The Racial Gap in Educational Attainment in the United States

New data from the U.S. Census Bureau offers a look at racial differences in educational attainment. The study found that 93.3 percent of non-Hispanic White Americans over the age of 18 had graduated from high school. For African Americans over the age of 18, the high school graduation rate is 86.6 percent.

Some 65.8 percent of non-Hispanic White Americans over the age of 25  have at least some college experience, compared to 54.3 percent of African Americans. Well more than one third, 38.1 percent, of non-Hispanic Whites over the age of 25, have obtained at least a bachelor’s degree. For African American adults, 23.9 percent have earned a bachelor’s degree or higher.

More than 14 percent of adult non-Hispanic Whites hold an advanced degree compared to 8.8 percent of adult African Americans. Some 2 percent of non-Hispanic Whites hold a doctoral degree. For adult African Americans, 1.1 percent hold a doctorate.

The data tables from Educational Attainment in the United States: 2017, may be downloaded here.

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