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).

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

CPS Historical Time Series Tables

2023

These Education Attainment tables are from 1940 through 2022.

Table

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2021

February 24, 2022

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

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.

Publications

Publication

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

February 09, 2021

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

Postsecondary Enrollment Before, During, and Since the Great Recession

April 2018

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

Educational Attainment in the United States: 2015

March 29, 2016

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

Working Papers

Working Paper

2022 American Community Survey Content Test: Educational Attainment

November 2023

Results from the 2022 ACS Content Test of the question about educational attainment.

Working Paper

Understanding Changes in Bachelor's Degree Attainment

September 07, 2023

This working paper uses ACS 5-year datasets to examine county-level changes in educational attainment from 2005 to 2019.

Working Paper

2022 ACS Content Test: Round 3 Cognitive Testing Results

May 13, 2022

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

News

Press Release

New Report on the Nation’s Foreign-Born Population

April 09, 2024

From 2010 to 2022, the nation’s foreign-born population increased by 15.6%, according to a new report The Foreign-Born Population in the United States: 2022.

Press Release

2022 Community Resilience Estimates Equity Supplement

February 20, 2024

The U.S. Census Bureau today released the 2022 CRE Equity Supplement and an update to the CRE for Equity interactive tool.

Press Release

2020 Island Areas Censuses Detailed Cross-Tabulation Data for the CNMI

February 15, 2024

The U.S. Census Bureau today released 2020 Island Areas Censuses Detailed Cross Tabulations for the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI).

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.

Page Last Revised - July 4, 2022

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