The U.S. Census Bureau has released new data on educational attainment in the United States for 2024, focusing on adults age 18 and older. The information comes from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement.
According to the report, 42.8% of individuals aged 25 to 39, 41.5% of those aged 40 to 54, and 34.2% of people aged 55 and older held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2024. The data also shows that among adults age 25 and older, women were more likely than men to have earned at least a bachelor’s degree, with rates at 40.1% for women compared to 37.1% for men.
Among employed workers in 2024, nearly half (49.3%) had a high school diploma or associate degree as their highest level of education, while another 44.5% had attained a bachelor’s degree or higher; only 6.1% did not have a high school diploma or equivalent.
Looking at specific occupations and industries, the data found that “In 2024, 76.5% of people who worked in professional and related occupations and 64.2% of people in management, business and financial occupations held a bachelor’s degree or higher.” The occupation with the largest share of high school diploma or associate degree holders was installation, maintenance and repair (78.3%). Transportation and utilities was identified as the industry with the highest percentage (67.5%) of workers whose top credential was a high school diploma or associate degree.
Industries where college degrees are most common include information (64.9%) as well as education and health services (61.2%).
The Current Population Survey is sponsored by both the Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics; it serves as the main source for labor force statistics nationwide.
“All comparative statements in this tip sheet have undergone statistical testing, and, unless otherwise noted, all are statistically significant at the 10 percent significance level,” according to technical documentation provided by the Census Bureau.
Further details about confidentiality protection, methodology, sampling error, nonsampling error, and definitions can be found within accompanying technical materials.
