New Jersey

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

The Census reports on the level of education attained by adults age 25 and older. Our elderly population grew up in a time when education attainment was typically lower, and college attendance was less widespread. As this population is succeeded by younger and increasingly well-educated cohorts, the percent of the population that has attained higher levels of education slowly increases. Not only has the number of diplomas and degrees increased, but their percentage in the population has also increased, indicating a growth in attainment greater than the relative growth in national population.

Educational Attainment in Population 25 Years and Over, 1990-2000
1990 2000
Number Percent of Total Number Percent of Total
Total Population Age 25+ 5,166,233 100.00% 5,657,799 100.00%
Less than 9th grade 486,210 9.41% 373,429 6.60%
Some high school, no diploma 718,996 13.92% 641,048 11.33%
High school graduate* 1,606,555 31.10% 1,661,493 29.37%
Some college, no degree 801,791 15.52% 998,872 17.65%
Associate degree 268,664 5.20% 298,096 5.27%
Bachelor's degree 826,887 16.01% 1,063,665 18.80%
Graduate or professional degree 457,130 8.85% 621,196 10.98%

* "High school graduate" includes people with the G.E.D. and similar equivalents.

Source: Census 2000 analyzed by the Social Science Data Analysis Network (SSDAN).

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