America Counts: Stories Behind the Numbers

U.S. Population More Educated Than Ever Before

For the first time, the percentage of the American population age 25 and older that completed high school or higher levels of education reached 90 percent in 2017.

The nation has made giant strides in education since 1940, when only 24 percent of people age 25 and older had finished four years of high school or more, according to recently released educational attainment data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey.

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In contrast, 77 years later a high school education is viewed as a prerequisite for many jobs in the modern economy, which helps explain the record 90 percent high school completion rate today.

Learn More About Educational Attainment in the United States

As the educational attainment of the population as a whole increased, so did the high school completion of all race and Hispanic origin groups.

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About America Counts

America Counts tells the stories behind the numbers in a new inviting way. It features stories on various topics such as families, housing, employment, business, education, the economy, emergency preparedness, and population. Contact our Public Information Office for media inquiries or interviews. 

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