Share of Graduate Humanities Degrees Conferred on Members of Traditionally Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Groups, by Degree Level, 2000–2020

Share of Graduate Humanities Degrees Conferred on Members of Traditionally Minoritized Racial/Ethnic Groups, by Degree Level, 2000–2020

The share of graduate degrees earned by members of traditionally minoritized ethnic/racial groups has been trending upward in recent years. At the master’s degree level, the percentage increased from 13% to 26% from 2000 to 2020. And among doctoral degree recipients, the share increased from 11% to 20% over the same 20 years.

Much of this increase was attributable to the growing representation of Hispanic students among graduate degree earners. While the 2000–2020 time period saw an increase in the share of degrees earned by other traditionally minoritized groups, the Hispanic share of degree conferrals grew much more dramatically, over 100% at both the master’s and doctoral levels.7

Endnotes

• 7U.S. Department of Education, Integrated Postsecondary Data System.