Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity

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    2024 Undergraduate Tuition
    $12,260
    3.6% growth from 2023
    2024 Average Net Price
    $19,205
    After Financial Aid
    2024 Acceptance Rate
    44.1%
    6,367,795 Applicants
    2024 Enrolled Students
    4,441,617
    82.8% Full-Time
    2024 Graduation Rate
    77.4%
    443,187 Graduates

    About

    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is a Carnegie Classification grouping of higher education institutions. In 2024, the most popular Bachelor's Degree concentrations at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity were General Business Administration & Management (46,765 degrees awarded), General Psychology (38,925 degrees), and Computer Science (35,919 degrees).

    The median undergraduate tuition at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is $12,260, which is $1,340 more than than the national median of $10,920. The cost of out-of-state tuition is $36,019, which is 294% of the cost for in-state students, and is $20,546 more than than the national median $15,473.

    Doctoral Universities

    Costs

    The median in-state tuition for Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is $12,260, which is $1,260 more than than the national median in-state tuition of $11,000. The cost of out-of-state tuition is $36,019, which is 294% of the cost for in-state students, and is $20,546 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 $19,205.

    Tuition Costs

    $12,260
    2024 Undergraduate Tuition

    In 2024, the cost of out-of-state tuition at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity was $36,019, which is 294% of the cost for in-state students, which was $12,260. The cost of out-of-state tuition at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is $20,546 more than than the overall (public and private) national median of $15,473, and the in-state tuition is $1,260 more than than the overall (public and private) national median $11,000.

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

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    Average Net Price

    $19,205
    2024 Value
    2.11%
    1 Year Growth

    In 2024 Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity had an average net price — the price paid after factoring in grants and loans — of $19,205. Between 2023 and 2024, the average net price of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity grew by 2.11%.

    This chart compares the average net price of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity (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.

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    Other Student Expenses

    $14,296
    Room and Board
    $1,200
    Books and Supplies

    The average yearly cost of room and board at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity was of $14,296 in 2024. The cost of room and board increased by 8.77% 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: Highest Research Activity (in red) with that of similar universities.

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    Financial Aid by Income Level

    66.5%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Grants
    29%
    Undergraduates Receiving Financial Aid through Loans

    66.5% of undergraduate students at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity received financial aid through grants or loans in 2024. This represents a growth of 2.31% with respect to 2023, when 65% of undergraduate students received financial aid.

    This chart compares the average award discount at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity (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.

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    Admissions

    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity received 6,367,795 undergraduate applications in 2024, which represents a 5.74% annual growth. Out of those 6,367,795 applicants, 2,810,850 students were accepted for enrollment, representing a 44.1% acceptance rate.

    There were 4,441,617 students enrolled at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity in 2024. 33.1% of first-time enrollees submitted SAT scores with their applications.

    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity has an overall enrollment yield of 23.3%, which represents the number of admitted students who ended up enrolling.

    Acceptance Rate

    44.1%
    Acceptance Rate in 2024
    2,810,850
    Accepted Out of 6,367,795

    In 2024, the undergraduate acceptance rate of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity was 44.1% (2,810,850 admissions from 6,367,795 applications). This is higher than the acceptance rate of 2023, which was 43.3%. Between 2023 and 2024, the number of applicants grew by 5.74%, while admissions grew by 7.75%.

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

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    SAT Scores

    33.1%
    Submission Percentage (2024)
    191,926
    Scores Submitted (2024)

    33.1% of enrolled first-time students at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity 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.

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    Enrollment

    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity had a total enrollment of 4,441,617 students in 2024. The full-time enrollment at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is 3,679,117 students and the part-time enrollment is 762,500. This means that 82.8% of students enrolled at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity are enrolled full-time.

    The enrolled student population at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity, both undergraduate and graduate, is 45.5% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.21% Black or African American, 4.64% Two or More Races, 0.332% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.113% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders.

    Students enrolled at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity in full-time Undergraduate programs are most commonly White Female (25.7%), followed by White Male (23.1%) and Hispanic or Latino Female (9.48%). Students enrolled in full-time Graduate programs are most commonly White Female (21.1%), followed by White Male (15.4%) and Asian Female (5.3%).

    Full-Time vs Part-Time Enrollment

    82.8%
    Full-Time Enrollment

    The total enrollment at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity in 2024, both undergraduate and graduate, is 4,441,617 students. The full-time enrollment at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is 3,679,117 and the part-time enrollment is 762,500. This means that 82.8% of students enrolled at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity are enrolled full-time compared with 77.3% at similar Doctoral Universities.

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

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    Retention Rate over Time

    91%
    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: Highest Research Activity was 91%. Compared with the full-time retention rate at similar Doctoral Universities (82%), Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity had a retention rate higher than its peers.

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

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    Enrollment by Race & Ethnicity

    Most Common Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      2,020,347 enrolled students
    2. Hispanic or Latino
      670,976 enrolled students
    3. Asian
      541,110 enrolled students

    The enrolled student population at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is 45.5% White, 15.1% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 7.21% Black or African American, 4.64% Two or More Races, 0.332% American Indian or Alaska Native, and 0.113% Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islanders. This includes both full-time and part-time students as well as graduate and undergraduates. By comparison, enrollment for all Doctoral Universities is 46.2% White, 16.3% Hispanic or Latino, and 10.4% Black or African American.

    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, 136,020 students (3.06%) did not report their race.

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    Graduates

    In 2024, 122,555 more women than men received degrees from Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity. The most common race/ethnicity group of degree recipients at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is white (617,831 degrees awarded). There were 3.66 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (168,912 degrees).

    The most common Bachelor's Degree concentration at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is General Psychology (36,758 degrees awarded), followed by General Biological Sciences (31,232 degrees) and Computer Science (22,847 degrees).

    In 2024,  the most specialized majors across all degree types at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity, meaning they have significantly more degrees awarded in that concentration than the national average across all institutions, are Engineering (129,504 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (12,952 degrees), and Math & Statistics (27,981 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: Highest Research Activity are Software developers (578,365 people), Other managers (408,071 people), Miscellaneous engineers, including nuclear engineers (395,343 people), Civil engineers (320,014 people), and Mechanical engineers (225,463 people).

    The most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity in 2024 are Engineering (129,504 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (12,952 degrees), Math & Statistics (27,981 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (8,596 degrees), and Physical Sciences (25,038 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    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: Highest Research Activity are Surgeons, Logisticians, Economists, Securities, commodities, & financial services sales agents, and Podiatrists

    The most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity are Engineering (129,504 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (12,952 degrees), Math & Statistics (27,981 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (8,596 degrees), and Physical Sciences (25,038 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    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: Highest Research Activity are Architectural, engineering & related services (631,054 people), Computer Systems Design (600,706 people), Colleges, universities & professional schools, including junior colleges (395,114 people), Construction (366,786 people), and Elementary & secondary schools (260,181 people).

    The most specialized majors at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity are Engineering (129,504 degrees awarded), Architecture and Related Services (12,952 degrees), Math & Statistics (27,981 degrees), Cultural & Gender Studies (8,596 degrees), and Physical Sciences (25,038 degrees) (as of 2024).

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    Majors Awarded

    IPEDS uses the Classification of Instructional Programs (CIP) standard, so the categories may not match the exact concentrations offered by Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity.
    Most Common (2024)
    1. Other Liberal Arts & Sciences, General Studies, & Humanities
      5,833 degrees awarded
    2. General Studies
      4,622 degrees awarded
    3. Criminal Justice - Safety Studies
      226 degrees awarded

    In 2024, the most common 1 to 2 year postsecondary certificate concentration at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity 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: Highest Research Activity according to their major.

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    Sex Breakdown for Common Majors

    587,520
    Degrees Awarded to Men
    in 2024
    710,075
    Degrees Awarded to Women
    in 2024

    In 2024, 587,520 degrees were awarded to men at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity, which is 0.827 times less than the number of degrees awarded to females (710,075).

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

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    Most Common Male Majors

    In 2024, 26,916 degrees were awarded to men at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity in General Business Administration & Management, which is 1.36 times more than the 19,849 female recipients with that same degree.

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    Most Common Female Majors

    In 2024, 31,003 degrees were awarded to men at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity in General Psychology, which is 3.91 times more than the 7,922 male recipients with that same degree.

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    Time to Complete

    63%
    100% Completion Time
    81%
    150% Completion Time

    In 2024, 63% of students graduating from Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity completed their program within 100% "normal time" (i.e. 4 years for a 4-year degree). Comparatively, 81% completed their degrees within 150% of the normal time, and 82% within 200%.

    The following chart shows these completion rates over time compared to the average for the Doctoral Universities 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.

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    Graduation Rate by Race and Sex

    Showing demographic groups with ≥ 5 graduating students.
    Asian Female
    Highest Graduation Rate (88.3%)

    The student demographic with the highest graduation rate in 2024 at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is Female and Asian (88.3% graduation rate). Across all Doctoral Universities, 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, 1.86% of graduates (8244 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Share

    Most Common Student Race or Ethnicity (2024)
    1. White
      617,831 degrees awarded
    2. Hispanic or Latino
      168,912 degrees awarded
    3. Asian
      150,887 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is white (617,831 degrees awarded). There were 3.66 times more white recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, hispanic or latino (168,912 degrees).

    2.39% of degree recipients (30,951 students) did not report their race.

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    Race & Ethnicity by Sex

    Most Common Sex Demographic (2024)
    1. White Female
      347,984 degrees awarded
    2. White Female
      347,654 degrees awarded
    3. White Female
      347,319 degrees awarded

    The most common race/ethnicity and sex grouping at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity is white female (347,984 degrees awarded). There were 1 times more white female recipients than the next closest race/ethnicity group, white female (347,654 degrees).

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    Operations

    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity has an endowment valued at nearly $1.56B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The return on its endowment was of 54.5B (3.5k%) compared to the 9.4% average return (23.7M on 252M) across all Doctoral Universities.

    In 2024, Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity had a total salary expenditure of 1.64B. Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity employs 68,460 Professors, 48,334 Associate professors and 46,405 Assistant professors. Most academics at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity are Male Professor (46,122), Male Associate professor (26,295), and Female Assistant professor (24,202).

    The most common positions for non-instructional staff at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity are: Business and Financial Operations, with 114,913 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science, with 110,466 employees, and Management with 100,800 employees.

    Endowment

    $1.56B
    2024 Endowment
    14.7%
    growth from 2023

    Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity has an endowment valued at about $1.56B, as of the end of the 2024 fiscal year. The endowment of Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity grew 14.7% from the previous year. The value of their endowment was $1.31B higher than than the median endowment of Doctoral Universities according to the Carnegie Classification grouping.

    This line chart shows how the endowment at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity (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: Highest Research Activity Carnegie Classification grouping.

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    Government Grants and Contracts

    Grants & Contracts
    1. $54.7B - Federal
    2. $5.87B - State
    3. $1.04B - Local

    As of 2024, Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity received $54.7B in grants and contracts from the federal government, $5.87B from state grants and contracts, and $1.04B from local grants and contracts.

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    Salary Expenditure

    $729M
    2024 Salaries
    9.07%
    growth from 2023

    In 2024, Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity paid a median of $729M in salaries, which represents 44.6% of their overall expenditure ($1.64B) and a 9.07% growth from the previous year. This is compared to a 10.6% growth between 2022 and 2023, and a 0.379% growth between 2021 and 2022.

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    Instructional Salaries

    $28.4B
    Instructional Salaries
    205,224
    Number of Employees

    In 2024, Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity paid a total of $28.4B to 205,224 employees working as instructors, which represents 15.2% of all salaries paid.

    This is compared to a median of $4.1M (2.29%) for similar Doctoral Universities.

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    Occupations by Share

    In 2024, the most common positions for non-instructional staff at Doctoral Universities: Highest Research Activity were Business and Financial Operations with 114,913 employees, Computer, Engineering, and Science with 110,466 employees, and Management with 100,800 employees.

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