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The number of both astronomy bachelor's degrees and PhDs awarded in the class of 2016 represent all-time highs. Astronomy bachelors have been increasing steadily for the last 15 years, with 469 degrees awarded in the class of 2016. With undergraduate astronomy enrollments continuing to grow, the trend is expected to continue for at least the next couple of years. The 41 PhD-granting astronomy departments conferred 170 astronomy PhDs in the class of 2016. There were 250 first-year students enrolling in US astronomy graduate programs in the fall of 2016. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2016 and includes all degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States.

Physics bachelor's degree production continues to increase, with the 8,122 bachelor's awarded representing yet another all-time high. Further increases in physics bachelor's degree production are anticipated as undergraduate junior- and senior-level enrollments continue to climb. The all-time high of 1,860 physics PhDs conferred in the class of 2015 continues the trend of increasing PhD production. First-year graduate physics student enrollments have been relatively unchanged in recent years, as a result total graduate enrollments are expected to remain at about 15,000 for the next couple of years. This report contains the most current enrollment and degree data for each degree-granting physics department in the US. The findings in this report come from the American Institute of Physics (AIP) annual survey of Enrollments and Degrees. [For the 2014 survey report, see ED560870.]

Interest in astronomy degrees in the U.S. remains strong, with astronomy enrollments at or near all-time highs for the 2012-13 academic year. The total number of students taking an introductory astronomy course at a degree-granting physics or astronomy department is approaching 200,000. Enrollments in introductory astronomy courses have been steadily increasing over the years and are now about 10% higher than what they were a decade earlier. These increasing enrollments have resulted in record numbers of students receiving doctorates and bachelor's degrees. Each fall the Statistical Research Center conducts its Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey is sent to all degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the U.S. and Puerto Rico to provide information concerning the number of students they currently have enrolled and the number of degrees they conferred in the previous academic year. In the 2011-12 academic year, there were 385 astronomy bachelor's degrees awarded at U.S. colleges and universities. This is 23 degrees below the all-time high reached the previous year. The 40 doctoral-granting astronomy departments in the U.S. awarded 152 astronomy PhDs in the class of 2012. This report also examines issues of gender and citizenship. The following are appended: (1) Number of Astronomy Degrees Granted by Highest Astronomy Degree Offered by Department, Academic Year 2011-12; and (2) Trends in Astronomy Enrollments and Degrees, Academic Years 2002-2013.

The U.S. has experienced a sharp increase in the number of bachelor astronomy degrees awarded in recent years with about twice as many degrees now being awarded than a decade ago. There were 385 astronomy bachelor's degrees awarded in the 2011-12 academic year. The number of astronomy PhDs awarded in recent years is up about 50% from a decade earlier. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2012 and covers all degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States.

Each fall the Statistical Research Center conducts its Survey of Enrollments and Degrees, which asks all degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the U.S. to provide information concerning the numbers of students they have enrolled and counts of recent degree recipients. In connection with this survey, the authors ask for the names and contact information for their recent degree recipients. This degree recipient information is used to conduct their follow-up survey in the winter following the academic year in which they received their degrees. The data in this "focus on" comes from that survey. Findings revealed that after they graduate, physics bachelor's degree recipients choose whether to continue directly to graduate school or enter the workforce. Of the combined 2009 and 2010 classes of new physics' bachelor's, 60% were enrolled in graduate programs by the winter following their degrees, and the remaining 40% entered the workforce. The majority of the employed physics bachelor's degree recipients from the combined classes of 2009 and 2010 worked in the private sector. Overall, about three-quarters of employed physics bachelor's are working in STEM fields. The majority of non-STEM jobs are in the private sector. The majority of physics bachelor's from the combined classes of 2009 and 2010 found jobs in all areas of the economy that were well-paying, intellectually rewarding and satisfying. However, it is important to note that students from these classes graduated at a time when a recession had just ended and a slow recovery was beginning. Thus, some struggled to find appropriate employment. (Contains 9 figures and 1 table.)

The number of astronomy bachelor's conferred in the U.S. continues to climb. The academic year 2010-11 produced more astronomy bachelor's than in any other time in U.S. history. The 408 astronomy bachelor's degrees earned in the class of 2011 more than doubled the class of 2000, and the number of astronomy PhDs conferred (160) is one degree short of being tied with the all-time high of three years earlier. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2011-2012 and includes all degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States.

Each fall the Statistical Research Center conducts its Survey of Enrollments and Degrees, which asks all degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the U.S. to provide information concerning the numbers of students they have enrolled and counts of recent degree recipients. In connection with this survey, the authors ask for the names and contact information for students currently enrolled in their graduate program. Seventy-three percent of the departments provided contact information for their graduate students. The majority of the data in this "focus on" comes from physics and astronomy students who were identified as being new to a department in the academic years 2007-08 and 2009-10. An initial invitation to participate in the survey was sent to the students in April of their first year at a department. According to the findings from the Survey of Enrollments and Degrees, there were 3,069 first-year physics students enrolled in the fall of 2007 and 3,089 in the fall of 2009. Findings reveal that total first-year graduate student enrollments at physics departments have remained at about 3,000 students for the last 6 years. Around 70% of non-U.S. students entering physics departments in the U.S. are from Asia. Almost half of PhD-seeking first-year physics students aspire to work in a university setting. (Contains 5 tables and 2 figures.)

Each fall, the Statistical Research Center conducts its "Survey of Enrollments and Degrees" which asks physics and astronomy departments to provide information concerning the number of students they have enrolled and counts of recent degree recipients. In connection with this survey, the authors ask for the names and contact information for their recent degree recipients. This degree recipient information is used to conduct the authors' follow-up survey in the winter following the academic year in which they received their degrees. The physics classes of 2009 and 2010 consisted of 5,908 and 6,017 bachelor's respectively. The authors received post-degree information on 41% of these degree recipients with less than a quarter of the information coming from the student's advisor. Four percent of the respondents were pursuing employment or graduate study outside the US and were not included in the analysis. Findings reveal that after receiving a bachelor's in physics, most new graduates either continue on to graduate school or enter the workforce in the year following their degree. Sixty percent of the new graduates from the classes of 2009 and 2010 combined chose to enroll in a graduate program. Of this group, the majority chose to study physics or astronomy. (Contains 5 figures.)

Each fall the Statistical Research Center conducts its Survey of Enrollments and Degrees, which asks all degree-granting physics and astronomy departments in the US to provide information concerning the numbers of students they have enrolled and counts of recent degree recipients. In connection with this survey, the authors ask for the names and contact information for their recent degree recipients. This degree recipient information is used to conduct their Follow-up Survey in the winter following the academic year in which they received their degrees. The post-degree outcome data in this "focus on" come from that survey. Within the private sector, astronomy bachelor's degree recipients employed in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) had a median starting salary that was nearly $25K higher than those employed in non-STEM positions. Virtually all astronomy bachelor's recipients employed in colleges and universities worked in STEM jobs and they too had higher starting salaries than their colleagues in the private sector working in non-STEM fields. Forty-one percent of astronomy bachelor's recipients graduated with a double major. About half of new astronomy bachelor's recipients enter the workforce after earning their degrees. Half of all new astronomy bachelor's recipients employed in the private sector are working in a STEM field. Almost half of exiting astronomy master's degrees were earned by women. Seventy percent of new astronomy master's recipients immediately entered the workforce. U.S. citizens made up 71% of new astronomy PhD recipients. Over three-quarters of new astronomy PhD recipients accepted postdoc positions. The median starting salary for astronomy PhDs in academia and government were $50,000 & $55,300 respectively. (Contains 3 tables and 6 figures.)

The Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics conducts an annual census from October through February of all departments that offer degrees in astronomy (78) in the United States. Astronomy departments consist of stand-alone degree-granting departments (39) and departments that are administered along with a physics program (39). For the class of 2010, the authors received responses from 95% of these departments and for the class of 2009 they heard from 97%. Estimates were derived and included in the totals for non-responding departments. The academic year 2009-10 has hit a number of all-time highs concerning astronomy education. New highs were reached in the areas of introductory astronomy course enrollments, senior-level astronomy majors, total number of astronomy graduate students and astronomy bachelor's degrees conferred. In 2010, 382 bachelor's were awarded with 36% (N=138) earned by women. Appended are: (1) Number of Astronomy Degrees Granted by Highest Astronomy Degree Offered by Department, 2009-10; and (2) Trend in Astronomy Enrollments and Degrees, Academic Years 2000-2011. (Contains 9 figures and 4 tables.)

Academic year 2009-10 produced more astronomy bachelor's than in any other time in US history. The 382 astronomy physics bachelor's degrees earned in the class of 2010 represent a 19% increase from the previous class and an increase of 89% from a decade earlier. The number of astronomy PhDs conferred has remained at around 150 for the last 3 years. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of the 2010-11 academic year and includes all degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States.

Academic year 2009-10 produced more physics bachelor's and more physics PhDs than in any other year in US history. The 6,017 physics bachelor's degrees earned in the class of 2010 represent a 65% increase from the class of 1999 eleven years earlier. The 1,558 PhDs in the class of 2010 is up 43% from a recent low 6 years earlier. Non-US citizens comprise 53% of the physics PhDs in the class of 2010. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of the 2010-11 academic year and covers all degree-granting physics departments in the United States.

This report presents the characteristics and initial outcomes of exiting master's degree recipients in physics and astronomy. The report covers the degree classes of 2006, 2007 and 2008. The status of exiting physics master's varied greatly by the citizenship of the degree recipient. The majority of US citizens entered or remained in the workforce after receiving their degrees, where the majority of non-US citizens continued with graduate study in physics or another field. Of the physics master's in the workforce, over half were employed in the private sector, with a vast majority working in a STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) field. (Contains 4 figures and 5 tables.)

The Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics has been collecting Enrollment and Degree data for over four decades. This departmental census goes out in the fall of each year to all physics and astronomy departments in the US and Puerto Rico. This report is based on data collected in the fall of 2005 from the 764 departments that offer physics degrees and from the 76 departments that offer astronomy degrees. There were 1,244 physics PhD's conferred in the class of 2005, a 14% increase from the previous year. The proportion of foreign citizens among new physics PhD's is at an all-time high with 60% of the class of 2005 being non-US citizens. The number of enrolled junior and senior physics majors has been steadily rising and is now at levels that exceeds the recent highs of the early 1990s. The 5,113 physics bachelor's in the class of 2005 represents the sixth consecutive year of increase, resulting in an overall gain of 40% from a recent low in 1999. The 343 astronomy bachelor's produced in the class of 2005 establishes a new all-time high. Astronomy bachelor's experienced an unprecedented two-year increase (61%) from 2000 to 2002. First-year student enrollments at master's granting departments continue to rise, up 61% from six years earlier. After seven years of increasing enrollments, first-year graduate student enrollments at PhD-granting departments have dropped for the second consecutive year. Based on recent trends in first-year student enrollments at doctoral-granting departments, PhD production will continue to increase for at least the next few years and it is expected that US citizens will return to being in the majority of new PhD's by 2008 or 2009. Fifteen out of the 185 doctoral-granting departments were responsible for producing about 30% of all the PhD's conferred during the last three years. (Contains 14 tables and 18 figures.)

This report describes the initial employment and educational paths pursued by physics and astronomy degree recipients at the bachelor's, master's, and PhD levels for the classes of 2002-03 and 2003-04. The report includes starting salaries, primary work activities, ratings of professional challenge and other aspects of initial employment. The report also describes the fields of study and types of support for physics degree recipients who continued their education. The data that forms the basis of the report comes from the American Institute of Physics' Initial Employment Survey. (Contains 20 figures and 7 tables.)

This report looks at the characteristics, educational experiences and the short- and long-term goals of senior-level physics and astronomy majors at a point just before their graduation. It examines the factors that influenced them to study physics or astronomy as well as what they considered important when choosing which institution to attend. The findings in this report are based on responses from 1,740 physics seniors and 85 astronomy seniors who reported that they had received or were going to receive their bachelor's during the 2002-03 academic year. Responding seniors who indicated they were not graduating in the class of 2003 were excluded from the analysis. (Contains 7 figures and 8 tables.)

Physics and Astronomy Degree Recipients face a variety of career and educational choices once they receive their degree. The decisions that they make are affected by a wide range of influences, such as student experiences, evolving interests, family issues, personal finances, long-term career goals, and the economic conditions they encounter. This report is based on the American Institute of Physics' Initial Employment Survey and focuses on the initial choices and career aspirations of recent degree recipients in the combined classes of 2002 and 2003. The survey is sent to physics and astronomy bachelors, masters and PhD recipients in the winter following the academic year in which they received their degree. (Contains 22 figures and 8 tables.)

This report is a direct result of physics and astronomy department chairpersons, faculty, and staff providing us with information on their individual programs. For the data on the class of 2003, the authors received responses from 96% of the departments. Data for the non-responding departments were estimated using responses to our survey in previous years, and those estimated figures are included in the totals presented in this report. An appendix contains additional tabular data. (Contains 10 tables and 14 figures.)

The American Institute of Physics has regularly reported information about physics and astronomy graduate students since 1968. In more recent years the survey has shifted to focus on first-year graduate students, with a survey of the full population of graduate students every few years. This report covers surveys of first-year students for the academic years ending in 2002 and 2003. Response rates for the known population were 48% and 46% respectively. Almost 90% of the responses were collected electronically. Differences in response rates by citizenship were minimal. (Contains 10 tables and 6 figures.)

About one-third of the physics majors in the class of 2001 took more than 4 years to complete their undergraduate studies. The most common reasons were receiving a double major and changing majors. There are 761 departments in the US that confer at least a bachelor's degree in physics. These programs produced 4091 bachelor's degrees in the class of 2001. The data in this report are based on responses from 1,581 physics seniors who indicated they had received or were going to receive their physics bachelors during the 2000-01 academic year. Each year about 35% of the physics students with senior status do not receive a bachelor's degree. These students, for a number of reasons, maintain their senior status for more than one year and are not included in this report. The amount of time it takes physics undergraduates to obtain their degrees will be discussed later in the report. (Contains 11 tables and 9 figures.)

This roster contains detailed data from the annual survey of enrollments and degrees. The survey, conducted during the 2002-2003 academic year, contains data about all degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States. Presented in this roster are the data reported by those departments for their 2001-2002 introductory astronomy course enrollments, 2001-2002 degrees, and their fall 2002 undergraduate majors and graduate student enrollments. There are 75 degree-granting astronomy departments. Of these, 37 are combined with the physics department at the same university, and the remaining 38 departments are administered separately. All but 2 degree-granting departments contributed to this report. (SLD)

This report provides information on the size and citizenship of the incoming graduate physics and astronomy class and describes student characteristics such as gender and educational background. Data are from the American Institute of Physics Enrollments and Degrees surveys for the 1998-1999 and 1999-2000 academic years. In 1998-1999 there were 2,582 students newly enrolled in 1 of 254 graduate physics and astronomy programs, and in 1999-2000, there were 2,697 students newly enrolled in these programs. Incoming 1999-2000 physics and astronomy graduate enrollments were up about 5% from a recent low in 1997. Although their proportions are declining, students from China continue to make up the largest group (25%) of incoming international students. The percent of students from Eastern and Central Europe has risen to 22% of the incoming foreign students. Nearly all students attending PhD-granting departments received some type of financial support, but 18% of the full-time enrolled students at master's departments relied on outside employment or savings or loans to help finance their education. By the end of their first year of graduate school, more than three-quarters of all students had selected a subfield in which to specialize. The majority of students, regardless of citizenship, had a long-term goal of teaching or a research position in an academic setting. (Contains 10 tables and 5 figures.) (SLD)

This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees in the 2001-2002 academic year. The report contains data reported by degree-granting astronomy departments for their 2000-2001 introductory astronomy course enrollments, 2000-2001 degrees, and fall 2001 undergraduate majors and graduate student enrollments. At the time, there were 70 degree-granting astronomy departments, 34 of which were combined with physics departments at the same university. All but 8 of these departments contributed to the data in this roster. In fall 2001, there were 420 astronomy majors in their junior year and 478 senior astronomy majors. OF the total 807 graduate students, 227 were from foreign countries. In 2000-2001, 274 bachelor's degrees were granted in astronomy, and there were 13 exiting master's degree recipients. There were 101 PhDs granted in 2000-2001. The roster lists departments alphabetically within each state. (SLD)

This report provides data on students earning physics and astronomy Bachelors degrees for the academic years ending in 1999 and 2000. A survey was sent to each of the 763 degree-granting departments that confer physics degrees, and responses were received from 2,721 physics major seniors from both classes. Findings show that physics Bachelors degree production increased for the first time in almost a decade. The class of 2000 had a total of 3,894, an increase of 7% over the previous year. The number one goal for both physics and astronomy bachelors degree candidates, 31% and 48% in the 2 years, is to work at a college or university doing teaching or research. Recent years have seen a slight increase in the proportion of new degree recipients entering directly into physics graduate studies. Of the physics majors, 76% indicated having worked on an undergraduate research project. Respondents generally indicated that, if given the opportunity to do it over again, they would still major in physics (84% of physics Bachelors candidates and 81% of astronomy candidates). (SLD)

This roster contains detailed information from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The report contains data reported by degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States for 1999-2000 introductory astronomy course enrollments, 1999-2000 degrees, and fall 2000 undergraduate majors and graduate student enrollments. In the United States in fall 2000, there were 71 degree-granting astronomy departments. Of these, 34 were combined with the physics department at the same university. The remaining 37 departments are administered separately from the physics department. All but 2 of the 71 departments contributed to this roster, although some departments only supplied partial data. In fall 2000, there were 391 juniors majoring in astronomy at these institutions and 461 seniors majoring in astronomy. Of the 809 graduate students in astronomy, 612 were from foreign countries. In 1999-2000, 202 bachelors degrees were granted in physics, 25 master's degrees, and 139 PhDs. The roster lists institutions alphabetically within each state. (SLD)

This roster contains detailed information from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The report contains data reported by degree-granting astronomy departments in the United States for 1998-1999 introductory astronomy course enrollments, 1998-1999 degrees, and fall 1999 undergraduate majors and graduate student enrollments. In the United States, there were 70 degree-granting astronomy departments. Of these, 34 were combined with the physics department at the same university. The remaining 36 departments were administered separately from the physics department. All but one of the 70 departments contributed to this roster, although some departments only supplied partial data. In fall 1999, there were 395 juniors majoring in astronomy at these institutions and 409 seniors majoring in astronomy. Of the 838 graduate students in astronomy, 228 were from foreign countries. In 1998-1999, 195 bachelors degrees were granted in physics, and 23 master's degrees, and 88 PhDs. The roster lists institutions alphabetically within each state. (SLD)

This report presents the results of a fall 1999 survey of U.S. colleges and universities that offer doctoral, master's, and bachelor's degrees in physics and astronomy, focusing on degree production and current student enrollment. Highlighted are the following: (1) after four years of significant declines, physics bachelor's degrees conferred in 1998 remained stable; (2) the number of first-year students entering U.S. graduate physics programs has remained relatively unchanged for three consecutive years; (3) the group composition of entering physics graduate students has changed; (4) there was a 4 percent drop in physics doctorates awarded; (5) a higher proportion of women and lower proportion of foreign students receive astronomy degrees compared to their physics counterparts; and (6) bachelor's degrees in astronomy rose 8 percent. An appendix provides trend data on degrees and enrollments over the last several years. (EV)

This report follows up the employment status of 1997 physics and astronomy degree recipients. The report notes that: (1) only 2 percent of 1997 doctoral degree recipients were unemployed in the winter of 1998; this is down from a recent high of 6 percent for the class of 1993; (2) half of new physics Ph.D.s in the class of 1997 accepted permanent positions; a majority of these positions were in the industrial sector; (3) the majority of new Ph.D.s employed in permanent positions expressed the view that they were working in an area that was not primarily physics based; in contrast, the majority of new Ph.D.s in postdoctoral and other temporary positions were employed primarily in physics; (4) more than half of students leaving with master's degrees entered the work force, 62 percent of these were employed in industry, and 75 percent view their positions as related to physics; (5) half of all 1997 bachelor's degree recipients enrolled in graduate school, with the majority entering a physics graduate program; and (6) over 95 percent of physics bachelor's degree recipients entering graduate school received research assistantships, teaching assistantships, or fellowships. Tables and figures summarize the data. (CH)

This report provides data on students earning physics and astronomy bachelor's degrees for the 1997-98 academic year. The report notes that: (1) after many years of steady decline, the number of undergraduates earning physics bachelor's degrees has stabilized, with 3,821 degrees awarded in l997-98; (2) declines in undergraduate degrees persist at generally larger departments that also teach physics at the graduate level--for these schools, the cumulative decrease since 1989 is 32 percent; (3) satisfaction levels among physics bachelor's recipients appears high; (4) roughly half of new bachelor's recipients plan to immediately enter graduate school, with 31 percent planning to pursue physics studies and 19 percent planning to pursue other disciplines; (5) of students continuing on to graduate study, 86 percent expect to earn doctoral degrees and 61 percent hope for careers as college or university professors, percentages far higher than historically achieved; (6) physics and astronomy seniors perceive their respective post-baccalaureate job markets very differently, with physics seniors believing their potential employment prospects are far more positive than do their astronomy counterparts; and (7) perhaps as a result of their poorer bachelor-level job market, the proportion of astronomy graduates going directly to graduate school is higher (55 percent) than in physics. More than two-thirds of astronomy matriculates aspire to academic careers. Tables and figures summarize the data. (CH)

The 1990s have seen change in the populations of graduate students in physics departments across the country. The Graduate Student Survey captures demographic characteristics of approximately 10,600 physics and astronomy students who were enrolled in the 1996-97 academic year. It describes the students' sources of support, areas of specialization, country of origin, and years of study for those receiving degrees. The paper discusses the results in light of the decline of total enrollment in U.S. physics graduate departments over the past decade. First-year enrollment has declined in the last decade and is expected to continue to decline over the next decade. The enrollment decline has been steeper for U.S. students than for foreign students. Foreign students now make up 45% of the physics graduate student population. Support for graduate students in physics and astronomy varies by department. Years of study averages 6.1 for students receiving doctorates. Foreign students are higher in numbers in physics than astronomy, and the number of women in physics is less than the number of women in astronomy. The report includes tables and summaries of major findings. (HB)