Part-time Graduate Enrollment in Science and Engineering in 2011 Grew at a Higher Rate than Full-time Enrollment

Over the past decade, enrollment of full-time graduate students in science and engineering (S&E) grew approximately 25% between 2002 and 2011 (from approximately 325,500 to 411,200 students). Enrollment of part-time S&E graduate students increased approximately 15% during this period. From 2010 to 2011, growth in part-time graduate enrollment (1.6%) outpaced that of full-time enrollment (0.5%) for the first time since 2005. Data are from the fall 2011 Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering.