Educational Attainment

Educational attainment refers to the highest level of education that an individual has completed. This is distinct from the level of schooling that an individual is attending.

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Educational Attainment Visualizations

Data made visual with charts, tables, maps, and other graphic elements. They are often interactive and contain text for labeling, not narration.

Educational Attainment Publications

Official publications released by the U.S. Census Bureau have a report number and often list the lead author(s).

Table

Educational Attainment Tables

Stats displayed in columns and rows with title, ID, notes, sources and release date. Many tables are in downloadable XLS, CVS and PDF file formats.

Tables

Table | February 24, 2022

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2021

Annual tables on educational attainment from the Current Population Survey’s Annual Social and Economic supplement (ASEC).

Table | 2022

CPS Historical Time Series Tables

These Education Attainment tables are from 1940 through 2021.

Table

Current Population Survey Tables for Family Income

The Current Population Survey is a joint effort between the Bureau of Labor Statistics and the Census Bureau.

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Publications

Publication | February 09, 2021 | Kevin McElrath and Michael Martin

Bachelor's Degree Attainment in the United States: 2005 to 2019

This brief uses three non-overlapping ACS 5-year estimates to examine bachelor’s degree attainment for the nation, counties and by race and Hispanic Origin.

Publication | April 2018 | Erik Schmidt

Postsecondary Enrollment Before, During, and Since the Great Recession

This report provides an overview of postsecondary enrollment during the years preceding and following the recession period of 2007 to 2009, as recorded by CPS.

Publication | March 29, 2016 | Camille L. Ryan and Kurt Bauman

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2015

This report examines educational attainment by demographic and social characteristics based on data collected from the Current Population Survey.

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Working Papers

Working Paper | May 13, 2022

2022 ACS Content Test: Round 3 Cognitive Testing Results

This report summarizes results from Round 3 of cognitive testing, which gathered feedback from individuals in groups quarters facilities and Puerto Rico.

Working Paper | April 15, 2022

2022 ACS Content Test: Round 1 and Round 2 Cognitive Testing Results

This report summarizes results from two rounds of cognitive testing for the 2022 ACS Content Test.

Working Paper | April 28, 2018 | Edward Berchick

High School Equivalents and Disability Status: The Role of Context

This paper examines county-level variation in the relationship between GEDs and disability. (SEHSD Working Paper 2018-05)

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News

Press Release | June 30, 2022

Six States Added to Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

The Census Bureau announced the release of six new states — Oregon, Hawaii, Massachusetts, South Dakota, Montana and Georgia — in the PSEO..

Press Release | February 24, 2022

Census Bureau Releases New Educational Attainment Data

Findings that use statistics from the CPS to examine the educational attainment of adults age 25 and older by demographic and social characteristics.

Press Release | October 28, 2021

Six States Added to Post-Secondary Employment Outcomes

The release of new states in the PSEO experimental data product: Alabama, Arizona, Iowa, Missouri, Utah, and Virginia.

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Other Subtopics Within 'Education'

Educational Services

The Educational Services sector comprises establishments that provide instruction and training in a wide variety of subjects.

Public School System Finances

Education finance data include revenues, expenditures, debt, and assets [cash and security holdings] of elementary and secondary public school systems.

School Districts

School districts are public school systems that provide regular, special, and/or vocational education services for children in Pre-K through 12th grade.

School Enrollment

Census Bureau data on enrollment ask about elementary school, high school, college, or professional school. Public, private & homeschool are all included.

Teaching about Statistics

Statistics in Schools brings school subjects to life using real-world Census Bureau statistics to create materials for use year after year for K-12 students.

Last Revised: July 4, 2022