TIME TO DEGREE - FACTORS RELATED TO YEARS IN EARNING A DOCTORATE

The National Research Council (1993) reports that time to degree has i ncreased over the last 30 years. Total time to degree increased 20% fr om 8.8 to 10.6 median years while the registered time to degree change d from 5.3 to 7.1 years, an increase of 34%. Using the data of a singl e institution from the Survey of Earned Doctorates of the National Res earch Council, the present study attempts to analyze this recent chang e and identify factors associated with it. The increase in time to deg ree was substantiated by the current study both in direction and lengt h. The time was found to be related to the characteristics of the stud ents. Factors such as gender, marital status, number of dependents, et hnicity, age beginning graduate school, field, and citizenship status were found to be related, but not always in the direction expected, mo st especially when funding status was considered in light of these cha racteristics. Being single, male, white, and beginning graduate school at an early age seemed to shorten the process until funding was consi dered, and then the relationship either disappeared or reversed direct ion. Considering all variables in a regression equation indicated numb er of dependents, field of study, and funding explained the most varia nce.