A 40-Year Look at Research Doctorate Completion by UWSP Alumni
BACKGROUND
Source
Survey of Earned Doctorates, National Science Foundation
Overview
 The survey is administered to individuals upon completion of a research
doctorate and respondents indicate their baccalaureate institutions.
 Research doctorates include 18 types of degrees and exclude professional
degrees.
 A total of 49,554 research doctorates were awarded in the U.S. in 2009. It
marked the seventh consecutive year with an increase and the greatest number
reported by NSF.
 This report summarizes data into 5-year time blocks by year of doctorate
completion and provides comparative data for our University of Wisconsin peers.
RESULTS: Compared to University of Wisconsin Peers
Table 1
Number of
Research
Doctorates
Completed
 A total of 946 UWSP alumni completed research doctorates over the last 40 years.
This is the second highest total among all regional UW institutions.
 UWSP alumni have completed more research doctorates in STEM fields (n=482)
than any other regional UW institution.
 Numbers of doctorates in the most recent 5 years have shown a 62% increase
from the initial five-year time period.
 UWSP also has seen a steady increase in the number of STEM doctorates earned.
The number of STEM doctorates in the most recent 5 years has more than
doubled from the initial five-year time period.
Figure 1
Top 5 Research
Doctorate
Production
 The number of doctorates completed by UWSP alumni has increased since 1970
while most UW regional institutions show little or no increase.
 In the most recent five-year time period, UW-Stevens Point surpassed UW-Eau
Claire in the total number of research doctorates completed by alumni.
Figure 2
Top 5 STEM
Doctorate
Production
 UWSP has substantially increased in the number of STEM doctorates earned by
alumni.
 UWSP is the clear leader in STEM doctorate completion among our UW peers.
Figure 3
UWSP Share of
Totals
 Although completion of research doctorates and STEM doctorates by UW regional
alumni has remained steady over the past 40 years, the UWSP share of the total
has continued to rise.
 In the years 1970-74, UWSP alumni comprised 12% of the total research
doctorates completed by UW regional university alumni and 16% of the total
STEM doctorates completed. In 2005-2009, the UWSP shares increased to 19% of
all doctorates and 27% of all STEM doctorates.
CONCLUSION
 UWSP has distinguished itself as a strong producer of research doctorates,
particularly in the STEM fields.
 UWSP excels as a doctoral preparatory institution.
Policy Analysis and Planning
FINAL report - March 2012
Table 1. Number of Alumni from UW Regional Universities Completing Research
Doctorates, 1970 to 2009
Timeframe Doctorate Completed
Institution
Stevens Point
STEM
Eau Claire
TOTAL
STEM
Green Bay
TOTAL
STEM
La Crosse
TOTAL
STEM
Oshkosh
TOTAL
STEM
Parkside
TOTAL
STEM
Platteville
TOTAL
STEM
River Falls
TOTAL
STEM
Stout
TOTAL
STEM
Superior
TOTAL
STEM
Whitewater
TOTAL
STEM
TOTAL
1970-74 1975-79 1980-84 1985-89 1990-94 1995-99 2000-04 2005-09
39
51
46
53
62
75
64
92
92
99
102
117
132
133
122
149
39
42
34
50
58
58
53
41
99
100
99
119
148
142
144
126
0
4
18
23
14
22
16
21
0
6
32
44
48
45
46
55
21
21
19
21
28
38
35
55
101
75
67
79
96
113
90
106
21
31
31
23
39
39
21
24
95
90
87
72
111
100
83
66
1
2
10
8
14
13
17
11
1
4
18
21
36
29
41
33
35
26
16
20
30
21
21
28
100
63
48
33
55
44
40
45
50
32
28
33
50
44
32
41
102
74
52
61
84
74
54
68
2
2
1
4
6
8
5
7
64
53
44
39
48
48
30
37
20
10
6
5
5
5
12
7
49
32
20
27
26
22
28
20
14
23
20
11
12
5
17
20
69
86
76
64
70
68
95
76
STEM Total
242
244
229
251
318
328
293
347
TOTAL
772
682
645
676
854
818
773
781
UWSP percent of STEM
16.1%
20.9%
20.1%
21.1%
19.5%
22.9%
21.8%
26.5%
UWSP percent of Total
11.9%
14.5%
15.8%
17.3%
15.5%
16.3%
15.8%
19.1%
TOTAL
482
946
375
977
118
276
238
727
229
704
76
183
197
428
310
569
35
363
70
224
122
604
Source: National Science Foundation Survey of Earned Doctorates
Research doctorates include Ph.D., Ed.D., D.M.A and exclude professional degrees such as M.D., D.D.S., O.D., D.V.M., and J.D.
STEM fields include Engineering, Geosciences, Life Sciences, Math and Computer Sciences, and Physical Sciences.
Policy Analysis and Planning
FINAL report - March 2012
Figure 1. Number of Alumni from UW Regional Universities
Completing Research Doctorates: Top 5
160
Number of Doctorates
140
Stevens Point
120
Eau Claire
100
La Crosse
80
Whitewater
60
Oshkosh
40
UW Regional Avg
20
0
1970-74 1975-79 1980-84 1985-89 1990-94 1995-99 2000-04 2005-09
Years of Completion
Figure 2. Number of Alumni from UW Regional Universities
Completing STEM Doctorates: Top 5
Number of STEM Doctorates
100
Stevens Point
80
Eau Claire
La Crosse
60
Oshkosh
40
River Falls
UW Regional
STEM Avg
20
0
1970-74 1975-79 1980-84 1985-89 1990-94 1995-99 2000-04 2005-09
Years of Completion
Policy Analysis and Planning
FINAL report - March 2012
Figure 3. UWSP Percent of Total Alumni from UW
Regional Universities Completing Research Doctorates
30%
UWSP Percent of Total
25%
UWSP percent
of STEM
20%
15%
UWSP percent
of Total
10%
5%
0%
1970-74 1975-79 1980-84 1985-89 1990-94 1995-99 2000-04 2005-09
Years of Completion
Policy Analysis and Planning
FINAL report - March 2012