Table 285.

Bachelor's, master's, and doctor's degrees conferred by degree-granting institutions, by field of study and year: Selected years, 1970-71 through 2008-09

Degree and year	Number of degrees conferred								Percentage distribution of degrees conferred
	Total degrees	Humanities1	Social and behavioral sciences2	Natural sciences3	Computer sciences and engineering4	Education	Business	Other fields5	Total degrees	Humanities1	Social and behavioral sciences2	Natural sciences3	Computer sciences and engineering4	Education	Business	Other fields5
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17
Bachelor's    degrees
1970-71	839,730	143,571	193,511	81,894	52,570	176,307	115,396	76,481	100.0	17.1	23.0	9.8	6.3	21.0	13.7	9.1
1971-72	887,273	149,182	201,493	81,725	54,660	190,880	121,917	87,416	100.0	16.8	22.7	9.2	6.2	21.5	13.7	9.9
1972-73	922,362	153,288	203,910	85,964	55,688	193,984	126,717	102,811	100.0	16.6	22.1	9.3	6.0	21.0	13.7	11.1
1973-74	945,776	156,079	202,459	91,029	55,168	184,907	132,304	123,830	100.0	16.5	21.4	9.6	5.8	19.6	14.0	13.1
1974-75	922,933	152,654	186,435	90,527	52,164	166,758	133,639	140,756	100.0	16.5	20.2	9.8	5.7	18.1	14.5	15.3
1975-76	925,746	150,805	176,674	91,527	52,328	154,437	143,171	156,804	100.0	16.3	19.1	9.9	5.7	16.7	15.5	16.9
1976-77	919,549	146,400	164,901	90,098	55,889	143,234	152,010	167,017	100.0	15.9	17.9	9.8	6.1	15.6	16.5	18.2
1977-78	921,204	143,343	157,831	86,870	63,351	135,821	160,775	173,213	100.0	15.6	17.1	9.4	6.9	14.7	17.5	18.8
1978-79	921,390	138,127	150,756	83,671	71,617	125,873	172,392	178,954	100.0	15.0	16.4	9.1	7.8	13.7	18.7	19.4
1979-80	929,417	136,291	145,755	80,975	80,541	118,038	186,264	181,553	100.0	14.7	15.7	8.7	8.7	12.7	20.0	19.5
1980-81	935,140	134,214	141,581	78,017	90,476	108,074	200,521	182,257	100.0	14.4	15.1	8.3	9.7	11.6	21.4	19.5
1981-82	952,998	135,776	140,917	77,069	100,899	100,932	215,190	182,215	100.0	14.2	14.8	8.1	10.6	10.6	22.6	19.1
1982-83	969,510	133,865	135,688	75,435	114,376	97,908	226,442	185,796	100.0	13.8	14.0	7.8	11.8	10.1	23.4	19.2
1983-84	974,309	134,464	133,278	75,177	127,734	92,310	229,013	182,333	100.0	13.8	13.7	7.7	13.1	9.5	23.5	18.7
1984-85	979,477	132,903	131,470	76,932	136,220	88,078	232,282	181,592	100.0	13.6	13.4	7.9	13.9	9.0	23.7	18.5
1985-86	987,823	132,966	134,468	76,153	139,459	87,147	236,700	180,930	100.0	13.5	13.6	7.7	14.1	8.8	24.0	18.3
1986-87	991,264	137,316	139,494	74,294	133,327	86,788	240,346	179,699	100.0	13.9	14.1	7.5	13.5	8.8	24.2	18.1
1987-88	994,829	141,219	145,831	70,085	124,057	90,928	242,859	179,850	100.0	14.2	14.7	7.0	12.5	9.1	24.4	18.1
1988-89	1,018,755	150,309	157,234	68,153	116,542	96,740	246,262	183,515	100.0	14.8	15.4	6.7	11.4	9.5	24.2	18.0
1989-90	1,051,344	161,078	172,035	67,536	109,827	105,112	248,568	187,188	100.0	15.3	16.4	6.4	10.4	10.0	23.6	17.8
1990-91	1,094,538	172,590	183,762	70,104	104,910	110,807	249,165	203,200	100.0	15.8	16.8	6.4	9.6	10.1	22.8	18.6
1991-92	1,136,553	186,203	197,657	74,197	102,879	107,836	256,298	211,483	100.0	16.4	17.4	6.5	9.1	9.5	22.6	18.6
1992-93	1,165,178	194,804	202,634	78,786	103,181	107,578	256,473	221,722	100.0	16.7	17.4	6.8	8.9	9.2	22.0	19.0
1993-94	1,169,275	194,990	203,099	83,720	103,189	107,440	246,265	230,572	100.0	16.7	17.4	7.2	8.8	9.2	21.1	19.7
1994-95	1,160,134	192,909	200,387	88,445	103,306	105,929	233,895	235,263	100.0	16.6	17.3	7.6	8.9	9.1	20.2	20.3
1995-96	1,164,792	193,668	199,895	93,090	102,592	105,384	226,623	243,540	100.0	16.6	17.2	8.0	8.8	9.0	19.5	20.9
1996-97	1,172,879	193,940	199,199	95,576	101,179	105,116	225,934	251,935	100.0	16.5	17.0	8.1	8.6	9.0	19.3	21.5
1997-98	1,184,406	196,749	199,147	96,740	102,478	105,833	232,079	251,380	100.0	16.6	16.8	8.2	8.7	8.9	19.6	21.2
1998-99	1,200,303	203,092	198,294	94,859	103,239	107,086	240,947	252,786	100.0	16.9	16.5	7.9	8.6	8.9	20.1	21.1
1999-2000	1,237,875	210,984	201,295	92,754	111,207	108,034	256,070	257,531	100.0	17.0	16.3	7.5	9.0	8.7	20.7	20.8
2000-01	1,244,171	214,818	201,681	88,955	117,117	105,458	263,515	252,627	100.0	17.3	16.2	7.1	9.4	8.5	21.2	20.3
2001-02	1,291,900	227,307	209,649	89,164	125,044	106,295	278,217	256,224	100.0	17.6	16.2	6.9	9.7	8.2	21.5	19.8
2003-04	1,399,542	246,646	232,455	92,819	137,715	106,278	307,149	276,480	100.0	17.6	16.6	6.6	9.8	7.6	21.9	19.8
2004-05	1,439,264	256,151	242,506	97,867	133,854	105,451	311,574	291,861	100.0	17.8	16.8	6.8	9.3	7.3	21.6	20.3
2005-06	1,485,242	263,125	249,619	104,266	129,090	107,238	318,042	313,862	100.0	17.7	16.8	7.0	8.7	7.2	21.4	21.1
2006-07	1,524,092	267,489	254,222	111,178	124,242	105,641	327,531	333,789	100.0	17.6	16.7	7.3	8.2	6.9	21.5	21.9
2007-08	1,563,069	276,510	259,950	114,980	122,329	102,582	335,254	351,464	100.0	17.7	16.6	7.4	7.8	6.6	21.4	22.5
2008-09	1,601,368	280,456	262,771	118,718	122,630	101,708	347,985	367,100	100.0	17.5	16.4	7.4	7.7	6.4	21.7	22.9
Master's    degrees
1970-71	230,509	29,457	22,256	17,150	18,535	87,666	26,490	28,955	100.0	12.8	9.7	7.4	8.0	38.0	11.5	12.6
1971-72	251,633	30,630	24,209	17,449	19,276	96,668	30,509	32,892	100.0	12.2	9.6	6.9	7.7	38.4	12.1	13.1
1972-73	263,371	30,056	25,096	17,411	19,101	103,777	31,208	36,722	100.0	11.4	9.5	6.6	7.3	39.4	11.8	13.9
1973-74	277,033	31,375	26,089	17,258	18,127	110,402	32,691	41,091	100.0	11.3	9.4	6.2	6.5	39.9	11.8	14.8
1974-75	292,450	31,729	26,371	16,531	18,136	117,841	36,315	45,527	100.0	10.8	9.0	5.7	6.2	40.3	12.4	15.6
1975-76	311,771	31,377	26,120	15,738	19,403	126,061	42,592	50,480	100.0	10.1	8.4	5.0	6.2	40.4	13.7	16.2
1976-77	317,164	31,125	26,392	15,924	19,457	124,267	46,505	53,494	100.0	9.8	8.3	5.0	6.1	39.2	14.7	16.9
1977-78	311,620	30,276	25,000	15,524	19,925	116,916	48,347	55,632	100.0	9.7	8.0	5.0	6.4	37.5	15.5	17.9
1978-79	301,079	28,579	23,095	15,085	19,067	109,866	50,397	54,990	100.0	9.5	7.7	5.0	6.3	36.5	16.7	18.3
1979-80	298,081	28,869	22,114	14,349	20,412	101,819	55,008	55,510	100.0	9.7	7.4	4.8	6.8	34.2	18.5	18.6
1980-81	295,739	28,239	22,168	13,572	21,434	96,713	57,888	55,725	100.0	9.5	7.5	4.6	7.2	32.7	19.6	18.8
1981-82	295,546	28,385	21,949	13,840	23,410	91,601	61,251	55,110	100.0	9.6	7.4	4.7	7.9	31.0	20.7	18.6
1982-83	289,921	27,180	21,186	13,753	25,270	83,254	64,741	54,537	100.0	9.4	7.3	4.7	8.7	28.7	22.3	18.8
1983-84	284,263	27,862	20,102	13,732	27,387	75,700	66,129	53,351	100.0	9.8	7.1	4.8	9.6	26.6	23.3	18.8
1984-85	286,251	27,425	20,394	13,711	29,225	74,667	66,981	53,848	100.0	9.6	7.1	4.8	10.2	26.1	23.4	18.8
1985-86	288,567	27,572	20,409	14,034	30,216	74,816	66,676	54,844	100.0	9.6	7.1	4.9	10.5	25.9	23.1	19.0
1986-87	289,349	27,651	21,506	13,849	31,582	72,619	67,093	55,049	100.0	9.6	7.4	4.8	10.9	25.1	23.2	19.0
1987-88	299,317	27,546	20,900	13,966	33,036	75,270	69,230	59,369	100.0	9.2	7.0	4.7	11.0	25.1	23.1	19.8
1988-89	310,621	28,734	22,352	14,105	34,480	79,793	73,065	58,092	100.0	9.3	7.2	4.5	11.1	25.7	23.5	18.7
1989-90	324,301	30,456	22,364	13,940	34,971	84,890	76,676	61,004	100.0	9.4	6.9	4.3	10.8	26.2	23.6	18.8
1990-91	337,168	30,327	23,582	13,626	34,774	87,352	78,255	69,252	100.0	9.0	7.0	4.0	10.3	25.9	23.2	20.5
1991-92	352,838	32,309	24,361	13,714	36,085	91,225	84,517	70,627	100.0	9.2	6.9	3.9	10.2	25.9	24.0	20.0
1992-93	369,585	33,571	25,989	13,964	39,502	94,497	89,425	72,637	100.0	9.1	7.0	3.8	10.7	25.6	24.2	19.7
1993-94	387,070	34,354	28,284	14,720	40,740	97,427	93,285	78,260	100.0	8.9	7.3	3.8	10.5	25.2	24.1	20.2
1994-95	397,629	34,869	30,223	15,360	40,626	99,835	93,540	83,176	100.0	8.8	7.6	3.9	10.2	25.1	23.5	20.9
1995-96	406,301	34,965	30,164	16,002	39,525	104,936	93,554	87,155	100.0	8.6	7.4	3.9	9.7	25.8	23.0	21.5
1996-97	419,401	35,304	30,556	15,955	37,619	108,720	97,204	94,043	100.0	8.4	7.3	3.8	9.0	25.9	23.2	22.4
1997-98	430,164	35,354	30,080	15,525	39,092	113,374	101,652	95,087	100.0	8.2	7.0	3.6	9.1	26.4	23.6	22.1
1998-99	439,986	34,795	30,119	15,323	39,596	118,048	107,477	94,628	100.0	7.9	6.8	3.5	9.0	26.8	24.4	21.5
1999-2000	457,056	36,174	29,806	14,799	41,716	123,045	111,532	99,984	100.0	7.9	6.5	3.2	9.1	26.9	24.4	21.9
2000-01	468,476	35,661	30,330	15,213	44,183	127,829	115,602	99,658	100.0	7.6	6.5	3.2	9.4	27.3	24.7	21.3
2001-02	482,118	36,050	30,469	15,299	44,230	135,189	119,725	101,156	100.0	7.5	6.3	3.2	9.2	28.0	24.8	21.0
2003-04	558,940	40,477	34,008	17,418	55,340	162,345	139,347	110,005	100.0	7.2	6.1	3.1	9.9	29.0	24.9	19.7
2004-05	574,618	42,207	35,782	18,354	53,549	167,490	142,617	114,619	100.0	7.3	6.2	3.2	9.3	29.1	24.8	19.9
2005-06	594,065	44,018	37,139	19,333	50,585	174,620	146,406	121,964	100.0	7.4	6.3	3.3	8.5	29.4	24.6	20.5
2006-07	604,607	44,209	38,702	19,470	48,394	176,572	150,211	127,049	100.0	7.3	6.4	3.2	8.0	29.2	24.8	21.0
2007-08	625,023	46,629	39,926	20,444	51,679	175,880	155,637	134,828	100.0	7.5	6.4	3.3	8.3	28.1	24.9	21.6
2008-09	656,784	48,022	42,655	20,767	56,112	178,564	168,375	142,289	100.0	7.3	6.5	3.2	8.5	27.2	25.6	21.7
Doctor's    degrees6
1970-71	32,107	4,410	5,804	9,118	3,816	6,041	774	2,144	100.0	13.7	18.1	28.4	11.9	18.8	2.4	6.7
1971-72	33,363	4,830	6,358	8,769	3,875	6,648	876	2,007	100.0	14.5	19.1	26.3	11.6	19.9	2.6	6.0
1972-73	34,777	5,452	6,784	8,598	3,709	6,857	917	2,460	100.0	15.7	19.5	24.7	10.7	19.7	2.6	7.1
1973-74	33,816	5,367	6,996	7,931	3,572	6,757	922	2,271	100.0	15.9	20.7	23.5	10.6	20.0	2.7	6.7
1974-75	34,083	5,377	7,125	7,867	3,394	6,975	939	2,406	100.0	15.8	20.9	23.1	10.0	20.5	2.8	7.1
1975-76	34,064	5,495	7,314	7,557	3,118	7,202	906	2,472	100.0	16.1	21.5	22.2	9.2	21.1	2.7	7.3
1976-77	33,232	5,285	7,188	7,417	2,838	7,338	839	2,327	100.0	15.9	21.6	22.3	8.5	22.1	2.5	7.0
1977-78	32,131	5,114	6,758	7,096	2,679	7,018	834	2,632	100.0	15.9	21.0	22.1	8.3	21.8	2.6	8.2
1978-79	32,730	5,468	6,599	7,201	2,781	7,170	852	2,659	100.0	16.7	20.2	22.0	8.5	21.9	2.6	8.1
1979-80	32,615	5,058	6,625	7,295	2,786	7,314	767	2,770	100.0	15.5	20.3	22.4	8.5	22.4	2.4	8.5
1980-81	32,958	4,876	6,698	7,424	2,860	7,279	808	3,013	100.0	14.8	20.3	22.5	8.7	22.1	2.5	9.1
1981-82	32,707	4,798	6,522	7,538	2,927	6,999	826	3,097	100.0	14.7	19.9	23.0	8.9	21.4	2.5	9.5
1982-83	32,775	4,697	6,533	7,242	3,133	7,063	770	3,337	100.0	14.3	19.9	22.1	9.6	21.5	2.3	10.2
1983-84	33,209	4,755	6,446	7,399	3,283	6,914	926	3,486	100.0	14.3	19.4	22.3	9.9	20.8	2.8	10.5
1984-85	32,943	4,599	6,298	7,456	3,517	6,614	827	3,632	100.0	14.0	19.1	22.6	10.7	20.1	2.5	11.0
1985-86	33,653	4,701	6,548	7,615	3,800	6,610	923	3,456	100.0	14.0	19.5	22.6	11.3	19.6	2.7	10.3
1986-87	34,041	4,688	6,978	7,749	4,228	5,905	1,062	3,431	100.0	13.8	20.5	22.8	12.4	17.3	3.1	10.1
1987-88	34,870	4,526	6,754	8,114	4,665	5,568	1,063	4,180	100.0	13.0	19.4	23.3	13.4	16.0	3.0	12.0
1988-89	35,720	4,620	7,028	8,196	5,123	5,884	1,100	3,769	100.0	12.9	19.7	22.9	14.3	16.5	3.1	10.6
1989-90	38,371	5,043	6,821	8,870	5,657	6,503	1,093	4,384	100.0	13.1	17.8	23.1	14.7	16.9	2.8	11.4
1990-91	39,294	4,976	6,944	9,260	6,006	6,189	1,185	4,734	100.0	12.7	17.7	23.6	15.3	15.8	3.0	12.0
1991-92	40,659	5,450	7,032	9,715	6,305	6,423	1,242	4,492	100.0	13.4	17.3	23.9	15.5	15.8	3.1	11.0
1992-93	42,132	5,627	7,560	10,081	6,699	6,581	1,346	4,238	100.0	13.4	17.9	23.9	15.9	15.6	3.2	10.1
1993-94	43,185	6,000	7,648	10,444	6,821	6,450	1,364	4,458	100.0	13.9	17.7	24.2	15.8	14.9	3.2	10.3
1994-95	44,446	6,450	7,977	10,483	7,060	6,475	1,391	4,610	100.0	14.5	17.9	23.6	15.9	14.6	3.1	10.4
1995-96	44,652	6,571	7,901	10,705	7,300	6,246	1,366	4,563	100.0	14.7	17.7	24.0	16.3	14.0	3.1	10.2
1996-97	45,876	6,561	8,496	10,645	7,107	6,297	1,336	5,434	100.0	14.3	18.5	23.2	15.5	13.7	2.9	11.8
1997-98	46,010	6,917	8,668	10,971	6,896	6,261	1,290	5,007	100.0	15.0	18.8	23.8	15.0	13.6	2.8	10.9
1998-99	44,077	6,629	8,550	10,256	6,262	6,394	1,201	4,785	100.0	15.0	19.4	23.3	14.2	14.5	2.7	10.9
1999-2000	44,808	6,991	8,826	10,218	6,200	6,409	1,194	4,970	100.0	15.6	19.7	22.8	13.8	14.3	2.7	11.1
2000-01	44,904	6,738	9,021	9,861	6,372	6,284	1,180	5,448	100.0	15.0	20.1	22.0	14.2	14.0	2.6	12.1
2001-02	44,160	6,458	8,661	9,506	5,997	6,549	1,156	5,833	100.0	14.6	19.6	21.5	13.6	14.8	2.6	13.2
2003-04	48,378	6,599	8,638	10,117	6,890	7,088	1,481	7,565	100.0	13.6	17.9	20.9	14.2	14.7	3.1	15.6
2004-05	52,631	6,806	8,925	10,868	7,720	7,681	1,498	9,133	100.0	12.9	17.0	20.6	14.7	14.6	2.8	17.4
2005-06	56,067	7,015	8,835	11,557	8,887	7,584	1,711	10,478	100.0	12.5	15.8	20.6	15.9	13.5	3.1	18.7
2006-07	60,616	7,214	8,997	12,551	9,718	8,261	2,029	11,846	100.0	11.9	14.8	20.7	16.0	13.6	3.3	19.5
2007-08	63,712	7,362	9,355	13,082	9,865	8,491	2,084	13,473	100.0	11.6	14.7	20.5	15.5	13.3	3.3	21.1
2008-09	67,716	7,736	9,711	13,540	9,570	9,028	2,123	16,008	100.0	11.4	14.3	20.0	14.1	13.3	3.1	23.6

1 Includes degrees in Area, ethnic, cultural, and gender studies; English language and literature/letters; Foreign languages, literatures, and linguistics; Liberal arts and sciences, general studies, and humanities; Multi/interdisciplinary studies; Philosophy and religious studies; Theology and religious vocations; and Visual and performing arts.

2 Includes Psychology; and Social sciences and history.

3 Includes Biological and biomedical sciences; Mathematics and statistics; and Physical sciences and science technologies.

4 Includes Computer and information sciences; Engineering; and Engineering technologies.

5 Includes Agriculture and natural resources; Architecture and related services; Communication, journalism, and related programs; Communications technologies; Family and consumer sciences/human sciences; Health professions and related clinical sciences; Legal professions and studies; Library science; Military technologies; Parks, recreation, leisure, and fitness studies; Precision production; Public administration and social services; Security and protective services; Transportation and materials moving; and Not classified by field of study.

6 Includes Ph.D., Ed.D., and comparable degrees at the doctoral level. Excludes first-professional, such as M.D., D.D.S., and law degrees.

NOTE:Degree-granting institutions grant associate’s or higher degrees and participate in Title IV federal financial aid programs. The new Classification of Instructional Programs was initiated in 2002-03. The figures for earlier years have been reclassified when necessary to make them conform to the new taxonomy. To facilitate trend comparisons, certain aggregations have been made of the degree fields as reported in the IPEDS "Completions Survey": "Agriculture and natural resources" includes Agriculture, agriculture operations, and related sciences and Natural resources and conservation; "Business" includes Business, management, marketing, and related support services and Personal and culinary services; and "Engineering technologies" includes Engineering technologies/ technicians, Construction trades, and Mechanic and repair technologies/technicians. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, Higher Education General Information Survey (HEGIS), "Degrees and Other Formal Awards Conferred" surveys, 1970-71 through 1985-86; and 1990-91 through 2008-09 Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System, "Completions Survey" (IPEDS-C:91-96), and Fall 2001 through Fall 2009. (This table was prepared August 2010.)