CRA Bulletin

While overall graduate enrollment in science and engineering programs reached an all-time high in fall 2003, it actually declined 3 percent in computer science. CS was the only field to see a drop and this was its first decrease since 1995. In addition, CS experienced the biggest drop (23 percent) among S&E fields in the number of full-time students with temporary visas who were enrolled for the first time.

Other notable points:

S&E graduate enrollment increased 4 percent in fall 2003, to 474,203 students.

CS graduate enrollment totalled 53,678 students in fall 2003. Even though this was lower than in 2002, it was nearly 50 percent more students than in 1993.

For the first time since 1994, the growth in full-time enrollment was greater for U.S. citizens and permanent residents (7 percent) than it was for foreign students (less than 1 percent). This trend reversal was also seen in part-time graduate enrollments.

The rise in 2003 [of S&E enrollment of U.S. citizens and permanent residents] represents the largest numerical increase in S&E graduate enrollment of U.S. citizens and permanent residents in the past two decades.

For the second consecutive year, first-time, full-time enrollment declined among students with temporary visas and increased among U.S. citizens and permanent residents. After a decline of 6 percent between 2001 and 2002, first-time, full-time enrollment of students with temporary visas fell 8 percent in 2003.

The NSF InfoBrief is online at http://www.nsf.gov/statistics/infbrief/nsf05317/