How Educated Are We - Educational Attainment

The chart shows the percentage of people 25 years old and over who have completed at least 4 years of high school. Data are broken down by race. Asians and Pacific Islanders, not shown in the graph, maintained the highest educational attainment. In 1990, more than 80% completed at least 4 years of high school (as compared to 78% of the population as a whole). In 2000, nearly 86% completed at least a high school education (as compared to 84% of the general population).

In all cases, the educational attainment level of the population rose. Whites maintained the highest percentage (except for Asians and Pacific Islanders). Blacks increased their educational attainment level at a faster rate than did Hispanics. In 2000, there was only a 6.4% difference in the educational attainment of blacks and whites. Hispanics differed the most: 27.9% fewer Hispanics than whites completed at least 4 years of high school.

Do we see the same pattern among those completing at least 4 years of college?

As the next chart shows, at the college level, the same pattern applies. Educational attainment at the college level has risen. Asians and Pacific Islanders have the highest percentage of the educated population with at least 4 years of college, followed by whites, blacks and Hispanics. However, at this level, the percentage differences between the racial/ethnic groups are greater. In 2000, 18.3% more Asians and Pacific Islanders had a college education than did the population as a whole. The percentage of whites with a college education was 0.5% greater than the percentage in the total population. 9.6% fewer blacks had a college education than whites. Hispanics had 15.5% fewer.

Percentage of Over 25 Year Olds Who Have Completed At Least 4 Years of College, 1960-2000

As the educational attainment levels rise, how educated are we? We begin with a discussion of literacy.

Source: U.S. Bureau of the Census. Statistical Abstract of the United States 1994 and 2001.