U.S. College attainment has reached its highest level ever. According to cenusus data released Thursday:
In March 2011, for the first time ever, more than 30 percent of U.S. adults 25 and older had at least a bachelor’s degree, the U.S. Census Bureau reported today.
“This is an important milestone in our history,” Census Bureau Director Robert Groves said. “For many people, education is a sure path to a prosperous life. The more education people have the more likely they are to have a job and earn more money, particularly for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree.”
It’s a little unclear why, exactly, this is an important milestone. Technically every time the Census comes out it reveals that more and more Americans have completed college; it’s a trend that’s been there pretty much throughout American history. Still, now we know.
In 1998 slightly less than 25 percent of the population 25 and older had a bachelor’s degree.
