Growth in the numbers of bachelor's and master's degrees awarded by US colleges of engineering has slowed significantly as shown in the graph below. Enrollment data indicate

that degree data for AY2004-05 may be maxima and that declines in bachelor's and master's degrees could occur as soon as AY2005-06. Doctoral enrollment data appear to have reached a maximum in fall 2005. A decline in the number of doctoral degrees awarded by engineering colleges should be anticipated in about three or four years.

This report analyzes the degree trends (bachelor's, master's and doctoral) for foreign national students. Degrees for engineering as a whole included AY1970-71 through AY2004-05, the latest year for which data are available. Degrees awarded in the past three decades by nine individual engineering disciplines are also analyzed.

Bachelor's, Master's and Doctoral Degrees - Foreign National Fractions

As shown in the graph below, the fraction of bachelor's degrees awarded to foreign nationals has remained between 7% and 9% for about three decades. Conversely, since AY1970-71, the fraction of master's degrees awarded to foreign nationals has more than doubled and the fraction of doctoral degrees has tripled. The declining trend shown for master's degrees is consistent with recent enrollment data and will continue until foreign national enrollments begin to increase. Growth in the fraction of doctoral degrees awarded to foreign nationals may begin to slow in the next year or so. Declining foreign national master's enrollments and slowing doctoral enrollment growth should result in doctoral degree declines in the near future.

Engineering Discipline Degrees - Fractions Awarded to Foreign Nationals

The fractions of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees awarded to foreign nationals in individual engineering disciplines were analyzed for the period AY1975-76 through AY2004-05, the last year for which degree data are available. Aerospace, "biological" (bioengineering and biomedical engineering), chemical, "computer" (computer engineering and computer science in universities with engineering colleges), civil, electrical, industrial, materials and mechanical engineering were selected for study. Data for these nine disciplines are shown in the three graphs below.

Bachelor's degree fractions for "computer", electrical and industrial engineering exceed significantly that of engineering, as a whole, at the present time. Aerospace, "biological" and chemical engineering fractions are about the same as that of engineering; civil, materials and mechanical engineering fractions are about half that of engineering. Significant increasing or decreasing trends are currently not apparent among the nine disciplines studied.

Master's degree foreign national fractions (second graph below) for electrical and industrial engineering exceed that of engineering as a whole; aerospace and civil engineering fractions are lower. "Biological", chemical, "computer", materials and mechanical engineering have fractions about the same as engineering overall. Most of the disciplines studied are currently experiencing declining foreign national master's degree fractions. These trends are most marked for aerospace, "computer" and materials engineering. The substantial increasing trend for "biological" engineering beginning in AY 2001-02 is noteworthy.

Doctoral degree foreign national fractions (third graph below) for almost all of the nine disciplines are currently increasing. The rapid growth rates for "biological" and chemical engineering, the disciplines with the lowest fractions, are noteworthy.

Summary

Trends in the fractions of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees in engineering that are awarded to foreign nationals currently differ. Bachelor's degrees have remained in the range of 7% to 9% for the last three decades. Master's degree fractions increased from 25% to 46% from AY 1985-86 through AY2002-03 and declined to 43% in the last two years. Enrollment data indicate that the period of decline will continue. Doctoral degree fractions, following a minimum of 45% in AY1998-99, increased continuously to 61% in AY2004-05.

Foreign national degree fractions were studied for nine engineering disciplines. Bachelor's degree fractions in AY2004-05 range from 4% (civil engineering) to 11% (industrial engineering); engineering as a whole was 7%. Significant increasing or decreasing trends were not observed for any of the disciplines.

Master's degree fractions ranged from 30% (aerospace engineering) to 57% (industrial engineering). "Biological" engineering is currently the only discipline with an increasing trend (22% in AY2001-02 to 38% in AY2004-05). Aerospace, "computer" and materials engineering have undergone significant declines since AY2001-02.

Doctoral degree fractions ranged from 39% ("biological" engineering) to 67% (electrical engineering). "Biological" and chemical engineering (currently, these have the lowest doctoral degree fractions) increased from 24% to 39% and 46% to 55%, respectively, during the AY2001-02 to AY2004-05 period.

Acknowledgments

The enrollment data used in this study originated from the annual surveys of the Engineering Workforce Commission of the American Association of Engineering Societies. Engineering Trends acknowledges the efforts of this organization in providing credible data and expresses its gratitude for their services to the engineering profession. Persons seeking further information about their surveys and the availability of survey data should visit the EWC Web site (www.aaes.org). 

Footnote

Engineering Trends data are compiled mainly from information submitted by universities to the annual surveys of EWC and ASEE. On the very rare occasions where errors in data appear, Engineering Trends corrects the error, if possible, or deletes the data if the error is large enough to alter significantly the trend of the university or the US total.