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The trend data detailed in this "Focus On" includes doctorates from the class of 2019. It presents data on the number of physics PhDs awarded in the U.S. including data on citizenship, women, and PhDs from underrepresented groups. It also includes data on educational background, time to degree, subfield of dissertation, and general satisfaction with degree for PhDs from the classes of 2017 and 2018.

The physics bachelor's class of 2016 represents yet another all-time high. There were 8,432 bachelor's degrees conferred, an increase of 4% from the previous year and a 131% increase from the recent low in 1999. First-year graduate physics student enrollments have remained at about 3,200 students for the last 5 years. The number of physics PhDs conferred in the class of 2016 represented a 2% decline from the previous year, but degree production has been increasing in recent years, up 67% from 12 years earlier. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2016 and covers all degree-granting physics departments in the United States.

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.]

Physics bachelor's degree production has more than doubled since the recent low in 1999, and enrollment in U.S. undergraduate physics programs continues to increase. The all-time high of 7,329 bachelor's degrees in the class of 2013 represents the 14th consecutive year that the number of physics bachelor's conferred has increased. First-year graduate physics student enrollments have averaged just above 3,100 students in recent years. After steadily increasing for the past decade, the number of physics PhDs conferred in the class of 2013 (1,743) was relatively unchanged from the previous year. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of 2013 and covers all degree-granting physics departments in the United States. Of the 752 degree-granting physics departments, 688 (91%) contributed to the data supplied in this year's roster. The totals include data from responding departments as well as estimated data for the 64 non-responding departments.

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.

The Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics conducts an annual census of all degree-granting physics departments in the United States and Puerto Rico. The survey had a 95% response rate from the 751 departments that granted physics bachelor's degrees in the class of 2010. Results show that the number of physics bachelor's degrees awarded in the U.S. has been increasing steadily for 11 years. The 6,017 degrees awarded in the class of 2010 represent a 65% increase since a recent low in 1999. Six percent of these degrees were awarded to non-U.S. citizens. Physics bachelor's made up only a small portion of the 1.65 million bachelor's degrees conferred in the 2009-10 academic year. For every 1,000 bachelor's conferred, only 3.6 were in physics. Physics Bachelor's Degrees Conferred, Classes of 2001 through 2010 are appended. (Contains 11 figures and 6 tables.)

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.

Academic year 2010-11 produced 2 new all-time highs for physics bachelor's and physics PhDs conferred in the U.S. The 6,296 physics bachelor's degrees earned in the class of 2011 represent a 73% increase from a recent low in the class of 1999 twelve years earlier. The 1,688 PhDs in the class of 2011 is up 55% from a recent low 7 years earlier. This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees. The survey was conducted in the fall of the 2011-12 academic year and covers all degree-granting physics departments in the United States.

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.

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 and Puerto Rico to provide information concerning the number of students they have enrolled and counts of recent degree recipients. In the academic year 2007-08 there were 252 departments with physics graduate programs. For this survey, the degree year is defined as being from September to August. The authors received responses from 97% of these departments. Estimates were derived and included in the totals for non-responding departments. The follow-up surveys for the classes of 2006-07 and 2007-08 were conducted in the winter following the academic year the PhDs and master's received their degrees. For this survey, the degree year is defined as being from September to August. Degree recipients who left the US after receiving their degrees were not included in the analysis. The physics PhD classes of 2006-07 and 2007-08 consisted of 1,460 and 1,499 PhDs, respectively. The authors received post-degree information on 54% of these degree recipients. Sixty-nine percent of their responses came from the PhD recipients themselves, and the remainder came from their thesis advisors. The exiting physics master's degree classes of 2006-07 and 2007-08 consisted of 824 and 790 degree recipients, respectively. The authors received post-degree information on 39% of these degree recipients, with 58% of the information coming directly from the degree recipients. This report presents the authors' findings. Appended are: (1) Exiting Physics Master's Degrees Conferred, Academic Years 1998-2008; and (2) Physics Doctorates Conferred, Academic Years 1998-2008. (Contains 6 tables and 7 figures.)

The Statistical Research Center of the American Institute of Physics conducts an annual census of all degree-granting physics departments in the United States and Puerto Rico. The survey, collecting data from the 754 departments that granted bachelor's degrees in the class of 2008, had a 97% response rate. Estimates were derived and included in the totals for non-responding departments. One of the findings of this survey reveals that about 70% of the physics departments that offer the bachelor's as their highest physics degree average 5 or fewer degrees a year. The number of physics bachelor's conferred has increased 58% since a low in 1999. The number of physics bachelor's conferred at doctoral-granting departments has increased 74% since the class of 1999. Physics Bachelor's Degrees Conferred, Academic Years 1998-2008 are appended. (Contains 8 figures and 6 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 was conducted in the 2002-2003 academic year. It includes all degree-granting physics departments in the United states. Presented in this roster are the data reported by those departments for their 2001-2002 introductory course enrollments, 2002-200 degrees, and their fall 2002 undergraduate major and graduate student enrollments. Of the 766 degree-granting physics departments, 717 (94%) contributed to the data supplied in this year's roster. In fall 2002, there were 11,995 undergraduate physics majors in their junior or senior years, and 6,060 of them were from other countries. For the 2001-2002 academic year, 4,305 bachelor's degrees were granted, with 657 exiting master's degrees, and 1,095 PhDs. Enrollment is given for physics and astronomy at junior and senior year fore each responding institution, and the numbers of foreign students are also shown by institution. (SLD)

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)

In fall 2002, the American Institute of Physics asked the 735 physics departments, the 34 combined physics and astronomy departments, and the 37 separate astronomy departments in the United States to provide information on both their current student enrollments and the degrees they conferred in the previous academic year. Data were received from 93% of the departments, and data for nonresponding departments were estimated using survey responses from previous years. After about a decade of decline, undergraduate physics enrollment has increased. There were 4,091 physics bachelor's degrees conferred in 2001, an increase of 12% from 1999. Physics PhD production has fallen, however, for the seventh consecutive year. There were 1,157 PhDs conferred in 2001, a cumulative decline of 22% since the high in 1994. In the past 2 years, the number of African Americans receiving physics PhDs has nearly doubled. The number of students receiving astronomy bachelor's degrees in 2001 shout up 36% over the previous year, and much of this is attributable to the increase in women receiving degrees. An appendix contains three data tables. (Contains 9 figures and 14 tables.) (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 conducted in the 2001-2002 academic year. The roster contains data reported by physics departments in the United States for their 2000-2001 introductory course enrollments, 2000-2001 degrees, and fall 2001 undergraduate major and graduate student enrollments. Of the 768 degree-granting physics departments, 720 (94%) contributed to the data in this roster. In fall 2001, there were 5,599 juniors majoring in physics and 6,521 seniors. Of the 11,402 graduate students in physics in fall 2001, 5,807 were from foreign countries. There were 4,091 bachelor's degrees awarded in physics in 2000-2001, and 701 existing master's students. In that academic year, 1,157 PhDs were awarded in physics. The roster lists institutions alphabetically within each state. It includes enrollment and degree data for physics, physical science, and astronomy for U.S. and foreign students. (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)

In fall 2000, the 770 degree-granting physics departments in the United States were asked to provide information on their current enrollments and recent degrees granted, and responses were received from 98% of the departments. Findings show that the number of individuals receiving physics bachelors degrees increased substantially after a decade of declines. There were 3,894 physics bachelors degrees conferred in 2000, an increase of 7% from the previous year. First-year graduate student enrollments increased for the second consecutive year. Although the number of African Americans receiving PhDs went from 10 in 1999 to 17 in 2000, minorities remained highly underrepresented among physics degree recipients. Astronomy degree recipients, at all levels, have a higher proportion of women and a lower proportion of foreign citizens that physics degree recipients. The percentage of women receiving bachelors or doctoral degrees in physics remained unchanged in 2000 in comparison with 1999. An appendix contains three tables of enrollment trends. (Contains 8 figures and 14 tables.) (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 data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees conducted in the 2000-2001 academic year, which contacted all degree-granting physics departments in the United States. Of the 770 degree-granting physics departments, 751 (98%) contributed to the data on 1999-2000 introductory course enrollments, 1999-2000 degrees, and fall 2000 undergraduate major and graduate student enrollments. Data show that the number of bachelor's degrees in Physics declined even as the overall number of bachelor's degrees increased. The number of U.S. graduate physics students has declined in recent years, but the number of foreign graduate physics students has increased. Overall, however, fewer Ph.D.s are being conferred in physics. The roster lists institutions alphabetically within each state and includes enrollment and degree data for physics and physical science and astronomy for U.S. and foreign students. (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)

In fall 1999, the 762 degree-granting physics departments in the United States were asked to provide information on their current enrollments and recent degrees, and data were received from 93% of the departments. The number of individuals receiving physics bachelor's degrees was at a 40-year low, with 3,646 degrees conferred in the class of 1999. The representation of women among degree recipients, however, reached a new high, with women earning 21% of the physics bachelor's degrees. Graduate student enrollments in physics increased in 1999 for the first time in almost a decade. The class of 1999, however, marked the fifth consecutive year that physics Ph.D. production fell. There were 1,262 degrees conferred, a decline of 5% from the previous year and a 15% decline since a recent high in 1994. An appendix contains tables describing recent trends in physics enrollments and degrees conferred. (SLD)

This roster contains detailed data from the annual Survey of Enrollments and Degrees conducted by the American Institute of Physics. The roster contains data reported by degree-granting physics departments in the United States for 1998-1999 introductory physics course enrollments, 1998-1999 degrees, and fall 1999 undergraduate majors and graduate student enrollments. The figures representing undergraduate majors are students at the junior and senior levels. Of the 762 degree-grating physics departments, 711 contributed to the data supplied in this year's roster. Overall, in fall 1999, there were 5,227 juniors and 5,913 seniors majoring in physics at these institutions. Of the total of 10,768 graduate students in fall 1999, 5,244 were from foreign countries. 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)