Black students emerge from Ph.D. programs with higher levels of debt than any other group. They also enroll most heavily in education programs. While the field of education does not generate the highest levels of debt for its doctoral students (that dubious honor goes to the social sciences), education doctorates pay the most of out their own pockets.

Why doesn't that result in the field having the highest debt burdens? Because large numbers of education doctoral students work full time in schools, says Kenneth Redd, director of research and policy analysis at the Council of Graduate Schools. For students who do not earn enough to cover educational and living expenses, borrowing — a lot of it — is often the only answer.

Distribution of black doctorate recipients by field, 2005
Physical sciences	5%
Engineering	5%
Life sciences	16%
Social sciences	18%
Humanities	10%
Education	39%
Other fields	7%
Total	1,688
Average education-related debt for doctorate recipients, by field, 2005
Social sciences	$22,627
Humanities	$20,127
Education	$16,766
Life sciences	$13,742
Physical sciences	$9,641
Engineering	$9,053
Other fields	$16,842
Average education-related debt for doctorate recipients, by race, 2005
Black	$29,295
American Indian	$26,023
Hispanic	$24,819
White	$18,141
Asian	$13,939
Primary source of financial support for doctorate recipients, by field of study, 2005
All Fields
Teaching assistantships	17.1%
Research assistantships/traineeships	26.9%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	27.5%
Own resources	22.7%
All other	5.7%
Physical Sciences*
Teaching assistantships	25.6%
Research assistantships/traineeships	44.5%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	22.5%
Own resources	4.3%
All other	3.1%
Engineering
Teaching assistantships	7.4%
Research assistantships/traineeships	60.1%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	20.4%
Own resources	5.6%
All other	6.5%
Life Sciences
Teaching assistantships	9.1%
Research assistantships/traineeships	28.6%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	46.5%
Own resources	10.8%
All other	4.1%
Social Sciences
Teaching assistantships	22.5%
Research assistantships/traineeships	15.5%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	26.9%
Own resources	31.2%
All other	3.8%
Humanities
Teaching assistantships	34.3%
Research assistantships/traineeships	2.1%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	31.9%
Own resources	28.6%
All other	3.1%
Education
Teaching assistantships	7.2%
Research assistantships/traineeships	9.2%
Fellowships/dissertation grants	10.7%
Own resources	60.3%
All other	12.5%
NOTE: Figures cover U.S. citizens only. Includes only doctorate recipients who reported a primary source of support. * Includes mathematics and computer sciences.
SOURCE: SURVEY OF EARNED DOCTORATES, NATIONAL OPINION RESEARCH CENTER