# Presentation: 670827

## Educational Attainment: 2000

**Educational Attainment: 2000**

**Notes:**
The education levels of the United States population reached an all-time high, according to Census 2000.
Of the 182.2 million people aged 25 and over on April 1, 2000, 80 percent had a high school diploma or more, and 24 percent had completed at least a bachelor’s degree.
This report presents information on the educational attainment of people 25 years and over in the United States, and describes education distributions for the United States, including regions, states, counties, and places with populations of 100,000 or more.

SPEAKER NOTES: This presentation is based on the Census 2000 Brief Educational Attainment: 2000, issued August 2003, and was developed by A. Emmy Warwick of the Census Bureau’s Marketing Services Office <amparo.emmy.warwick@census.gov>.
3-31-04

## Education has been included in the United States census questionnaire since 1840.

**Notes:**
Education has been included in the United States census questionnaire since 1840, when information was collected on literacy of the population 20 years and over. Since that time, questions on education have become more complex. From 1940 to 1980, the census inquired about the number of years of school each person had completed. In 1990 and 2000, the question was updated to reflect current interest in both level of school completed and the types of degrees (if any) people had received. The Census 2000 question allowed respondents to choose from a list of 16 educational levels, ranging from no schooling completed to professional or doctoral degrees.

## In 2000, most people 25 years and over in the United States had earned a high school diploma or higher degree.

**Notes:**
In 2000, most people 25 years and over in the United States had earned a high school diploma or higher degree.

## Slide 4

**Notes:**
The three most commonly achieved education levels were high school graduate (29 percent), bachelor’s degree (16 percent), and 1 or more years of college, but no degree (14 percent). More than 1 in 20 people had obtained a master’s degree (6 percent), an associate degree (6 percent), or completed some college, but less than 1 year (7 percent). Professional and doctoral degrees were relatively rare, as were the categories of education below high school. No one of these education levels accounted for as much as 4 percent of the population 25 and over.
More than half the U.S. population 25 and over in 2000 (52 percent) had completed at least some college education. Just under one quarter (24 percent) had a bachelor’s degree or more. Nine percent had an advanced degree (master’s degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree).
Growth in the population 25 and over contributed to an increase in the number of people with high school or more education: 146.5 million in 2000, an increase of 27.0 million over 1990. The number with a bachelor’s degree or more increased by 12.2 million to 44.5 million, while the population with less than a high school diploma actually decreased during the decade from 1990 to 2000, falling by 3.6 million to 35.7 million.

## In 1940, only 24 percent of the population 25 and over had completed high school.

**Notes:**
In 1940, only 24 percent of the population 25 and over had completed high school.

## Slide 6

**Notes:**
The high levels of education observed in 2000 reflect a steady increase in educational attainment that took place over much of the preceding century. 
During a span of 60 years, high school has gone from being the mark of the educated minority of the population to the minimum education level for 4 out of 5 adults.
College completion rates also increased from 1940 to 2000. While just under one adult in 20 held a bachelor’s degree in 1940, almost one adult in four had attained this educational level in 2000. For both levels of schooling recorded here (high school or more, and college or more), the largest rate of growth was in the period 1960 to 1980. From 1990 to 2000, the increase in the percentage of people completing a bachelor’s or higher degree was about the same as the percentage-point increase for the previous decade, and only slightly below the rate from 1970 to 1980.

## Age differences in educational attainment were large.

**Notes:**
Age differences in educational attainment were large.

## Slide 8

**Notes:**
In 2000, the middle-aged population had the highest levels of education– 45- to 49-year-olds were highest in high school graduation and some college or more; 50- to 54-year-olds were highest at bachelor’s and advanced degree attainment. 
People 75 years and older had lower education levels (among those measured here) than any other age group. The differences between the highest and lowest age groups were often quite substantial. Among the 45- to 49-year-old group, 86 percent had a high school or greater education, compared with only 61 percent of people 75 and over. In these two age groups, completion of some college or more was reported by 59 percent and 30 percent percent, respectively. The 50- to 54-year-old group recorded a 29 percent rate of bachelor’s or higher degree attainment, while only 13 percent of the population 75 years or older had that level of education. Advanced degrees were obtained by 13 percent of the 50- to 54-year-old population, but only 5 percent of the population 75 and older.
The youngest age group (25 to 29 years) had rates of educational attainment slightly lower than people aged 45 to 54. For example, 86 percent of people aged 45 to 49 had completed high school, compared with 84 percent of those aged 25 to 29.

## The 25- to 29-year-old population was more likely to have completed some college or more, and was more likely to have earned a bachelor’s degree than people 10 to 15 years their senior.

**Notes:**
The 25- to 29-year old population was more likely to have completed some college or more, and was more likely to have earned a bachelor’s degree than people 10 to 15 years their senior.

## Slide 10

**Notes:**
The rate of completion of some college was 58 percent among those in the 25- to 29-year age group, while it was 56 percent among those in the 35- to 39-year age group, and 57 percent among those in the 40- to 44-year age group. Similarly, 27 percent of 25- to 29-year olds had completed a bachelor’s degree or more, while 26 percent of those in the older groups (35 to 39 and 40 to 44) had reached this educational level.

## Men and women had nearly equal rates of high school completion in 2000.

**Notes:**
Men and women had nearly equal rates of high school completion in 2000, with women having the slight edge, 81 percent compared with 80 percent.

## Slide 12

| Educational Attainment of the Population 25 Years 
and Over by Sex: 2000 |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Characteristics | Population 25 and 
over | Percent |  |  |  |
|  |  | High 
school graduate 
or more | Some college 
Or
 more | Bachelor’s degree 
or more |  Advanced degree |
| Total . . . . . . . . . . . 

Sex

Men . . . . . . . . . . . . Women . . . . . . . . .  | 182,211,639

87,077,686
95,133,953 | 80.4

80.1
80.7 | 51.8

52.5
51.1 | 24.4

26.1
22.8 | 8.9

10.0
7.8 |

**Notes:**
At higher levels of education, men had higher completion rates. For example, among people 25 years or older in 2000, 26 percent of men had bachelor’s degrees or more, compared with 23 percent of women. Men also led women in holding advanced degrees, 10 percent to 8 percent.

## The “Asian alone” race group led in attaining bachelor’s and advanced degrees.

**Notes:**
The “Asian alone” race group led in attaining bachelor’s and advanced degrees.

## Slide 14

| Educational Attainment of the Population 25 Years 
and Over by Race, and Hispanic or Latino Origin: 2000 |  |  |  |  |  |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Characteristics | Population 25 and over | Percent |  |  |  |
|  |  | High school graduate or more | Some college or more | Bachelor’s degree or more | Advanced degree |
| Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Race and Hispanic or Latino Origin
White alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Black or African American alone . . . . . . . . . .  
American Indian and Alaska Native alone . . .
Asian alone . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 
Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander alone
Some other race alone. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Two or more races  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  
Hispanic or Latino (or any race)  . . . . . . . . . .  
White alone, not Hispanic or Latino  . . . . . . .   | 182,211,639

143,085,659
19,858,095
1,350,998
6,640,671
206,675
7,611,121
3,458,420
18,270,377
133,786,263 | 80.4

83.6
72.3
70.9
80.4
78.3
46.8
73.3
52.4
85.5
 | 51.8

54.1
42.5
41.7
64.6
44.6
25.0
48.1
30.3
55.4 | 24.4

26.1
14.3
11.5
44.1
13.8
7.3
19.6
10.4
27.0 | 8.9

9.5
4.8
3.9
17.4
4.1
2.3
7.0
3.8
9.8 |

**Notes:**
Large differences among races existed at all levels of education. In 2000, the proportion of people aged 25 and over who had completed high school or more education ranged from 84 percent of those who reported they were White (and no other race), to 47 percent of people who reported Some other race only. People who reported they were Asian (and no other race) were most likely to report having completed higher levels of education (some college, bachelor’s or advanced degrees). Among the Asian population, 44 percent had a bachelor’s degree, compared with 26 percent of the White population, 20 percent of people who reported two or more races, 14 percent of the Black population, 14 percent of the Pacific Islander population, 11 percent of the American Indian and Alaska Native population, and 7 percent of the Some other race population.
The percentage of Hispanics completing high school or more was 52 percent, compared with 85 percent of non-Hispanic Whites (single race). A large gap between the Hispanic population and the non-Hispanic White population is also seen at other levels of education.
While 27 percent of non-Hispanic Whites had a bachelor’s degree or more, only 10 percent of Hispanics had reached this education level.

SPEAKER NOTES: Census 2000 allowed respondents to choose more than one race. With the exception of the Two or more races group, all race groups discussed in this report refer to people who indicated only one racial identity among the six major categories: White, Black or African American, American Indian and Alaska Native, Asian, Native Hawaiian and Other Pacific Islander, and Some other race. The use of the single-race population in this report does not imply that it is the preferred method of presenting or analyzing data. The Census Bureau uses a variety of approaches.

## No one region can lay claim to having the best-educated population.

**Notes:**
No one region can lay claim to having the best-educated population. The rank depended on the level of education being examined.

## Slide 16

**Notes:**
The Midwest had the largest percentage of its population 25 and over holding a high school diploma or more (83 percent), while the West had the largest percentage having completed at least some college (58 percent). The population in the Northeast had the highest bachelor’s degree and advanced degree levels, 27 percent and 11 percent, respectively. The South had the lowest completion rates for high school through college, but the Midwest had the lowest advanced degree completion rate, at 8 percent.
Growth in educational attainment from 1990 to 2000 occurred in all four United States regions. In the West, which started the decade as one of the leaders at every level of education, growth was slower than in other regions.
The South and the Midwest jointly had the largest growth in the percentage with high school or more education, both growing by 6 percentage points between 1990 and 2000. The lowest growth was in the West, which saw only a 2 percentage-point increase over the decade. The percentage with some college or more education grew by 8 percentage points in the Midwest, but 4 percentage points in the West.
The net effect of these changes was to narrow differences across regions in the percentage holding high school diplomas or higher degrees. In 1990 the West led this category, with 79 percent, and the South trailed with 71 percent, a difference of 7 percentage points. In 2000, the difference between the leading region, the Midwest, and the lowest region, the South, was only 6 percentage points.
A different pattern was observed at the high end of the educational range, due to growth in the percentage with bachelor’s and advanced degrees in the Northeast, which was already the leading region on these measures. The percentage with bachelor’s or higher degrees increased by 5 points in the Northeast, compared with 4 points in the West. In 1990, a gap of 2.6 points in the percentage with advanced degrees existed between the Northeast (which was highest in both censuses) and the Midwest (the lowest in both censuses). In 2000, the gap between these two regions had grown to 3.1 percentage points.

## Alaska, Minnesota, Wyoming, Utah, New Hampshire, Montana, Washington, and Colorado were among the highest in percentage of people 25 and over with high school or more education.

**Notes:**
Alaska, Minnesota, Wyoming, Utah, New Hampshire, Montana, Washington, and Colorado were among the highest in percentage of people 25 and over with high school or more education.

## Percent of Population 25 and Over with High School or More Education: 2000

**Percent of Population 25 and Over with High School or More Education: 2000**

** ****AK**
**88.3%**

**MN**
**87.9%**

**  ****WY**
**87.9%**

**  ****UT**
**87.8%**

**  ****NH**
**87.4%**

**  ****MT**
**87.2%**

**  ****WA**
**87.1%**

** ****CO**
**86.9%**

** ****MS**
**73%**

**KY**
**74.1%**

**WV**
**75.2%**

**AK**
**75.3%**

**AL**
**75.3%**

**TN 75%**

**Notes:**
Mississippi had the lowest percentage, 73 percent, followed by Kentucky, (74 percent), West Virginia, Arkansas, and Alabama (75 percent) and Tennessee, (76 percent). It should be noted that these last states also experienced growth in high school completion rates of eight percentage points or more over the decade.

## The state with the highest proportion of people 25 and over having at least some college education was Colorado, at 64 percent.

**Notes:**
The state with the highest proportion of people 25 and over having at least some college education was Colorado, at 64 percent.
The largest growth in the percentage at this education level occurred in Minnesota.

## Highest Percentage of Population Holding Bachelors or Higher Degrees: 2000

** ****DC**
**39.1%**

**Highest Percentage of Population Holding Bachelors or Higher Degrees: 2000**

- 

** ****MA**
**33.2%**

** ****CT**
**31.4%**

** ****MD**
**31.4%**

**Notes:**
The District of Columbia had the highest percentage of its population holding bachelors or higher degrees and also had the highest percentage with advanced degrees. In 2000, 39 percent of District residents had a bachelor’s degree or more, and 21 percent had advanced degrees.
Unlike the 50 states, Washington, DC is entirely urban, and this urban population had high percentages at both ends of the education scale.
In contrast to its high ranking in bachelor’s and advanced degrees, the District of Columbia ranked in the bottom third in the percentage with a high school diploma or more.
The state with the second highest percentage of its 25-and-over population holding bachelors and advanced degrees was Massachusetts. In 2000, 33 percent of Massachusetts’ residents 25 and over had at least a bachelor’s degree,and 14 percent had advanced degrees. Massachusetts also had the highest growth in percentage with bachelor’s degrees from 1990 to 2000. Although Massachusetts’ growth in percentage with advanced degrees trailed the District of Columbia’s growth, it was a strong second place, allowing it to bypass Connecticut and Maryland in the ranking of advanced degrees.

## College graduates lived in suburban counties and counties with colleges.

**Notes:**
College graduates lived in suburban counties and counties with colleges.

## Slide 22

**Notes:**
High percentages of college graduates were found in metropolitan counties on the East and West coasts. A large concentration of high education counties formed a band from Albemarle County, Virginia, to Middlesex County, Massachusetts. Other counties included part of the San Francisco area, and King County, Washington, containing the city of Seattle.
Counties with high percentages of college graduates were also scattered across much of the central part of the country, around metropolitan areas and in college towns. For example, a cluster of high-education counties was found near Atlanta, Georgia, complemented by Clarke and Oconee counties, east of Atlanta, which contain a major university. Similar patterns of suburban and college-town concentrations of colleges graduates can be seen in states such as Colorado, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Massachusetts, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. The metropolitan counties with high college education levels often exclude the county with a central city. For example, 49 percent of the 25-and-over population of Hamilton County, Indiana, had bachelor’s degrees. This county is just north of Marion county, which contains the city of Indianapolis. The proportion with bachelor’s degrees in Marion County was only 25 percent, significantly lower than Hamilton County but above the national average.
The western states have many counties with large geographic size but sparse populations. Areas with highly college-educated populations in Colorado and nearby mountain states included three types of counties: suburban counties around Denver, several counties with large universities, and a number of counties with resort and vacation areas.

## Places with universities attracted the greatest concentration of people with doctoral degrees.

**Notes:**
Places with universities attracted the greatest concentration of people with doctoral degrees.

## Slide 24

**Notes:**
The places most likely to have people with doctoral degrees are university towns like Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ann Arbor, Michigan, and Berkeley, California. In Cambridge, Massachusetts, nearly 1 in 10 residents 25 and over had a doctorate. All the other places with the highest percentage holding doctoral degrees were cities with universities enrolling at least 20,000 students, with the exception of Durham, North Carolina. Durham, however, has a major university nearby, along with a large concentration of companies performing scientific research and related activities.

## California, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey were home to places with a large percentage of people with less than a high school diploma.

**Notes:**
California, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey were home to places with a large percentage of people with less than a high school diploma.

## Slide 26

**Notes:**
The ten places of 100,000 or more with the highest percentages of people aged 25 and over who had not completed high school were certain urban areas in California, Texas, Florida, and New Jersey. One characteristic shared by many of these places was a high percentage of Hispanics in the population. However, Newark’s Hispanic population was relatively small. Five of the ten had a large percentage of foreign born (East Los Angeles, Santa Ana, and El Monte in California; Hialeah and Miami in Florida). Six of the places were high poverty areas, with over 20 percent of families in poverty (East Los Angeles and El Monte, California; Brownsville and Laredo, Texas; Miami, Florida; and Newark, New Jersey).

## According to Census 2000, women were more likely to have a high school diploma, while men were more likely to have a bachelor’s or higher degree.

**Notes:**
According to Census 2000, women were more likely to have a high school diploma, while men were more likely to have a bachelor’s or higher degree. However, sex differences in education varied along the age spectrum.

## Slide 28

**Notes:**
Completion of high school became increasingly common moving from the over-75 age group, in which women and men had graduation rates of 60 percent and 61 percent, respectively, to the 50- to 54-age group, in which 86 percent of women and 85 percent of men completed high school. For each age group 50 years and over, the percentages of men and women completing high school were close, with the difference never reaching more than 2 percentage points.
Among younger men and women, under the age of 50, high school graduation rates diverged. Younger men aged 25 to 29 were less likely to complete high school than men aged 50 to 54, while younger women were slightly more likely to complete high school than 50- to 54-year-old women. Women below the age of 50 were also more likely than men of the same age to graduate from high school.
As with high school graduation, bachelor’s degree completion showed a change between those above and below the age of 50. Both men and women aged 75 and over (born in 1925 or earlier), had low rates of college completion, while those aged 50 to 54 (born between 1945 and 1950) had much higher rates. However, across all age groups from 50 on up, men maintained a fairly stable 7 to 10 percentage point advantage over women in college completion.
Those younger than 50 (born since the 1950) showed a much different pattern. College graduation rates were lower among young men (age 25 to 44) born later in the twentieth century than they were for men born just after 1950 (age 45 to 49). By contrast, younger women aged 25 to 34 increased their rate of college completion above and beyond the level of their elders in the 45- to 49-year-old age group. In the 25- to 30- age ranges, women surpassed men in college completion as well.

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