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.
Source: Keystone Features / Getty Images
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
Source: Ed Uthman / Flickr
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
Source: Keystone / Getty Images
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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Source: Ed Uthman / Flickr
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
Source: Tony Duffy / Getty Images
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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Source: Peter Keegan / Keystone / Getty Images
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
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Source: Tony Duffy / Getty Images
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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Source: Keystone / Hulton Archive / Getty Images
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
Source: Courtesy of BU Photography / Boston University
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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Source: David Herman / Getty Images
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
Source: Leo Vals / Getty Images
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
Source: Steve Powell / Getty Images
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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Source: the-consortium / Flickr
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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Source: Mike Powell / Allsport / Getty Images
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
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Source: Rick Stewart / Getty Images
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
Source: Scott Halleran / Allsport / Getty Images
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
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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
Source: Jonathan Daniel / Allsport
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
Source: tulio22 / Flickr
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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Source: Photos.com / PHOTOS.com>> via Getty Images
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
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Source: Donald Miralle / Getty Images
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
Source: Comstock / Stockbyte via Getty Images
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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Source: iPandastudio / iStock via Getty Images
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
Source: Darren McCollester / Newsmakers
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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Source: William Thomas Cain / Getty Images
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
Source: Mawrter05 / Wikimedia Commons
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
Source: Jayme Halbritter / Getty Images
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
Source: hairballusa / iStock via Getty Images
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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Source: GreenPimp / iStock via Getty Images
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
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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
Source: adamkaz / E+ via Getty Images
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
Source: Emmanuelle Firman / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
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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Source: 4x6 / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
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
Source: janniswerner / iStock Editorial via Getty Images
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
Source: shaunl / iStock Unreleased via Getty Images
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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Source: kasto80 / iStock via Getty Images
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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Source: ljubaphoto / iStock via Getty Images
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
Source: williamscollege / Flickr
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
Source: clu / iStock via Getty Images
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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Source: Maddie Meyer / Getty Images News via Getty Images
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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