Facts

Drawn either by the growing importance of a college degree or the 24/7 party lifestyle dramatized in such classics as Animal House or Old School, a growing number of students are attending higher-ed institutions.

College bound

Percentage of 25-29 year olds (2003)

who have completed a bachelor's degree or higher NCES (PDF):

• 28.4%

who have completed at least some college NCES (PDF):

• 57.4%

In school

2002 higher-ed enrollment by level NCES:

• All levels: 17.0 million
• Undergraduate: 14.7 million
• Graduate: 2.0 million
• Post-graduate: 319,000

Public vs. Private

Percentage of higher-ed students enrolled in (2002 NCES)...

• Public college/university: 75.6%
• Private college/university: 24.4%

Percentage of undergraduate students enrolled in (2002 NCES)...

• Public college/university: 78.8%
• Private college/university: 21.2%

Is a college degree really worth it?

How much are college grads making compared to everyone else?

Average median salary for men ages 25-34 with a bachelor degree or higher (in 2004 dollars): (IES)

• 2004: $50,700 (vs. all edu levels: $36,000)
• 2003: $49,600 (vs. all edu levels: $36,600)
• 1995: $46,400 (vs. all edu levels: $34,200)
• 1980: $46,300 (vs. all edu levels: $40,600)

Average median salary for women ages 25-34 with a bachelor degree or higher (in 2004 dollars): (IES)

• 2004: $40,300 (vs. all edu levels: $31,000)
• 2003: $41,300 (vs. all edu levels: $31,500)
• 1995: $37,300 (vs. all edu levels: $27,500)
• 1980: $34,100 (vs. all edu levels: $27,600)

Are there any other benefits besides salary?

Percentage of college grads with employer-provided health care (private sector):

• 2002: just under 70%
• 1990: just under 80%

Versus percentage of high school only grads with employer-provided health care (private sector):

• 2002: just under 40%
• 1990: just under 50%

Percentage of college grads with employer-provided pension benefits (private sector):

• 2002: just under 50%
• 1990: just above 40%

Versus percentage of high school only grads with employer-provided pension benefits (private sector):

• 2002: 20%
• 1990: just above 20%

Where the facts are from:

• CB - College Board

• FSA - Federal Student Aid - the ed. department's financial aid wing

• IRS - Internal Revenue Service

• NCES - National Center for Education Statistics - the ed. department's statistics wing

Other resources:

• The Advisory Committee on Student Financial Asssistance - government site

• National Association of Colleges and Employers - for stats on grads going into the workforce

Updated, Summer 2006

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