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Engineering Trends
 
 
 REPORT 0507B - MAY 2007
Degree Trends for Ethnic Groups Vary - Gains in Past Years May Be Lost
 
Introduction

Bachelor's and master's degrees awarded by US engineering colleges are beginning to decline. Doctoral degrees continue to increase. However, doctoral enrollment growth increased only 3.2% in fall 2005, indicating that degree declines might occur in a few years.

In light of these ongoing transitions, Engineering Trends studied the current trends in degrees awarded to various ethnic groups. The study included overall engineering and nine engineering disciplines (aerospace, biological (including biomedical), chemical, civil, computer (including computer science degrees "inside" and "outside" the engineering colleges surveyed), electrical, industrial, materials (science and engineering) and mechanical engineering).

Engineering Degrees Awarded in Various Ethnic Groups

The graph below indicates that the numbers of engineering bachelor's degrees awarded to African and Asian Americans declined in AY2005-06. Degrees awarded to Hispanic and Native Americans increased slightly.

The graph below shows that only minor growth in master's degrees awarded to Native Americans occurred in AY2005-06. No growth took place in Asian and Hispanic American master's degrees and the number of degrees awarded to African Americans declined.

For doctoral degrees, a remarkable turnaround continues for doctorates awarded to Asian Americans. The declining trend from the mid-90s maximum through AY2002-03 has been reversed.

Doctorates awarded to African Americans continue to increase slowly. On the other hand, the annual numbers of doctoral degrees awarded to Hispanic and Native Americans remain essentially constant.

Fractions of engineering bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees awarded to the four ethnic groups are shown in the graph below. For African Americans, bachelor's and master's degree fractions have changed little over the past decade; doctoral degree fractions have declined slightly over the past six years. Hispanic American bachelor's and master's degree fractions both underwent very shallow minima several years ago and are now slowly increasing; doctoral degree fractions have experienced significant declines since AY2001-02. For Native Americans, bachelor's and master's degree fractions have increased very slowly and doctoral fractions have remained essentially constant for the past fifteen years. Asian American bachelor's degree fractions are currently the same as they were in AY2000-01. Master's degree fractions have increased substantially over the past six years while doctoral degree fractions have declined substantially over the past decade.

Degrees Awarded in Nine Engineering Disciplines

Data for the nine engineering disciplines included in this study are shown in the tables below. Only African, Hispanic and Asian American data are presented. The period covered begins in AY1991-92 and data for the "even years" are not shown.

   

Bachelor’s Degrees

Master’s Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Discip

AY

Afr

Hisp

Asian

Afr

Hisp

Asian

Afr

Hisp

Asian

Engineering

1991-92

3.7%

4.3%

10.2%

1.8%

1.8%

8.5%

0.7%

1.0%

6.6%

Engineering

1993-94

4.3%

4.7%

10.6%

2.1%

2.1%

8.2%

1.0%

0.7%

6.7%

Engineering

1995-96

4.8%

5.4%

11.2%

2.4%

2.5%

10.1%

1.1%

1.7%

9.1%

Engineering

1997-98

5.0%

6.2%

11.3%

2.6%

2.8%

9.7%

1.4%

1.6%

7.1%

Engineering

1999-00

5.0%

6.5%

11.8%

2.6%

2.8%

8.6%

1.6%

1.4%

6.7%

Engineering

2001-02

4.9%

6.3%

12.6%

2.7%

2.6%

8.8%

1.6%

1.9%

6.8%

Engineering

2003-04

4.9%

6.3%

13.1%

2.3%

2.8%

9.7%

1.6%

1.5%

6.1%

Engineering

2005-06

4.8%

6.5%

12.7%

2.6%

3.1%

10.4%

1.5%

1.2%

6.1%
                     

Aerospace

1991-92

2.2%

3.4%

7.9%

0.5%

2.4%

5.1%

1.3%

2.1%

5.9%

Aerospace

1993-94

2.9%

4.8%

8.0%

0.7%

2.0%

4.2%

0.4%

0.8%

4.5%

Aerospace

1995-96

3.1%

5.5%

10.1%

1.0%

1.2%

5.6%

1.1%

1.1%

7.3%

Aerospace

1997-98

3.2%

5.4%

6.0%

1.1%

2.0%

5.2%

0.8%

3.4%

5.1%

Aerospace

1999-00

3.0%

4.8%

6.8%

0.9%

2.9%

4.5%

2.0%

1.0%

5.4%

Aerospace

2001-02

2.4%

5.2%

7.3%

1.7%

2.5%

3.6%

0.5%

2.4%

2.4%

Aerospace

2003-04

3.0%

5.0%

7.9%

0.8%

2.1%

6.0%

0.0%

2.0%

3.5%

Aerospace

2005-06

3.2%

5.5%

7.0%

1.6%

2.0%

6.3%

2.1%

0.0%

6.0%
                     

Biological

1991-92

2.9%

1.9%

16.6%

1.0%

1.3%

6.3%

0.0%

0.8%

5.6%

Biological

1993-94

3.5%

3.0%

22.0%

1.5%

2.8%

8.3%

0.0%

1.5%

3.8%

Biological

1995-96

3.7%

3.5%

23.1%

1.5%

2.0%

8.6%

0.6%

5.1%

9.6%

Biological

1997-98

2.9%

4.5%

24.3%

2.2%

2.6%

12.0%

1.1%

0.0%

12.9%

Biological

1999-00

3.1%

3.8%

26.4%

1.9%

3.0%

11.0%

2.2%

1.3%

8.1%

Biological

2001-02

3.3%

3.5%

19.9%

3.9%

2.1%

13.3%

2.4%

1.5%

11.2%

Biological

2003-04

3.8%

3.7%

19.8%

3.0%

2.7%

11.3%

2.6%

1.6%

6.6%

Biological

2005-06

4.1%

3.6%

22.8%

2.3%

2.5%

13.1%

2.5%

1.4%

11.7%
                     

Chemical

1991-92

4.2%

4.5%

8.4%

1.8%

1.8%

6.7%

1.2%

1.2%

4.7%

Chemical

1993-94

5.4%

4.5%

9.9%

2.4%

2.1%

8.0%

1.2%

0.6%

6.5%

Chemical

1995-96

5.3%

4.9%

11.5%

2.0%

2.5%

8.6%

1.4%

2.6%

6.4%

Chemical

1997-98

5.9%

5.1%

13.1%

2.9%

2.5%

9.2%

0.7%

1.9%

6.9%

Chemical

1999-00

6.1%

6.0%

12.6%

3.1%

3.1%

9.1%

1.3%

2.2%

6.6%

Chemical

2001-02

6.0%

5.9%

11.5%

3.4%

3.9%

8.0%

1.4%

2.7%

8.6%

Chemical

2003-04

6.2%

6.0%

10.7%

2.0%

2.8%

10.6%

1.2%

1.5%

9.7%

Chemical

2005-06

5.9%

7.1%

11.5%

2.2%

3.2%

9.0%

1.6%

2.5%

7.5%
                     

Civil

1991-92

2.4%

5.4%

6.3%

1.5%

2.2%

5.1%

0.2%

0.3%

3.6%

Civil

1993-94

2.5%

5.5%

7.5%

1.8%

3.1%

6.3%

1.5%

0.9%

3.9%

Civil

1995-96

3.1%

5.6%

7.9%

2.3%

3.4%

8.8%

0.8%

1.2%

7.4%

Civil

1997-98

3.2%

7.5%

7.2%

2.5%

3.4%

7.4%

1.3%

2.3%

3.7%

Civil

1999-00

3.8%

7.8%

6.3%

2.1%

4.5%

6.5%

1.4%

1.7%

6.6%

Civil

2001-02

3.3%

8.8%

5.5%

2.5%

4.8%

5.6%

1.8%

1.5%

4.8%

Civil

2003-04

3.1%

8.9%

4.9%

1.8%

4.0%

6.4%

0.6%

2.7%

3.9%

Civil

2005-06

2.9%

8.7%

6.6%

2.2%

4.4%

6.1%

1.1%

2.2%

4.4%
 

 

 

Bachelor’s Degrees

Master’s Degrees

Doctoral Degrees

Discip

AY

Afr

Hisp

Asian

Afr

Hisp

Asian

Afr

Hisp

Asian

Computer

1991-92

3.2%

3.2%

14.3%

2.6%

1.6%

10.8%

0.0%

0.9%

8.0%

Computer

1993-94

4.4%

4.6%

17.1%

2.1%

1.5%

10.6%

0.7%

0.4%

8.7%

Computer

1995-96

4.0%

5.3%

19.2%

2.6%

1.5%

15.4%

2.5%

1.5%

10.7%

Computer

1997-98

4.3%

5.1%

18.9%

1.6%

1.6%

16.2%

0.9%

0.4%

10.1%

Computer

1999-00

4.0%

5.0%

20.5%

1.6%

1.4%

12.3%

1.1%

0.8%

7.8%

Computer

2001-02

4.2%

4.3%

21.0%

1.5%

1.2%

12.4%

1.2%

1.0%

10.5%

Computer

2003-04

4.4%

4.5%

20.4%

1.6%

1.7%

13.1%

1.5%

1.5%

8.5%

Computer

2005-06

5.0%

5.3%

18.6%

1.7%

2.0%

14.7%

0.9%

0.4%

7.4%
                     

Electrical

1991-92

5.0%

4.3%

15.4%

1.7%

1.7%

12.3%

0.9%

1.0%

8.9%

Electrical

1993-94

6.1%

4.5%

15.7%

2.3%

2.0%

12.2%

1.1%

0.8%

8.0%

Electrical

1995-96

7.1%

6.0%

15.8%

2.5%

2.6%

13.3%

1.5%

2.1%

11.6%

Electrical

1997-98

7.4%

6.8%

15.3%

2.7%

2.5%

12.2%

2.0%

1.3%

10.4%

Electrical

1999-00

7.0%

7.2%

15.9%

2.4%

2.6%

10.2%

1.6%

1.0%

7.8%

Electrical

2001-02

7.4%

8.0%

18.1%

2.6%

1.9%

10.6%

1.4%

2.0%

7.7%

Electrical

2003-04

7.6%

7.7%

18.5%

1.8%

2.5%

11.4%

2.2%

1.0%

6.2%

Electrical

2005-06

7.4%

7.8%

18.9%

2.2%

2.7%

12.2%

1.1%

0.4%

6.0%
                     

Industrial

1991-92

5.6%

7.3%

7.1%

2.9%

2.8%

7.1%

1.0%

3.0%

6.0%

Industrial

1993-94

5.5%

7.8%

7.6%

2.7%

2.2%

6.4%

2.4%

0.8%

7.5%

Industrial

1995-96

7.3%

8.7%

8.6%

3.4%

3.8%

7.5%

1.1%

1.5%

7.2%

Industrial

1997-98

7.5%

12.1%

7.9%

4.2%

4.0%

7.1%

3.6%

2.7%

7.1%

Industrial

1999-00

7.0%

12.6%

7.9%

2.9%

4.7%

7.3%

2.2%

2.2%

5.5%

Industrial

2001-02

6.9%

11.8%

8.4%

4.3%

4.9%

4.3%

2.2%

4.0%

3.6%

Industrial

2003-04

7.2%

10.4%

8.6%

3.3%

3.3%

5.2%

2.3%

0.0%

5.1%

Industrial

2005-06

7.3%

10.5%

10.8%

4.3%

4.1%

6.7%

3.2%

3.6%

2.4%
                     

Materials

1991-92

2.5%

4.5%

9.0%

1.2%

1.4%

6.2%

0.5%

1.0%

6.5%

Materials

1993-94

2.6%

4.5%

11.7%

1.2%

1.5%

5.6%

0.8%

0.8%

6.8%

Materials

1995-96

2.7%

4.2%

9.8%

1.4%

2.8%

7.6%

0.0%

0.2%

8.4%

Materials

1997-98

3.1%

4.0%

11.1%

1.9%

2.3%

7.3%

1.8%

2.2%

4.9%

Materials

1999-00

2.3%

4.0%

9.3%

2.2%

1.8%

6.3%

1.2%

1.7%

6.6%

Materials

2001-02

4.1%

3.7%

9.0%

2.7%

2.4%

8.0%

1.3%

1.1%

6.4%

Materials

2003-04

2.3%

4.5%

10.5%

2.6%

1.6%

8.9%

1.3%

1.5%

5.9%

Materials

2005-06

2.7%

3.9%

14.0%

1.2%

3.3%

8.0%

1.5%

1.1%

6.1%
                     

Mechanical

1991-92

3.2%

3.8%

7.2%

1.6%

1.9%

7.4%

0.6%

0.8%

7.4%

Mechanical

1993-94

3.6%

4.2%

7.4%

1.6%

2.1%

7.1%

0.6%

0.7%

5.5%

Mechanical

1995-96

4.6%

5.2%

7.8%

2.1%

2.7%

8.7%

0.6%

1.4%

8.8%

Mechanical

1997-98

4.7%

6.2%

8.0%

2.6%

3.1%

7.5%

1.1%

1.4%

5.6%

Mechanical

1999-00

4.3%

6.4%

7.5%

2.8%

3.0%

6.9%

2.2%

0.9%

6.9%

Mechanical

2001-02

4.2%

5.8%

6.5%

2.1%

2.4%

7.5%

2.0%

1.5%

6.1%

Mechanical

2003-04

3.6%

6.3%

6.3%

2.0%

3.4%

7.2%

1.8%

1.7%

5.7%

Mechanical

2005-06

3.5%

6.0%

7.0%

2.0%

3.1%

6.7%

1.4%

1.0%

5.6%
 
The statistical scatter in the two tables above complicates analysis of trends for the individual disciplines. However, the trends, either increasing or decreasing, are very subtle and, for many disciplines, there have not been significant changes over the fifteen years covered by the data. There are a few exceptions to this generality though. African American bachelor's degree fractions have increased in computer and electrical engineering and master's degree fractions have increased in biological engineering. Hispanic American bachelor's degree fractions increased in chemical, civil, computer and electrical engineering, master's degree fractions increased in chemical engineering and doctoral degree fractions increased in civil engineering. For Asian Americans, bachelor's degree fractions increased for electrical and industrial engineering, master's degree fractions increased for biological and materials engineering and doctoral degree fractions increased for chemical engineering. Declines for Asian American doctoral degree fractions occurred for electrical, industrial and mechanical engineering.

Summary

This study was directed at bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees awarded to African, Hispanic, Native and Asian Americans from AY1980-81 through AY2005-06. Data are presented as numbers of degrees and fractions of degrees at each academic level awarded to the four ethnic groups. The study also included fractions of degrees awarded to African, Hispanic and Asian Americans in nine engineering disciplines.

Bachelor's and master's degrees awarded to African Americans declined in AY2005-06 following extended periods of growth while doctoral degrees continue to increase. Slow growth in the numbers of bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanic Americans continues, but growth in graduate degrees has ceased. Very slow growth in bachelor's and master's degrees awarded to Native Americans continues; growth in doctoral degrees has ceased. Asian American bachelor's degrees declined in AY2005-06 after an extended period of growth. Master's degrees did not increase in AY2005-06, ending a period of growth that began in AY2000-01. Doctoral degrees awarded to Asian Americans continued to grow significantly from the minimum in AY2002-03.

The fractions of bachelor's and doctoral degrees awarded to African Americans continue to decline slowly; master's degree fractions have been essentially constant for almost a decade. Bachelor's and master's degree fractions for Hispanic Americans experienced a shallow minimum in AY2002-03 and have increased slowly since then; doctoral degree fractions have declined continuously and significantly for the last four years. Native American bachelor's and master's degree fractions continue to increase slowly, but doctoral degree fractions have been essentially constant for a decade. The Asian American bachelor's degree fraction in AY2005-06 was essentially the same as in AY2000-01; the master's degree fraction continues to grow significantly; the doctoral degree fraction in AY2005-06 continues the decline that began in AY1996-97.

Acknowledgments

The degree data used in this study originated from the annual surveys of the Engineering Workforce Commission of the American Association of Engineering Societies. Engineering Trends acknowledges the efforts of this organization in providing credible data and expresses its gratitude for their services to the engineering profession. Persons seeking further information about their surveys and the availability of survey data should visit the EWC Web site (www.aaes.org).

Footnote

Engineering Trends data are compiled mainly from information submitted by universities to the annual surveys of EWC and ASEE. On the very rare occasions where errors in data appear, Engineering Trends corrects the error, if possible, or deletes the data if the error is large enough to alter significantly the trend of the university or the US total.