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Introduction
For engineering as a whole, first-year enrollments increased annually
since Fall 1994 and reached a maximum in Fall 2002. Total full-time
undergraduate enrollments have grown steadily since Fall 1996 and are
expected to reach a maximum in Fall 2004. These data are shown in the
graph below.
How have enrollments of women and various ethnic groups changed during
this extended period of overall engineering growth? Engineering Trends
explored this matter by analyzing both first-year and total full-time
enrollments in terms of both enrollment data and relative enrollments
(fractions of engineering enrollments).
Enrollments of Women - First-Year and Total Full-Time
First-year and total full-time undergraduate enrollments of women in
engineering since Fall 1976 are shown in the graph below. Over the
period of the graph, the enrollments generally follow the trends of
engineering enrollments shown in the graph above. However, first-year
enrollment of women reached a maximum of 19,257 in Fall 2000 and
subsequently declined to 17,047 (essentially the same as in Fall 1996)
in Fall 2003.
Full-time enrollments of women reached a maximum of 71,585 in Fall 2002
and declined to
68,783 (-3.9%) in Fall 2003. Both first-year and full-time enrollments
of women reached
maxima prior to the maxima in overall engineering enrollments.
Comparison of the enrollments of women to total engineering enrollments
(relative enrollment fractions) indicates that the interest of women in
engineering academic programs has been declining for almost ten years.
The graph below shows that the relative first-year enrollments of women
reached a maximum of 19.9% in Fall 1995 and declined continuously to
16.4% in Fall 2003 (essentially the same as in Fall 1989). Relative
full-time enrollments reached a maximum of 20.1% in Fall 1998 and
subsequently declined to 17.9% in Fall 2003.
The declining interest of women in engineering will have serious
consequences in terms of undergraduate engineering degrees. Overall
engineering bachelor's degrees will decline after the predicted maximum
in AY2006-07. Degrees awarded to women will be the result of a declining
fraction of a declining number.
Enrollments of Various Ethnic Groups - First-Year and Total Full-Time
The graph below shows the first-year and full-time undergraduate
enrollments of African, Hispanic, Native and Asian Americans since Fall
1975.
African American first-year enrollments declined 7.9% through Fall 2003
since the maximum in Fall 2000. Full-time enrollments declined 3.2%
since the maximum in Fall 2001 and are now essentially the same as in
Fall 1993.
Hispanic American first-year and full-time enrollments continue to
increase annually. Since Fall 1990, first-year and full-time enrollments
increased 43% and 55%, respectively. The increasing trend should be
maintained for at least the next few years.
Native American enrollments (both first-year and full-time) have been
constant. First-year enrollments were 633 and 642 in Fall 1992 and Fall
2003, respectively. During this period, the average was 645. Full-time
enrollments were 2161 and 2143 in Fall 1996 and Fall 2003, respectively.
During this period, the average full-time enrollment was 2143.
Asian American first-year enrollments reached a maximum in Fall 2001 and
have declined thereafter. Total full-time enrollments in Fall 2002 and
2003 were essentially the same. It is expected that full-time
enrollments will decline in Fall 2004.
The relative enrollments (fractions of overall engineering enrollments)
of the ethnic groups are shown in the graph below.
African American first-year enrollment fractions reached a maximum of
9.6% in Fall 1992; the subsequent decline was to 7.3% in Fall 2003.
Full-time enrollments reached a maximum of 7.0% in Fall 1995; the
subsequent decline was to 6.1% in Fall 2003.
Hispanic American relative first-year and full-time enrollments (except
for Fall 1997) reached new records in Fall 2003.
Native American enrollment fractions (both first-year and full-time)
reached a maximum of 0.7% in Fall 1996 and subsequently declined to
0.6%.
Asian American relative first-year enrollments reached a maximum of
10.9% in Fall 2001; the subsequent decline was to 10.0% in Fall 2003.
Full-time relative enrollments also reached a maximum in Fall 2001 and
declined slightly thereafter. Further declines are anticipated based on
the first-year enrollment data.
Overall undergraduate degrees in engineering will begin to decline
following the maximum predicted for AY2006-07. The current enrollment
trends indicate that degrees awarded to African, Native and Asian
Americans will decline at a higher rate than engineering as a whole.
Degrees awarded to Hispanic Americans, if they do decrease, will decline
at a slower rate than overall engineering bachelor's degrees.
Summary
Undergraduate engineering enrollments (both first-year and full-time) of
women are currently declining. This declining enrollment in engineering
by women was signaled earlier by the maxima in relative enrollments
(fractions of engineering as a whole) of women. The fraction of women in
first-year enrollments reached a maximum in Fall 1995. In Fall 1998, the
relative full-time enrollment of women also reached a maximum.
Enrollments (both first-year and total full-time) of African Americans
are also declining. As in the case of women, the current trend was
presaged by relative enrollments. First-year and full-time relative
enrollments reached maxima in Fall 1992 and Fall 1995, respectively.
Hispanic American enrollments (both first-year and full-time) have
continued their long-term growth. Since Fall 1990, first-year and
full-time enrollments have continuously increased (except for Fall 1997)
by 43% and 55%, respectively, through Fall 2003. In addition, relative
first-year and full-time enrollments continue (except for Fall 1997) to
increase.
Enrollments (both first-year and total full-time) of Native Americans
have remained constant since Fall 1992. Relative enrollments have
declined slightly.
Asian American first-year enrollments reached a maximum in Fall 2001 and
have declined 8.6% through Fall 2003. Total full-time enrollments in
Fall 2003 were essentially the same as in Fall 2002; a decline in Fall
2004 is anticipated. Both relative enrollment fractions reached maxima
in Fall 2001.
Acknowledgment
The degree and enrollment data for this study originated from the annual
surveys of the Engineering Workforce Commission of the American
Association of Engineering Societies. Engineering Trends acknowledges
their efforts in providing credible data and expresses its gratitude for
their services to the engineering profession
Footnotes
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.
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