Percentage of Educational Attainment in the United States

Educational attainment means the highest level of education that is an associate’s, a bachelor’s, or master’s degree. From 2000 to 2018, educational attainment rates young aged students increased at each attainment level. The percentage with high school completion increased from 88 to 93 percent. Besides this, the percentage with an associate’s or higher degree increased from 38 to 47 percent.

In 2017, more than four in ten adults between the ages 25 and older attained an associate’s degree or higher is 44.4 percent. In addition to this, the data followed by 28.8 percent of students completing high school. Besides this, there is 16.3 percent who had college, but no degree and 10.4 percent had less than high school education. However, significant differences in educational attainment exist on all levels by racial and ethnic groups.

From 2000 to 2018, education attainment rates increased for both males and females. These people aged between 25 to 29 years old across all educational levels. But the attainment rates for 25 to 29 years of mature females were higher than males. Besides this, the gender literacy gap in the percentage from 25 to 29 years old widened from 2 percentage points in the bachelor’s degree. Similarly, for the attainment of the master’s degree, the gap widened from 1 to 2 percentage points.

Educational Attainment in Young Adults

In 2018, gender gaps, educational attainment rates were observed across racial/ethnic groups. Meanwhile, for White and Black between 25 and 29 years old, educational attainment rates were higher for females than males in 2018. The gender gap was seven percentage points both at the associate’s level and bachelor’s level for Black from 25 to 29 years old. However, there was no measurable gender gap in high school completion for White and Black.

Besides this, the attainment rates were higher for females than males at educational levels for Hispanic and American natives. Thus the gender gap was four percentage points at the high school completion and seven percentage points at the associate’s degree level. But there is only one exception that there was no measurable gap between 25 to 29 years old for Hispanic at master’s degree level.

Racial Gap in Educational Attainment

The percentage of 25 to 29 years old with high school completion was higher for Asians and White than Black and Hispanic. Since the rate of Asians is 97%, White is 96%, Black is 92%, and Hispanic is 85%. Between 2000 to 2018, the percentage of young adults with high school completion for White is 94-96 percent, Black is 87-92 percent, and Hispanic is 63-85 percent. The percentage of American Native between the age of 25-29 with high school completion in 2018 was not measurably different from the percentage in 2000.

The percentage gap between White and Black, who attained a bachelor’s degree in 2018, was higher than the percentage in 2000. Since in 2018, it is 21 the percentage points and in 2000, it is 16 percentage points. However, the gap between the percentages of White and Hispanic between 25 and 29 who attained a bachelor’s degree in 2018 was 23 percentage points. It is not measurably different from the corresponding gap in 2000.