TABLE 12. Distribution of definite postgraduation commitments of doctorate recipients, by citizenship status and major field: 2007
(Percent distribution)
Location of definite commitments
United States
Recipients with
definite
commitments
Total
Postdoctoral
study
Academic
employment
Industry
employmenta
Otherb
Abroad
Unknown
100.0
90.6
32.1
29.2
15.5
13.8
9.2
0.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
90.0
90.0
85.6
93.7
89.9
87.2
86.6
88.9
92.0
84.9
96.1
83.6
43.6
48.1
40.9
75.3
16.7
49.6
35.5
59.6
58.2
61.3
47.4
14.4
17.1
19.7
17.3
7.2
22.4
14.7
30.7
6.6
6.8
6.2
21.3
46.8
20.6
13.2
13.7
6.7
45.0
13.6
16.1
18.3
22.4
13.0
9.6
7.4
8.8
9.0
13.8
4.5
5.8
9.3
4.4
4.5
4.6
4.4
17.8
15.0
9.9
9.9
14.2
6.2
10.1
12.8
13.2
10.8
7.6
14.8
3.8
16.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.3
0.1
0.2
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
89.9
85.7
91.6
89.2
92.1
88.6
89.0
89.7
88.6
28.0
24.5
33.1
24.4
19.9
17.1
37.7
30.5
32.1
8.2
6.8
2.0
14.1
7.1
22.8
2.1
8.6
9.7
45.7
36.1
52.5
39.9
58.1
41.1
44.0
42.8
36.9
8.1
18.4
4.0
10.8
7.0
7.6
5.2
7.8
9.8
9.9
14.3
8.4
10.6
7.8
11.4
11.0
9.9
11.3
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.2
0.1
0.0
0.0
0.5
0.2
Non-science and engineering
100.0
91.9
9.5
53.3
5.4
23.8
8.0
0.1
U.S. citizen or permanent resident
Science and engineering
Science
Agricultural sciences
Biological sciences
Computer sciences
Earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences
Mathematics
Physical sciences
Chemistry
Physics and astronomy
Psychology
Social sciences
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
96.6
95.8
95.7
97.2
96.7
96.6
91.8
93.1
93.8
96.4
90.1
98.0
94.3
30.4
45.4
48.5
37.6
73.9
14.0
48.7
38.0
56.8
54.2
60.3
48.3
14.7
35.8
21.7
23.3
23.4
9.3
31.5
18.1
37.8
9.6
10.2
8.8
21.4
54.1
11.9
16.5
12.2
15.1
7.8
40.8
12.5
11.2
20.6
25.4
13.7
9.9
7.2
18.6
12.2
11.8
21.0
5.7
10.4
12.5
6.0
6.8
6.5
7.3
18.5
18.3
3.3
4.1
4.2
2.8
3.3
3.4
8.2
6.9
6.2
3.6
9.9
1.9
5.6
0.1
*
*
0.0
*
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.1
0.1
100.0
100.0
96.5
D
27.7
16.7
12.6
D
41.7
37.2
14.6
D
3.4
D
0.1
0.0
Citizenship and field
All fields
Science and engineering
Science
Agricultural sciences
Biological sciences
Computer sciences
Earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences
Mathematics
Physical sciences
Chemistry
Physics and astronomy
Psychology
Social sciences
Engineering
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering
Industrial and manufacturing engineering
Materials science engineering
Mechanical engineering
Other engineering
Engineering
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering
TABLE 12. Distribution of definite postgraduation commitments of doctorate recipients, by citizenship status and major field: 2007
(Percent distribution)
Location of definite commitments
Citizenship and field
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering
Industrial and manufacturing engineering
Materials science engineering
Mechanical engineering
Other engineering
Non-science and engineering
Temporary visa holder
Science and engineering
Science
Agricultural sciences
Biological sciences
Computer sciences
Earth, atmospheric, and ocean sciences
Mathematics
Physical sciences
Chemistry
Physics and astronomy
Psychology
Social sciences
Engineering
Aerospace, aeronautical, and astronautical engineering
Chemical engineering
Civil engineering
Electrical, electronics, and communications engineering
Industrial and manufacturing engineering
Materials science engineering
United States
Recipients with
definite
commitments
Total
Postdoctoral
study
Academic
employment
Industry
employmenta
Otherb
Abroad
Unknown
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
95.9
96.4
97.6
D
93.9
D
96.3
31.4
20.2
19.4
13.5
36.0
28.7
34.4
2.3
24.4
14.0
34.6
D
13.5
12.7
58.2
33.9
49.9
34.6
43.9
42.6
31.7
4.1
17.9
14.3
D
D
D
17.6
4.1
3.6
2.4
D
6.1
D
3.7
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.0
100.0
97.7
8.9
55.9
5.3
27.7
2.2
0.1
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
78.1
81.2
78.8
67.8
86.8
84.6
77.4
80.3
83.0
86.0
79.5
70.1
63.3
35.7
40.8
47.5
46.3
78.4
18.8
51.8
33.2
63.1
63.6
62.5
34.7
13.7
15.6
10.2
12.8
7.8
2.5
15.4
7.5
23.3
2.8
2.2
3.5
20.8
32.9
23.0
26.6
15.1
11.5
4.3
48.3
15.6
21.0
15.5
18.3
12.3
5.6
7.9
3.8
3.6
3.4
2.2
1.5
2.1
2.5
2.8
1.6
1.9
1.3
9.0
8.7
21.6
18.5
20.9
32.2
13.0
15.4
22.6
19.3
16.4
13.2
20.1
29.2
36.4
0.2
0.3
0.3
0.0
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.6
0.8
0.4
0.7
0.3
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
100.0
85.8
D
88.1
84.4
89.7
D
85.3
28.1
33.3
33.9
27.2
20.2
18.9
39.2
5.5
D
1.8
7.4
4.1
17.0
D
48.2
34.8
48.4
43.6
61.8
44.3
43.8
4.0
D
4.0
6.2
3.6
D
D
14.0
D
11.9
15.2
10.2
D
14.7
0.2
0.0
0.0
0.4
0.1
0.0
0.0
TABLE 12. Distribution of definite postgraduation commitments of doctorate recipients, by citizenship status and major field: 2007
(Percent distribution)
Location of definite commitments
Citizenship and field
Recipients with
definite
commitments
Total
Postdoctoral
study
Academic
employment
Industry
employmenta
Otherb
Abroad
Unknown
100.0
100.0
D
83.0
31.5
30.7
5.8
7.6
42.8
40.6
D
4.0
D
16.7
0.5
0.3
100.0
63.9
12.2
40.5
6.2
5.0
36.0
0.1
Mechanical engineering
Other engineering
Non-science and engineering
* = less than 0.05%; D = suppressed to avoid disclosure of confidential information.
a
b
United States
Includes doctorate recipients who indicated self-employment.
Includes doctorate recipients who indicated government, nonprofit, elementary/secondary school, or other employment, and those with unknown employment.
NOTES: Persons of unknown citizenship are included in total but are not shown separately. Categories are grouped according to National Science Foundation taxonomy, which is
different from the classification listed in questionnaire and summary reports. That is, the following categories are included in social sciences and not in humanities: American/U.S.
studies; history, science and technology, and society; and archaeology. In addition, public administration is included in social sciences and not in professional fields, agricultural
economics is included in social sciences and not in biological sciences, and agricultural business and management is included in business management/administration and not in
agricultural sciences.
SOURCE: National Science Foundation/Division of Science Resources Statistics, Survey of Earned Doctorates, 2007, including updates received in 2008.