Indicator 40: Some College Education
Rationale: A college education or technical training is increasingly seen as important both for the state’s economic development and the financial well-being of individuals. College-educated workers are seen as more productive.
About this indicator: The percentage of Minnesotans ages 25 and older who have attended college rose from 45.5 percent in the 1990 Census to 59.1 percent in the 2000 Census. The American Community Survey shows a 2009 rate of 63.6 percent, down slightly from 2008, but the change was not statistically significant.
Percentage of Minnesotans age 25 and older with some college
| Year | Data |
|---|---|
| Percentage of Minnesotans age 25 and older with some college, U.S. Bureau of the Census | |
| 1980 | 34.5% |
| 1990 | 45.5% |
| 1994 | 52.2% |
| 1995 | 52.2% |
| 1999 | 61.6% |
| 2000 | 59.1% |
| 2005 | 62.9% |
| 2006 | 62.1% |
| 2007 | 62.4% |
| 2008 | 64.1% |
| 2009 | 63.6% |
Things to think about: Much of the increase in educational attainment is traceable to the replacement of older generations who typically had less education. Educational attainment among younger adults has shown little change.
Sources:
- U.S. Census Bureau, Decennial Census and American Community Survey, http://www.census.gov/
Milestones is a product of the Minnesota State Demographic Center, a division of the Department of Administration