Educational Attainment of Young Adults

Chapter:
3/Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes

Section: Population Characteristics
Educational Attainment of Young Adults

The gender gap in the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who had attained
a bachelor’s or higher degree widened from 2 percentage points in 2000 to
6 percentage points in 2019 with a higher percentage of females obtaining
bachelor’s or higher degrees than males.
Educational attainment refers to the level of education completion or higher increased from 88 to 94 percent, the
completed (reported here as high school completion or percentage with an associate’s or higher degree increased
higher,1 an associate’s or higher degree, a bachelor’s or from 38 to 49 percent, the percentage with a bachelor’s
higher degree, or a master’s or higher degree). Between or higher degree increased from 29 to 39 percent, and the
2000 and 2019, educational attainment rates among percentage with a master’s or higher degree increased from
25- to 29-year-olds increased at each attainment level. 5 to 9 percent.
During this time, the percentage with high school
Figure 1. Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds, by educational attainment and sex: 2000 and 2019
Percent
100 94
94 93
88 89
90 87
80
70
60
53
49
50 45
40 42
38 39
40 35 36
29 30
30 28
20
9 11
10 6 8
5 5
0
2000 2019 2000 2019 2000 2019 2000 2019
High school Associate’s or Bachelor’s or Master’s or

completion or higher higher degree higher degree higher degree
Educational attainment
Total Male Female
NOTE: High school completion includes those who graduated from high school with a diploma as well as those who completed high school through
equivalency programs, such as a GED program. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), Annual Social and Economic Supplement, 2000 and 2019. See
Digest of Education Statistics 2019, table 104.20.
Between 2000 and 2019, educational attainment rates level. For example, at the bachelor’s or higher degree level,
increased for both female and male 25- to 29-year-olds the gender gap widened from 2 percentage points in 2000
across all attainment levels. During this period, attainment to 6 percentage points in 2019. Similarly, at the master’s
rates for this age group were generally higher for females or higher degree level, the gender gap widened from
than for males, and the difference between the attainment 1 percentage point in 2000 to 3 percentage points in 2019.
rates for females and males (also referred to in this However, the gender gap at the high school completion
indicator as the gender gap) widened at all attainment or higher level in 2019 (2 percentage points) was not
levels except for the high school completion or higher measurably different from the gap in 2000.
The Condition of Education 2020 | 1

Educational Attainment of Young Adults Chapter: 3/Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes
Gender gaps in educational attainment rates were higher level for White 25- to 29-year-olds. In addition, the
observed across racial/ethnic groups in 2019. For White Black attainment rates were 5 percentage points higher for
and Hispanic 25- to 29-year-olds, attainment rates were females than for males in 2019 at the master’s or higher
higher for females than for males at most attainment degree level, and for those who were American Indian/
levels in 2019. For example, the Hispanic gender gap was Alaska Native, attainment rates were 14 percentage points
9 percentage points at the associate’s or higher degree higher for females than males at the bachelor’s or higher
level and 5 percentage points at the bachelor’s or higher degree level.2 There was no measurable gender gap at any
degree level. The only exception was that there was no attainment level in 2019 for those who were Asian and for
measurable gender gap at the high school completion or those of Two or more races.3
Figure 2. Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with high school completion or higher, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2019
Percent
100 96 97 97 95
94 94 95
91
88 87 86
90
79
80
70
63
60
50
40
30
20
10
— — —
0
Total White Black Hispanic Asian Pacific Islander American Two or
Indian/Alaska more races
Native
Race/ethnicity
2000 2019
— Not available.
NOTE: Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity. Separate data on those who were Asian, Pacific Islander, and of Two or more races were not
available in 2000. In 2000, individuals of Two or more races were required to select a single race category. High school completion includes those who
graduated from high school with a diploma as well as those who completed high school through equivalency programs, such as a GED program. Although
rounded numbers are displayed, the figures are based on unrounded data.
In 2019, the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with high and of Two or more races (95 percent) with high school
school completion or higher was higher for those who completion or higher in 2019 were not measurably
were Asian (97 percent) and White (96 percent) than different from the corresponding percentages in 2003.
for those who were Black (91 percent) and Hispanic
(86 percent). Between 2000 and 2019, the percentages Between 2000 and 2019, the percentage of White 25- to
with high school completion or higher increased for those 29-year-olds with high school completion or higher
who were White (from 94 to 96 percent), Black (from remained higher than the percentages of Black and
87 to 91 percent), Hispanic (from 63 to 86 percent), and Hispanic 25- to 29-year-olds who had attained this
American Indian/Alaska Native (from 79 to 95 percent). educational attainment level. The White-Black attainment
In addition, the percentage of Pacific Islander 25- to gap at this level in 2019 (5 percentage points) was not
29-year-olds with high school completion or higher was measurably different from the corresponding gap in 2000.
higher in 2019 (97 percent) than in 2003 (82 percent), the However, the White-Hispanic gap at this level narrowed
first year for which separate data on individuals who were from 31 to 10 percentage points, primarily due to the
Pacific Islander, Asian, and of Two or more races were increase in the percentage of Hispanic 25- to 29-year-olds
available. The percentages who were Asian (97 percent) with high school completion or higher.

Figure 3. Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with an associate’s or higher degree, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2019
Percent
100
90
80 78
70
60 56
49
50 45
44
38 40
40 36
31 30
30 26
23
20 15
10
— — —
0
Native
Race/ethnicity
2000 2019
— Not available.
available in 2000. In 2000, individuals of Two or more races were required to select a single race category.
Similar to the pattern observed at the high school an associate’s or higher degree in 2019 was not measurably
completion or higher level, the percentage of 25- to different from the percentage in 2000. Similarly, for
29-year-olds who had attained an associate’s or higher those who were Pacific Islander or of Two or more races,
degree was higher for those who were Asian (78 percent) the percentages with an associate’s or higher degree in
and White (56 percent) than for those of any other racial/ 2019 (36 percent and 45 percent, respectively) were not
ethnic group in 2019. In addition, the percentage was measurably different from the corresponding percentages
higher for those who were Black (40 percent) than for in 2003.
those who were Hispanic (31 percent) and American
Indian/Alaska Native (23 percent). From 2000 to 2019, The gap between the percentages of White and Black
the percentages who had attained an associate’s or higher 25- to 29-year-olds who had attained an associate’s or
degree increased for those who were White (from 44 to higher degree in 2019 (16 percentage points) was not
56 percent), Black (from 26 to 40 percent), and Hispanic measurably different from the corresponding gap in 2000,
(from 15 to 31 percent). In addition, the percentage of while the gap between the percentages of White and
Asian 25- to 29-year-olds who had attained an associate’s Hispanic 25- to 29-year-olds with an associate’s or higher
or higher degree increased from 2003 to 2019 (from 67 to degree in 2019 (24 percentage points) was smaller than
78 percent). The percentage of American Indian/Alaska the corresponding gap in 2000 (28 percentage points).
Native 25- to 29-year-olds (23 percent) who had attained

Figure 4. Percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds with a bachelor’s or higher degree, by race/ethnicity: 2000 and 2019
Percent
100
90
80
71
70
60
50 45
39
40 34 34
29 29
30
21 22
18 16
20
14
10
10
— — —
0
Native
Race/ethnicity
2000 2019
— Not available.
available in 2000. In 2000, individuals of Two or more races were required to select a single race category. Although rounded numbers are displayed, the
figures are based on unrounded data.
In 2019, among 25- to 29-year-olds, the percentages who Similar to the pattern observed at the bachelor’s or higher
had attained a bachelor’s or higher degree were higher for degree level, the percentage of 25- to 29-year-olds who had
those who were Asian (71 percent) and White (45 percent) attained a master’s or higher degree was higher for Asian
than for those of any other racial/ethnic group. From 25- to 29-year-olds (29 percent) than for those of any other
2000 to 2019, the percentages of 25- to 29-year-olds racial/ethnic group in 2019.4 In addition, the percentage
who had attained a bachelor’s or higher degree increased was higher for those who were White (10 percent) than
for those who were White (from 34 to 45 percent), for those who were Black (6 percent) and Hispanic
Black (from 18 to 29 percent), and Hispanic (from (3 percent). From 2000 to 2019, the percentages who had
10 to 21 percent). Similarly, the percentages of 25- to attained a master’s or higher degree increased for those
29-year-olds who had attained a bachelor’s or higher who were White (from 6 to 10 percent), Black (from
degree increased between 2003 and 2019 for those who 4 to 6 percent), and Hispanic (from 2 to 3 percent). In
were Asian (from 62 to 71 percent) and of Two or more addition, the percentage of Asian 25- to 29-year-olds who
races (from 22 to 34 percent). The percentage of American had attained a master’s or higher degree increased from
Indian/Alaska Native 25- to 29-year-olds who had 2003 to 2019 (from 19 to 29 percent). The percentage of
attained a bachelor’s or higher degree in 2019 (14 percent) 25- to 29-year-olds of Two or more races with a master’s
was not measurably different from the percentage in 2000, or higher degree in 2019 (10 percent) was also higher than
and the percentage of Pacific Islander 25- to 29-year-olds the percentage in 2003 (4 percent).
who had attained a bachelor’s or higher degree in 2019
(22 percent) was not measurably different from the The gap between the percentages of White and Black
percentage in 2003. 25- to 29-year-olds who had attained a master’s or higher
degree in 2019 (4 percentage points) was not measurably
The gaps between the percentages of White and Black different from the gap in 2000. However, the White-
25- to 29-year-olds and between the percentages of White Hispanic gap at the master’s or higher degree level widened
and Hispanic 25- to 29-year-olds who had attained a during this time, from 4 to 7 percentage points.
bachelor’s or higher degree in 2019 (16 percentage points
and 24 percentage points, respectively) were not measurably
different from the corresponding gaps in 2000.

Endnotes:
1 High school completion includes those who graduated from 3 In 2019, the sample of male Pacific Islander 25- to 29-year-olds
high school with a diploma as well as those who completed high was too small to provide reliable comparisons by gender at any
school through equivalency programs, such as a GED program. level of educational attainment.
2 American Indian/Alaska Native 25- to 29-year-olds who had 4 American Indian/Alaska Native and Pacific Islander 25- to
attained a master’s or higher degree are not included in this 29-year-olds who had attained a master’s or higher degree are not
comparison because the sample size in 2019 was too small to included in this comparison because sample sizes in 2019 were
provide reliable estimates. too small to provide reliable estimates.
Reference tables: Digest of Education Statistics 2019, table Glossary: Associate’s degree; Bachelor’s degree; Educational
104.20; Digest of Education Statistics 2016, table 104.20 attainment (Current Population Survey); Gap; High school
Related indicators and resources: Disability Rates and completer; High school diploma; Master’s degree; Postsecondary
Employment Status by Educational Attainment [The Condition education; Racial/ethnic group
of Education 2017 Spotlight]; Educational Attainment [Status
and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups];
International Educational Attainment; Snapshot: Attainment
of a Bachelor’s or Higher Degree for Racial/Ethnic Subgroups
[Status and Trends in the Education of Racial and Ethnic Groups];
Trends in Employment Rates by Educational Attainment [The
Condition of Education 2013 Spotlight]

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Chapter:

3/Population Characteristics and Economic Outcomes

Educational Attainment of Young Adults

High school Associate’s or Bachelor’s or Master’s or

Total Male Female

The Condition of Education 2020 | 1

The Condition of Education 2020 | 2

The Condition of Education 2020 | 3

The Condition of Education 2020 | 4

The Condition of Education 2020 | 5

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