Doctoral Universities

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2024 Undergraduate Tuition

$15,075

3.62% growth from 2023

2024 Average Net Price

$20,417

After Financial Aid

2024 Acceptance Rate

54.5%

9,897,829 Applicants

2024 Enrolled Students

8,031,612

77.3% Full-Time

2024 Graduation Rate

70.3%

690,769 Graduates

About

Doctoral Universities is a Carnegie Classification grouping of higher education institutions. In 2024, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Doctoral Universities were General Business Administration & Management (132,368 degrees awarded), Registered Nursing (86,714 degrees), and General Psychology (79,357 degrees).

The median undergraduate tuition at Doctoral Universities is $15,075, which is $4,155 more than than the national median of $10,920. The cost of out-of-state tuition is $31,920, which is 212% of the cost for in-state students, and is $16,447 more than than the national median $15,473.

Costs

The median in-state tuition for Doctoral Universities is $15,075, which is $4,075 more than than the national median in-state tuition of $11,000. The cost of out-of-state tuition is $31,920, which is 212% of the cost for in-state students, and is $16,447 more than than the national median out-of-state tuition of $15,473.

After taking grants and loans into account, the average net price for students is $20,417.

Tuition Costs

$15,075

2024 Undergraduate Tuition

In 2024, the cost of out-of-state tuition at Doctoral Universities was $31,920, which is 212% of the cost for in-state students, which was $15,075. The cost of out-of-state tuition at Doctoral Universities is $16,447 more than than the overall (public and private) national median of $15,473, and the in-state tuition is $4,075 more than than the overall (public and private) national median $11,000.

This chart compares the tuition costs of Doctoral Universities (in red) with those of other similar universities.

Average Net Price

$20,417

2024 Value

2.62%

1 Year Growth

In 2024 Doctoral Universities had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $20,417. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Doctoral Universities grew by 2.62%.

This chart compares the average net price of Doctoral Universities (in red) with that of other similar universities.

Average net price is calculated from full-time beginning undergraduate students who were awarded a grant or scholarship from federal, state or local governments, or the institution.

Other Student Expenses

$13,143

Room and Board

$1,200

Books and Supplies

The average yearly cost of room and board at Doctoral Universities was of $13,143 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 7.54% between 2023 and 2024.

During the same period, the average yearly cost of books and supplies was $1,200. The cost of books and supplies did not change during the same period.

This chart compares the average student costs at Doctoral Universities (in red) with that of similar universities.

Financial Aid by Income Level

75%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants

38%

Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

75% of undergraduate students at Doctoral Universities received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 0% with respect to 2023, when 75% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

This chart compares the average award discount at Doctoral Universities (in red) with that of other similar universities.

The average award discount is the ratio between the average grant or scholarship value, and the cost, which is the sum of out-of-state tuition, room, board, book, supplies, and other expenses.

Admissions

Doctoral Universities received 9,897,829 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 6.12% annual growth. Out of those 9,897,829 applicants, 5,394,711 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 54.5% acceptance rate.

There were 8,031,612 students enrolled at Doctoral Universities in 2024. 25.9% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

Doctoral Universities has an overall enrollment yield of 20.2%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

Acceptance Rate

54.5%

Acceptance Rate in 2024

5,394,711

Accepted Out of 9,897,829

In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Doctoral Universities was 54.5% (5,394,711 admissions from 9,897,829 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 53.6%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 6.12%, while admissions grew by 7.95%.

This chart compares the acceptance rate of Doctoral Universities (in red) with that of other similar universities, and the chart below shows the acceptance rate by gender.

SAT Scores

25.9%

Submission Percentage (2024)

272,255

Scores Submitted (2024)

25.9% of enrolled first-time students at Doctoral Universities in 2024 submitted SAT scores with their applications.

The following chart shows the average SAT scores for the 25th, 50th, and 75th percentile of applicants for each section of the test that they are evaluated on.

Enrollment

Doctoral Universities had a total enrollment of 8,031,612 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Doctoral Universities is 6,211,662 students and the part-time enrollment is 1,819,950. This means that 77.3% of students enrolled at Doctoral Universities are enrolled full-time.

The enrolled student population at Doctoral Universities, both undergraduate and graduate, is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Black or African American, 9.17% Asian, 4.25% Two or More Races, 0.376% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.15% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

Students enrolled at Doctoral Universities in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (26.7%), followed by White Male (22.2%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (10.5%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (23.8%), followed by White Male (14.9%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (6.47%).

Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

77.3%

Full-Time Enrollment

The total enrollment at Doctoral Universities, both undergraduate and graduate, is 8,031,612 students. The full-time enrollment at Doctoral Universities is 6,211,662 and the part-time enrollment is 1,819,950. This means that 77.3% of students enrolled at Doctoral Universities are enrolled full-time.

This chart shows the full-time vs part-time enrollment status at Doctoral Universities (in red) compares to similar universities.

Retention Rate over Time

82%

2024 Retention Rate

Retention rate measures the number of first-time students who began their studies the previous fall and returned to school the following fall. The retention rate for full-time undergraduates at Doctoral Universities was 82%.

This chart shows the retention rate over time at Doctoral Universities (highlighted in red) compares to similar universities.

Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
3,711,384 enrolled students
Hispanic or Latino
1,313,033 enrolled students
Black or African American
835,203 enrolled students

The enrolled student population at Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, 10.4% Black or African American, 9.17% Asian, 4.25% Two or More Races, 0.376% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.15% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates.

Any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis is categorized as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the share of those students are shown in the chart below. Additionally, 346,851 students (4.32%) did not report their race.

Graduates

In 2024, 375,946 more women than men received degrees from Doctoral Universities. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Doctoral Universities is white (1,106,915 degrees awarded). There were 3.49 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (316,762 degrees).

The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Doctoral Universities is General Psychology (72,802 degrees awarded), followed by Registered Nursing (69,707 degrees) and General Business Administration & Management (66,518 degrees).

In 2024, the most specialized majors across all degree types at Doctoral Universities, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (164,820 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (15,619 degrees), and Math & Statistics (34,631 degrees).

Common Jobs by Major

Software developers

Most Common Job

The most common jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities are Software developers (531,476 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (371,322 people), Other managers (345,631 people), Civil engineers (313,677 people), and Mechanical engineers (219,748 people).

The most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities in 2024 are Engineering (164,820 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (15,619 degrees), Math & Statistics (34,631 degrees), Legal (49,757 degrees), and Library Science (4,950 degrees) (as of 2024).

Highest Paying Jobs by Major

Surgeons

Highest Paying Job

The highest paying jobs for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities are Surgeons, Chief executives & legislators, Podiatrists, Magnetic resonance imaging technologists, and Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents

The most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities are Engineering (164,820 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (15,619 degrees), Math & Statistics (34,631 degrees), Legal (49,757 degrees), and Library Science (4,950 degrees) (as of 2024).

Common Industries by Major

Architectural, engineering & related services

Most Common Industry

The most common industries for people who hold a degree in one of the 5 most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities are Architectural, engineering & related services (591,743 people), Computer Systems Design (540,913 people), Construction (345,063 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (252,164 people), and Aircraft & parts manufacturing (193,013 people).

Majors Awarded

IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Doctoral Universities.

Most Common (2024)

Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
5,833 degrees awarded
General Studies
4,630 degrees awarded
Licensed Practical & Vocational Nurse Training
288 degrees awarded

In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Doctoral Universities was Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities with 5,833 degrees awarded.

This visualization illustrates the percentage of degree-majors recipients from 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate programs at Doctoral Universities according to their major.

Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

938,136

Degrees Awarded to Men

in 2024

1,314,082

Degrees Awarded to Women

in 2024

In 2024, 938,136 degrees were awarded to men at Doctoral Universities, which is 0.714 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (1,314,082).

This chart displays the sex disparity between the top 5 majors at Doctoral Universities by degrees awarded.

Most Common Male Majors

In 2024, 68,226 degrees were awarded to men at Doctoral Universities in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.06 times more than the 64,142 female recipients with that same degree.

Most Common Female Majors

In 2024, 75,095 degrees were awarded to men at Doctoral Universities in Registered Nursing, which is 6.46 times more than the 11,619 male recipients with that same degree.

Time to Complete

48%

100% Completion Time

65%

150% Completion Time

In 2024, 48% of students graduating from Doctoral Universities completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 65% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 66% within 200%.

The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Carnegie Classification group.

Graduation rate is defined as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within a specific percentage of "normal time" to completion for their program.

Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.

Asian Female

Highest Graduation Rate (84.8%)

The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Doctoral Universities is Female and Asian (84.8% graduation rate). Across all , Asian Female students have the highest graduation rate (75.5%).

The department of education defines graduation rate as the percentage of full-time, first-time students who received a degree or award within 150% of "normal time" to completion.

The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) categorizes any student who is studying in the United States on a temporary basis as a "Non-Resident Alien", and the graduation rate of those students is shown in the chart below. Additionally, 1.87% of graduates (12904 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Share

Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)

White
1,106,915 degrees awarded
Hispanic or Latino
316,762 degrees awarded
Asian
204,437 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity at Doctoral Universities is white (1,106,915 degrees awarded). There were 3.49 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (316,762 degrees).

3.48% of degree recipients (78,380 students) did not report their race.

Race & Ethnicity by Sex

Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)

White Female
672,872 degrees awarded
White Female
671,146 degrees awarded
White Female
663,865 degrees awarded

The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Doctoral Universities is white female (672,872 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (671,146 degrees).

Operations

Doctoral Universities has an endowment valued at nearly $252M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year.

In 2024, Doctoral Universities had a total salary expenditure of 414M. Doctoral Universities employs 102,171 Professors, 80,808 Associate professors and 77,039 Assistant professors. Most academics at Doctoral Universities are Male Professor (66,539), Male Associate professor (42,804), and Female Assistant professor (41,779).

The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Doctoral Universities are: Business and Financial Operations, with 150,112 employees, Management, with 144,104 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 138,598 employees.

Endowment

$252M

2024 Endowment

10.2%

growth from 2023

Doctoral Universities have a median endowment valued at about $252M, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Doctoral Universities grew 10.2% from the previous year.

This line chart shows how the endowment at Doctoral Universities (in red) compares to that of some similar universities.

The small bar chart below shows the endowment quintiles for all universities in the Doctoral Universities Carnegie Classification grouping.

Government Grants and Contracts

Grants & Contracts

$61B - Federal
$7.46B - State
$1.23B - Local

As of 2024, Doctoral Universities received $61B in grants and contracts from the federal government, $7.46B from state grants and contracts, and $1.23B from local grants and contracts.

Salary Expenditure

$179M

2024 Salaries

5.87%

growth from 2023

In 2024, Doctoral Universities paid a median of $179M in salaries, which represents 43.3% of their overall expenditure ($414M) and a 5.87% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 9.92% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 0.449% decline between 2021 and 2022.

Instructional Salaries

$40.7B

Instructional Salaries

328,498

Number of Employees

In 2024, Doctoral Universities paid a total of $40.7B to 328,498 employees working as instructors, which represents 17.4% of all salaries paid.

Occupations by Share

In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Doctoral Universities were Business and Financial Operations with 150,112 employees, Management with 144,104 employees, and Office and Administrative Support with 138,598 employees.

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