Back to Data Tables
Excel icon Download to excel

Table 4-4a. Citizenship, ethnicity, and race of graduate students, by detailed field: 2017

Detailed field Total U.S. citizens and permanent residentsa Temporary visa holders
Hispanic or Latino Not Hispanic or Latino Unknown ethnicity and race
American Indian or Alaska Native Asian Black or African American Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander White More than one race
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
All detailed fields 649,112 100.0 44,621 100.0 1,850 100.0 42,045 100.0 32,749 100.0 703 100.0 257,302 100.0 13,539 100.0 23,672 100.0 232,631 100.0
Science 415,568 64.0 30,383 68.1 1,347 72.8 26,028 61.9 22,557 68.9 487 69.3 174,801 67.9 9,434 69.7 16,020 67.7 134,511 57.8
Agricultural sciences 9,347 1.4 593 1.3 33 1.8 238 0.6 327 1.0 8 1.1 4,985 1.9 139 1.0 207 0.9 2,817 1.2
Biological and biomedical sciences 85,217 13.1 6,748 15.1 252 13.6 7,964 18.9 4,672 14.3 134 19.1 41,950 16.3 2,324 17.2 3,629 15.3 17,544 7.5
Biochemistry 5,341 0.8 412 0.9 7 0.4 454 1.1 190 0.6 11 1.6 2,474 1.0 112 0.8 154 0.7 1,527 0.7
Biology 15,811 2.4 1,358 3.0 51 2.8 961 2.3 893 2.7 38 5.4 8,665 3.4 431 3.2 603 2.5 2,811 1.2
Biomedical sciences 7,710 1.2 604 1.4 20 1.1 1,058 2.5 791 2.4 5 0.7 3,369 1.3 228 1.7 420 1.8 1,215 0.5
Biophysics 861 0.1 56 0.1 1 0.1 79 0.2 18 0.1 0 0.0 376 0.1 16 0.1 58 0.2 257 0.1
Biostatistics and bioinformatics 5,219 0.8 230 0.5 5 0.3 637 1.5 147 0.4 8 1.1 1,710 0.7 112 0.8 198 0.8 2,172 0.9
Biotechnology 1,984 0.3 188 0.4 5 0.3 212 0.5 215 0.7 4 0.6 668 0.3 38 0.3 88 0.4 566 0.2
Botany and plant biology 1,690 0.3 104 0.2 7 0.4 74 0.2 34 0.1 2 0.3 840 0.3 43 0.3 61 0.3 525 0.2
Cell, cellular biology, and anatomical sciences 5,712 0.9 520 1.2 19 1.0 605 1.4 213 0.7 8 1.1 2,694 1.0 155 1.1 220 0.9 1,278 0.5
Ecology and population biology 3,487 0.5 233 0.5 13 0.7 130 0.3 85 0.3 7 1.0 2,218 0.9 97 0.7 236 1.0 468 0.2
Epidemiology 4,217 0.6 343 0.8 13 0.7 557 1.3 271 0.8 6 0.9 1,860 0.7 139 1.0 161 0.7 867 0.4
Genetics 2,533 0.4 185 0.4 9 0.5 200 0.5 71 0.2 5 0.7 1,409 0.5 71 0.5 97 0.4 486 0.2
Microbiological sciences and immunology 5,011 0.8 463 1.0 13 0.7 420 1.0 243 0.7 9 1.3 2,636 1.0 164 1.2 204 0.9 859 0.4
Molecular biology 1,412 0.2 115 0.3 3 0.2 166 0.4 61 0.2 0 0.0 656 0.3 32 0.2 42 0.2 337 0.1
Neurobiology and neuroscience 5,189 0.8 479 1.1 19 1.0 513 1.2 173 0.5 5 0.7 2,782 1.1 161 1.2 199 0.8 858 0.4
Nutrition science 3,132 0.5 204 0.5 9 0.5 241 0.6 119 0.4 2 0.3 1,776 0.7 87 0.6 158 0.7 536 0.2
Pathology and experimental pathology 1,033 0.2 115 0.3 2 0.1 80 0.2 50 0.2 0 0.0 441 0.2 29 0.2 79 0.3 237 0.1
Pharmacology and toxicology 3,125 0.5 222 0.5 20 1.1 296 0.7 244 0.7 5 0.7 1,400 0.5 99 0.7 120 0.5 719 0.3
Physiology 4,856 0.7 366 0.8 15 0.8 544 1.3 325 1.0 8 1.1 2,458 1.0 126 0.9 183 0.8 831 0.4
Zoology and animal biology 1,954 0.3 100 0.2 1 0.1 60 0.1 51 0.2 3 0.4 1,279 0.5 61 0.5 74 0.3 325 0.1
Biological and biomedical sciences nec 4,940 0.8 451 1.0 20 1.1 677 1.6 478 1.5 8 1.1 2,239 0.9 123 0.9 274 1.2 670 0.3
Computer and information sciences 89,909 13.9 3,094 6.9 82 4.4 6,512 15.5 4,444 13.6 59 8.4 18,902 7.3 1,189 8.8 2,565 10.8 53,062 22.8
Computer science 30,251 4.7 603 1.4 14 0.8 2,040 4.9 510 1.6 17 2.4 4,507 1.8 283 2.1 745 3.1 21,532 9.3
Computer and information sciences, general 35,646 5.5 1,248 2.8 31 1.7 2,673 6.4 1,250 3.8 16 2.3 8,071 3.1 484 3.6 663 2.8 21,210 9.1
Computer and information sciences nec 24,012 3.7 1,243 2.8 37 2.0 1,799 4.3 2,684 8.2 26 3.7 6,324 2.5 422 3.1 1,157 4.9 10,320 4.4
Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences 12,545 1.9 783 1.8 62 3.4 364 0.9 234 0.7 15 2.1 7,510 2.9 308 2.3 516 2.2 2,753 1.2
Atmospheric sciences and meteorology 1,348 0.2 63 0.1 2 0.1 38 0.1 26 0.1 1 0.1 767 0.3 23 0.2 43 0.2 385 0.2
Geological and earth sciences 8,255 1.3 524 1.2 50 2.7 217 0.5 147 0.4 13 1.8 4,912 1.9 205 1.5 304 1.3 1,883 0.8
Ocean and marine sciences 2,695 0.4 189 0.4 9 0.5 102 0.2 55 0.2 1 0.1 1,686 0.7 72 0.5 152 0.6 429 0.2
Geosciences, atmospheric sciences, and ocean sciences nec 247 * 7 * 1 0.1 7 * 6 * 0 0.0 145 0.1 8 0.1 17 0.1 56 *
Mathematics and statistics 29,669 4.6 1,291 2.9 38 2.1 1,891 4.5 645 2.0 9 1.3 9,277 3.6 436 3.2 953 4.0 15,129 6.5
Mathematics and applied mathematics 20,511 3.2 1,000 2.2 27 1.5 1,129 2.7 475 1.5 6 0.9 7,128 2.8 331 2.4 701 3.0 9,714 4.2
Statistics 9,158 1.4 291 0.7 11 0.6 762 1.8 170 0.5 3 0.4 2,149 0.8 105 0.8 252 1.1 5,415 2.3
Multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary studies 9,854 1.5 820 1.8 31 1.7 750 1.8 621 1.9 17 2.4 4,478 1.7 223 1.6 430 1.8 2,484 1.1
Natural resources and conservation 10,879 1.7 715 1.6 88 4.8 322 0.8 373 1.1 22 3.1 6,918 2.7 330 2.4 517 2.2 1,594 0.7
Environmental science and studies 5,136 0.8 385 0.9 32 1.7 202 0.5 226 0.7 16 2.3 3,155 1.2 171 1.3 255 1.1 694 0.3
Forestry, natural resources, and conservation 5,743 0.9 330 0.7 56 3.0 120 0.3 147 0.4 6 0.9 3,763 1.5 159 1.2 262 1.1 900 0.4
Physical sciences 41,829 6.4 2,261 5.1 87 4.7 2,208 5.3 954 2.9 20 2.8 17,795 6.9 838 6.2 1,234 5.2 16,432 7.1
Astronomy and astrophysics 1,305 0.2 79 0.2 2 0.1 84 0.2 22 0.1 0 0.0 722 0.3 36 0.3 38 0.2 322 0.1
Chemistry 22,820 3.5 1,332 3.0 50 2.7 1,343 3.2 652 2.0 16 2.3 9,802 3.8 468 3.5 638 2.7 8,519 3.7
Materials sciences 1,375 0.2 52 0.1 4 0.2 97 0.2 35 0.1 0 0.0 505 0.2 27 0.2 54 0.2 601 0.3
Physics 15,687 2.4 775 1.7 29 1.6 661 1.6 224 0.7 4 0.6 6,477 2.5 294 2.2 486 2.1 6,737 2.9
Physical sciences nec 642 0.1 23 0.1 2 0.1 23 0.1 21 0.1 0 0.0 289 0.1 13 0.1 18 0.1 253 0.1
Psychology 50,033 7.7 7,124 16.0 216 11.7 2,500 5.9 4,513 13.8 91 12.9 28,352 11.0 1,603 11.8 2,446 10.3 3,188 1.4
Clinical psychology 6,849 1.1 1,216 2.7 19 1.0 392 0.9 490 1.5 13 1.8 3,692 1.4 228 1.7 468 2.0 331 0.1
Counseling and applied psychology 26,238 4.0 4,059 9.1 137 7.4 1,169 2.8 2,832 8.6 52 7.4 14,563 5.7 809 6.0 1,332 5.6 1,285 0.6
Psychology, general 13,258 2.0 1,522 3.4 46 2.5 680 1.6 1,024 3.1 25 3.6 7,994 3.1 463 3.4 516 2.2 988 0.4
Research and experimental psychology 3,688 0.6 327 0.7 14 0.8 259 0.6 167 0.5 1 0.1 2,103 0.8 103 0.8 130 0.5 584 0.3
Social sciences 76,286 11.8 6,954 15.6 458 24.8 3,279 7.8 5,774 17.6 112 15.9 34,634 13.5 2,044 15.1 3,523 14.9 19,508 8.4
Agricultural economics 1,678 0.3 56 0.1 4 0.2 45 0.1 28 0.1 1 0.1 629 0.2 15 0.1 32 0.1 868 0.4
Anthropology 6,925 1.1 651 1.5 82 4.4 252 0.6 221 0.7 11 1.6 4,072 1.6 255 1.9 408 1.7 973 0.4
Criminal justice and safety studies 4,407 0.7 647 1.4 22 1.2 90 0.2 856 2.6 8 1.1 2,359 0.9 128 0.9 171 0.7 126 0.1
Economics (except agricultural) 13,069 2.0 470 1.1 14 0.8 543 1.3 328 1.0 3 0.4 3,293 1.3 149 1.1 362 1.5 7,907 3.4
Geography and cartography 4,552 0.7 289 0.6 21 1.1 152 0.4 167 0.5 3 0.4 2,601 1.0 125 0.9 200 0.8 994 0.4
History and philosophy of science 260 * 15 * 0 0.0 9 * 3 * 0 0.0 163 0.1 7 0.1 4 * 59 *
Human development 2,034 0.3 236 0.5 12 0.6 81 0.2 193 0.6 2 0.3 1,184 0.5 58 0.4 92 0.4 176 0.1
International relations and national security studies 7,153 1.1 804 1.8 46 2.5 375 0.9 497 1.5 4 0.6 3,375 1.3 187 1.4 535 2.3 1,330 0.6
Linguistics 2,883 0.4 233 0.5 25 1.4 141 0.3 70 0.2 1 0.1 1,274 0.5 99 0.7 127 0.5 913 0.4
Political science and government 8,588 1.3 717 1.6 24 1.3 340 0.8 579 1.8 15 2.1 4,391 1.7 203 1.5 430 1.8 1,889 0.8
Public policy analysis 6,952 1.1 551 1.2 28 1.5 469 1.1 594 1.8 14 2.0 3,151 1.2 176 1.3 354 1.5 1,615 0.7
Sociology 7,969 1.2 1,034 2.3 37 2.0 357 0.8 888 2.7 7 1.0 3,921 1.5 251 1.9 286 1.2 1,188 0.5
Social sciences nec 9,816 1.5 1,251 2.8 143 7.7 425 1.0 1,350 4.1 43 6.1 4,221 1.6 391 2.9 522 2.2 1,470 0.6
Engineering 165,581 25.5 7,537 16.9 208 11.2 10,483 24.9 3,842 11.7 86 12.2 46,637 18.1 2,265 16.7 4,102 17.3 90,421 38.9
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering 5,708 0.9 361 0.8 12 0.6 408 1.0 85 0.3 2 0.3 2,585 1.0 131 1.0 183 0.8 1,941 0.8
Agricultural engineering 1,186 0.2 41 0.1 2 0.1 53 0.1 18 0.1 1 0.1 374 0.1 36 0.3 17 0.1 644 0.3
Bioengineering and biomedical engineering 10,882 1.7 705 1.6 18 1.0 1,516 3.6 335 1.0 7 1.0 4,221 1.6 280 2.1 381 1.6 3,419 1.5
Biological and biosystems engineering 234 * 7 * 0 0.0 10 * 1 * 0 0.0 99 * 4 * 4 * 109 *
Chemical engineering 10,166 1.6 361 0.8 17 0.9 796 1.9 197 0.6 2 0.3 3,061 1.2 150 1.1 209 0.9 5,373 2.3
Civil engineering 21,132 3.3 1,302 2.9 35 1.9 1,104 2.6 463 1.4 16 2.3 6,439 2.5 295 2.2 509 2.2 10,969 4.7
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering 47,752 7.4 1,459 3.3 30 1.6 2,743 6.5 853 2.6 13 1.8 8,101 3.1 424 3.1 981 4.1 33,148 14.2
Engineering mechanics, physics, and science 2,136 0.3 65 0.1 2 0.1 129 0.3 37 0.1 1 0.1 706 0.3 33 0.2 89 0.4 1,074 0.5
Industrial and manufacturing engineering 15,905 2.5 744 1.7 16 0.9 824 2.0 515 1.6 8 1.1 3,922 1.5 143 1.1 487 2.1 9,246 4.0
Mechanical engineering 27,428 4.2 1,374 3.1 31 1.7 1,510 3.6 444 1.4 9 1.3 8,520 3.3 396 2.9 644 2.7 14,500 6.2
Metallurgical and materials engineering 6,541 1.0 312 0.7 10 0.5 422 1.0 121 0.4 17 2.4 2,066 0.8 95 0.7 105 0.4 3,393 1.5
Mining engineering 541 0.1 42 0.1 4 0.2 7 * 6 * 0 0.0 234 0.1 7 0.1 32 0.1 209 0.1
Nanotechnology 139 * 12 * 0 0.0 12 * 3 * 0 0.0 52 * 2 * 3 * 55 *
Nuclear engineering 1,442 0.2 92 0.2 2 0.1 48 0.1 24 0.1 0 0.0 774 0.3 25 0.2 53 0.2 424 0.2
Petroleum engineering 1,578 0.2 50 0.1 1 0.1 69 0.2 32 0.1 0 0.0 260 0.1 11 0.1 33 0.1 1,122 0.5
Engineering nec 12,811 2.0 610 1.4 28 1.5 832 2.0 708 2.2 10 1.4 5,223 2.0 233 1.7 372 1.6 4,795 2.1
Health 67,963 10.5 6,701 15.0 295 15.9 5,534 13.2 6,350 19.4 130 18.5 35,864 13.9 1,840 13.6 3,550 15.0 7,699 3.3
Clinical medicine 29,693 4.6 3,164 7.1 160 8.6 3,182 7.6 3,871 11.8 78 11.1 13,309 5.2 956 7.1 1,990 8.4 2,983 1.3
Public health 28,657 4.4 3,093 6.9 157 8.5 3,033 7.2 3,754 11.5 76 10.8 12,805 5.0 923 6.8 1,951 8.2 2,865 1.2
Clinical medicine nec 1,036 0.2 71 0.2 3 0.2 149 0.4 117 0.4 2 0.3 504 0.2 33 0.2 39 0.2 118 0.1
Other health 38,270 5.9 3,537 7.9 135 7.3 2,352 5.6 2,479 7.6 52 7.4 22,555 8.8 884 6.5 1,560 6.6 4,716 2.0
Communication disorders sciences 16,053 2.5 1,745 3.9 53 2.9 681 1.6 636 1.9 17 2.4 11,402 4.4 396 2.9 774 3.3 349 0.2
Dental sciences 1,698 0.3 98 0.2 3 0.2 232 0.6 43 0.1 0 0.0 641 0.2 32 0.2 90 0.4 559 0.2
Nursing science 5,148 0.8 379 0.8 33 1.8 280 0.7 560 1.7 9 1.3 3,193 1.2 82 0.6 227 1.0 385 0.2
Pharmaceutical sciences 3,644 0.6 148 0.3 4 0.2 301 0.7 155 0.5 3 0.4 1,023 0.4 52 0.4 68 0.3 1,890 0.8
Veterinary biomedical and clinical sciences 1,035 0.2 44 0.1 4 0.2 44 0.1 27 0.1 1 0.1 518 0.2 28 0.2 35 0.1 334 0.1
Other health nec 10,692 1.6 1,123 2.5 38 2.1 814 1.9 1,058 3.2 22 3.1 5,778 2.2 294 2.2 366 1.5 1,199 0.5
* = value , 0.05%.
nec = not elsewhere classified.
a Ethnicity and race data are available only for U.S. citizens and permanent residents.
NOTE: Percentages may not add to total because of rounding.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation, National Center for Science and Engineering Statistics, Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, 2017.