U.S. higher education: doctoral degrees by field of research 2021

In the academic year of 2020/2021 in the United States, 85,581 doctoral degrees were earned in health professions and related programs - the most out of any field of study. A further 35,976 doctoral degrees were earned in legal professions and studies.

Number of doctoral degrees earned in the United States in 2020/21, by field of research

Characteristic	Number of degrees
Health professions and related programs	85,581
Legal professions and studies	35,976
Education	13,655
Engineering	10,890
Biological and biomedical sciences	7,486
Psychology	6,363
Physical sciences and science technologies	5,709
Agriculture and natural resources	4,869
Social sciences and history	4,160
Business	3,711
Computer and information sciences	2,572
Theology and religious vocations	2,100
Mathematics and statistics	1,958
Visual and performing arts	1,668
Public administration and social services	1,435
English language and literature/letters	1,079
Multi/interdisciplinary studies	1,055
Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics	985
Philosophy and religious studies	627
Communication, journalism, and related programs	532
Parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies	326
Area, ethnic, cultural, gender, and group studies	268
Architecture and related services	255
Homeland security, law enforcement, and firefighting	239
Family and consumer sciences/human sciences	233
Engineering technologies and engineering-related fields	205
Liberal arts and sciences, general studies,and humanities	90
Transportation and materials moving	20
Library science	12

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Release date

September 2022

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Region

United States

Survey time period

2020 to 2021

Supplementary notes

Includes Ph.D., E.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level, as well as such degrees as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees that were formerly classified as first-professional degrees.

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