According to a recent data analysis, over 1,000 Koreans earn doctoral degrees in the United States each year. Specifically, South Korea ranks among top three countries for producing PhD graduates in the U.S.
The Korea Daily sourced data from the National Science Foundation (NSF) and examined figures for Koreans (excluding green card holders and U.S. citizens) who earned doctoral degrees in the U.S. from 2016 to 2021. This represents the latest available data from the NSF.
In 2021, a total of 1,025 Koreans received doctoral degrees throughout the U.S. It’s believed that the actual number of ethnic Koreans with doctoral degrees would be higher when considering Korean green card holders and Korean Americans.
Koreans predominantly earn doctorates in the sciences, with 729 in science-related fields and 296 in non-science disciplines. 70% of Korean PhD recipients specialized in areas such as engineering, biotechnology, and computer science.
Yearly data reveals a consistent trend with over 1,000 Korean PhDs conferred each year: 2016 (1,229), 2017 (1,128), 2018 (1,039), 2019 (1,168), and 2020 (1,056). Cumulatively, from 2011 onwards, a total of 13,463 Koreans received doctoral degrees in the U.S., averaging about 1,200 PhDs annually. This consistent production of highly educated individuals is viewed positively.
Kelly Kang, a senior analyst at NSF, stated, “South Korea is the third-largest source of PhD graduates in the U.S.” China leads the list with 36,668 PhDs in the past six years, with 91% specializing in sciences. They are followed by India (12,807, 93% in sciences), Iran (5,133), Taiwan (2,995), Turkey (2,529), and Canada (2,440).
However, the number of Korean PhD recipients has shown a gradual decline year over year. The NSF believes that rising U.S. education costs and a decrease in federal funding could be factors. “2018-2019 marked the eighth consecutive year of declining Korean student enrollment in U.S. institutions,” Kang said. She added that this trend might also relate to the evolution of Korea’s own higher education system and demographic shifts in the country.
The Korea Daily also reviewed the alma maters of these Korean PhD candidates. Between 2012 and 2021, the majority hailed from Seoul National University (2,201), followed by Yonsei University (1,340), Korea University (1,112), Ewha Womans University (617), Hanyang University (557), and KAIST (414).
Interestingly, many Koreans earning their PhDs in the U.S. expressed a desire to remain there. Of the 2021 doctoral graduates, 661 (or 64.5%) conveyed their intention to stay in the U.S.
The NSF, established in 1950, was created to foster scientific research at U.S. educational institutions and advance science and technology nationwide.
BY YEOL JANG [jang.yeol@koreadaily.com]
