Minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents
Among minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents, doctorate recipients of different racial or ethnic backgrounds are more heavily represented in some fields of study than in others. In 2016, Asians earned more doctorates than other racial and ethnic minority groups in life sciences (11%), physical sciences and earth sciences (8%), mathematics and computer sciences (13%), and engineering (15%). Blacks or African Americans were the largest U.S. minority population in education. Hispanics or Latinos earned a larger share of doctorates in psychology and social sciences and in humanities and arts than did any other minority group.
Doctorates awarded to minority U.S. citizens and permanent residents, by ethnicity, race, and broad field of study: 2016
| Field | Hispanic or Latino | Not Hispanic or Latino | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| American Indian or Alaska Native | Asian | Black or African American | More than one race | ||
| All fields | 7.2 | 0.4 | 8.6 | 6.6 | 2.9 |
| Life sciences | 7.5 | 0.3 | 10.5 | 5.9 | 3.0 |
| Physical sciences and earth sciences | 5.1 | 0.2 | 8.2 | 2.6 | 3.0 |
| Mathematics and computer sciences | 5.5 | 0.2 | 12.5 | 4.5 | 3.8 |
| Psychology and social sciences | 8.5 | 0.4 | 6.3 | 7.2 | 3.2 |
| Engineering | 6.5 | 0.2 | 15.4 | 4.1 | 2.9 |
| Education | 7.5 | 0.7 | 4.9 | 14.9 | 2.3 |
| Humanities and arts | 7.2 | 0.4 | 4.0 | 3.8 | 2.5 |
| Other non-S&E fields | 6.6 | 0.2 | 10.1 | 10.6 | 2.3 |
- S&E = science and engineering.
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2016. Related detailed data: tables 23, 24.
