Source: National Science Foundation, Survey of Earned Doctorates 2025 (Table 1.7: Research doctorate recipients, by trend major field of doctorate and citizenship status: 2015-25, accessed October 22, 2026).
Commentary: According to the National Science Foundation’s Survey of Earned Doctorates (SED), the number of science (including social sciences) and engineering research doctorates awarded by U.S. universities increased 13.6 percent, from 41,247 in 2015 to 46,876 in 2025. During this period, the number of computer and information sciences doctorates grew 71.6 percent, from 2,003 to 3,438, while engineering doctorates increased 16.8 percent, from 9,875 to 11,536.
Growth occurred among both domestic and international doctorate recipients. The number of science and engineering doctorates awarded to U.S. citizens and permanent residents increased 12.2 percent, including a 62.5 percent increase in computer and information sciences and a 20.1 percent increase in engineering. Meanwhile, science and engineering doctorates awarded to temporary visa holders grew 19.1 percent, with computer and information sciences increasing 75.9 percent and engineering rising 13.4 percent. These trends highlight the expanding pipeline of highly educated STEM talent in the United States and the important contributions of both domestic and international students to America's scientific and technological competitiveness.
