In 1996, 525,000 men and 642,000 women received bachelor's degrees. Overall, the percentage of women and minorities receiving bachelor's and higher education degrees has increased steadily each year.

• Although the percent of degrees earned by minority students increased steadily between 1970 and 1994, minority students were underrepresented among degree recipients, particularly at higher degree levels. During this time, the percent of degrees earned by minority students increased while the minority percent of the U.S. resident population was also increasing.

• For example, minorities comprised 23 percent of the 18-to 29-year-old resident population in 1981, but earned 11 percent of bachelor's, 11 percent of master's, and 10 percent of doctor's degrees in 1981. By 1994, minorities comprised 31 percent of the U.S. population aged 18 to 29 and earned 17 percent of bachelor's, 15 percent of master's, and 14 percent of doctor's degrees awarded that year. Comparing population to degree statistics, it becomes apparent that many of the increases in percent of degrees earned by minorities may be attributed to population increases.

• From the 1970s to 1994, women earned an increasing share of degrees across degree levels and fields of study. By 1994, women earned more than 50 percent of all associate, bachelor's, and master's degrees awarded. Among doctor's degree recipients, the percent earned by women increased from 13 percent in 1970 to 39 percent in 1994.

• Within many fields of study and degree levels, women earned more than 50 percent of all degrees awarded in 1994. For example, women earned 51 percent of bachelor's and 53 percent of master's degrees awarded in biological sciences in 1994. Women also continued to earn more than half of all bachelor's and master's degrees in education and health professions from 1984 to 1994. Women continued to be underrepresented within several fields of study, however. From 1970 to 1994, women continued to earn less than 50 percent of all the degrees in agriculture, business management and administrative services, engineering, computer science, mathematics, social sciences, and physical sciences.

• Within first professional fields of study, women continued to earn less than 50 percent of all degrees awarded in law, dentistry, and medicine. Minority students made gains in the percent of degrees earned in dentistry and medicine. The dentistry degrees awarded to minority students were almost proportional to their representation in the population, comprising 31 percent of the U.S. resident population in 1994 and earning 27 percent of dentistry degrees. The percent of degrees earned in law by minorities increased at a slower rate than within medicine or dentistry. As of 1994, minority students earned 26 percent of medical and 16 percent of law degrees.

Source: National Center for Education Statistics, U.S. Department of Education, Digest of Education Statistics, 1997, Tables 262, 265 , 268, 271, and 274, pages 292, 295, 298 and 304.

(These tables and figures are from the National Center for Educational Statistics )

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