General Attainment of Degrees/diplomas
| Education | Percentage |
|---|---|
| High school graduate | 87.58% |
| Some college | 56.86% |
| Associate's and/or Bachelor's degree | 39.89% |
| Bachelor's degree | 30.44% |
| Master's degree | 7.95% |
| Doctorate or professional degree | 3.00% |
In 2005, the proportion of the population having finished high school and the percentage of those having earned bachelor's degrees remained at an all-time high, while the growth in both categories has slowed down over the past two decades. The vast majority of the population, 85.2%, had finished high school and nearly a quarter, 22%, had earned a Bachelor's degree. The percentage of both college and high school graduates continued to increase since 2000.
Since 1983 the percentage of people graduating from high school has increased from 85% to 88%. The greatest increases in educational attainment were documented in the 1950s, 60s and 70s. In the 1950s and much of the 1960s high school graduates constituted about 50% of those considered adults (25 and above). For young adults aged between 25 and 29, the percentage of high school graduates was roughly 50% in 1950 versus 90% today.
Read more about this topic: Educational Attainment In The United States
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