Educational attainment in the U.S. 1960-2022

Published by
Veera Korhonen,
Mar 10, 2025
In 2021, about 37.7 percent of the U.S. population who were aged 25 and above had graduated from college or another higher education institution, a slight decline from 37.9 the previous year. However, this is a significant increase from 1960, when only 7.7 percent of the U.S. population had graduated from college.

Demographics

Educational attainment varies by gender, location, race, and age throughout the United States. Asian-American and Pacific Islanders had the highest level of education, on average, while Massachusetts and the District of Colombia are areas home to the highest rates of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher. However, education levels are correlated with wealth. While public education is free up until the 12th grade, the cost of university is out of reach for many Americans, making social mobility increasingly difficult.

Earnings

White Americans with a professional degree earned the most money on average, compared to other educational levels and races. However, regardless of educational attainment, males typically earned far more on average compared to females. Despite the decreasing wage gap over the years in the country, it remains an issue to this day. Not only is there a large wage gap between males and females, but there is also a large income gap linked to race as well.

Educational attainment distribution in the United States from 1960 to 2022

YearHigh school graduate or moreCollege graduate or more
2022 91.2% 37.7%
2021 91.1% 37.9%
2020 90.9% 37.5%
2019 90.1% 36%
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%
Showing entries 1 to 13 (39 entries in total)
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2YearPercentage of the population41.1%41.1%49%49%52.3%52.3%62.5%62.5%66.5%66.5%73.9%73.9%77.6%77.6%78.4%78.4%79.4%79.4%80.2%80.2%80.9%80.9%81.7%81.7%81.7%81.7%82.1%82.1%82.8%82.8%83.4%83.4%84.1%84.1%84.1%84.1%84.1%84.1%84.6%84.6%85.2%85.2%85.2%85.2%85.5%85.5%85.7%85.7%86.6%86.6%86.7%86.7%87.1%87.1%87.6%87.6%87.6%87.6%88.2%88.2%88.3%88.3%88.4%88.4%89.1%89.1%89.6%89.6%89.8%89.8%90.1%90.1%90.9%90.9%91.1%91.1%91.2%91.2%7.7%7.7%9.4%9.4%10.7%10.7%13.9%13.9%16.2%16.2%19.4%19.4%21.3%21.3%21.4%21.4%21.4%21.4%21.9%21.9%22.2%22.2%23%23%23.6%23.6%23.9%23.9%24.4%24.4%25.2%25.2%25.6%25.6%26.2%26.2%26.7%26.7%27.2%27.2%27.7%27.7%27.7%27.7%28%28%28.7%28.7%29.4%29.4%29.5%29.5%29.9%29.9%30.4%30.4%30.9%30.9%31.7%31.7%32%32%32.5%32.5%33.4%33.4%34.2%34.2%35%35%36%36%37.5%37.5%37.9%37.9%37.7%37.7%High school graduate or moreCollege graduate or more196019651970197519801985199019911992199319941995199619971998199920002001200220032004200520062007200820092010201120122013201420152016201720182019202020212022
0%20%40%60%80%100%

© Statista 2025
Download
Show detailed source information?
Register for free
Already a member?
Log in
Source

Use Ask Statista Research Service

Release date

April 2023

Region

United States

Survey time period

1960 to 2022

Age group

25 years and older

Citation formats
Access all statistics starting from $2,388 USD yearly *

* For commercial use only

Basic Account

For single users
$0 USD
Always free
Register now
Access limited to Free Statistics. Premium Statistics are not included.
  • Free Statistics
Based on your interests

Starter Account

For single users
$199 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free Statistics
  • Premium Statistics

Professional Account

For teams of up to 5 people
$1,299 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free + Premium Statistics
  • Reports
  • Market Insights

1 All prices do not include sales tax. The account requires an annual contract and will renew after one year to the regular list price.

Compare accounts
Leading companies trust Statista:
paypal google adobe pg samsung telekom

Related reports: Available to download in PDF or PPTX format

All datain one format
All data
in one format
Teenagers in the U.S.: Teenagers & the Economy
  • 27 page/s
  • English
  • pptx
  • Detailed references

Everything on "Teenagers in the U.S.: Teenagers & the Economy" in one document: edited and divided into chapters, including detailed references.

Go to report
Further reports
Statista is a great source of knowledge, and pretty helpful to manage the daily work.
Christof Baron

Christof Baron
CEO, MindShare Germany

Statistics on " Colleges and universities in the United States "

Other statistics that may interest you Colleges and universities in the United States

Overview

5

Enrollment Figures

8

Revenue

8

Expenditure

6

Attendance Costs

7

Further related statistics

14

Discover Statista

Need help with using Statista for your research? Tutorials and first steps

Further Content: You might find this interesting as well

Statistics

Topics

Colleges and universities in the United StatesBack-to-college Saving for college in the U.S.Student loan debt in the United States
Do you have any questions about our business solutions?

We provide you with detailed information about our Professional Account.

Access all statistics starting from $2,388 USD yearly *

* For commercial use only

Basic Account

For single users
$0 USD
Always free
Register now
Access limited to Free Statistics. Premium Statistics are not included.
  • Free Statistics
Based on your interests

Starter Account

For single users
$199 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free Statistics
  • Premium Statistics

Professional Account

For teams of up to 5 people
$1,299 USD
per month, billed annually 1
Buy now
  • Free + Premium Statistics
  • Reports
  • Market Insights

1 All prices do not include sales tax. The account requires an annual contract and will renew after one year to the regular list price.

Compare accounts
Learn more about how Statista can support your business.