The ARCS Foundation Mission
ARCS® Foundation advances science and technology in the United States by providing financial awards to academically outstanding U.S. citizens studying to complete degrees in science, engineering and medical research.
U.S. Standing and Global Competition
One-third of U.S. engineering students switch majors before graduation. The following statistics are noted in Science and Engineering Indicators: 2010, National Science Board, Arlington, VA (NSB 10-01), January 2010.
- More than 50 percent of U.S. science-based workforce is over 40.
- Between 1999 and 2007, the share of U.S. engineering doctorates earned by foreign nationals rose from 51 percent to 68 percent.
- A much larger percentage of Asian than U.S. undergraduates pursue science or engineering degrees.
- Japan: 63 percent
- China: 53 percent
- Singapore: 51 percent
- USA: 30 percent
- Between 1995 and 2007, the number of researchers in China, Singapore, South Korea, and Taiwan grew by approximately 8.5, 11, 7 and 7.5 percent, respectively, but the number of researchers in the United States grew by slightly less than 3 percent.
- In 2007, China matched the United States in total number of researchers (1.4 million).
- China’s domestic science and engineering doctorate awards increased more than tenfold between 1993 and 2006, to about 21,000, nearing the number of doctorates awarded in the United States.
The ARCS Foundation Impact
Nearly $79 million has been awarded to-date since our founding in 1958.
- More than $3.7 million was awarded to scholars in the academic year 2010–2011.
- More than 13,650 ARCS Foundation scholar awards have been provided at 52 institutions.
- 36 percent of ARCS Scholars have received national or international science recognition.
- 67 percent of ARCS Scholar alums rated ARCS funding as having had great or significant impact on the completion of their studies and future careers.
- 92 percent received their degree in the funded field.
- 89 percent are currently working in or retired from that field