Biochemistry PhD Program Characteristics and Outcomes

As a member of the Coalition for Next Generation Life Science, Case Western Reserve University publishes statistics annually for PhD programs in the life sciences. Find more information about CWRU's PhD in Biochemistry and the other Degree Programs offered through the School of Graduate Studies

Updated December 2022

Enrollment Headcounts

  Fall 2020 *COVID Fall 2021 Fall 2021
Recipient Count (%) Count (%) Count (%)
Total 17 100% 13 100% 13 100%
       Domestic 7 41% 5 38% 5 38%
             URM 1 6% 2 15% 2 15%
       International 10 59% 8 62% 8 62%
Male 7 41% 6 46% 6 46%
Female 10 59% 7 54% 7 54%

Admissions*

Recipient AY 2019 AY 2020 *COVID  AY 2021
BSTP Applicants 405 536 555
BSTP Admits 80 85 92
BSTP Matriculants 29 20 36
BSTP Admit Rate 20% 16% 17%
BSTP Yield 36% 24% 39%

Degree Recipients

by Academic Year of Conferral

Recipient AY 2004-08 AY 2009-13 AY 2014-18
Total 33 31 36
       Domestic 13 14 19
             URM 0 0 1
       International 20 17 17
Male 18 17 17
Female 15 14 19

Median Time to Degree for Recipients

by Academic Year of Conferral

Recipient AY 2004-08 AY 2009-13 AY 2014-18
Total 5.6 6.0 6.2
       Domestic 5.6 5.8 6.6
             URM N/A N/A 10.6
       International 5.7 6.0 5.8
Male 5.6 6.0 7.0
Female 6.0 6.2 6.0

Cohort Completions

by Academic Year of Entry

Recipient AY 2004-08 AY 2009-13 AY 2013-15
Total Entering 50 36 29
    Retained 0 6 4
    Withdrawn 3 2 9
    Left w/ Master's 6 4 2
Total Completed 41 24 14
      Graduated in less than 4 yrs 3 1 0
      4 yrs to less than 5 yrs 5 1 4
      5 yrs to less than 6 yrs 10 10 8
      6 yrs to less than 7 yrs 11 8 0
      7 years or more 12 4 2

Cohort Completion Rates

by Academic Year of Entry

Recipient AY 2004-08 AY 2009-13 AY 2013-15
All Recipients (graduation rate) 82% 67% 48%
       Domestic 78% 60% 43%
             URM 33% N/A 0%
       International 85% 75% 57%
Male 77% 56% 42%
Female 90% 78% 53%

Notes

  • * Biochemistry participates in the Biomedical Sciences Training Program (BSTP), an umbrella program that serves, among other capacities, as a central recruiting and admissions portal for 11 biomedical PhD programs at CWRU SOM. 
  • Underrepresented Minorities (URM) includes individuals who self-identify with one or more of the following: African American/Black; Hispanic/Latino/a; Multiracial, Native American/Alaska Native, and Pacific Islander
  • Time to degree for recipients is the elapsed time between entering a graduate program and degree conferral date and includes any leaves of absence.
  • AY (Academic Year) begins in Summer and includes Fall and Spring.