Among bordering states, Missouri ranks second only to Illinois in the number of doctorate degrees awarded in 2008, according to data from the National Science Foundation. Missouri universities awarded 880 doctorates in 2008, with one-quarter in life sciences fields.
In the nation, 48,802 research doctorates were awarded in 2008, the highest number in the history of U.S. higher education, but at a slower growth rate than in recent years. The largest field was life sciences which accounted for 11,088 research doctorates awarded in 2008.