Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in United States

United States: Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science was 82.1% in 2016. ▬ Flat

Latest (2016)
82.1%
Change on year
down 0.7%
World rank
25th
of 98 countries
All-time high
84.6%
in 2013
All-time low
81.8%
in 2001
Years of data
16
1999–2016

Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in United States, 1999–2016

0204060801999200720161999: 82 %2000: 81.8 %2001: 81.8 %2002: 82 %2005: 82.8 %2006: 83.5 %2007: 84 %2008: 84.2 %2009: 84.3 %2010: 84.1 %2011: 83.8 %2012: 83.4 %2013: 84.6 %2014: 84.2 %2015: 82.6 %2016: 82.1 %

Source: UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Measured in %.

Analysis

The most recent figure for percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in United States is 82.1%, measured in 2016.

That represents a change of down 0.7% on the previous year and down 1.8% over ten years.

Over the whole period, percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in United States peaked at 84.6% in 2013 and was at its lowest, 81.8%, in 2001.

That places United States 25th out of 98 countries with data for 2016, putting it in the top quarter.

Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in United States, year by year

Annual values for Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in tertiary education, both sexes (%) in United States, 1999 to 2016.
Year % Change
1999 82.0% —
2000 81.8% -0.2%
2001 81.8% -0.0%
2002 82.0% +0.2%
2005 82.8% +1.0%
2006 83.5% +0.9%
2007 84.0% +0.5%
2008 84.2% +0.3%
2009 84.3% +0.1%
2010 84.1% -0.2%
2011 83.8% -0.4%
2012 83.4% -0.4%
2013 84.6% +1.4%
2014 84.2% -0.5%
2015 82.6% -1.9%
2016 82.1% -0.7%

United States compared with similar countries

  • United States's 82.1% is above the median for high income countries, which is 77.6%, 1.1× the median. (56 countries reporting)

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 82.0% 82.0% 82.0% 1
2000s 83.1% 81.8% 84.3% 8
2010s 83.6% 82.1% 84.6% 7

Countries ranked near United States

  1. 22 Australia 82.6% compare
  2. 23 Uruguay 82.5% compare
  3. 24 Netherlands 82.5% compare
  4. 26 Puerto Rico 81.9% compare
  5. 27 Brazil 81.6% compare
  6. 28 South Africa 81.6%

See the full ranking of 98 places →

More reference data data for United States

All data for United States →

Frequently asked questions

What is percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in United States?
Percentage of graduates from programmes other than science in United States was 82.1% in 2016, according to UNESCO Institute for Statistics.
What is the highest percentage of graduates from programmes other than science recorded in United States?
The highest recorded value was 84.6% in 2013.
What is the lowest percentage of graduates from programmes other than science recorded in United States?
The lowest recorded value was 81.8% in 2001.
How does United States rank for percentage of graduates from programmes other than science?
United States ranks 25th out of 98 countries with data for 2016.
Is percentage of graduates from programmes other than science rising or falling in United States?
Over the last ten years it is down 1.8%. The long-run trend across the full record is flat.
Where does this United States data come from?
The figures come from UNESCO Institute for Statistics, published as part of Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in tertiary education, both sexes (%). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science in United States. Statizoid, drawing on UNESCO Institute for Statistics. Retrieved 30 September 2026, from https://reference.statizoid.com/stat/percentage-of-graduates-from-programmes-other-than-science-technology-engineering-and/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Percentage of graduates from programmes other than Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in tertiary education, both sexes (%)
Unit
%
Source
UNESCO Institute for Statistics
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
98 places, 1,156 data points, 1998–2020
Last refreshed

Share of all tertiary graduates who completed Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics in the reference year.