Bachelor's degree or higher is a commonly used term by the United States Census Bureau and other U.S. government agencies on the federal as well as state and local level. The term describes the portion of the population that has either a bachelor's degree or a higher degree such as a master's or doctorate degree. In 2003 27.2% of the population over 25 years old in the United States had an educational attainment described as "bachelor's degree or higher," meaning that 27.2% of the population had either a bachelor's or a higher degree.
The term is sometimes used as a synonym for "college graduate" as it includes not only those with a bachelor's degree but all others who have completed a degree requiring more than four years of credits. While the term is sometimes used interchangeably with the term college graduate, it excludes those with an associate's degree, as this college degree only requires two years' worth of units and is thus lower than bachelor's degree.
Famous quotes containing the words bachelor, degree and/or higher:
“Somehow, a bachelor never quite gets over the idea that he is a thing of beauty and a boy for ever!”
—Helen Rowland (1875–1950)
“I happen to feel that the degree of a person’s intelligence is directly reflected by the number of conflicting attitudes she can bring to bear on the same topic.”
—Lisa Alther (b. 1944)
“Men may rise on stepping-stones
Of their dead selves to higher things.”
—Alfred Tennyson (1809–1892)