Us Stem University Graduate Numbers Analyzed

The number of students graduating from STEM universities in the US is a significant indicator of the country's future scientific and technological capabilities. STEM graduates are crucial for developing a highly skilled technical workforce, driving innovation, and promoting economic growth. While the US has historically been a global leader in STEM education, other countries, particularly in Asia, have rapidly expanded their STEM programs, leading to a shift in the global distribution of STEM graduates. In the 2020-21 academic year, US institutions awarded 437,302 STEM bachelor's degrees and 146,573 master's degrees.

Bachelor's degrees in STEM

Bachelors Degrees in STEM

In the 2020-21 academic year, 437,302 STEM bachelor's degrees were awarded in the United States. This number has been steadily increasing over the years, with 398,602 STEM bachelor's degrees awarded in 2000, and 589,330 in 2012.

Women and Bachelor's in STEM

Women have been earning about 57% of all bachelor's degrees and half of all STEM bachelor's degrees since the late 1990s. In 2015-16, women earned 58% of all bachelor's degrees and 36% of STEM bachelor's degrees. While this is a higher percentage of degrees overall, it is a lower percentage when compared to men in STEM fields. This pattern is observed across all racial and ethnic groups.

Racial and Ethnic Minorities and Bachelor's in STEM

The racial and ethnic composition of STEM bachelor's degree recipients has changed over time, reflecting population changes and increasing college attendance by members of minority groups. In 2012, White students received between 59% and 70% of the bachelor's degrees conferred in the major STEM fields. The percentage of STEM bachelor's degrees awarded to White students has decreased over the years, from 71% in 2000 to 63% in 2012.

Hispanic students are the only other group to show notable change since 2000. Their share of STEM bachelor's degrees rose from 7% in 2000 to 10% in 2012, increasing in all years but one. In 2012, Hispanic students received more bachelor's degrees in psychology (12%) and social sciences (12%) than any other minority group.

Asian and Pacific Islander students' share of STEM bachelor's degrees rose slightly from 9% in 2000 to almost 10% in 2012, but it has remained relatively stable since the mid-2000s. In 2012, they earned more bachelor's degrees in biological and agricultural sciences (14%), engineering (12%), mathematics and statistics (11%), and physical sciences (10%) than any other minority group.

Black and American Indian/Alaska Native students' percentages of STEM bachelor's degrees have shown little change since 2000. In 2012, Black students accounted for the largest number of bachelor's degrees in computer sciences (11%). American Indian/Alaska Native students received 0.7% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in social sciences and psychology, their largest share.

Master's degrees in STEM

Masters Degrees in STEM

STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) master's degrees are growing in popularity, offering graduates lucrative careers and a wide range of job opportunities. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the number of jobs in STEM fields is projected to grow by nearly 10% between 2019 and 2029, and STEM professionals earn a median annual wage of nearly $100,000.

STEM master's degrees offer students the opportunity to work with the latest technologies and find innovative solutions to real-world problems. The hands-on, interdisciplinary approach to teaching means graduates can apply their knowledge immediately after completing their degree, and they will have developed important transferable skills such as problem-solving, research and analysis, and critical thinking.

Career Options

There are numerous career options for STEM master's graduates, including:

• Biomedical engineer
• Computer system administrator
• Environmental engineer
• Forensic science technician
• Accountant
• Software developer
• Electrical engineer
• Mechanical engineer
• Aerospace engineer
• Civil engineer
• Manufacturing engineer
• Bioinformatics technician
• Actuary
• Data scientist
• Chemical engineer
• Food scientist/technologist
• Biomedical researcher

Top STEM Master's Degrees

There are many STEM master's degrees to choose from, and the right one for you will depend on your specific interests and career goals. Here are some of the top-rated STEM master's degrees:

• Computer Science and Engineering
• Electrical and Electronics Engineering
• Mechanical Engineering
• Aerospace Engineering
• Environmental Engineering
• Civil Engineering
• Manufacturing Engineering
• Bioinformatics
• Applied Mathematics and Statistics
• Chemical Engineering
• Food Science and Technology
• Biomedical Engineering

Admission Requirements

While specific requirements may vary depending on the program and institution, most STEM master's degree programs require applicants to hold a bachelor's degree in a relevant field of study. Additionally, prospective students typically need to demonstrate a strong academic record and have a competitive GPA. Other admission requirements may include standardized test scores, such as the GRE or GMAT, and letters of recommendation.

Racial demographics of STEM graduates

While there is no single definition of what constitutes a "STEM university", data on the racial demographics of STEM graduates in the US is available.

According to the US Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, in the 2015-16 academic year, of the 1.8 million bachelor's degrees awarded, about 331,000 (or 18%) were in STEM fields. The racial breakdown of these STEM graduates was as follows:

• 33% of Asian students' bachelor's degrees were in STEM fields.
• 20% of students with two or more races' bachelor's degrees were in STEM fields.
• 15% of Hispanic students', 15% of Pacific Islander students', 14% of American Indian/Alaska Native students', and 12% of Black students' bachelor's degrees were in STEM fields.
• 18% of White students' bachelor's degrees were in STEM fields.

In addition, the US National Science Foundation's report on the state of US science and engineering in 2022 found that in 2021, Black or African American workers made up 8% of workers in STEM occupations, compared to 11% of the total US workforce. Hispanic workers made up 15% of STEM workers and 18% of all workers. Asian workers were employed in STEM occupations (10%) at a higher rate than their overall employment rate of 6%.

Furthermore, the report found that in 2021, men outnumbered women in STEM occupations, with 30% of male workers and 18% of female workers holding STEM jobs. This disparity was particularly pronounced in S&E (science and engineering) occupations, where men outnumbered women 2.75 to 1, and in STEM middle-skill occupations, where the ratio was 8.5 to 1.

A separate analysis by the Pew Research Center in 2021 found that Hispanic workers made up 8% of STEM workers and 17% of total employment, while Black workers comprised 9% of STEM workers and 11% of all employed adults.

Gender demographics of STEM graduates

In the US, the number of students graduating from STEM universities has been on the rise. While the country was once considered a global leader in scientific and technological education, new players like Brazil and Mexico are catching up.

Females have consistently received a higher percentage of bachelor's degrees than males in the US. In the 2015-16 academic year, for instance, 58% of bachelor's degrees were awarded to females, compared to 42% for males. However, when it comes to STEM fields, the trend is reversed, with a lower percentage of bachelor's degrees awarded to females (36%) than males (64%). This pattern is observed across all racial/ethnic groups.

The gap between the percentage of STEM bachelor's degrees awarded to males and females varies among different racial/ethnic groups. It is largest among White students (33 percentage points), followed by Pacific Islanders (28 percentage points), Hispanics (25 percentage points), American Indian/Alaska Natives (23 percentage points), Asians (21 percentage points), and students of two or more races (21 percentage points). Black students have the smallest gap at 11 percentage points.

In the 2020-21 academic year, 514,323 males received STEM certifications, while the number of female STEM graduates was 276,429.

The gender disparity in STEM fields is also reflected in the composition of the STEM workforce. Women make up about one-third of the STEM workforce, which is less than their representation in the overall employed US population (48%). However, the share of women in STEM has been slowly increasing, growing from 32% in 2010 to 34% in 2019. This growth is driven by an increase in the proportion of women with bachelor's degrees or higher in STEM fields, rising from 42% in 2010 to 44% in 2019.

Despite the overall trend, there are some STEM fields where women are well-represented. In 2019, women accounted for 48% of life scientists and 65% of social scientists. However, they were underrepresented in other fields, such as physical sciences (35%), computer and mathematical sciences (26%), and engineering (16%).

In conclusion, while females earn a higher percentage of bachelor's degrees overall, they are underrepresented in STEM fields, both in terms of degree attainment and workforce participation. The gender gap in STEM varies across different racial/ethnic groups, and certain fields within STEM have higher female representation than others.

Foreign nationals in STEM

Foreign nationals play a critical role in the US STEM landscape, comprising a significant portion of the STEM workforce and making notable contributions to research, innovation, and the economy. In 2021, foreign-born workers accounted for 19% of all STEM workers in the US, with this figure rising to 43% when considering only scientists and engineers with doctoral degrees. This reliance on foreign talent is particularly evident in the development of artificial intelligence, computing, and other critical technologies, where approximately 58% of doctorate-level computer and mathematical scientists are foreign-born.

The importance of foreign nationals in US STEM is further underscored by their higher educational attainment compared to their US-born counterparts. Among STEM workers, foreign-born individuals stand out, with 86.5% holding at least a bachelor's degree in 2019, compared to 67.3% of US-born STEM workers. Additionally, almost half (49.3%) of immigrant STEM workers held an advanced degree, in contrast to only 21.8% of US-born STEM workers. This trend is particularly prominent in STEM fields like computer and mathematical sciences, engineering, and life, physical, and social sciences, where foreign-born workers pursue higher levels of education.

The top countries of origin for foreign-born STEM workers in the US include India, China, Mexico, and the Philippines. Indian immigrants form the largest group, comprising 28.9% of all foreign-born STEM workers in 2019. China, with 273,000 workers, and Mexico, with 119,000 workers, also contribute significantly to the US STEM workforce. The presence of foreign-born talent in the US is not limited to workers but also extends to students pursuing STEM degrees. International students enrolled at US institutions of higher education declined by about 20% from 2019 to 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic, highlighting the impact of global events on the availability of foreign talent.

Foreign-born STEM workers bring diverse skill sets and knowledge, complementing the strengths of their US-born colleagues. Their contributions enhance productivity, innovation, and revenue for US companies, ultimately leading to more job creation for US workers. Additionally, foreign nationals play a crucial role in maintaining US competitiveness in STEM fields, particularly in the face of intensifying global competition for talent. As the demand for STEM professionals continues to rise, the US must strike a balance between attracting the brightest minds from around the world and cultivating domestic talent to maintain its leadership in innovation and technology.

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