[BeetleB]

Since no one gave the obvious[1] answer:

The data is for application to graduate programs. There is a ton more funding for engineering, and many/most students going for a PhD in engineering don't pay for it. There's very little funding in the humanities, and most students are not willing to pay high costs for a PhD in the humanities, so the department tightly restricts admission.

As a result, it's easier to get into an engineering PhD program - as long as you are competent enough.

I had a friend who was a fellow engineering student. He became disillusioned and wanted to go into journalism. He applied to transfer to the Communications program at the university and told me how competitive it was - they admit less than 10 people per year. He did not get in.

[1] Obvious if you've spent a lot of time in grad school.

[estiaan]

Ah yup, I definitely read that in the context of undergraduate degrees, I think you’re probably right.