Each year, the National Science Foundation collects data on obligations to colleges and universities from federal agencies. Obligations differ from expenditures in that funds obligated during one fiscal year may be spent by the recipient in later years. Obligation amounts include direct federal support, so that amounts subcontracted to other institutions are included. Those funds received through subcontracts from prime contractors are excluded. Also excluded from the data are certain types of financial assistance, such as the U.S. Department of Education's Federal Family Education Loans and obligations to the U.S. service academies.
The universe of academic institutions for this survey is based on the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics (see above). Institutions without federal support are excluded and some systems are combined into single reporting units.
Further information on federal support obligations to universities, colleges, and nonprofit institutions may be obtained from
Science and Engineering Activities Program
Division of Science Resources Studies
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvyfedsupport
The Survey of Earned Doctorates has collected basic statistics from the universe of doctoral recipients in the United States each year since 1958. It has been supported by five federal agencies: the National Science Foundation, in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Education; the National Endowment for the Humanities; the U.S. Department of Agriculture; and the National Institutes of Health.
With the assistance of graduate deans, a survey form is distributed to each person completing the requirements for a doctorate. Of the 43,354 new research doctorates granted in 2005, the response rate was 92 percent. The questionnaire obtains information on sex, race/ethnicity, marital status, citizenship, disabilities, dependents, specialty field of doctorate, educational institutions attended, time spent in completion of doctorate, financial support, education debt, postgraduation plans, and educational attainment of parents.
Further information on the Survey of Earned Doctorates may be obtained from
Science and Engineering Education and Human Resources Program
Division of Science Resources Studies
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard
Arlington, VA 22230
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/srvydoctorates
http://www.norc.uchicago.edu/issues/docdata.htm
The Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering, also known as the graduate student survey (GSS), is an annual survey at the academic department level of all U.S. institutions offering graduate programs in any science, engineering, or health field. It is an institution-based survey that provides data on the number and characteristics of graduate science and engineering students enrolled in approximately 600 U.S. academic institutions.
Data for the 2005 GSS were collected at the beginning of academic year 2005–06. This survey includes all branch campuses, affiliated research centers, and separately organized components—such as medical or dental schools, nursing schools, and schools of public health—from all academic institutions that offer doctor's and master's degree programs. Only those graduate students enrolled for credit in a master's or doctoral program in science or engineering in the fall of 2005 were included in the survey. M.D., D.O., D.V.M., or D.D.S. candidates, interns, and residents were counted if they were concurrently working on a master's or doctoral degree in science or engineering or were enrolled in a joint M.D./Ph.D. program.
The final 2005 survey universe consisted of 708 reporting units (schools) at 588 graduate institutions: 215 master's-granting institutions and 493 reporting units associated with 373 doctorate-granting institutions.
Further information on the Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering may be obtained from
Julia Oliver
GSS Survey Manager
Division of Science Resources Statistics
National Science Foundation
4201 Wilson Boulevard, Suite 965
Arlington, VA 22230
http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/gradpostdoc
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