Table 31. Median years to doctorate, by broad field of study: Selected years, 1991–2016
| Field of study and time to degree |
1991 |
1996 |
2001 |
2006 |
2011 |
2016 |
| All fields |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
10.5 |
10.8 |
10.2 |
9.6 |
9.1 |
8.8 |
| Since starting graduate school |
8.7 |
8.7 |
8.3 |
8.0 |
7.7 |
7.3 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
| Life sciencesb |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
9.2 |
9.6 |
9.0 |
8.6 |
8.6 |
8.2 |
| Since starting graduate school |
7.7 |
7.9 |
7.3 |
7.0 |
6.9 |
6.7 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
| Physical sciences and earth sciences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
7.6 |
8.0 |
7.5 |
7.4 |
7.4 |
6.9 |
| Since starting graduate school |
6.7 |
6.8 |
6.6 |
6.5 |
6.6 |
6.1 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
| Mathematics and computer sciences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
8.6 |
9.2 |
8.5 |
8.2 |
7.9 |
7.9 |
| Since starting graduate school |
7.2 |
7.7 |
7.2 |
7.2 |
6.9 |
6.9 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.7 |
| Psychology and social sciences |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
10.7 |
10.3 |
9.9 |
9.8 |
9.6 |
9.5 |
| Since starting graduate school |
8.7 |
8.2 |
7.9 |
8.0 |
7.8 |
7.9 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
6.0 |
| Engineering |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
8.6 |
9.0 |
8.4 |
8.1 |
7.8 |
7.3 |
| Since starting graduate school |
6.9 |
7.2 |
7.1 |
7.0 |
6.8 |
6.5 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.3 |
| Education |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
18.5 |
20.3 |
19.0 |
16.7 |
15.0 |
15.0 |
| Since starting graduate school |
15.2 |
15.9 |
13.9 |
12.7 |
11.7 |
11.7 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
6.0 |
| Humanities and arts |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
12.6 |
12.0 |
11.6 |
11.6 |
11.2 |
11.0 |
| Since starting graduate school |
10.7 |
9.9 |
9.7 |
9.7 |
9.3 |
9.3 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
7.0 |
| Otherc |
|
|
|
|
|
|
| Since bachelor's |
13.4 |
13.5 |
13.6 |
12.3 |
12.0 |
11.2 |
| Since starting graduate school |
10.7 |
10.2 |
10.7 |
9.8 |
9.3 |
9.0 |
| Since starting doctoral programa |
na |
na |
na |
na |
na |
5.3 |