Physics Education Statistics

This graph shows the total number of physics bachelor's degrees and STEM bachelor’s degrees conferred as the first or second major at U.S. institutions. The data include both U.S. citizens and residents as well as temporary residents.

This graph shows the percentage of U.S. bachelor's degrees awarded to women in physics and in all STEM fields. The data include both U.S. citizens and residents and temporary residents.

This graph shows the percentage of U.S. bachelor's and doctoral degrees awarded to women in physics. The data include both U.S. citizens and residents as well as temporary residents.

This graph shows a five-year average (2017-2021) of percentage of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded to women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields.

This graph shows the percentage of U.S. bachelor's degrees awarded to women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields. The data include both U.S. citizens and residents and temporary residents.

This graph shows the percentage of U.S. doctoral degrees awarded to women in all fields and various Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines.

This graph shows the percent of physics doctoral degrees earned by women, and their respective distribution to permanent and temporary residents in the United States.

This graph shows the percent of U.S. bachelor's degrees awarded to Black and African American students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, as well as the percent of college-age (18-24 years) individuals who are Black or African American.

This graph shows the percent of U.S. bachelor's degrees awarded to Hispanic or Latino students in STEM fields, as well as the percent of college age (18-24 years) individuals who are Hispanic or Latino.

This graph shows the percentage of bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded to individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity in physics at U.S. institutions. In this case, the individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity include Black and African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders. Also included is the percent of college-age (18-29 years) individuals in the United States who are marginalized by race/ethnicity.

Degrees awarded to temporary residents are excluded from calculations. Data on the college age population are collected from the U.S. Census.

This graph shows a five-year average (2017-2021) of percentage of US degrees awarded to individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields at United States institutions. In this case, the individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity include Black and African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.

Degrees awarded to temporary residents are not included in the calculations.

This graph shows the five-year average (2017-2021) percentage of individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity in physics compared to both the percentage of individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity in the U.S. college age population and among all degrees awarded. In this case, the individuals marginalized by race/ethnicity include Black and African Americans, Hispanic and Latino Americans, American Indians, Alaska Natives, Native Hawaiians, and other Pacific Islanders.

Degrees awarded to temporary residents are not included in the calculations. Data on the college age population are collected from the U.S. Census. The American Institute of Physics (AIP) provides data on physics faculty.

This graph shows a five-year average (2017-2021) of the percent of physics bachelor’s degrees granted to men and women for various races and ethnicities.

This graph illustrates a five-year average (2017-2021) of the percent of physics bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded to people of various races and ethnicities.

Degrees awarded to temporary residents are not included in the calculations. Data on the college age population are collected from the U.S. Census.

This graph shows the raw numbers of physics bachelor's degrees awarded to African Americans at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) compared to that of all U.S. institutions.

This graph shows the percentage of U.S. physics bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degrees awarded to temporary residents.

This graph shows the number of physics PhDs earned by U.S. citizens and permanent residents as compared to physics PhDs earned by temporary residents.

Only 47% of physics classes are taught by a teacher with a degree in the subject, compared with 73% of biology classes and about 80% of humanities classes.

Credit: U.S. Department of Education

The numbers of high school students taking physics has been growing rapidly: over the past two decades, that number has more than doubled to 1.38 million students, with the number of Advanced Placement or second-year physics students increasing more than nine-fold to 229,000.

Credit: AIP