America’s PhD pipeline is drying up

America’s supply of overqualified coffee shop employees is in danger.

The US, long considered the world’s undisputed leader in PhD graduates, has seen an unprecedented decline in doctorates in recent months as universities across the country cut back on their programs.

Some recent examples:

• Harvard has cut PhD admissions slots by 75% for science programs and 60% for humanities, the school’s newspaper reported last week.
• The University of Washington’s astronomy department is suspending all PhD admissions for the coming academic year.
• Brown is pausing PhD admissions in at least six humanities and social science departments.

Behind the brain drain

Experts point to a range of reasons to explain why universities are pulling back from PhD programs:

• More graduate students are unionizing, making it tougher for universities to afford their salaries and causing programs to shrink.
• International students are increasingly opting for grad programs in other countries, like Australia, China, the UK, and Germany, instead of coming to America.
• Prospective students are now more likely to choose salaries over syllabi, accepting jobs in private industry rather than taking on college debt to pursue grad school.

Looking ahead…Fewer PhDs today could mean fewer scientists, engineers, and scholars tomorrow. Some analysts warn that if the PhD shrinking trend continues, the US could give up its long-held edge over other countries when it comes to science and technology.