the time of graduation (36%). Almost one-half of those who received doctorates at age 41 or older reported their own resources as the primary source of support, compared to 16% for those age 31 to 40 and 4% for the youngest group.
Primary source of financial support for U.S. doctorate recipients, by age at doctorate award: 2016
| Primary source | 30 or younger | 31–40 | 41 or older | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| Teaching assistantship | 4,518 | 21.1 | 4,980 | 24.2 | 775 | 12.6 |
| Research assistantship | 8,611 | 40.3 | 5,672 | 27.6 | 567 | 9.2 |
| Fellowship or grant | 6,982 | 32.6 | 5,490 | 26.7 | 857 | 14.0 |
| Own resources | 910 | 4.3 | 3,270 | 15.9 | 3,047 | 49.6 |
| Other sources | 371 | 1.7 | 1,142 | 5.6 | 891 | 14.5 |
- NOTES: Percentage are based on the number of doctorate recipients responding to the primary source of financial support item. Own resources include loans, personal savings, personal earnings outside of the institution sources listed, and earnings or savings of spouse, partner, or family. Other sources include employer reimbursement or assistance and foreign support.
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2016. Related detailed data: tables 35, 36, 37.
