chemistry phd demographics

• All previous cycle years

The SED is an annual census of research doctorate recipients from U.S. academic institutions that collects information on educational history, demographic characteristics, graduate funding source and educational debts, and postgraduation plans.

Survey Info

• tag for use when URL is provided --> Methodology
• tag for use when URL is provided --> Data
• tag for use when URL is provided --> Analysis

The Survey of Earned Doctorates is an annual census conducted since 1957 of all individuals receiving a research doctorate from an accredited U.S. institution in a given academic year. The SED is sponsored by the National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics (NCSES) within the National Science Foundation (NSF) and by three other federal agencies: the National Institutes of Health, Department of Education, and National Endowment for the Humanities. The SED collects information on the doctoral recipient’s educational history, demographic characteristics, and postgraduation plans. Results are used to assess characteristics of the doctoral population and trends in doctoral education and degrees.

Areas of Interest

• STEM Education
• Science and Engineering Workforce

Survey Administration

The 2022 survey was conducted by RTI International under contract to NCSES.

Survey Details

Featured Survey Analysis

Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities: 2022

SED Overview

Data highlights, the number of research doctorates conferred by u.s. institutions, which began a sharp 15-month decline in spring 2020 due to the covid-19 pandemic, rebounded in 2022 with the highest number of research doctorates awarded in any academic year to date.

Over the past 20 years, most of the growth in the number of doctorates earned by both men and women has been in science and engineering (S&E) fields 

Methodology

Survey description, technical notes, technical tables, questionnaires, view archived questionnaires, featured analysis, related content, related collections, survey contact.

For additional information about this survey or the methodology, contact

Get e-mail updates from NCSES

NCSES is an official statistical agency. Subscribe below to receive our latest news and announcements.

Chemistry, PhD

Zanvyl krieger school of arts and sciences.

Johns Hopkins University was the first American institution to emphasize graduate education and to establish a PhD program in chemistry. Founding Chair Ira Remsen initiated a tradition of excellence in research and education that has continued until this day. The Hopkins graduate program is designed for students who desire a PhD in chemistry while advancing scientific knowledge for humankind.

The graduate program provides students with the background and technical expertise required to be leaders in their field and to pursue independent research.

Graduate students’ advancement is marked by entrance exams, coursework, teaching, seminars, oral examinations, and an individual research project that culminates in a thesis dissertation. The thesis research project represents an opportunity for graduate students to make a mark on the world. Working in conjunction with a faculty member or team, individually tailored thesis projects enable students to think independently about cutting-edge research areas that are of critical importance. Thesis research is the most important step toward becoming a PhD scientist, and our program provides an outstanding base with a proven track record of success.

Graduate students make up the heart of the Chemistry Department, and the department strives to support students’ individual needs. Each student is carefully advised and classes are traditionally quite small. Multidisciplinary research and course offerings that increase scientific breadth and innovation are hallmarks of the program.  In addition to academic and technical development, our department also offers several outlets for professional and social development.

Admission Requirements

Application materials include:

• Academic transcripts
• Three letters of recommendation
• Statement of Purpose
• We encourage (but do not require) applicants to report scores for the GRE general and GRE chemistry subject tests. Applicants who feel that GRE scores support their case are welcome to include them. Our application review process is holistic, and the Graduate Admissions Committee believes that standardized test scores represent only one piece of a candidate’s profile. Applicants for whom taking the GRE presents a burden or who feel it does not represent their skills are free to not include them.
• The application fee is $75. However, fee waivers may be requested for applicants that have documentation showing they are a part of SACNAS, MARCC, oSTEM and many other organizations. To access the full list to see if you qualify, go to the  Krieger Graduate Admission and Enrollment  page.

Assistance with the application process is available. Candidates with questions about the application process should contact the department's administrative staff ([email protected]).

There are no fixed requirements for admission. Undergraduate majors in chemistry, biology, earth sciences, mathematics, or physics may apply as well as all well-qualified individuals who will have received a BA degree before matriculation. A select number of applicants will be invited to visit campus to tour our facilities and interact with our faculty members and their lab members over a weekend in March.

For further information about graduate study in chemistry visit the Chemistry Department website . 

Program Requirements

Normally, the minimum course requirement for both the M.A. and the Ph.D. degrees is six one-semester graduate courses in chemistry and related sciences. Exceptionally well-prepared students may ask for a reduction of these requirements.

Requirements for the Ph.D. degree include a research dissertation worthy of publication, and a knowledge of chemistry and related material as demonstrated in an oral examination. Each student must teach for at least one year.

Below is a list of the core Chemistry courses for graduate level students.

Doctoral Enrollment & Demographics

Use this page to explore the enrollment numbers and demographics for the research doctoral degree programs currently offered at Stanford. While the most common doctoral degree across the university is the PhD, the JSD in Law and the DMA in Musical Arts are also included here. The MD and JD are considered professional degrees and are not included. All data presented in this dashboard are sourced from the official university student census taken annually in late October. More detailed  definitions  of the terms and counts used here can be found below the dashboard. Additional demographic information about other Stanford populations can be found in the  IDEAL dashboard .

More information is available about  doctoral program admissions , as well as  doctoral degree conferrals, time-to-degree, and graduation rates . Note that local variation in policy and practice regarding admission, matriculation, and degree conferral may affect the departmental and school-level metrics below.

Methodology & Definitions

The enrollment counts presented here are derived from the student enrollment snapshot that is captured in late October every year, at the beginning of the fourth week of the autumn quarter. Only students who are active and enrolled as of the census date are counted. Students on an approved leave of absence are not included. This dashboard specifically uses the "School Headcount", which counts graduate students in their highest degree plan(s) in each school within the university. Students who are enrolled in more than one PhD program (a small number annually) will be counted in each program, so the "All Doctoral Programs" total may not match university totals published elsewhere (which are usually unduplicated counts).

Demographics

Race/ethnicity groupings.

The "Underrepresented Minority" category includes all US citizens and permanent residents who have self-identified as American Indian/Alaska Native, Black/African American, Hispanic/Latino, and/or Native Hawaiian/Other Pacific Islander. This category will include individuals with multiple affiliations if at least one of their affiliations is one of these groups. If a student is not a US citizen or permanent resident, and is known to be a citizen of another country, they are reported in the "International" category regardless of their race/ethnicity. The "Unknown" category includes US citizens and permanent residents who have unknown race/ethnicity as well as any student with unknown citizenship.

Currently, only data on binary sex are available.

Visit the  Graduate Admissions website  for more information about pursuing graduate study at Stanford.

The data are available for download in Google Drive .

• Data Source(s): PeopleSoft Campus Solutions, Institutional Research & Decision Support

Stanford University is committed to providing an online environment that is accessible to everyone, including individuals with disabilities. If you cannot access this content or use any features on this site, please contact  [email protected]  to obtain alternate formats.

You may submit feedback on this dashboard through the  feedback form .

• English Language Programs
• Postdoctoral Affairs
• Training Grant Support
• Request Information

THE GRADUATE SCHOOL

Program statistics.

An important element of promoting master's and doctoral education and postdoctoral training is providing reliable and meaningful data.

Use our interactive data visualization tool for PhD and master's students to explore admissions, enrollment, academic outcomes, and career placements. These data can be sorted by academic program, school, or broad field category. Please use our interactive data visualization tool for postdoctoral fellows to  explore population, separations, and career placements.

PhD statistics

Use our interactive tool to view:

• General PhD program statistics , including admissions and demographic information
• Academic outcomes for PhD students
• Career outcomes for PhD graduates

Master's statistics

• General program statistics , including admissions and demographic information
• Academic outcomes for master's students

Postdoctoral Fellow Statistics

• General postdoctoral fellow program statistics , including academic year and population demographics
• Separation outcomes for postdoctoral fellows
• Career outcomes for postdoctoral fellows

If you are seeking information beyond the data provided, we encourage you to visit specific graduate program websites. View a list of these programs.

Advertisement

• Publications

This site uses cookies to enhance your user experience. By continuing to use this site you are agreeing to our COOKIE POLICY .

Grab your lab coat. Let's get started

Create an account below to get 6 c&en articles per month, receive newsletters and more - all free., it seems this is your first time logging in online. please enter the following information to continue., as an acs member you automatically get access to this site. all we need is few more details to create your reading experience., not you sign in with a different account..

Password and Confirm password must match.

If you have an ACS member number, please enter it here so we can link this account to your membership. (optional)

ACS values your privacy. By submitting your information, you are gaining access to C&EN and subscribing to our weekly newsletter. We use the information you provide to make your reading experience better, and we will never sell your data to third party members.

Already have an ACS ID? Log in here

The key to knowledge is in your (nitrile-gloved) hands

Access more articles now. choose the acs option that’s right for you..

Already an ACS Member? Log in here  

$0 Community Associate

ACS’s Basic Package keeps you connected with C&EN and ACS.

• Access to 6 digital C&EN articles per month on cen.acs.org
• Weekly delivery of the C&EN Essential newsletter

$80 Regular Members & Society Affiliates

ACS’s Standard Package lets you stay up to date with C&EN, stay active in ACS, and save.

• Access to 10 digital C&EN articles per month on cen.acs.org
• Weekly delivery of the digital C&EN Magazine
• Access to our Chemistry News by C&EN mobile app

$160 Regular Members & Society Affiliates $55 Graduate Students $25 Undergraduate Students

ACS’s Premium Package gives you full access to C&EN and everything the ACS Community has to offer.

• Unlimited access to C&EN’s daily news coverage on cen.acs.org
• Weekly delivery of the C&EN Magazine in print or digital format
• Significant discounts on registration for most ACS-sponsored meetings

Your account has been created successfully, and a confirmation email is on the way.

Your username is now your ACS ID.

By the numbers: Who's going to grad school in chemistry and chemical engineering in the US 2006–16

Average annual growth in enrollment for chemical engineering was higher than chemistry over the last decade, though growth in graduation rates was similar, by andrea widener, february 26, 2018 | a version of this story appeared in volume 96, issue 9.

• 9 ways to motivate others
• What US chemists made in 2022, according to the ACS salary survey
• Out and proud
• What US chemists made in 2021, according to the ACS salary survey
• Finding a mentor

To see the most recent Council of Graduate Schools data, please click here.

The Council of Graduate Schools every two years releases data analyzing the previous decade of graduate school enrollment and degree awards. The department-specific data, which is not publicly available, can help disciplines see trends in first-time and total enrollment, as well as specific demographic changes. The newest survey looks at data from the years 2006–16.

In chemistry, enrollment over the past decade was down slightly, with an average annual decrease of more than 1%. The previous report , with data from the years 2004–14, showed almost flat enrollment for chemistry. The 2006–16 data also showed that enrollment was down more for women than men. The percentage of degrees awarded is up, which indicates increased student retention. First-time enrollment of Hispanic students was particularly strong, up an average of 10% each year.

Chemical engineering had higher average annual enrollment across the board, including average annual increases of almost 5% for total enrollment of women. Degrees awarded were also strong for women, especially for those receiving a master’s. Asian Americans and Pacific Islander students had the largest enrollment increases, up an average of 10% a year. They made up 19% of U.S. citizens and permanent residents entering chemical engineering graduate school in 2016, as opposed to 9% in chemistry.

How has enrollment changed over the past decade?

First-time enrollment for Hispanic chemistry students grew an average of 10% a year, while the proportion of women initially enrolling was down. Average annual change in first-time enrollment in chemical engineering programs was greatest for Asian students.

Who is going to graduate school?

White students were still the vast majority of U.S. citizens and permanent residents who enrolled for the first time in chemistry and chemical engineering graduate programs in 2016.

Who is graduating?

While average enrollment in chemistry programs was down, the average annual per- centage of degrees awarded increased. In chemical engineering, the average annual percentage of women graduating increased the most.

You might also like...

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Linkedin
• Share on Reddit

This article has been sent to the following recipient:

Join the conversation

Contact the reporter

Submit a Letter to the Editor for publication

Engage with us on Twitter

The power is now in your (nitrile gloved) hands

Sign up for a free account to get more articles. or choose the acs option that’s right for you..

Already have an ACS ID? Log in

Create a free account To read 6 articles each month from

Join acs to get even more access to.

Office of the Provost

Phd program data.

• Outcomes data is based on students who completed a PhD between academic years 2010-11 to 2014-15
• Student enrollments in and degrees conferred by the joint MD/PHD programs with the Pritzker School of Medicine are not included in these reports.
• Data in these charts follow U.S. reporting requirements, which currently allow only “male” and “female” as gender categories.
• International is defined by IPEDS as nonresident alien. View IPEDS'  Definitions for New Race and Ethnicity Categories .

Related Issues and Initiatives

• Graduate Education
• Graduate Education Working Groups and Committees

Beth Niestat

• Prospective Students
• Current Students
• Postdoctoral Fellows
• Faculty and Staff
• Make a Gift

Program Statistics

The University of Michigan offers a remarkably broad and rigorous array of graduate degree programs that are among the very best in the country in each field of study. U-M attracts outstanding students to graduate study, and prepares them to make lasting contributions to society through successful careers in professions and academic disciplines. Interdisciplinary study and joint degrees are a special strength of U-M’s programs. The vibrant community of graduate and professional students on campus is highly diverse in citizenship, demographic background, and intellectual perspective. Rackham Graduate School works together with faculty in the schools and colleges of the University to sustain this diversity, understanding it as critical to our dynamic intellectual climate.

In order to make the activity and culture of graduate programs more visible, we provide basic statistics about the Master's and Ph.D. programs at the University of Michigan. The data and variables were selected to offer a more accurate and helpful picture than those provided by external sources. We also encourage you to visit specific graduate program websites to learn more about the intellectual life, successes, and opportunities in each of our Master's and Ph.D. programs.

Doctoral Program Statistics (Tableau)

Master’s Program Statistics (Tableau)

Postdoctoral Fellows Statistics (Tableau)

• College of Arts & Sciences
• Graduate Division
• College of Liberal and Professional Studies

• PhD Program

Chemistry PhD Program

The University of Pennsylvania is an internationally renowned research institution that attracts the best students from the United States and around the globe. The Graduate Program is designed for students who wish to earn a Ph.D. in Chemistry while undertaking cutting edge research. The program provides students with the necessary theoretical background and hands-on training to become independent and highly successful scientists.  Graduate students achieve mastery of advanced chemistry topics through courses in different subdisciplines. Broad exposure to current research also occurs via four weekly departmental seminar programs and many interdisciplinary, university-wide lecture series.

Currently, faculty, students, and postdoctoral associates in Chemistry work in the fields of bioinorganic chemistry, bioorganic chemistry, chemical biology, biophysical chemistry, bioinformatics, materials science, laser chemistry, health related chemistry, structural and dynamical studies of biological systems, X-ray scattering/diffraction, NMR spectroscopy, applications of computing and computer graphics, as well as investigations of chemical communication and hormone-receptor interactions. Many research groups combine different techniques to explore frontier areas, such as nanomaterials applied to biology, photoactive biomolecules, and single-molecule imaging. Novel synthetic procedures are under constant development for targets ranging from super-emissive nanoparticles to highly specialized drug molecules and giant dendrimers, which are being explored, for example, as drug-delivery systems. The Research Facilities in the Department of Chemistry provide a strong technology base to enable the highest level of innovation. Graduate students are a driving, integral force at Penn Chemistry.

• Yale GSAS: Facts & Figures

The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers MA, MS, and PhD degrees, as well as non-degree programs, in more than 70 fields of study.

Gsas students by the numbers, graduate students, phd students, master's students, visiting students & scholars, gsas community demographics, international students, students from underrepresented backgrounds, us states represented, countries represented, gsas funding, estimated annual financial aid budget, 2024-2025 phd stipend range, annual family subsidy stipend, funding per doctoral student over the course of enrollment, program statistics.

Alumni Insights

Below you will find alumni placement data for our departments and programs.