The number of students entering graduate schools across the country increased last year, and for the first time ever women received more doctorate degrees then men, however, the University of Wisconsin does not reflect this trend.

A survey released Tuesday by The Council of Graduate Schools shows an increase of 5.5 percent in overall graduate school enrollment during the 2008-09 school year – the most recent data available – up from 4.5 percent during 2007-08.

The survey was sent out to 806 institutes of higher education – all members of the CGC, with just under 700 sending their data back. UW was among the institutions who received the survey.

The increase in the number of students in enrollments increased constantly for the past five years nationally. The survey found the numbers of graduate students nationally rose 5.4 percent each year in the last five years.

However, UW does not seem to be following the national trends when it comes to graduate school.

According to UW’s Data Digest, a yearly report put out by UW, enrollment totals did increase at UW during the 2008-09 year, but only by 1 percent.

The percentage of UW students enrolled in the graduate school was 21.7 percent last year, according to the Data Digest, which is the highest it has been in the last 10 years.

Also going against the national trend, men received more doctorates at UW than women in 2009, with women only earning 43.1 percent of the doctorates in 2008-09, according to the Data Digest. The CGC survey showed women have reversed a long-term national trend by receiving the majority of doctorate degrees-50.4 percent-than men received last year.

However, there are more women than men in masters programs here at UW-52.7 percent in 2009.

Assistant Dean of the Graduate School Steve Hahn said the increase in enrollment could be caused by many factors.

He added the state of the economy plays a role in students deciding to go to graduate school.

“Economic factors certainly play a part, but are not the complete answer when looking for enrollment trends,” said Hahn. “Every graduate student’s situation and motivation for attending is different. Finding only economic motives would be questionable.”

However, the survey does not include chiropractic, dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathic medicine, pharmacy, podiatry, theology and veterinary medicine graduate programs.

The statement from the CGS said women have typically earned the majority of master’s degrees across the country, but 2008-09 was the first academic year during which women earned more doctorates as well.

The release said growth in total enrollment of men outpaced that of women in 2009, 5.2 percent to 4.4 percent.

Despite this increase of male enrollment, women still came out with more doctorates.

The CGS also states that the proportion of women in graduate school last year remained constant from 2007 to 2008, with about six of every ten students being women.