Survey of Graduate Students and Postdoctorates in Science and Engineering (GSS) 2024

Data collection. The survey data are collected through coordinators at eligible institutions. Coordinators are assigned by their institution and are responsible for identifying all GSS-eligible units, collecting the requested data, and submitting the data to the survey contractor. GSS eligibility for SEH units is determined by the CIP code associated with the field of degree or the field of research at the unit level, discussed below. Data are collected at the organizational-unit level (e.g., departments, degree-granting programs, research centers, and health facilities) and include field of study, demographic characteristics, and funding information for graduate students and postdocs.

Coordinators query their institutional databases and report data through a file upload. Those unable to provide file uploads can manually enter data into the GSS Web survey. In cases where coordinators are unable to obtain the requested data, coordinators may enlist the aid of others (unit respondents) in their reporting activity. Unit respondents are most commonly used to report detailed financial support data. Institutions may assign multiple coordinators. For example, an institution may have one coordinator for each school within the institution or may have separate coordinators for graduate student data and for postdoc and NFR data. When a new coordinator is needed, the president's office at the institution is asked to designate as coordinator the person most knowledgeable about the graduate student or postdoc data.

Once coordinators are confirmed, they are provided access to the GSS Web survey. The GSS Web survey provides access to supporting documentation, including GSS-eligible code lists, worksheets, upload templates and glossaries. On request, copies of the supporting documents are e-mailed to coordinators for reference.

GSS data are collected at the unit level as counts of master's and doctoral students, postdocs, and NFRs. The following count data are collected by the GSS:

• Master's and doctoral students
• • Full-time or part-time status
  • • Ethnicity, race, and citizenship, by sex
  • Full-time only
  • • First-time, full-time, by ethnicity, race, citizenship, and sex
    • Primary source and mechanism of support
• Postdocs
• • Ethnicity, race, and citizenship, by sex
  • Primary source and mechanism of support
  • Type of and origin of doctoral degree
• NFR
• • Type of doctoral degree, by sex

Mode. Electronic data interchange (EDI) is the primary mode of data submission, with 87.9% of responding schools uploading at least partial data for graduate students and about 78% of responding schools uploading at least partial data for postdocs and NFRs (table A-3). Coordinators unable to use this method could manually enter their data in the GSS Web survey.

• Response rates. Response rates are calculated based on responses to the survey's various data elements (table A-3 and table A-4).
• Unit response. In 2024, the GSS received complete responses from 19,146 of the 23,121 eligible organizational units (82.8%). An additional 3,463 organizational units (15.0%) were partial respondents. The remaining 512 organizational units (2.2%) were nonrespondents.
• School response. Of the 715 eligible schools, 657 schools (91.9%) were complete respondents, 12 schools (1.7%) were partial respondents, and 46 schools (6.4%) were nonrespondents.
• Institutional response. Institutional response rates were calculated using the same criteria for schools. Of the 635 eligible institutions, 583 institutions (91.8%) were complete respondents, 12 institutions (1.9%) were partial respondents, and 40 institutions (6.3%) were nonrespondents.

Data editing. For the data provided, CIP codes are converted to a GSS code or codes upon the EDI transfer (table A-5). If a unit with the same name and coordinator-provided identification includes CIP codes that map to multiple GSS codes, the unit is split consistent with those GSS codes. GSS codes are fully aligned with NCSES's TOD for science and engineering, although the GSS also collects selected master's and doctoral degrees in health sciences. The mapping of GSS codes and fields shows how these are reported (table A-6).

Data quality is ensured by interactive edit checks built into the Web survey and by a comprehensive review after the coordinator submits the data. Once data are uploaded, coordinators can view their uploaded data as either school-level counts or through one of the forms at the unit level. Data collection forms in the Web survey are prefilled with zeros when a unit is manually created or when a unit has no data reported for those data elements. Respondents are asked to mark a checkbox if the unit does not have eligible data to report. If uploaded data for a unit contains only one type of student (e.g., the unit has master's students but no doctoral students), the appropriate checkbox indicating no students to report is autofilled by the system for the relevant form.

The Web survey contains edit checks to verify that the data entered are internally consistent and within an expected range, often based on the respondent's prior-year data. Reported aggregate school-level data are compared with data from the previous year for part-time, full-time, and first-time, full-time master's and doctoral students as well as for postdoc and NFR counts. Coordinators receive warnings prior to submission when substantial changes or other issues are detected.

The survey contractor reviews all data submitted by institutions to ensure that data fields are complete and internally consistent. The data collection team conducts a post-submission data review, whereby coordinators are asked to explain the discrepancy whenever counts differ substantially from those of the previous year. Follow-up with coordinators is also conducted when counts remain identical to the previous year and when there are notable changes to a school's unit list, including unit additions and deletions, changes to the highest-degree-granted status, GSS code, or unit name.

On the basis of follow-up contacts, necessary revisions are made via EDI or directly in the Web survey by the coordinator or by unit respondents. Alternatively, at the direction of the coordinator, the survey contractor can make requested changes. See section "Survey Quality Measures " below for a discussion of the types of measurement error detected in the data review and follow-up process.

Imputation. The 2024 GSS collected 543 data items related to enrollment and financial support for master's and doctoral full-time and part-time students, postdocs, and NFRs. Item imputation rates at the unit level ranged from 1.7% to 7.3% (table A-7). All missing data were imputed.

Different imputation techniques were used for units with and for those without comparable historical data. For units missing a key total (total full-time master's, full-time doctoral, part-time master's, and part-time doctoral students; total postdocs; or total NFRs) with at least 1 year of qualified historical data, a carry-forward imputation method was used. Inflation factors were calculated for the six key totals to account for year-to-year change. The previous year's key totals were carried forward as the imputed values for the current year's key totals and imputed according to the previous year's proportions.

For units that reported totals but no details, details were imputed according to the prior distribution if qualified historical details were available. Otherwise, a nearest-neighbor imputation method was used. In this method, a donor unit that was "nearest" to the unit whose data were being imputed (imputee) was identified among all responding units having similar characteristics as the imputee (e.g., having the same GSS code for program fields and offering a doctoral degree).

Similarly, when postdoc or NFR details were imputed, the total number of postdocs or NFRs, respectively, was used to choose the nearest neighbor. If the postdoc or NFR total was missing, the graduate student totals were used to select the nearest neighbor to impute the postdoc or NFR variables. If either the postdoc or NFR key total (or both) was missing, other available key totals were used to select the nearest neighbor to impute the data. The same donor was then used to impute the details corresponding to the imputed key totals.

For institutions or schools that did not respond, all data at the unit level were imputed. For these institutions or schools, if prior unit-level data were available, counts were carried forward; if no prior data were available, then the nearest-neighbor imputation method was used.

More information on the percentage of counts that were imputed are provided in table A-8 for graduate students; table A-9 for postdocs, and table A-10 for NFRs.

Weighting. Not applicable.

Variance estimation. Not applicable.

Sampling error. Not applicable because the GSS is a census.

Coverage error. Due to the availability of comprehensive lists of the master's- and doctorate-granting institutions in the United States and the high level of participation in the survey of the eligible institutions, coverage error is minimal. The universe of higher education institutions is reviewed annually to identify potentially eligible institutions. Sources for this review include IPEDS, the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education, the Higher Education Directory, NCSES's Higher Education Research and Development Survey, and professional association membership lists.

Nonresponse error. The GSS typically has high response rates. In 2024, 97.8% of units provided complete or partial data and the overall institutional response rate was 93.7%. Of the 543 data items collected in the GSS, the item imputation rates ranged from 1.7% to 7.3%. All missing data are imputed.

Measurement error. The GSS is subject to measurement error that arises when variables of interest cannot be measured accurately or precisely. Review of the data, cognitive interviews, usability tests, pilot tests, site visits, and other methodological activities with the institutions have pointed to several possible sources of measurement error. The types of measurement errors listed below are believed to have a minimal impact on data quality.

• Double counting. Anecdotal evidence indicates some misreporting may occur when an institution has more than one coordinator or offers joint programs. To reduce double counting, facilitate communication, and allow sharing of reported data, a screen in the Web survey provides names and contact information for all coordinators at the institution. Interactive and post-submission checks are also used to confirm that similarly named units within institutions are distinct eligible units. The introduction of data uploads has minimized this type of measurement error. This issue is now flagged for fewer than 0.5% of units reported to the GSS annually.
• Inclusion of practitioner degrees. Graduate students working toward practitioner degrees, particularly in health fields with explicit exclusions, may sometimes be overreported. Survey materials indicated that students should be excluded from the counts if they are pursuing DDS or MD degrees or certain other degrees in specified fields. During data collection coordinators confirm via a pop-up dialog that they excluded practitioner degrees from the data provided in their upload files. Prior to the introduction of this pop-up dialog, it was more common to mistakenly include graduate students earning practitioner degrees. However, since the addition of this popup, fewer than 0.5% of units that report doctoral students mistakenly included students pursuing practitioner degrees. During the data check and imputation process new units that were suspected of reporting ineligible graduate students have their websites manually checked for evidence of eligibility. Rarely, the opposite problem happens, where an eligible graduate student may be identified as a practitioner by a coordinator.
• Difficulty in reporting source and mechanism of support. Feedback from respondents and methodological research indicates that financial support data are often difficult for respondents to report. The information may not be stored in one centralized database; financial support may not always be channeled through the institution (e.g., self-support); and foreign sources of support may not always be known. Respondents may also have difficulty categorizing financial information by field, such as when a student is enrolled in one unit but receives support from another. Therefore, these data may be more prone to measurement error than other survey data items. Finally, institutions define mechanisms of support differently (e.g., fellowships vs. traineeships) and may report individuals according to the institution's definition rather than that provided by the GSS. Since the 2010 survey, the postdoc forms include "unknown" categories. For additional information about nonresponse and imputation of the source and mechanism of support at the unit level, see table A-7, and for additional information about the imputed counts, see table A-8 and table A-9.
• Difficulty in reporting postdocs and NFRs. Many respondents indicated in the Web survey that they are unable to provide data on their units' postdocs or NFRs because they do not know all of the units that employ postdocs and NFRs. Schools were given the option of appointing a separate postdoc coordinator who may be more knowledgeable about a school's postdocs or NFRs to provide these data. Coordinators may also indicate that they had postdocs or NFRs but were unable to report them and counts are thus imputed.

Degree level.

• Master's degree. A post-baccalaureate, research-focused degree; includes MA, MS, MASc, and PSM in GSS-eligible disciplines.
• PhD or PhD equivalent degree. An advanced, research-focused academic degree-typically, the highest degree granted in a particular field; includes doctorates such as PhD, ScD, DSc, and DEng. Does not include professional doctorates such as DCS, PsyD, DDM, or MD.

Enrollment status.

• Full time and part time. Coordinators were instructed to use their institution's definitions.
• First time, full time. Students enrolled for credit in a graduate degree program in an organizational unit for the first time in the fall semester of the survey year. This may include graduate students previously enrolled in another graduate degree program at the institution or at another institution and students who already hold another graduate or professional degree.

Ethnicity and race. The GSS uses definitions of ethnicity and race that are based on the OMB's Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity.

• Hispanic or Latino ethnicity (one or more races). All individuals of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race. This category includes individuals who are Hispanic or Latino and any other race.
• Not Hispanic or Latino. Individuals who are not of Hispanic or Latino descent, regardless of race.
• American Indian or Alaska Native. A person of only one race having origins in any of the original peoples of North and South America (including Central America) and who maintains tribal affiliation or community attachment.
• Asian. A person of only one race having origins in any of the original peoples of East Asia, Southeast Asia, or the Indian subcontinent-for example, Cambodia, China, India, Japan, Korea, Malaysia, Pakistan, the Philippine Islands, Thailand, and Vietnam.
• Black or African American. A person of only one race having origins in any of the Black racial groups of Africa.
• Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander. A person of only one race having origins in any of the original peoples of Hawaii, Guam, Samoa, or other Pacific islands.
• White. A person of only one race having origins in any of the original peoples of Europe, the Middle East, or North Africa.
• More than one race. A person of two or more of the race categories listed above.
• Unknown ethnicity or race. A person whose ethnicity or race is unknown or not stated.

Graduate student mechanisms of financial support.

• Fellowship. A competitive award (often from a national competition) given to a graduate student that requires no work by the recipient.
• Traineeship. A financial award given to a graduate student selected by the institution.
• Research assistantship. A financial award given to a graduate student for which most of the student's responsibilities are devoted primarily to research.
• Teaching assistantship. A financial award given to a graduate student for which most of the student's responsibilities are devoted primarily to teaching assistant activities.
• Other support. All other mechanisms of support for graduate students.

Graduate student sources of financial support.

• Federal sources. Financial support provided by U.S. federal agencies. Excludes federally guaranteed student loans.
• Nonfederal sources. Financial support from state and local governments; support from the institution, such as tuition waivers and stipends; support from foreign sources, such as foreign governments, foreign firms, and agencies of the United Nations; and other U.S. sources, such as support from nonprofit institutions, private industry, and all other nonfederal U.S. sources.
• Self-support. Loans (including federal loans) or personal or family financial contributions.

Historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs). Institutions of higher education that were established prior to 1964 and whose principal mission was, and is, the education of Black Americans. The list of HBCUs is maintained by the White House Initiative on HBCUs (https://sites.ed.gov/whhbcu/).

Nonfaculty researchers (NFRs). All doctorate-holding researchers who (1) are not considered either postdocs or members of the faculty and (2) are involved principally in SEH research activities. Also referred to as Other doctorate-holding NFRs.

Postdoctoral researchers (postdocs). The definition of a postdoc varies by institution. Respondents were instructed to use their institution's definition. NCSES defines a postdoc as meeting both of the following qualifications: (1) holds a recent doctoral degree, generally awarded within the past 5-7 years, such as PhD or equivalent (e.g., ScD, DEng), or first-professional degree in a medical or related field (e.g., MD, DDS, DO, DVM), or foreign degree equivalent to a U.S. doctoral degree; and (2) has a limited-term appointment, generally no more than 5-7 years, primarily for training in research or scholarship, and working under the supervision of a senior scholar in a unit affiliated with the institution.

Postdoc mechanisms of financial support.

• Traineeship. A financial award given to a postdoc selected by the institution.
• Research grant. A financial assistance award given to an organization or an individual postdoc that supports specific research goals.
• Other support. All other mechanisms of support for postdocs.

Postdoc sources of financial support.

• Federal sources. Financial support provided by U.S. federal agencies.
• Nonfederal sources. Financial support from state and local governments; support from the institution; support from foreign sources, such as foreign governments, foreign firms, and agencies of the United Nations; and support from other U.S. sources, such as nonprofit institutions, private industry, and all other nonfederal U.S. sources.
• Personal resources. Personal and family financial resources, including federal and other loans.
• Unknown or not stated. Sources of financial support for the postdoc are unknown or cannot be determined.