One of the most important trends of the past century in the United States has been the dramatic increase in college education. According to the National Center for Education Statistics, the percentage of Americans under the age of 30 who attended college for at least four years, with or without attaining a bachelor’s degree, was only 6% during World War II, when the earliest reliable data was collected. By 2019, the percentage of Americans who not only went to college for at least four years but earned a bachelor’s degree had risen to 38.7%.
Some could argue that even that number of college-educated Americans is insufficient, considering that a college education greatly increases a person’s employment and earning potential. The Association of Public Land-Grant Universities has computed that the median amount earned annually by a bachelor’s degree holder is $14,000 higher than that for a worker with just a high school diploma. (These are the highest paying jobs you can get without a college degree.)
College-educated workers also are more likely to enjoy pay gains and have more opportunities to switch jobs. Recent trends in higher education show that the pace of people acquiring at least a four year degree is accelerating, according to a February 2021 U.S. Census Bureau report, with particularly significant gains by African-Americans. Lingering racial wealth gaps persist in higher-education attainment, but the data suggest progress has been made since 2005.
However, according to the Census report, much of this recent progress in higher-education attainment occurred in counties that already have populations of college graduates above the national average. This suggests that areas of the country with a high number of college graduates tend to produce more college graduates over time. (Here’s a list of the most educated city in every state.)
To identify the percentage of adults who had at least a 4-year college degree the year you were born, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the United States Census Bureau’s Current Population Survey (CPS) historic time series tables for the population 25 years and older. Total adult population over 25 is also from the CPS historic tables. Average cost of attending college (tuition, fees, room and board) is based on data from College Board, a nonprofit educational organization.
1971
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 16.9%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $1,410
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,980
> Adult population: 110,627,000
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1972
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 19.0%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $1,550
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,580
> Adult population: 111,133,000
24/7 Wall St.
1973
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 19.0%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $1,600
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,360
> Adult population: 112,866,000
1974
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 20.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $1,650
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,650
> Adult population: 115,005,000
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1975
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 21.9%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $1,780
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,510
> Adult population: 116,897,000
1976
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $1,940
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,800
> Adult population: 118,848,000
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1977
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 24.0%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $2,040
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,670
> Adult population: 120,870,000
1978
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.3%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $2,150
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,480
> Adult population: 123,019,000
1979
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.1%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $2,330
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,260
> Adult population: 125,295,000
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1980
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 22.5%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $2,550
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $7,990
> Adult population: 130,409,000
1981
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 21.3%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $2,870
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,120
> Adult population: 132,899,000
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1982
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 21.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $3,200
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,500
> Adult population: 135,526,000
24/7 Wall St.
1983
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 22.5%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $3,430
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $8,900
> Adult population: 138,020,000
1984
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 21.9%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $3,680
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,160
> Adult population: 140,794,000
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1985
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 22.2%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $3,860
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,280
> Adult population: 143,524,000
1986
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 22.4%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $4,050
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,580
> Adult population: 146,606,000
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1987
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 22.0%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $4,200
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,560
> Adult population: 149,144,000
1988
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 22.5%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $4,460
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,750
> Adult population: 151,635,000
1989
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.4%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $4,720
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $9,830
> Adult population: 154,155,000
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1990
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.2%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $5,070
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $10,070
> Adult population: 156,538,000
1991
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.2%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $5,450
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $10,370
> Adult population: 158,694,000
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1992
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.6%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $5,830
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $10,750
> Adult population: 160,827,000
24/7 Wall St.
1993
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $6,210
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $11,140
> Adult population: 162,826,000
1994
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 23.3%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $6,620
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $11,560
> Adult population: 164,512,000
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1995
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 24.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $6,740
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $11,450
> Adult population: 166,438,000
1996
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 27.1%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $7,140
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $11,780
> Adult population: 168,323,000
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1997
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 27.8%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $7,470
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $12,060
> Adult population: 170,581,000
1998
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 27.3%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $7,770
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $12,340
> Adult population: 172,211,000
1999
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.2%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $8,080
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $12,560
> Adult population: 173,754,000
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2000
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 29.1%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $8,440
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $12,660
> Adult population: 175,230,000
2001
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.4%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $9,030
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $13,180
> Adult population: 180,389,000
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2002
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 29.3%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $9,670
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $13,910
> Adult population: 182,142,000
2003
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.4%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $10,530
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $14,840
> Adult population: 185,183,000
2004
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $11,380
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $15,570
> Adult population: 186,876,000
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2005
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.8%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $12,120
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $16,070
> Adult population: 189,367,000
2006
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 28.4%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $12,840
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $16,350
> Adult population: 191,884,000
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2007
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 29.6%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $13,560
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $16,870
> Adult population: 194,318,000
2008
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 30.8%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $14,370
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $16,930
> Adult population: 196,305,000
2009
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 30.6%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $15,240
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $18,340
> Adult population: 198,285,000
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2010
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 31.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $16,180
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $19,230
> Adult population: 199,928,000
2011
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 32.2%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $17,160
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $19,680
> Adult population: 201,543,000
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2012
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 33.5%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $17,820
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $20,150
> Adult population: 204,579,000
2013
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 33.6%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $18,380
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $20,390
> Adult population: 206,899,000
2014
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 34.0%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $18,930
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $20,590
> Adult population: 209,287,000
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2015
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 35.6%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $19,570
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $21,250
> Adult population: 212,132,000
2016
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 36.1%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $20,150
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $21,700
> Adult population: 215,015,000
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2017
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 35.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $20,790
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $22,010
> Adult population: 216,921,000
2018
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 37.0%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $21,400
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $22,000
> Adult population: 219,830,000
2019
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 38.7%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $21,950
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $22,170
> Adult population: 221,478,000
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2020
> Adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor’s degree: 39.2%
> Tuition, fees, room and board: $22,180
> Tuition, fees, room and board, adj. for inflation: $22,180
> Adult population: 223,058,000
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