Biology 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 Biology and the other Degree Programs offered through the School of Graduate Studies.

Updated December 2022

Enrollment Headcounts

  Fall 2019 Fall 2020 *COVID Fall 2021
Recipient Count (%) Count (%) Count (%)
Total 41 100% 44 100% 36 100%
       Domestic 30 73% 30 68% 25 69%
             URM 3 7% 3 7% 3 8%
       International 11 27% 14 32% 11 31%
Male 22 54% 20 45% 13 36%
Female 19 46% 24 55% 23 64%

Admissions

Recipient AY 2019 AY 2020 *COVID  AY 2021
Applicants 21 27 30
Admits 6 9 13
Matriculants 6 6 6
Admit Rate 29% 33% 43%
Yield 100% 67% 46%

Degree Recipients

by Academic Year of Conferral

Recipient AY 2010-12 AY 2013-15 AY 2016-18
Total 11 17 11
       Domestic 9 10 9
             URM 0 0 0
       International 2 7 2
Male 3 11 6
Female 8 6 5

Median Time to Degree for Recipients

by Academic Year of Conferral

Recipient AY 2010-12 AY 2013-15 AY 2016-18
Total 5.3 7.0 5.5
       Domestic 5.6 7.4 5.8
             URM N/A 6.5 N/A
       International 4.5 6.5 4.5
Male 4.5 6.7 5.3
Female 5.5 7.6 5.8

Cohort Completions

by Academic Year of Entry

Recipient AY 2007-09 AY 2010-12 AY 2013-15
Total Entering 21 24 31
    Retained 1 5 7
    Withdrawn 7 5 6
    Left w/ Master's 3 3 0
Total Completed 10 11 18
    Graduated in less than 4 yrs 1 0 3
     4 yrs to less than 5 yrs 2 6 6
     5 yrs to less than 6 yrs 1 1 7
     6 yrs to less than 7 yrs 1 1 1
     7 yrs or more 2 3 1

Cohort Completion Rates

by Academic Year of Entry

Recipient AY 2007-09 AY 2007-09 AY 2010-12
All Recipients (graduation rate) 48% 46% 58%
       Domestic 75% 33% 72%
             URM 0% 50% 6%
       International 52% 67% 28%
Male 40% 35% 56%
Female 54% 71% 62%

Notes

  • 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.