Graduate Degree Completions, by Race and Ethnicity
Over 2.3 million master’s degrees were awarded between 2015 and 2017. Of all master’s degree recipients, 50.9 percent were White, 25.5 percent were students of color,[1] 17.0 percent were international students, and 6.7 percent were students of unknown racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Over 530,000 doctoral and professional degrees were awarded between 2015 and 2017. Of all doctoral and professional degree recipients, 56.0 percent were White, 25.9 percent were students of color, 12.1 percent were international students, and 6.1 percent were students of unknown racial and ethnic backgrounds.
Report Links
Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education: 2020 Supplement
Chapter Three: Graduate and Professional Education
Chapter Three Report Download (PDF) 2 MB
Chapter Three Data Tables Download (XLSX) 262 KB
Source
U.S. Department of Education, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, 2015, 2016, 2017
Notes:
Data reflect master’s degrees earned at all Title IV eligible, degree-granting institutions, pooled for 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Data reflect all doctoral degrees classified as research/scholarship, professional practice, and other doctorates earned at all Title IV eligible, degree-granting institutions, pooled for 2015, 2016, and 2017.
Totals may not add up to 100 percent due to rounding.
[1] The term students of color includes American Indian or Alaska Native, Asian, Black or African American, Hispanic or Latino, and Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander students, as well as students of more than one race.
