Educational attainment in the United States: March 1982 to 1985.

Abstract

This report contains data from the Current Population Survey conducted by the Bureau of the Census in March of 1982-1985. Detailed tables present data on years of school completed by persons 15+ by age, sex, race, Spanish origin, type of residence, occupation, marital status, and education of spouse. Summary data are also presented for the 15 largest states and metropolitan areas. Highlights of the survey data follow. 1) The proportion of young adults (25-29) who were high school graduates rose from 38% to 86% between 1940 and 1985; the proportion of young adults who were college graduates rose form 6% in 1940 to 22% in 1985. 2) In the late 1950s, more woman than men aged 25-29 had completed high school; by 1980, about 86% of both men and women aged 25-29 had completed high school. 3) In 1940, 7% of men and 5% of women 25-29 completed college; in 1985, 23% of men and 16% of women 25+ were college graduates. 4) By 1985, 87% of white young adults 25-29 and 81% of comparable Blacks were high school graduates compared with 41% of Whites and 12% of Blacks in 1940. 5) In 1985, Whites were nearly twice as likely as Blacks to have completed college compared with almost 4 times as likely in 1940. In 1985, 23% of Whites and 12% of Blacks aged 25-29 were college graduates. 6) In 1985, over 80% of young adults in all regions were high school graduates; the proportion was lowest for the South in both 1970 and 1985. 27% of young adults residing in the Northeast vs. about 21% of young adults in other regions were college graduates in 1985.