Doctoral Degrees Rose 3.4% in 2004, Survey Finds

By SCOTT SMALLWOOD

The number of earned doctorates awarded by American universities jumped 3.4 percent in 2004, the largest one-year increase since 1992, according to an annual survey.

Over the past four decades, the number of doctorates has grown by an annual average of about 3.5 percent, but in recent years the number has been flat or even declining. The increase in 2004 was the second consecutive year that more doctorates were awarded. And the rise continues to be driven primarily by international