The U.S. Census Bureau on Wednesday released the Educational Attainment in the United States: 2025 table package, which looks at the education level of adults age 18 and older. The tables break the data down by age, sex, race, nativity and other demographic and social characteristics.
The figures come from the Current Population Survey Annual Social and Economic Supplement. The Current Population Survey is sponsored by the Census Bureau and the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. The Census Bureau describes it as the primary source of labor force statistics for the nation’s population.
By age, the Census Bureau said that about 43% of people ages 25 to 54 and 35% of people age 55 and older held a bachelor’s degree or higher in 2025. Among people ages 18 to 24, 65% had completed high school, 19% had earned an associate’s degree or higher, and 16% had less than a high school education.
By sex, 34% of men age 18 and older had a bachelor’s degree or higher as their highest level of education. For women, the share was 38%. Among men, 10% had less than a high school education, 30% were high school graduates, and 25% had some college or an associate’s degree. Among women, 8% had less than a high school education, 26% were high school graduates, and 27% had some college or an associate’s degree.
The release also looked at employed civilians age 25 and older. Of those workers, 49% had a high school diploma or an associate’s degree, 45% held a bachelor’s degree or higher, and 6% had less than a high school diploma or equivalent.
By occupation, 77% of workers in professional and related jobs held a bachelor’s degree or higher. The share was 64% for management, business and financial occupations. The three occupation groups with a majority of workers holding a high school diploma or associate’s degree were installation, maintenance and repair (81%), transportation and material moving (73%), and production (73%).
By industry, the three with a majority of workers holding a bachelor’s degree or higher were information (62%), educational and health services (60%), and financial activities (60%). The three with a majority holding a high school diploma or associate’s degree were transportation and utilities (67%), wholesale and retail trade (65%), and construction (64%).
The Census Bureau said all comparative statements in the tip sheet were statistically tested. Unless noted otherwise, they are statistically significant at the 10% level. The agency said technical documentation has more detail on confidentiality protection, methodology, sampling and nonsampling error, and definitions.