Today the National Science Board released a biennial report that takes a dive into data and trends relevant to understanding the current science and engineering (S&E) environment in the US and abroad. According to the report, knowledge- and technology-intensive (KTI) industries continue to play a larger part in the US economy, though regional and national shares of worldwide KTI production have been shifting toward East and Southeast Asia.
Here are some interesting highlights from the chapter on higher education:
- Public research universities account for the majority of all enrollments at research universities.
- The racial and ethnic composition of those earning S&E bachelor’s degrees is changing, reflecting both population changes and increased college attendance by members of minority groups.
- Over the last decade in the US, tuition and fees for colleges and universities have grown faster than median household income.
- Women earned 40 percent of S&E doctoral degrees awarded in 2010.
The full report can be found here and the higher education chapter here. A tool to look at state-by-state data pertaining to STEM in education and the economy will be released within the next couple of months.