Ph.D. Completion and Attrition: Analysis of Baseline Data

1 Ph. D. Completion and Attrition: Analysis of Baseline DataRobert SowellNSF WorkshopA FRESH LOOK AT EDUCATIONM arch 31, 2008 CGS Completion ProjectQuantitative Data Submitted by Institutions12 Years (1992-93 through 2003-04) Program Completion and attrition 30 Institutions 5 Broad Fields 54 Disciplines 330 Programs ~49,000 Students Broad field demographiccompletion Gender (G) Citizenship/Ethnicity (CE) 24 Institutions (G) 23 Institutions (CE) ~40,000 Students (G) ~ 40,000 Students (CE)Ten-Year Completion and Attrition Analysis :For Students Entering Programs 1992-93 through 1994-95 (A Cohorts) Completion Program Data: Overall, broad field, discipline Gender Data: Broad field Citizenship/Ethnicity: Broad field Attrition Program Data: Overall, broad fieldProfile of Data (A-Cohorts) for Ten-Year Completion AnalysisApproximate distribution across fields9,359 Citizenship& Ethnicity Data9,683 Gender Data12,135 Program Data Overall Ten-Year Completion Rates5112336465155570204060 Cumulative Completion Rate (%)345678910 Source.

2 Council of Graduate SchoolsCompletion and Attrition Program DataTen-Year Cumulative Completion Rates by Broad Field010203040506070 Completion Rate (%)345678910 YearEngineeringLife SciencesMathematics & Physical SciencesSocial SciencesHumanities57544841296463565549 Ten-Year Completion Rates for Selected Disciplines44%Political Science59%Biology45%Sociology64%Molecula r/Cell Biology46%Anthropology65%Neuroscience52% Economics69%Microbiology/Immunology65%Ps ychology69%GeneticsSocial Science 56%Life Science 63%41%Computer Science56%Electrical Engineering51%Mathematics63%Biomedical Engineering59%Physics63%Chemical Engineering62%Chemistry66%Mechanical Engineering78%Civil EngineeringMathematics and Physical Sciences 55%Engineering 64%Ten-Year Completion Rates: Broad Field and Gender5656525752656459534740506070 Engineering Life SciencesMath &PhysicalScie nce sSocialScie nce sHumanitiesC om pletion R ate (% )FemaleMaleAnnual Completion Rates by Gender in Mathematics & Physical Sciences024681012141618 Completion Rate (%)345678910 YearFemaleMaleAnnual Completion Rates by Gender in Social Sciences036912 Completion Rate %345678910 YearFemaleMaleTen-Year Completion Rates: Broad Field and Citizenship59585156507066686352404550556 0657075 Engineering Life SciencesMath &PhysicalSciencesSocialSciencesHum anitiesCompletion Rate (%)DomesticIn te rn atio n alAnnual Completion Rates by US Citizenship in Social Sciences03691215 Completion Rate %345678910 YearDomesticInternationalAnnual Completion Rates by US Citizenship in Engineering048121620 Completion Rate %345678910 YearDomesticInternationalTen-Year Completion Rates.

3 Broad Field and Ethnicity4760374752534753444655545355376 1605257513035404550556065 EngineeringLife SciencesMath & PhysicalSciencesSocial SciencesHumanitiesC om pletion R ate (% )African AmericanAsianHispanicWhiteTen-Year Completion Rates: Ethnicity + Int l and Broad Field47535561604754603753535247445557524 637513035404550556065 African AmericanAsianHispanicWhiteCompletion Rate (%)EngineeringLife SciencesMath & Physical SciencesSocial SciencesHum anitiesCumulative 10-Year Completion Rates by Broad Fields for African American Students0102030405060 Completion Rate (%) 345678910 YearEngineeringLife SciencesMath & Physical SciSocial SciencesHumanities4760374752 Cumulative Overall Ten-Year Attrition Rates61420232527282930310102030 Attrition Rate (%)12345678910 Source: Council of Graduate SchoolsCompletion and Attrition Program DataCumulative Ten-year Attrition Rates by Broad Field510152025303540 Attrition Rate (%)12345678910 YearEngineeringLife SciencesMathematics & Physical SciencesSocial Continuing, Completion and Attrition Rates: Broad Field020406080100 Cumulative Rates %EngineeringLife SciencesMath & Physical Sciences34 567 8 9103 45 67 891034 567 8 9103 45 67 8910 ContinuingCompletionAttritionOther Analysis By Institution Type (Private vs.)

4 Public) By cohort sizes (Large, Medium, and Small) By entering time ( Seven- and four-year Completion and attrition) Early Attrition (Status of student leaving program)CGS Completion Project:Other Institutional Input Conduct student exit surveys Provide pre-project factor assessment data (for the institution and each participating program) Implement new interventions aimed at improving Completion and reducing attritionCategories of New Interventions Selection/Matching Mentoring and Advising Financial Support and Structure Program Environments Research Experiences Curricular and Administrative Processes and ProceduresFuture Questions to be Addressed in the Completion Project Why do students say they complete (or not)? What are the perceptions about graduate school of completers and non-completers? What is the impact of the six categories of interventions? How does efficacy vary across broad field and for which populations?

5 Can we project ultimate Completion and time to degree from our Completion and attrition data?