New Mexico

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+ 922,590 100.00% 1,134,801 100.00%
Less than 9th grade 105,362 11.42% 104,985 9.25%
Some high school, no diploma 124,612 13.51% 134,996 11.90%
High school graduate* 264,943 28.72% 301,746 26.59%
Some college, no degree 192,835 20.90% 259,924 22.90%
Associate degree 46,502 5.04% 67,001 5.90%
Bachelor's degree 111,957 12.14% 154,372 13.60%
Graduate or professional degree 76,379 8.28% 111,777 9.85%

* "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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