Research Universities Are Admitting Fewer Ph.D.s, a Bad Sign for Science

Some of the nation's top research universities have reduced the number of doctoral students admitted to their programs, citing uncertain federal funding as a reason. Universities including MIT, Stanford, and UC Berkeley reported decreases in Ph.D. admissions for the 2024-2025 academic year. Federal research funding, which supports many doctoral positions through grants and fellowships, has faced budget constraints. The National Science Foundation and National Institutes of Health have not yet finalized their fiscal year funding levels.

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