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Educational attainment in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018
Educational attainment in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018
Educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018
by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Aug 14, 2019
This graph shows educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018. In 2018, about 35 percent of the U.S. population who were aged 25 and above had graduated from college or another higher education institution.
Educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018
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| Year | High school graduate or more | College graduate or more |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 89.8% | 35% |
| 2017 | 89.6% | 34.2% |
| 2016 | 89.1% | 33.4% |
| 2015 | 88.4% | 32.5% |
| 2014 | 88.3% | 32% |
| 2013 | 88.2% | 31.7% |
| 2012 | 87.6% | 30.9% |
| 2011 | 87.6% | 30.4% |
| 2010 | 87.1% | 29.9% |
| 2009 | 86.7% | 29.5% |
| 2008 | 86.6% | 29.4% |
| 2007 | 85.7% | 28.7% |
| 2006 | 85.5% | 28% |
| 2005 | 85.2% | 27.7% |
| 2004 | 85.2% | 27.7% |
| 2003 | 84.6% | 27.2% |
| 2002 | 84.1% | 26.7% |
| 2001 | 84.1% | 26.2% |
| 2000 | 84.1% | 25.6% |
| 1999 | 83.4% | 25.2% |
| 1998 | 82.8% | 24.4% |
| 1997 | 82.1% | 23.9% |
| 1996 | 81.7% | 23.6% |
| 1995 | 81.7% | 23% |
| 1994 | 80.9% | 22.2% |
| 1993 | 80.2% | 21.9% |
| 1992 | 79.4% | 21.4% |
| 1991 | 78.4% | 21.4% |
| 1990 | 77.6% | 21.3% |
| 1985 | 73.9% | 19.4% |
| 1980 | 66.5% | 16.2% |
| 1975 | 62.5% | 13.9% |
| 1970 | 52.3% | 10.7% |
| 1965 | 49% | 9.4% |
| 1960 | 41.1% | 7.7% |
| Year | High school graduate or more | College graduate or more |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 89.8% | 35% |
| 2017 | 89.6% | 34.2% |
| 2016 | 89.1% | 33.4% |
| 2015 | 88.4% | 32.5% |
| 2014 | 88.3% | 32% |
| 2013 | 88.2% | 31.7% |
| 2012 | 87.6% | 30.9% |
| 2011 | 87.6% | 30.4% |
| 2010 | 87.1% | 29.9% |
| 2009 | 86.7% | 29.5% |
| 2008 | 86.6% | 29.4% |
| 2007 | 85.7% | 28.7% |
| 2006 | 85.5% | 28% |
| 2005 | 85.2% | 27.7% |
| 2004 | 85.2% | 27.7% |
| 2003 | 84.6% | 27.2% |
| 2002 | 84.1% | 26.7% |
| 2001 | 84.1% | 26.2% |
| 2000 | 84.1% | 25.6% |
| 1999 | 83.4% | 25.2% |
| 1998 | 82.8% | 24.4% |
| 1997 | 82.1% | 23.9% |
| 1996 | 81.7% | 23.6% |
| 1995 | 81.7% | 23% |
| 1994 | 80.9% | 22.2% |
| 1993 | 80.2% | 21.9% |
| 1992 | 79.4% | 21.4% |
| 1991 | 78.4% | 21.4% |
| 1990 | 77.6% | 21.3% |
| 1985 | 73.9% | 19.4% |
| 1980 | 66.5% | 16.2% |
| 1975 | 62.5% | 13.9% |
| 1970 | 52.3% | 10.7% |
| 1965 | 49% | 9.4% |
| 1960 | 41.1% | 7.7% |
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Source: US Census Bureau
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by Erin Duffin,
last edited
Aug 14, 2019
This graph shows educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018. In 2018, about 35 percent of the U.S. population who were aged 25 and above had graduated from college or another higher education institution.
- Source
- US Census Bureau
- Show further sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- February 2019
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1960 to 2018
- Age group
- 25 years and older
Free access to basic statistics
Source
- Source
- US Census Bureau
- Show further sources information
- Show publisher information
- Release date
- February 2019
More information
- Region
- United States
- Survey time period
- 1960 to 2018
- Age group
- 25 years and older
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Statistics on "Colleges and universities in the U.S."
- Overview
The most important statistics
- Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2029 (in 1,000s)Degrees in higher education in the U.S. 1950-2029
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States in the academic year of 2017/18, by stateU.S. - higher education institutions, by state 2017/2018
- Educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2018Educational attainment in the U.S. from 1960 to 2018
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States from 1980 to 2016Number of higher education institutions in the U.S. from 1980-2016
- Number of U.S. population in 2018, by educational attainment (population in 1,000s)Educational attainment in the U.S. as of 2018
- Forbes ranking of the best colleges in the United States in 2019, by tuition cost and average debtForbes ranking of the best U.S. colleges, by tuition and average debt 2019
- Enrollment Figures
The most important statistics
- Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. colleges and universities from 2007/08 to 2017/18 (in millions)Undergraduate enrollment in U.S. Universities, 2007 to 2018
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2028, by gender (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S., by gender 1970-2028
- Number of undergraduate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2017, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976-2017
- Undergraduate enrollment numbers in the United States from 1970 to 2028, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000s)Undergraduate enrollment in the U.S., by attendance 1970-2028
- College enrollment in the United States from 1965 to 2017 and projections up to 2028 for public and private colleges (in millions)College enrollment in public and private institutions in the U.S. 1965-2028
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2028, by gender (in 1,000s)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by gender 1976-2028
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2017, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by ethnicity 1976-2017
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2028, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000s)Post-baccalaureate enrollment numbers in the U.S., by attendance type 1976-2028
- Revenue
The most important statistics
- Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2016/17, by source (in billion U.S. dollars)Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the U.S. 2016/17
- Federal funds for postsecondary education programs in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)Federal funds for postsecondary education in the U.S., by department 2017
- Federal funds for research programs at universities and related institutions in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)Federal funds for research at U.S. universities, by department 2017
- The 20 richest colleges in the United States in FY 2018, by endowment funds market value (in billion U.S. dollars)The 20 richest colleges in the U.S. 2018
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in public community colleges in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in a public community college in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in private bachelor's institutions in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in public master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in U.S. public master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average revenue per student in a private master's institution in the U.S. 2003-2013
- Expenditure
The most important statistics
- Forecast for higher education outlays in the United States from 2018 to 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)U.S. - forecast for higher education outlays 2018-2029
- Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. from 1970 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. 1970-2017
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in public community colleges in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars) Average expenditure per student in U.S. public community colleges 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average expenditure per student in U.S. private bachelor's institutions 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in public master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average expenditure per student in U.S. public master's institutions 2003-2013
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)Average expenditure per student in U.S. private master's institutions 2003-2013
- Attendance Costs
The most important statistics
- Average annual charges per student for higher education in public and private institutions in the U.S. from 1970 to 2018 (in U.S. dollars)Average annual charges for higher education in the U.S. 1970-2018
- Average attendance cost* when living on-campus and studying in-state at U.S. universities 2016/17, by state (in U.S. dollars)Attendance costs when studying in-state at U.S. universities, by state 2016/17
- Average cost for tuition and other fees at universities in the United States from 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*University tuition costs and fees in the U.S. 2000-2017
- Annual tuition and fees for full-time students at leading universities in the United States in 2018/19 (in U.S. dollars)Annual tuition and fees at leading universities in the U.S. 2018/19
- Average cost to attend university per year in the United States from the academic year 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*Cost to attend university per year in the U.S. from 2000-2017
- Average annual cost to attend university in the United States, by institution type 2013-2019 (in U.S. dollars)Average cost to attend a U.S. university, by institution type 2013/14 - 2018/19
- Average cost for room and board at U.S. universities per year from the academic year of 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)Room and board cost per year at U.S. universities 2000-2017
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- Number of higher education degrees earned in the United States from 1950 to 2029 (in 1,000s)
- Number of higher education institutions in the United States in the academic year of 2017/18, by state
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- Number of higher education institutions in the United States from 1980 to 2016
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- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2028, by gender (in 1,000s)
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2017, by ethnicity (in 1,000s)
- Number of post-baccalaureate students enrolled in the United States from 1976 to 2028, by full/part-time attendance (in 1,000s)
- Enrollment at leading universities in the United States in 2018*
- Change in full-time equivalent student enrollment in public higher education institutions in the United States from 2006 to 2016, by state
- Revenue of public degree-granting postsecondary institutions in the United States in 2016/17, by source (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Federal funds for postsecondary education programs in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)
- Federal funds for research programs at universities and related institutions in the United States in 2017, by government department (in million U.S. dollars)
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- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in public community colleges in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
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- Average revenue generated per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- Forecast for higher education outlays in the United States from 2018 to 2029 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Expenditure of public and private colleges and universities in the U.S. from 1970 to 2017 (in billion U.S. dollars)
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in public community colleges in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in private bachelor's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in public master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- Average expenditure per FTE* student in private master's institutions in the United States, from 2003 to 2013 (in 2013 U.S. dollars)
- Average annual charges per student for higher education in public and private institutions in the U.S. from 1970 to 2018 (in U.S. dollars)
- Average attendance cost* when living on-campus and studying in-state at U.S. universities 2016/17, by state (in U.S. dollars)
- Average cost for tuition and other fees at universities in the United States from 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*
- Annual tuition and fees for full-time students at leading universities in the United States in 2018/19 (in U.S. dollars)
- Average cost to attend university per year in the United States from the academic year 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)*
- Average annual cost to attend university in the United States, by institution type 2013-2019 (in U.S. dollars)
- Average cost for room and board at U.S. universities per year from the academic year of 2000/01 to 2016/17 (in U.S. dollars)
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