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Digest of Education Statistics: 2006
Digest of Education Statistics: 2006

NCES 2007-017
July 2007


Table 187. College enrollment and enrollment rates of recent high school completers, by race/ethnicity: 1960 through 2005 

[Numbers in thousands]
Year Number of high school completers1  Enrolled in college2 
Total White Black3  Hispanic3  Total White Black3  Hispanic3 
Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent Number Percent
Annual 3-year
moving average
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14
1960 1,679 (43.8) 1,565 (44.7) (†) (†) 758 (40.9) 45.1 (2.13) 717 (40.2) 45.8 (2.21) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1961 1,763 (46.0) 1,612 (46.9) (†) (†) 847 (42.9) 48.0 (2.09) 798 (42.2) 49.5 (2.19) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1962 1,838 (43.6) 1,660 (45.2) (†) (†) 900 (43.2) 49.0 (2.05) 840 (42.4) 50.6 (2.15) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1963 1,741 (44.2) 1,615 (45.2) (†) (†) 784 (41.5) 45.0 (2.09) 736 (40.7) 45.6 (2.17) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1964 2,145 (43.0) 1,964 (45.4) (†) (†) 1,037 (45.6) 48.3 (1.89) 967 (44.8) 49.2 (1.98) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
                                                     
1965 2,659 (47.7) 2,417 (50.6) (†) (†) 1,354 (51.4) 50.9 (1.70) 1,249 (50.4) 51.7 (1.78) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1966 2,612 (45.0) 2,403 (48.0) (†) (†) 1,309 (50.2) 50.1 (1.72) 1,243 (49.6) 51.7 (1.79) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1967 2,525 (37.9) 2,267 (40.3) (†) (†) 1,311 (40.9) 51.9 (1.42) 1,202 (40.1) 53.0 (1.50) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1968 2,606 (37.3) 2,303 (40.4) (†) (†) 1,444 (41.7) 55.4 (1.39) 1,304 (40.9) 56.6 (1.47) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1969 2,842 (36.0) 2,538 (39.8) (†) (†) 1,516 (42.5) 53.3 (1.34) 1,402 (42.0) 55.2 (1.41) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
                                                     
1970 2,758 (37.4) 2,461 (40.7) (†) (†) 1,427 (42.2) 51.7 (1.36) 1,280 (41.2) 52.0 (1.44) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1971 2,875 (38.0) 2,596 (41.1) (†) (†) 1,538 (43.2) 53.5 (1.33) 1,402 (42.5) 54.0 (1.40) (†) (†) (†) (†) (†)
1972 2,964 (37.8) 2,520 (31.2) 316 (18.3) 101 (14.2) 1,459 (43.1) 49.2 (1.31) 1,252 (39.0) 49.7 (1.42) 141 (16.7) 44.6 (4.62) 46 (11.7) 45.0 (9.74) (†)
1973 3,058 (37.1) 2,590 (30.8) 324 (18.5) 119 (13.7) 1,424 (43.0) 46.6 (1.29) 1,238 (39.2) 47.8 (1.40) 105 (15.2) 32.5 (4.30) 64 (13.0) 54.1 (9.01) 48.7 (5.33)
1974 3,101 (38.6) 2,620 (31.4) 325 (19.0) 121 (15.2) 1,475 (43.7) 47.6 (1.28) 1,236 (39.4) 47.2 (1.39) 154 (17.4) 47.2 (4.58) 57 (12.9) 46.9 (8.94) 33.7 (6.01)
                                                     
1975 3,185 (38.6) 2,701 (31.9) 302 (15.4) 132 (15.8) 1,615 (44.8) 50.7 (1.26) 1,381 (40.5) 51.1 (1.37) 126 (13.6) 41.7 (3.97) 77 (14.5) 58.0 (8.44) 36.9 (5.63)
1976 2,986 (39.8) 2,492 (33.1) 290 (15.8) 152 (16.2) 1,458 (43.6) 48.8 (1.31) 1,217 (39.1) 48.8 (1.43) 129 (13.8) 44.4 (4.08) 80 (14.8) 52.7 (7.97) 53.8 (4.68)
1977 3,141 (40.7) 2,618 (34.0) 325 (19.3) 155 (16.0) 1,590 (45.4) 50.6 (1.29) 1,331 (40.8) 50.8 (1.41) 161 (17.9) 49.5 (4.65) 79 (14.8) 50.8 (7.96) 48.5 (4.72)
1978 3,163 (39.7) 2,615 (33.7) 345 (18.4) 135 (15.3) 1,585 (45.2) 50.1 (1.28) 1,321 (40.6) 50.5 (1.41) 160 (17.7) 46.4 (4.51) 56 (13.0) 42.0 (8.44) 45.9 (4.69)
1979 3,160 (40.0) 2,629 (32.7) 319 (19.7) 155 (16.1) 1,559 (45.1) 49.3 (1.28) 1,313 (40.5) 49.9 (1.41) 149 (17.5) 46.7 (4.69) 70 (14.3) 45.0 (7.92) 46.4 (4.83)
                                                     
1980 3,088 (39.4) 2,554 (30.9) 350 (19.7) 130 (17.1) 1,523 (44.6) 49.3 (1.30) 1,273 (39.6) 49.8 (1.43) 149 (17.7) 42.7 (4.44) 68 (14.4) 52.3 (8.70) 49.8 (4.78)
1981 3,056 (42.2) 2,490 (34.1) 349 (20.5) 146 (17.6) 1,648 (45.8) 53.9 (1.30) 1,367 (40.5) 54.9 (1.44) 149 (17.8) 42.7 (4.44) 76 (15.1) 52.1 (8.19) 49.2 (4.68)
1982 3,100 (40.4) 2,474 (32.9) 382 (19.6) 173 (18.2) 1,569 (46.9) 50.6 (1.36) 1,303 (41.5) 52.7 (1.52) 137 (17.9) 35.8 (4.33) 75 (15.8) 43.2 (7.96) 49.8 (4.94)
1983 2,963 (41.6) 2,363 (33.1) 390 (21.1) 138 (17.8) 1,562 (46.7) 52.7 (1.39) 1,301 (40.9) 55.0 (1.55) 149 (18.7) 38.2 (4.34) 75 (15.7) 54.2 (8.96) 47.3 (4.73)
1984 3,012 (36.5) 2,331 (29.1) 433 (18.5) 187 (17.0) 1,663 (46.0) 55.2 (1.37) 1,375 (39.9) 59.0 (1.54) 172 (19.4) 39.8 (4.15) 83 (16.2) 44.3 (7.67) 49.9 (4.89)
                                                     
1985 2,668 (40.1) 2,104 (32.3) 332 (19.3) 141 (19.7) 1,540 (45.1) 57.7 (1.45) 1,264 (39.2) 60.1 (1.62) 140 (17.8) 42.2 (4.78) 72 (17.0) 51.0 (9.76) 46.5 (5.19)
1986 2,786 (38.6) 2,146 (30.3) 378 (18.4) 169 (21.7) 1,498 (45.0) 53.8 (1.43) 1,219 (38.8) 56.8 (1.62) 140 (17.9) 36.9 (4.38) 74 (17.7) 44.0 (8.85) 42.9 (5.21)
1987 2,647 (40.9) 2,040 (32.4) 333 (20.6) 176 (20.9) 1,503 (45.1) 56.8 (1.46) 1,195 (38.7) 58.6 (1.65) 174 (19.3) 52.2 (4.82) 59 (16.1) 33.5 (8.25) 44.9 (5.04)
1988 2,673 (47.0) 2,013 (37.9) 378 (22.3) 179 (26.6) 1,575 (50.3) 58.9 (1.57) 1,230 (42.9) 61.1 (1.79) 168 (21.1) 44.4 (4.91) 102 (23.6) 57.1 (10.14) 48.6 (5.99)
1989 2,450 (46.5) 1,889 (37.3) 332 (21.3) 168 (26.5) 1,460 (48.7) 59.6 (1.64) 1,147 (41.7) 60.7 (1.85) 177 (20.9) 53.4 (5.27) 93 (22.9) 55.1 (10.51) 51.6 (6.33)
                                                     
1990 2,362 (43.0) 1,819 (32.2) 331 (21.9) 121 (21.8) 1,420 (45.9) 60.1 (1.60) 1,147 (38.5) 63.0 (1.80) 155 (19.7) 46.8 (5.08) 52 (16.0) 42.7 (10.82) 51.7 (5.70)
1991 2,276 (41.0) 1,727 (30.3) 310 (20.2) 154 (23.5) 1,423 (44.8) 62.5 (1.62) 1,129 (37.2) 65.4 (1.82) 144 (18.8) 46.4 (5.25) 88 (19.9) 57.2 (9.58) 51.6 (5.52)
1992 2,397 (40.4) 1,724 (30.9) 354 (21.4) 198 (23.0) 1,483 (45.4) 61.9 (1.58) 1,109 (37.4) 64.3 (1.84) 171 (20.2) 48.2 (4.92) 109 (21.0) 55.0 (8.50) 58.1 (5.04)
1993 2,342 (41.4) 1,719 (32.6) 304 (20.4) 201 (23.1) 1,467 (45.4) 62.6 (1.59) 1,082 (37.9) 62.9 (1.85) 169 (19.6) 55.6 (5.28) 125 (21.9) 62.2 (8.22) 55.4 (4.97)
1994 2,517 (38.1) 1,915 (27.0) 316 (17.9) 178 (17.3) 1,559 (43.0) 61.9 (1.43) 1,236 (35.5) 64.5 (1.61) 161 (16.7) 50.8 (4.42) 87 (14.0) 49.1 (6.28) 55.0 (3.23)
                                                     
1995 2,599 (40.9) 1,861 (30.1) 349 (19.2) 288 (19.4) 1,610 (44.5) 61.9 (1.41) 1,197 (36.1) 64.3 (1.64) 179 (17.6) 51.2 (4.20) 155 (17.6) 53.7 (4.92) 51.2 (3.18)
1996 2,660 (40.5) 1,875 (30.8) 406 (17.3) 227 (18.9) 1,729 (46.1) 65.0 (1.42) 1,264 (37.5) 67.4 (1.67) 227 (19.0) 56.0 (4.03) 115 (16.3) 50.8 (5.79) 56.7 (2.97)
1997 2,769 (41.8) 1,909 (31.8) 384 (19.2) 336 (19.0) 1,856 (47.3) 67.0 (1.38) 1,301 (38.1) 68.2 (1.64) 225 (19.4) 58.5 (4.12) 220 (19.7) 65.6 (4.53) 54.6 (2.94)
1998 2,810 (43.9) 1,980 (33.0) 386 (20.2) 314 (20.8) 1,844 (48.3) 65.6 (1.38) 1,357 (39.0) 68.5 (1.61) 239 (20.0) 61.9 (4.05) 149 (18.3) 47.4 (4.92) 51.8 (2.79)
1999 2,897 (41.5) 1,978 (31.8) 436 (15.2) 329 (20.9) 1,822 (47.8) 62.9 (1.38) 1,311 (38.6) 66.3 (1.64) 257 (19.1) 58.9 (3.86) 139 (18.0) 42.3 (4.76) 47.5 (2.84)
                                                     
2000 2,756 (45.3) 1,938 (32.9) 393 (20.0) 300 (22.4) 1,745 (48.4) 63.3 (1.41) 1,272 (38.8) 65.7 (1.66) 216 (19.5) 54.9 (4.11) 159 (19.2) 52.9 (5.03) 49.0 (2.96)
2001 2,549 (46.5) 1,834 (34.8) 381 (20.3) 241 (21.1) 1,574 (47.5) 61.8 (1.48) 1,178 (38.7) 64.3 (1.72) 210 (19.4) 55.0 (4.17) 124 (17.4) 51.7 (5.63) 52.7 (2.93)
2002 2,796 (42.7) 1,903 (31.3) 382 (19.1) 344 (21.6) 1,824 (46.1) 65.2 (1.31) 1,314 (36.5) 69.1 (1.55) 227 (18.7) 59.4 (3.90) 184 (19.2) 53.6 (4.46) 54.6 (2.75)
20034  2,677 (42.2) 1,832 (30.8) 327 (18.4) 314 (20.9) 1,711 (45.2) 63.9 (1.35) 1,213 (35.9) 66.2 (1.61) 188 (17.4) 57.5 (4.25) 184 (18.9) 58.6 (4.61) 58.0 (2.66)
20044  2,752 (40.0) 1,854 (30.9) 398 (15.5) 286 (19.9) 1,835 (44.9) 66.7 (1.31) 1,276 (36.1) 68.8 (1.57) 249 (17.9) 62.5 (3.77) 177 (18.4) 61.8 (4.76) 58.1 (2.60)
20054  2,675 (40.8) 1,799 (30.5) 345 (16.6) 390 (20.6) 1,834 (44.8) 68.6 (1.31) 1,317 (35.4) 73.2 (1.52) 192 (17.1) 55.7 (4.15) 211 (19.7) 54.0 (4.18) (†)
—Not available.
†Not applicable.
1 Individuals ages 16 to 24 who graduated from high school or completed a GED during the preceding 12 months.
2 Enrollment in college as of October of each year for individuals ages 16 to 24 who completed high school during the preceding 12 months.
3 Due to the small sample size, data are subject to relatively large sampling errors.
4 White and Black data exclude persons identifying themselves as multiracial.
NOTE: High school completion data in this table differ from figures appearing in other tables because of varying survey procedures and coverage. High school completers include GED recipients. Moving averages are used to produce more stable estimates. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic origin. Standard errors appear in parentheses.
SOURCE: American College Testing Program, unpublished tabulations, derived from statistics collected by the Census Bureau, 1960 through 1969. U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October 1970 through October 2005, unpublished tabulations. (This table was prepared May 2006.)