In 2023, approximately 3 in 10 (31%) psychology research doctorate recipients had earned credit or an associate degree from a community college. About 7 in 10 (71%) had earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology, about 9 in 10 (89%) had earned a master’s degree, and about 2 in 3 (65%) earned a master’s degree at the same institution as the research doctorate.
These percentages are higher than the percentages of research doctorate recipients in all fields who had ever attended community college (21%), had a bachelor’s degree in the same broad field as the research doctorate (61%), earned a master’s degree (72%), or earned a master’s degree at the same institution as the research doctorate (45%).
The findings demonstrate that students with any community college experience who studied psychology were more likely to continue to advanced studies than students in other disciplines. Prioritizing outreach to community colleges could strengthen pathways to psychology research doctorates.
