This indicator represents the percentage of the early to mid-career population that has earned at least a 4-year undergraduate degree. The indicator represents where college degree holders live rather than where they were educated. The age cohort of 25–44 years old represents a group of individuals who are potential long-term participants in a state’s workforce. High values indicate a resident population or potential workforce with widespread credentials at the college or university level.

Estimates of educational attainment and the population age 25–44 years old are derived from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey (ACS), the largest household survey in the United States, with a sample size of about 3.5 million addresses. The ACS collects information on an annual basis. Bachelor’s degree holders include those with degrees awarded by both public and private institutions and in science and engineering (S&E) and non-S&E fields.

Nationwide, the portion of this age cohort with a postsecondary degree has increased over time, though it continues to vary substantially across states. Highest percentages of bachelor’s degree holders are typically found in the New England and Middle Atlantic states.

Data sources: Census Bureau, regular and special tabulations of the American Community Survey.