Employers evaluating labor force skills and educators
assessing literacy levels are among the many analysts
who need data on educational attainment. The U.S.
Census Bureau uses the Annual Social and Economic
Supplement (ASEC) to the Current Population Survey
(CPS) to collect data on educational attainment. The CPS
has tracked changes in education levels since 1947.
Among the 189.4 million people 25 and older in the
civilian noninstitutionalized population in 2005, 85
percent had a high school diploma or more educa-
tion—statistically matching the record high reached in
2004.1 Among young adults, aged 25 to 29 in 2005,
86 percent had a high school diploma or more educa-
tion, as shown in Figure 1.
In 2005, the percentage of women 25 and older with a
high school diploma or more education (85.5 percent)
was higher than the percentage of men (84.9 percent)
for the fourth year in a row. Among young women and
men (aged 25 to 29), the spread was wider, 87.4 per-
cent and 85.0 percent, respectively.2
U.S. Census Bureau
Population Profile of the United States: Dynamic Version 1
EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT
IN 2005
Words That Count
Educational attainment, as described in this
report, is that of the population 25 and older. It is
derived from a single question asked in the ASEC:
“What is the highest grade of school . . . com-
pleted, or the highest degree . . . received?” with
response categories such as “7th or 8th grade,”
“High School Graduate,” or “Some college, but
less than 1 year.” Before 1992, educational attain-
ment was measured in the CPS only by years of
schooling completed.
Figure 1.
High School and College Graduates:
1970 to 2005
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Current Population Survey,
Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 1970 to 2005.
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
80
90
100
2005
2000
1995
1990
1985
1980
1975
1970
Percent of population in age group
Bachelor's degree or more,
25 years and older
High school graduate or more,
25 to 29 years old
High school graduate or more,
25 years and older
Bachelor's degree or mor