Advanced Science and Engineering Degrees as a Percentage of S&E Degrees Conferred (Percent)

This indicator represents the extent to which a state's higher education programs in S&E are concentrated at the graduate level. S&E fields include the physical, life, earth, ocean, atmospheric, computer, and social sciences; mathematics; engineering; and psychology. They do not include medical fields or technologies. Advanced S&E degrees include master's and doctoral degrees. Total S&E degrees include bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees but exclude associate's degrees.

The indicator value is computed by dividing the number of advanced S&E degrees by the total number of S&E degrees awarded by the higher education institutions within the state. The number of degrees awarded is an actual count provided by the National Center for Education Statistics and includes degrees from both public and private institutions. These values are reported by the state in which the degree-granting institution is located.

Student mobility after graduation is not accounted for, which may make this indicator less meaningful in predicting the qualifications of a state's future technical workforce. In states with few S&E graduate programs, the number of advanced S&E degrees conferred may vary considerably from year to year. Readers should use caution when making annual comparisons for those states with small numbers of S&E graduate students.

Data source: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System.