Study: 25% of US-Trained STEM PhD Graduates Leave Within 15 Years, But US Still Benefits From Their Work
By
bikenaga
5mo ago· 1 min readenInsight
75/100
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Crackles when you bite it. Shows the baker did the work.
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Summary
A study using data from 1980-2024 reveals that 25% of US-trained STEM PhD graduates leave the US within 15 years of graduation, with stable rates over decades. While departure rates vary by field (lower in life sciences, higher in AI and quantum science), the research shows the US continues to benefit from these scientists' work even after they leave. The US share of global patent citations to graduates' science drops from 70% to 50% after migration but remains five times larger than the destination country's share and as large as all other countries combined, highlighting the value of training foreign scientists regardless of whether they stay.
Key quotes
· 5 pulled25% of scientifically-active, US-trained STEM PhD graduates leave the US within 15 years of graduating.
Leave rates are lower in the life sciences and higher in AI and quantum science but overall have been stable for decades.
Contrary to common perceptions, US technology benefits from these graduates' work even if they leave.
The US share of global patent citations to graduates' science drops from 70% to 50% after migrating, but remains five times larger than the destination country share, and as large as all other countries combined.
These results highlight the value that the US derives from training foreign scientists - not only when they stay, but even when they leave.
Using newly-assembled data from 1980 through 2024, we show that 25% of scientifically-active, US-trained STEM PhD graduates leave the US within 15 years of graduating. Leave rates are lower in the life sciences and higher in AI and quantum science but ove
