Educational Attainment
Definition
The highest level of education completed by an individual, typically categorized as: less than high school, high school diploma/GED, some college, bachelor's degree, or graduate/professional degree.
Why It Matters
Educational attainment is one of the strongest predictors of income, employment, health, and civic participation. Communities with higher educational attainment tend to have stronger economies and better quality of life.
How It's Measured
The ACS asks respondents aged 25+ to report the highest degree or level of school completed. Results are reported as percentages of the population at each attainment level.
Current Value
US bachelor's degree rate: approximately 33.7%
Related Ranking
View ranking →Related Terms
Related Glossary Terms
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Frequently Asked Questions
The highest level of education completed by an individual, typically categorized as: less than high school, high school diploma/GED, some college, bachelor's degree, or graduate/professional degree.
Educational attainment is one of the strongest predictors of income, employment, health, and civic participation. Communities with higher educational attainment tend to have stronger economies and better quality of life.
The ACS asks respondents aged 25+ to report the highest degree or level of school completed. Results are reported as percentages of the population at each attainment level.
Educational Attainment is one of the U.S. population demographics concepts that recurs across this site. The definition above is the technical answer; the paragraphs below add the practical context for how the concept connects to the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data behind every per-entity page on the site.
In the the U.S. Census Bureau ACS and decennial files data, this concept shapes one or more of the fields that drive the per-entity grades and rankings on this site. The methodology page describes which fields feed into which output; this glossary entry documents the underlying term.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau ACS, 2026.