Characteristics of doctorate recipients
Doctoral institution
Age at the time the doctorate was awarded varied for students depending on the type of institution they attended. In 2016, highest research universities had the highest share of doctorate recipients age 30 or younger (48%) and the lowest share of recipients age 41 or older (9%). Moderate research universities exhibited the reverse pattern: they had the lowest share of doctorate recipients age 30 or younger (16%) and the highest share of recipients age 41 or older (48%). Institutions were classified according to the 2015 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education.
Age at doctorate, by doctoral institution type: 2016
| Age at doctorate | Highest research universities | Higher research universities | Moderate research universities | Other universities | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | Number | Percent | |
| 30 or younger | 18,770 | 48.2 | 2,824 | 34.3 | 347 | 15.9 | 922 | 40.6 |
| 31–40 | 16,589 | 42.6 | 3,758 | 45.6 | 787 | 36.1 | 904 | 39.8 |
| 41 or older | 3,571 | 9.2 | 1,656 | 20.1 | 1,048 | 48.0 | 445 | 19.6 |
- NOTE: Institution categories are from the 2015 Carnegie classification.
- SOURCE: Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities 2016. Related detailed data: tables 11, 27.
