Table 27. Median age and age distribution of doctorate recipients, by broad field of study, sex, citizenship status, ethnicity, and race: 2015
(Percent distribution)
Broad field of study and demographic characteristic |
Median age at doctorate (years)a |
All ages |
25 and under |
26–30 |
31–35 |
36–40 |
41–45 |
Over 45 |
All fields |
31.6 |
100.0 |
0.7 |
43.8 |
30.6 |
11.6 |
5.3 |
8.0 |
Life sciencesb |
30.9 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
49.7 |
29.6 |
9.8 |
4.1 |
6.2 |
Physical sciences and earth sciences |
29.6 |
100.0 |
1.1 |
65.4 |
24.7 |
5.5 |
1.7 |
1.5 |
Mathematics and computer sciences |
30.3 |
100.0 |
1.7 |
55.6 |
28.5 |
7.5 |
2.9 |
3.9 |
Psychology and social sciences |
32.3 |
100.0 |
0.4 |
36.2 |
35.6 |
13.5 |
5.9 |
8.4 |
Engineering |
30.0 |
100.0 |
1.3 |
60.0 |
27.2 |
6.8 |
2.1 |
2.6 |
Education |
38.6 |
100.0 |
D |
11.8 |
26.9 |
20.8 |
D |
25.7 |
Humanities and arts |
34.2 |
100.0 |
D |
21.5 |
41.1 |
19.2 |
D |
10.4 |
Otherc |
34.7 |
100.0 |
0.3 |
24.3 |
32.9 |
17.5 |
9.4 |
15.6 |
Sex |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Male |
31.3 |
100.0 |
0.8 |
45.8 |
31.1 |
11.5 |
4.8 |
6.1 |
Female |
31.9 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
41.4 |
30.1 |
11.8 |
5.9 |
10.2 |
Citizenship status |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
U.S. citizen or permanent resident |
32.0 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
41.4 |
28.9 |
12.1 |
6.3 |
10.7 |
Temporary visa holder |
31.0 |
100.0 |
1.0 |
48.9 |
34.5 |
10.5 |
3.2 |
2.0 |
Ethnicity and race (U.S. citizens and permanent residents) |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Hispanic or Latino |
32.6 |
100.0 |
0.4 |
36.7 |
31.7 |
14.2 |
7.2 |
9.8 |
Not Hispanic or Latino |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
American Indian or Alaska Native |
37.2 |
100.0 |
0.0 |
17.1 |
28.7 |
14.0 |
14.0 |
26.4 |
Asian |
31.3 |
100.0 |
0.7 |
45.6 |
29.1 |
13.5 |
5.8 |
5.2 |
Black or African American |
35.7 |
100.0 |
D |
24.9 |
25.9 |
14.4 |
D |
22.3 |
White |
31.8 |
100.0 |
0.6 |
43.0 |
28.9 |
11.5 |
5.7 |
10.3 |
More than one race |
31.4 |
100.0 |
D |
44.8 |
29.7 |
10.8 |
D |
7.8 |
Other race or race not reported |
32.7 |
100.0 |
0.9 |
36.7 |
30.7 |
17.2 |
3.7 |
10.7 |
Ethnicity not reported |
32.3 |
100.0 |
0.8 |
39.7 |
26.2 |
13.6 |
5.0 |
14.7 |