Table 31. Median years to doctorate, by broad field of study: Selected years, 1990–2015
Field of study and time to degree |
1990 |
1995 |
2000 |
2005 |
2010 |
2015 |
All fields |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
10.6 |
10.9 |
10.3 |
9.9 |
9.3 |
8.7 |
Since starting graduate school |
8.7 |
8.7 |
8.5 |
8.2 |
7.7 |
7.3 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
Life sciencesb |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
9.2 |
9.5 |
9.1 |
8.7 |
8.6 |
8.2 |
Since starting graduate school |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
7.1 |
6.8 |
6.7 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
Physical sciences and earth sciences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
7.5 |
8.1 |
7.6 |
7.5 |
7.3 |
7.0 |
Since starting graduate school |
6.7 |
6.9 |
6.7 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
6.2 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
Mathematics and computer sciences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
8.3 |
9.0 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
7.8 |
Since starting graduate school |
7.2 |
7.7 |
7.2 |
7.2 |
7.0 |
6.7 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
Psychology and social sciences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
10.8 |
10.6 |
9.9 |
10.0 |
9.5 |
9.3 |
Since starting graduate school |
8.9 |
8.7 |
7.9 |
8.2 |
7.7 |
7.7 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
6.0 |
Engineering |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
8.3 |
9.2 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
7.8 |
7.3 |
Since starting graduate school |
6.7 |
7.3 |
7.2 |
7.3 |
6.9 |
6.7 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.2 |
Education |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
18.0 |
19.9 |
19.4 |
17.4 |
16.2 |
14.8 |
Since starting graduate school |
14.7 |
15.7 |
14.2 |
13.0 |
12.5 |
11.7 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
6.0 |
Humanities and arts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
12.3 |
12.1 |
11.6 |
12.0 |
11.6 |
11.0 |
Since starting graduate school |
10.7 |
10.1 |
9.7 |
9.9 |
9.5 |
9.2 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
6.9 |
Otherc |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Since bachelor's |
13.2 |
13.2 |
13.6 |
13.0 |
12.1 |
11.2 |
Since starting graduate school |
10.3 |
10.3 |
10.2 |
10.3 |
9.3 |
8.9 |
Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.3 |