While a record 3 million students are pursuing advanced degrees in the U.S. today, a closer look at the numbers reveals a dynamic and shifting landscape of who is enrolled and what they are studying.
Key Takeaways
- In fall 2022, total graduate enrollment in the United States reached 3,049,000 students across all institutions
- Graduate enrollment in public universities in the US was 1,812,000 in 2022, accounting for 59.5% of total graduate students
- Private nonprofit institutions enrolled 1,015,000 graduate students in 2022, representing 33.3% of the total US graduate population
- Female graduate enrollment in the US was 1,716,000 in 2022, or 56.3% of total
- Male graduate students numbered 1,333,000 in 2022, comprising 43.7% of US graduate enrollment
- In 2022, White graduate students made up 1,456,000 or 47.7% of total US enrollment
- Graduate enrollment increased 1.1% overall from fall 2021 to 2022
- Master's enrollment surged 2.9% in fall 2022, the highest growth since 2015
- Doctoral enrollment declined 0.8% from 2021 to 2022
- In 2022, 45% of US graduate students were enrolled in STEM fields
- Engineering graduate enrollment totaled 242,000 in 2022, up 2% from prior year
- Biological and biomedical sciences had 163,000 graduate students in 2022
- In California, graduate enrollment was 512,000 in 2022, highest in US
- New York state had 412,000 graduate students enrolled in 2022
- Texas graduate enrollment totaled 347,000 in fall 2022
In fall 2022, U.S. graduate enrollment rebounded modestly to just over three million students.
Demographic Statistics
- Female graduate enrollment in the US was 1,716,000 in 2022, or 56.3% of total
- Male graduate students numbered 1,333,000 in 2022, comprising 43.7% of US graduate enrollment
- In 2022, White graduate students made up 1,456,000 or 47.7% of total US enrollment
- Black or African American graduate enrollment was 349,000 in 2022, or 11.4%
- Hispanic/Latino graduate students totaled 295,000 in 2022, representing 9.7% of US graduates
- Asian graduate enrollment was 280,000 in 2022, accounting for 9.2%
- The average age of graduate students in the US is 33 years, with 40% over 30
- In 2022, 25% of US graduate students were international, totaling about 762,000
- Female first-time graduate enrollment increased 5% from 2021 to 2022
- Black graduate enrollment grew 3.1% year-over-year in fall 2022
- Hispanic graduate enrollment rose 4.2% in fall 2022 compared to 2021
- In STEM fields, female graduate students comprised 48% in 2022
- Graduate students aged 25-29 made up 35% of enrollment in 2021
- Underrepresented minorities accounted for 26% of graduate enrollment in 2022
- From 2010 to 2020, female graduate enrollment grew 12% faster than males
- In 2022, 14% of graduate students identified as multiracial, totaling 427,000
- Pacific Islander graduate enrollment was 12,000 in 2022, or 0.4%
- American Indian/Alaska Native graduates numbered 17,000 in 2022, 0.6%
Demographic Statistics Interpretation
The figures suggest American graduate education is evolving with promising momentum, yet they also serve as a stark reminder that achieving true equity is less a finish line we are crossing and more a persistent, uphill marathon we are still running.
Enrollment by Field of Study
- In 2022, 45% of US graduate students were enrolled in STEM fields
- Engineering graduate enrollment totaled 242,000 in 2022, up 2% from prior year
- Biological and biomedical sciences had 163,000 graduate students in 2022
- Business graduate enrollment was 451,000 in 2022, 14.8% of total
- Education field enrolled 388,000 graduate students in 2022, down 1%
- Health professions graduate enrollment reached 612,000 in 2022, 20.1%
- Social sciences and history had 187,000 graduate students in 2022
- Psychology graduate enrollment was 112,000 in 2022
- Computer and information sciences enrolled 98,000 graduates in 2022
- Physical sciences and earth sciences totaled 89,000 graduate students in 2022
- Mathematics and statistics graduate enrollment was 34,000 in 2022
- Public administration and services had 78,000 graduate students in 2022
- Visual and performing arts enrolled 62,000 graduates in 2022
- Communications and journalism graduate enrollment was 41,000 in 2022
- Legal professions had 141,000 graduate students in 2022 primarily in professional programs
- Theology and religious vocations enrolled 22,000 in 2022
Enrollment by Field of Study Interpretation
While America’s future is being engineered by 242,000 graduate students (up 2%), its present is being anxiously therapized by 612,000 health professionals, leaving the 451,000 business students to figure out the bill.
Institutional and Regional Statistics
- In California, graduate enrollment was 512,000 in 2022, highest in US
- New York state had 412,000 graduate students enrolled in 2022
- Texas graduate enrollment totaled 347,000 in fall 2022
- Harvard University enrolled 21,000 graduate students in 2022-23
- Stanford University had 9,000 graduate students in 2022
- UC Berkeley graduate enrollment was 13,000 in 2022
- Northeastern region US had 928,000 graduate students in 2022, 30.4%
- Midwest graduate enrollment was 642,000 or 21.1% in 2022
- South region enrolled 1,008,000 graduates, 33% of total in 2022
- West US had 471,000 graduate students, 15.5% in 2022
- University of Michigan enrolled 16,000 graduate students in 2022
- NYU had 25,000 graduate students in fall 2022
- Pennsylvania state graduate enrollment was 238,000 in 2022
- In 2022, 1,200 US institutions offered graduate programs with enrollment data
- Top 100 US universities accounted for 35% of total graduate enrollment in 2022
Institutional and Regional Statistics Interpretation
While California boasts the highest state enrollment, it's the South's vast network of institutions enrolling a third of the nation's graduate students that truly dominates the map, proving that advanced degrees are no longer the exclusive territory of a few coastal academic hubs.
Overall Enrollment Statistics
- In fall 2022, total graduate enrollment in the United States reached 3,049,000 students across all institutions
- Graduate enrollment in public universities in the US was 1,812,000 in 2022, accounting for 59.5% of total graduate students
- Private nonprofit institutions enrolled 1,015,000 graduate students in 2022, representing 33.3% of the total US graduate population
- In 2021-22, the number of full-time graduate students in the US was 1,891,000, while part-time was 1,158,000
- US graduate enrollment grew by 1.2% from fall 2021 to fall 2022, reaching a total of 3,049,000
- In 2022, master's degree enrollment comprised 1,948,000 students or 63.9% of total US graduate enrollment
- Doctoral enrollment in the US stood at 560,000 in 2022, making up 18.4% of graduate totals
- First-professional degree enrollment was 541,000 in 2022, or 17.7% of US graduate students
- Total graduate enrollment in Title IV institutions was 2,818,000 in 2021-22
- Between 2012 and 2022, US graduate enrollment increased by 4.8% overall
- In fall 2020, graduate enrollment dropped 2% due to COVID-19, totaling approximately 3,000,000
- Public 4-year institutions had 1,685,000 graduate students in 2022
Overall Enrollment Statistics Interpretation
While masters students swell the academic ranks with practical ambition, the doctoral cohort marches steadfastly toward expertise and the professional degree holders sharpen their legal and medical instruments, together forming a cautiously optimistic army of 3 million that, after a pandemic scare, is once again slowly advancing on the future.
Trends and Changes
- Graduate enrollment increased 1.1% overall from fall 2021 to 2022
- Master's enrollment surged 2.9% in fall 2022, the highest growth since 2015
- Doctoral enrollment declined 0.8% from 2021 to 2022
- First-time graduate enrollment rose 3.7% in fall 2022 over 2021
- Total graduate applications increased 5.3% from 2021 to 2022
- From 2000 to 2020, graduate enrollment grew 28% nationally
- Post-COVID recovery saw 7.1% growth in first-time enrollment in 2022
- Engineering graduate enrollment up 4.5% year-over-year in 2022
- Business master's programs saw 5.8% enrollment increase in 2022
- Overall graduate enrollment rebounded 4% from 2020 lows by 2022
- Female first-time enrollment in master's programs grew 6.2% in 2022
- Decline in doctoral enrollment for non-STEM fields was 1.5% in 2022
- From 2019 to 2022, international graduate enrollment recovered 10%
- Public university graduate enrollment grew 1.5% annually from 2018-2022
- Private nonprofit graduate enrollment stable at 0.2% growth 2021-2022
- Graduate enrollment in the Midwest US increased 0.8% in 2022
- Southern region saw 2.1% graduate enrollment growth in fall 2022
- Enrollment in education graduate programs fell 1.2% from 2021 to 2022
Trends and Changes Interpretation
While the dream of a doctorate seems to be losing a bit of its luster, the master's degree is having a true renaissance, proving that in an uncertain world, a quicker professional upgrade is the hotter commodity.
Sources & References
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