This brief presents data on reported field of bachelor’s degrees for the nation, the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico based on the 2009 American Community Survey (ACS). It focuses on the distribution of degrees in science and engineering fields (S&E) compared to all other degree fields. The science and engineering category includes fields such as animal sciences, biology, psychology, engineering, and anthropology. Examples of nonscience and nonengineering fields include agriculture, business, communications, education, and social work.

Information on field of bachelor’s degree was first collected by the ACS in 2009. Respondents who reported their highest degree completed was a bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree were also asked to list the specific major(s) of the bachelor’s degree. Respondents with more than one bachelor’s degree, or with more than one major field, were allowed to report multiple fields of degree. Field(s) of degree for levels of education other than the bachelor’s (such as vocational, master’s, or doctorate) were not collected.