In 2023, 39.8% of Americans ages 25 to 34 held a bachelor’s degree or higher, up from 36.2% in 2013. The same data set shows uneven outcomes across race, gender, and geography, from women outpacing men in bachelor’s attainment to rural areas lagging urban ones. Cost, unemployment, and earnings then sharpen the picture, with bachelor’s holders reporting a 2.2% unemployment rate in 2023 compared with 3.8% for high school graduates.
Key Takeaways
- In 2023, 39.8% of 25-34 year olds held bachelor's or higher, up from 36.2% in 2013
- Average published in-state tuition and fees at public 4-year colleges rose 2.7% to $9,970 for 2023-24
- In 2022, full-time workers aged 25 and over with a bachelor's degree earned a median weekly salary of $1,432, 66% higher than high school graduates at $853
- College graduates have 57% higher wealth accumulation by retirement age 65 per 2022 Fed data
- Unemployment rate for bachelor's holders aged 25+ was 2.2% in 2023, compared to 3.8% for high school graduates and 8.5% for high school dropouts
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Related reading
01 · Category
Attainment Rates24 stats
01
In 2023, 39.8% of 25-34 year olds held bachelor's or higher, up from 36.2% in 2013
02
Bachelor's attainment for women 25+ reached 39% in 2022, surpassing men at 37%
03
Associate degrees: 10.5% of adults 25+ in 2022
04
High school completion leading to college: 66% enroll rate 2022
05
By race, Asian Americans 60% bachelor's attainment 25-34 in 2023
06
Rural attainment 28% bachelor's vs urban 36% 2021
07
First-gen college grads: attainment 25% vs 45% continuing-gen 2022
08
STEM bachelor's conferred: 20% of all degrees 2022, up 10% decade
09
Community college transfer success: 15% bachelor's attainment within 6 years
10
Men aged 25-34: 32% bachelor's 2023, down from 35% 2000
11
Hispanic attainment: 23% bachelor's 25+ 2022, doubled since 2000
12
Master's degrees: 13.5% adults 25+ 2022
13
Low-income students: 18% bachelor's attainment vs 70% high-income 2022
14
Online degrees: 15% of bachelor's conferred 2022
15
Black attainment: 26% bachelor's 25+ 2022
16
States leader: Massachusetts 45% bachelor's 25+ 2022
17
Doctoral degrees: 2% adults 2022
18
Completion rates 6-year: 63% public 4-year 2022 cohort
19
Trade school vs college: 20% associate attainment in trades 2022
20
Immigrants: 35% bachelor's attainment US 2022
21
Military: 20% bachelor's among veterans 25+ 2023
22
Disability: 18% bachelor's attainment disabled adults 2022
23
Pandemic drop: freshman enrollment -2.7% 2022, attainment lag projected
24
Gender gap: women 57% of bachelor's recipients 2022
Interpretation
Attainment Rates Interpretation
The data paints a picture of a nation where educational attainment is generally rising, yet the landscape is a stubbornly uneven terrain riddled with persistent gaps in gender, race, geography, and income that continue to define the American meritocracy.
02 · Category
Cost of Attendance23 stats
01
Average published in-state tuition and fees at public 4-year colleges rose 2.7% to $9,970 for 2023-24
02
Student loan debt averaged $37,000per borrower in 2023, total $1.7 trillion outstanding
03
Net price after aid public 4-year: $14,270for 2022-23 low-income
04
Private nonprofit 4-year tuition average $39,4002023-24, up 180% since 1990 adjusted
05
Room and board public 4-year: $12,310average 2023-24
06
43% of bachelor's recipients graduate with debt averaging $28,400 in 2022
07
Community college tuition average $3,860in-state 2023-24
08
Books/supplies cost $1,250yearly public 4-year 2023
09
Federal Pell Grants average $4,500award 2023, covering 30% costs
10
Out-of-state public tuition $27,090average 2023-24
11
Default rate 3-year cohort 7.0% for 2019 borrowers 2023
12
Private for-profit average tuition $18,5002023
13
Total cost attendance public 4-year $27,090incl living 2023-24
14
Median debt Black grads $43,000vs $28,650 white 2022
15
Work-study covers 10% costs average $2,000 award 2023
16
ROI negative for 1/5 programs per 2022 Georgetown, costs exceed benefits
17
Inflation college costs 3x general CPI since 1980, $1.2T total debt
18
Merit aid average $7,000private colleges 2023
19
Transportation/other expenses $2,800yearly public 2023
20
529 plans growth: $500B assets 2023, tax-advantaged savings
21
Average repayment monthly $300for 10 years on $30k debt 2023 rates
22
Public 2-year net price $8,970low-income 2022-23
23
Forgiveness programs: 1M borrowers $150B relieved 2023 PSLF
Interpretation
Cost of Attendance Interpretation
In a system where a public degree costs as much as a new car and leaves you with a second mortgage, the American Dream now requires a co-signer from the Bank of Mom and Dad and a side hustle to pay off your side hustle.
More related reading
04 · Category
Lifetime Benefits24 stats
01
College graduates have 57% higher wealth accumulation by retirement age 65 per 2022 Fed data
02
Life expectancy premium: college grads live 9 years longer on average, 84 vs 75 years 2021 CDC
03
Divorce rate 30% lower for college grads vs HS 78% first marriage intact
04
Civic engagement: 50% voter turnout college grads vs 32% HS 2020 election
05
Health insurance coverage 85% for grads vs 65% HS 2023
06
Job mobility: grads 2x likely change jobs for advancement 2022 BLS
07
Retirement savings: grads median $150k 401k by 50 vs $50k HS 2022
08
Entrepreneurship: 15% grads start businesses vs 8% HS lifetime
09
Mental health: 20% lower depression rates in college grads 2021 study
10
Social networks: grads 40% larger professional networks 2023 LinkedIn
11
Homeownership: 75% grads by 40 vs 55% HS 2022 Census
12
Charitable giving: grads donate 3x more annually adjusted income
13
Leadership roles: 70% execs have degrees, lifetime career boost
14
Family income mobility: kids of grads 2.5x upward mobility 2022 Chetty
15
Smoking rate 8% grads vs 25% HS 2021 CDC
16
Patent filings: 80% inventors college-educated lifetime NSF
17
Happiness index: grads 15% higher life satisfaction scores 2022 Gallup
18
Disability-free years: +5 years for grads 2021 health study
19
Community involvement: grads volunteer 50% more hours yearly
20
Financial literacy: 65% grads proficient vs 40% HS 2023 FINRA
21
Career longevity: grads work 5 years more pre-retirement 2022 SSA
22
Obesity rate 25% grads vs 40% HS 2021 CDC
23
Political participation: grads 2x likely run for office lifetime
24
Inheritance wealth: grads preserve 20% more across gens 2022 Fed
Interpretation
Lifetime Benefits Interpretation
College graduates aren't just buying degrees; they're purchasing a comprehensive life-upgrade package that delivers more money, years, health, stability, and influence, effectively building a wider and more resilient runway for a successful life.
05 · Category
Unemployment Rates27 stats
01
Unemployment rate for bachelor's holders aged 25+ was 2.2% in 2023, compared to 3.8% for high school graduates and 8.5% for high school dropouts
02
In 2022, college graduates experienced unemployment of 2.1% during economic recovery, half the national average
03
STEM majors with degrees had 1.5% unemployment in 2021, lowest among fields
04
During COVID-19 peak 2020, bachelor's holders unemployment rose to 8.6%, still below HS 14%
05
Black college grads unemployment 4.1% in 2022, vs 6.1% HS
06
Women with bachelor's: 2.7% unemployment 2023, men 2.0%
07
Associate degrees: 2.7% unemployment 2022, better than HS 4.0%
08
Arts/humanities majors: 4.2% unemployment post-grad 2022, highest field
09
Master's holders: 1.8% unemployment 2023
10
In recessions, college grads regain jobs 2x faster; 2008 data showed 3.5% vs 7%
11
Engineering grads: 1.0% unemployment 2022
12
Long-term unemployed (<27 weeks): college grads 20% less likely 2023
13
Rural areas: college grads 2.5% unemployment vs urban 3.0% HS-adjusted 2021
14
Business majors: 2.4% unemployment recent grads 2023 NACE
15
Disability status: college grads with disability 3.5% unemployment 2022
16
Over-55 bachelor's holders: 2.8% unemployment 2023
17
Underemployed (part-time want full): 4.5% for grads vs 8% HS 2022
18
Law school grads: 2.5% unemployment 6 months post 2023 NALP
19
Education degrees: 3.1% unemployment 2022
20
Veteran college grads: 1.9% unemployment 2023
21
Immigrants with US bachelor's: 2.9% unemployment 2022
22
Social sciences majors: 3.8% unemployment recent 2023
23
Healthcare degrees: 1.2% unemployment 2022 BLS
24
2023 youth (20-24) grads: 5.2% unemployment vs 12% no college
25
Public admin degrees: 2.0% unemployment 2022
26
Pandemic recovery: grads unemployment fell 50% faster 2021-2022
27
Communications majors: 3.5% unemployment 2023
Interpretation
Unemployment Rates Interpretation
A bachelor's degree seems to function as a remarkably sturdy economic umbrella, reliably keeping its holder drier in every financial downpour, though some majors are clearly made of sturdier stuff than others.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Nathan Caldwell. (2026, February 13). College Degree Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/college-degree-statistics
MLA
Nathan Caldwell. "College Degree Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/college-degree-statistics.
Chicago
Nathan Caldwell. 2026. "College Degree Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/college-degree-statistics.
Sources & references
40 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level