NSF Wants Three More Years of New PhD Graduate Data
Published Date: 10/27/2026
Notice
Summary
The National Science Foundation wants to keep running the Survey of Earned Doctorates for three more years. This survey collects info from new PhD graduates about their education and careers in science and engineering. If you’re involved or interested, you can share your thoughts by December 28, 2026—no cost or big changes, just keeping the data flowing!
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 1 benefits, 2 costs, 0 mixed.
Institutional Coordinators: 20 Hours Annual Burden
Each participating institution will have an Institutional Coordinator who helps distribute the Web survey and track completions; NSF estimates this takes no more than 1% of a coordinator's time, or about 20 hours per year. With about 615 schools participating, NSF estimates 12,300 coordinator hours per survey cycle and a total burden of 31,210 hours per cycle (including respondent time).
PhD Graduates: 20‑Minute Web Survey
You will be asked to complete the Survey of Earned Doctorates if you receive a research doctorate during the 12‑month cycles July 1, 2027–June 30, 2028 (2028 cycle) or July 1, 2028–June 30, 2029 (2029 cycle). NSF estimates about 62,000 doctorate recipients per cycle, about 56,730 respondents (91.5% response rate), and that the Web survey will take about 20 minutes to complete per person.
Continued Public Release of Doctorate Data
NSF/NCSES will continue to publish statistics from the Survey of Earned Doctorates annually and make tabular and restricted data available through NCSES online tools and publications (for example, Doctorate Recipients from U.S. Universities and Science and Engineering Indicators). This renewal request covers the 2028 and 2029 SED cycles and supports ongoing public access to these data products.
Personalized for You
How does this regulation affect your finances?
Personalize government policy and PRIA will tell you what this federal register document means for your household, plus every other regulation we track. PRIA reads each provision against your financial profile to show you exactly what matters to your wallet.
Key Dates
Department and Agencies
Related Federal Register Documents
2026-21707, Information Collection; Improving Customer Experience (OMB Circular A-11, Section 280 Implementation)
The National Science Foundation is updating how it collects information to make government services easier and friendlier for everyone. This change affects agencies working to improve customer experience by tracking progress and boosting digital services. Comments on this plan are open for 30 days, and the goal is to match private companies’ top-notch service without extra costs.
2026-21461, Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request; Grantee Reporting Requirements for the U.S. National Science Foundation Regional Innovation Engines (NSF Engines) Program
The National Science Foundation (NSF) wants to keep collecting reports from groups funded by its Regional Innovation Engines program for another three years. This helps NSF track progress and improve the program. If you’re a grantee, you’ll keep sharing updates, and everyone has until December 21, 2026, to share thoughts on how to make reporting easier and better.
2026-21466, Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is starting a new way to collect info about tech, jobs, and innovation programs to help them improve. They want your thoughts by December 21, 2026, before asking for official approval to keep this going for up to 3 years. This affects people involved in tech and innovation projects and aims to make data collection easier and smarter without extra costs.
2026-20339, Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
The National Science Foundation (NSF) is asking for public feedback on a new information collection plan that affects researchers and organizations working with NSF. They want to make sure the questions they ask are useful and not too time-consuming. You have 30 days to share your thoughts before the plan gets final approval, and this process helps keep paperwork manageable and efficient.
2026-20332, Proposal Review Committee Name Changes
The National Science Foundation is changing the names of eight of its proposal review committees to better match their new focus after a recent reorganization. These new names take effect on October 1, 2026, and affect researchers and businesses submitting proposals. No changes to funding or deadlines are mentioned, just clearer committee titles to help everyone know who’s reviewing what.
2026-20236, Agency Information Collection Activities: Comment Request
The National Science Foundation is bringing back a form that helps them track reports of sexual harassment and assault in organizations they fund. They want your thoughts on how to make this process easier and clearer before they get official approval to keep it for up to three years. If you’re involved with NSF-funded groups, this affects you, and comments are due by December 1, 2026.
Previous / Next Documents
Previous: 2026-21897, Determination That PEPCID RPD (Famotidine) Orally Disintegrating Tablets, 20 Milligrams and 40 Milligrams Were Not Withdrawn From Sale for Reasons of Safety or Effectiveness
The FDA has confirmed that PEPCID RPD (famotidine) orally disintegrating tablets, 20 mg and 40 mg, were not taken off the market because of safety or effectiveness problems. This means generic drug makers can now apply to sell their versions, speeding up access and potentially lowering costs for patients. If all rules are met, these generics could hit the shelves soon, helping folks who rely on this heartburn relief.
Next: 2026-21900, Establishment of Federal Advisory Committees-Advisory Council on Health and Human Performance Optimization
The Department of Defense is setting up a new Advisory Council focused on improving health and human performance. This group will help guide decisions and invite public input, starting now with no extra costs announced. If you care about health and performance, this council wants to hear from you and will follow clear rules to keep things open and fair.