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| 2016 Tables and Figures | All Years of Tables and Figures | Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest |
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| Table 302.20. | Percentage of recent high school completers enrolled in 2- and 4-year colleges, by race/ethnicity: 1960 through 2015 |
| [Standard errors appear in parentheses] | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Percent of recent high school completers1 enrolled in college2 (annual data) | 3-year moving averages3 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Percent of recent high school completers1 enrolled in college2 | Difference between percent enrolled | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian4 | Total | White | Black | Hispanic | Asian4 | White-Black | White-Hispanic | White-Asian4 | |||||||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | ||||||||||||||||
| 19605 | 45.1 | (2.16) | 45.8 | (2.24) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 46.6 | (1.52) | 47.7 | (1.58) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19615 | 48.0 | (2.12) | 49.5 | (2.22) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 47.4 | (1.22) | 48.7 | (1.28) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19625 | 49.0 | (2.08) | 50.6 | (2.19) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 47.4 | (1.22) | 48.6 | (1.27) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19635 | 45.0 | (2.12) | 45.6 | (2.21) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 47.5 | (1.18) | 48.5 | (1.23) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19645 | 48.3 | (1.92) | 49.2 | (2.01) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 48.5 | (1.10) | 49.2 | (1.15) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19655 | 50.9 | (1.73) | 51.7 | (1.81) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 49.9 | (1.03) | 51.0 | (1.08) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19665 | 50.1 | (1.74) | 51.7 | (1.82) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 51.0 | (1.01) | 52.1 | (1.06) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19675 | 51.9 | (1.44) | 53.0 | (1.52) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 52.5 | (0.82) | 53.8 | (0.87) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19685 | 55.4 | (1.41) | 56.6 | (1.50) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 53.6 | (0.81) | 55.0 | (0.86) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19695 | 53.3 | (1.36) | 55.2 | (1.43) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 53.5 | (0.80) | 54.6 | (0.85) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19705 | 51.7 | (1.38) | 52.0 | (1.46) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 52.9 | (0.79) | 53.8 | (0.83) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 19715 | 53.5 | (1.35) | 54.0 | (1.42) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | 51.5 | (0.78) | 51.9 | (0.83) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1972 | 49.2 | (1.33) | 49.7 | (1.45) | 44.6 | (4.74) | 45.0 | (12.85) | — | (†) | 49.7 | (0.77) | 50.5 | (0.83) | 38.4 | (3.26) | 49.9 | (8.76) | — | (†) | 12.1 | (3.36) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1973 | 46.6 | (1.31) | 47.8 | (1.43) | 32.5 | (4.40) | 54.1 | (11.89) | — | (†) | 47.8 | (0.76) | 48.2 | (0.83) | 41.4 | (2.68) | 48.8 | (7.04) | — | (†) | 6.8 | ! | (2.81) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | ||
| 1974 | 47.6 | (1.30) | 47.2 | (1.42) | 47.2 | (4.69) | 46.9 | (11.79) | — | (†) | 48.3 | (0.75) | 48.7 | (0.82) | 40.5 | (2.69) | 53.1 | (6.72) | — | (†) | 8.3 | ! | (2.82) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | ||
| 1975 | 50.7 | (1.29) | 51.1 | (1.40) | 41.7 | (4.81) | 58.0 | (11.14) | — | (†) | 49.1 | (0.75) | 49.1 | (0.82) | 44.5 | (2.78) | 52.7 | (6.44) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1976 | 48.8 | (1.33) | 48.8 | (1.45) | 44.4 | (4.94) | 52.7 | (10.52) | — | (†) | 50.1 | (0.75) | 50.3 | (0.82) | 45.3 | (2.78) | 53.6 | (6.18) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1977 | 50.6 | (1.30) | 50.8 | (1.42) | 49.5 | (4.70) | 50.8 | (10.43) | — | (†) | 49.9 | (0.75) | 50.1 | (0.83) | 46.8 | (2.73) | 48.8 | (6.18) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1978 | 50.1 | (1.29) | 50.5 | (1.42) | 46.4 | (4.55) | 42.0 | (11.06) | — | (†) | 50.0 | (0.75) | 50.4 | (0.82) | 47.5 | (2.69) | 46.1 | (6.14) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1979 | 49.3 | (1.29) | 49.9 | (1.42) | 46.7 | (4.73) | 45.0 | (10.37) | — | (†) | 49.6 | (0.75) | 50.1 | (0.82) | 45.2 | (2.65) | 46.3 | (6.32) | — | (†) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1980 | 49.3 | (1.31) | 49.8 | (1.44) | 42.7 | (4.48) | 52.3 | (11.39) | — | (†) | 50.8 | (0.75) | 51.5 | (0.83) | 44.0 | (2.64) | 49.6 | (6.25) | — | (†) | 7.5 | ! | (2.76) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | ||
| 1981 | 53.9 | (1.31) | 54.9 | (1.45) | 42.7 | (4.48) | 52.1 | (10.73) | — | (†) | 51.3 | (0.76) | 52.4 | (0.84) | 40.3 | (2.53) | 48.7 | (6.13) | — | (†) | 12.2 | (2.66) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1982 | 50.6 | (1.38) | 52.7 | (1.54) | 35.8 | (4.39) | 43.2 | (10.37) | — | (†) | 52.4 | (0.80) | 54.2 | (0.90) | 38.8 | (2.61) | 49.4 | (6.44) | — | (†) | 15.4 | (2.76) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1983 | 52.7 | (1.41) | 55.0 | (1.57) | 38.2 | (4.41) | 54.2 | (11.69) | — | (†) | 52.8 | (0.81) | 55.5 | (0.90) | 38.0 | (2.50) | 46.7 | (6.16) | — | (†) | 17.5 | (2.66) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1984 | 55.2 | (1.39) | 59.0 | (1.57) | 39.8 | (4.21) | 44.3 | (10.00) | — | (†) | 55.1 | (0.82) | 57.9 | (0.92) | 39.9 | (2.58) | 49.3 | (6.38) | — | (†) | 18.0 | (2.74) | ‡ | (†) | — | (†) | |||
| 1985 | 57.7 | (1.47) | 60.1 | (1.64) | 42.2 | (4.86) | 51.0 | (9.79) | — | (†) | 55.5 | (0.83) | 58.6 | (0.93) | 39.5 | (2.59) | 46.1 | (5.20) | — | (†) | 19.1 | (2.75) | 12.5 | ! | (5.28) | — | (†) | ||
| 1986 | 53.8 | (1.45) | 56.8 | (1.64) | 36.9 | (4.44) | 44.0 | (8.88) | — | (†) | 56.1 | (0.85) | 58.5 | (0.96) | 43.5 | (2.75) | 42.3 | (5.21) | — | (†) | 15.0 | (2.91) | 16.2 | ! | (5.30) | — | (†) | ||
| 1987 | 56.8 | (1.48) | 58.6 | (1.68) | 52.2 | (4.90) | 33.5 | (8.28) | — | (†) | 56.5 | (0.85) | 58.8 | (0.96) | 44.2 | (2.69) | 45.0 | (5.06) | — | (†) | 14.6 | (2.86) | 13.8 | ! | (5.15) | — | (†) | ||
| 1988 | 58.9 | (1.60) | 61.1 | (1.82) | 44.4 | (4.98) | 57.1 | (9.60) | — | (†) | 58.4 | (0.94) | 60.1 | (1.07) | 49.7 | (3.02) | 48.5 | (5.67) | — | (†) | 10.4 | ! | (3.20) | 11.6 | ! | (5.77) | — | (†) | |
| 1989 | 59.6 | (1.58) | 60.7 | (1.79) | 53.4 | (5.07) | 55.1 | (9.21) | 81.1 | (10.23) | 59.5 | (0.90) | 61.6 | (1.02) | 48.0 | (2.87) | 52.7 | (5.54) | 81.4 | (6.36) | 13.6 | (3.04) | ‡ | (†) | -19.8 | ! | (6.44) | ||
| 1990 | 60.1 | (1.60) | 63.0 | (1.80) | 46.8 | (5.08) | 42.7 | (10.82) | 81.7 | (8.12) | 60.7 | (0.92) | 63.0 | (1.04) | 48.9 | (2.97) | 52.5 | (5.70) | 81.4 | (6.36) | 14.0 | (3.14) | ‡ | (†) | -18.5 | ! | (6.44) | ||
| 1991 | 62.5 | (1.62) | 65.4 | (1.82) | 46.4 | (5.24) | 57.2 | (9.57) | 78.9 | (9.04) | 61.5 | (0.92) | 64.2 | (1.05) | 47.2 | (2.93) | 52.6 | (5.52) | 80.6 | (5.21) | 17.0 | (3.11) | 11.7 | ! | (5.62) | -16.3 | ! | (5.31) | |
| 1992 | 61.9 | (1.58) | 64.3 | (1.84) | 48.2 | (4.91) | 55.0 | (8.50) | 81.7 | (7.00) | 62.3 | (0.92) | 64.2 | (1.06) | 50.0 | (2.97) | 58.2 | (5.04) | 80.9 | (4.58) | 14.2 | (3.16) | ‡ | (†) | -16.7 | (4.70) | |||
| 1993 | 62.6 | (1.59) | 62.9 | (1.86) | 55.6 | (5.27) | 62.2 | (8.21) | 86.2 | (6.63) | 62.1 | (0.91) | 63.9 | (1.04) | 51.3 | (2.96) | 55.7 | (4.97) | 82.5 | (4.30) | 12.6 | (3.14) | ‡ | (†) | -18.6 | (4.42) | |||
| 1994 | 61.9 | (1.54) | 64.5 | (1.74) | 50.8 | (5.20) | 49.1 | (9.00) | 78.3 | (8.55) | 62.1 | (0.89) | 64.0 | (1.03) | 52.4 | (2.97) | 55.0 | (4.63) | 82.2 | (4.25) | 11.5 | (3.14) | ‡ | (†) | -18.2 | (4.37) | |||
| 1995 | 61.9 | (1.41) | 64.3 | (1.65) | 51.2 | (4.22) | 53.7 | (4.94) | 83.0 | (6.94) | 63.0 | (0.81) | 65.4 | (0.94) | 52.9 | (2.40) | 51.6 | (3.19) | 82.7 | (4.47) | 12.5 | (2.58) | 13.8 | (3.33) | -17.3 | (4.57) | |||
| 1996 | 65.0 | (1.42) | 67.4 | (1.66) | 56.0 | (4.03) | 50.8 | (5.79) | 85.3 | (5.21) | 64.7 | (0.82) | 66.6 | (0.97) | 55.4 | (2.41) | 57.6 | (2.96) | 82.7 | (3.59) | 11.3 | (2.60) | 9.0 | ! | (3.11) | -16.0 | (3.72) | ||
| 1997 | 67.0 | (1.37) | 68.2 | (1.64) | 58.5 | (4.11) | 65.6 | (4.52) | 80.5 | (6.09) | 65.9 | (0.80) | 68.1 | (0.94) | 58.8 | (2.35) | 55.3 | (2.93) | 83.0 | (3.49) | 9.3 | (2.53) | 12.8 | (3.08) | -15.0 | (3.62) | |||
| 1998 | 65.6 | (1.38) | 68.5 | (1.61) | 61.9 | (4.04) | 47.4 | (4.92) | 85.5 | (5.71) | 65.2 | (0.80) | 67.7 | (0.94) | 59.8 | (2.31) | 51.9 | (2.79) | 83.8 | (3.28) | 7.9 | ! | (2.49) | 15.7 | (2.94) | -16.1 | (3.41) | ||
| 1999 | 62.9 | (1.38) | 66.3 | (1.63) | 58.9 | (3.85) | 42.3 | (4.76) | 78.3 | (5.73) | 64.0 | (0.80) | 66.8 | (0.94) | 58.6 | (2.31) | 47.4 | (2.84) | 81.1 | (3.40) | 8.3 | ! | (2.50) | 19.5 | (2.99) | -14.3 | (3.53) | ||
| 2000 | 63.3 | (1.41) | 65.7 | (1.66) | 54.9 | (4.10) | 52.9 | (5.03) | 81.0 | (6.29) | 62.7 | (0.82) | 65.4 | (0.96) | 56.4 | (2.33) | 48.6 | (2.96) | 81.3 | (3.44) | 9.1 | (2.52) | 16.9 | (3.11) | -15.8 | (3.57) | |||
| 2001 | 61.8 | (1.41) | 64.3 | (1.63) | 55.0 | (3.96) | 51.7 | (5.33) | 73.8 | (8.71) | 63.5 | (0.78) | 66.3 | (0.92) | 56.4 | (2.26) | 52.8 | (2.78) | 78.4 | (3.87) | 10.0 | (2.44) | 13.5 | (2.93) | -12.0 | ! | (3.97) | ||
| 2002 | 65.2 | (1.31) | 69.1 | (1.55) | 59.4 | (3.90) | 53.6 | (4.46) | 63.7 | (6.51) | 63.7 | (0.78) | 66.5 | (0.92) | 57.3 | (2.33) | 54.8 | (2.75) | 71.9 | (4.05) | 9.3 | (2.50) | 11.7 | (2.90) | ‡ | (†) | |||
| 20036 | 63.9 | (1.35) | 66.2 | (1.61) | 57.5 | (4.25) | 58.6 | (4.61) | 84.1 | (5.10) | 65.3 | (0.77) | 68.0 | (0.91) | 59.9 | (2.29) | 57.7 | (2.66) | 74.2 | (3.51) | 8.1 | ! | (2.46) | 10.3 | (2.81) | ‡ | (†) | ||
| 20046 | 66.7 | (1.31) | 68.8 | (1.57) | 62.5 | (3.77) | 61.8 | (4.76) | 75.6 | (6.13) | 66.4 | (0.77) | 69.4 | (0.91) | 58.8 | (2.34) | 57.7 | (2.60) | 81.6 | (3.37) | 10.6 | (2.51) | 11.7 | (2.75) | -12.2 | (3.49) | |||
| 20056 | 68.6 | (1.31) | 73.2 | (1.52) | 55.7 | (4.15) | 54.0 | (4.18) | 86.7 | (5.99) | 67.1 | (0.76) | 70.2 | (0.90) | 58.2 | (2.35) | 57.5 | (2.52) | 80.9 | (3.64) | 12.0 | (2.52) | 12.6 | (2.67) | -10.7 | ! | (3.75) | ||
| 20066 | 66.0 | (1.33) | 68.5 | (1.60) | 55.5 | (4.33) | 57.9 | (4.18) | 82.3 | (5.32) | 67.2 | (0.75) | 70.4 | (0.89) | 55.6 | (2.35) | 58.5 | (2.43) | 85.1 | (3.64) | 14.7 | (2.51) | 11.9 | (2.59) | -14.7 | (3.74) | |||
| 20076 | 67.2 | (1.26) | 69.5 | (1.49) | 55.7 | (3.78) | 64.0 | (4.22) | 88.8 | (6.26) | 67.3 | (0.73) | 70.0 | (0.87) | 55.7 | (2.27) | 62.0 | (2.33) | 85.8 | (3.45) | 14.3 | (2.43) | 8.0 | ! | (2.48) | -15.8 | (3.56) | ||
| 20086 | 68.6 | (1.21) | 71.7 | (1.44) | 55.7 | (3.78) | 63.9 | (3.72) | 88.4 | (5.08) | 68.6 | (0.71) | 70.8 | (0.86) | 60.3 | (2.15) | 62.3 | (2.25) | 90.1 | (3.01) | 10.5 | (2.31) | 8.6 | (2.41) | -19.2 | (3.13) | |||
| 20096 | 70.1 | (1.23) | 71.3 | (1.53) | 69.5 | (3.51) | 59.3 | (3.80) | 92.1 | (3.90) | 68.9 | (0.70) | 71.2 | (0.86) | 62.4 | (2.09) | 60.9 | (2.14) | 88.1 | (2.85) | 8.8 | (2.26) | 10.3 | (2.31) | -16.9 | (2.98) | |||
| 20106,7 | 68.1 | (1.49) | 70.5 | (1.68) | 62.0 | (4.81) | 59.7 | (4.18) | 84.7 | (5.27) | 68.8 | (0.71) | 70.1 | (0.90) | 66.1 | (2.01) | 62.3 | (2.01) | 87.4 | (2.78) | ‡ | (†) | 7.8 | (2.21) | -17.3 | (2.92) | |||
| 20116,7 | 68.2 | (1.45) | 68.3 | (1.86) | 67.1 | (4.01) | 66.6 | (3.50) | 86.1 | (4.25) | 67.5 | (0.89) | 68.2 | (1.03) | 62.1 | (2.86) | 66.1 | (2.17) | 83.9 | (2.79) | 6.1 | ! | (3.04) | ‡ | (†) | -15.7 | (2.97) | ||
| 20126,7 | 66.2 | (1.59) | 65.7 | (1.94) | 56.4 | (4.84) | 70.3 | (3.22) | 81.5 | (5.15) | 66.8 | (0.94) | 67.6 | (1.12) | 60.5 | (2.64) | 65.9 | (1.99) | 82.3 | (3.59) | 7.1 | ! | (2.87) | ‡ | (†) | -14.7 | (3.76) | ||
| 20136,7 | 65.9 | (1.58) | 68.8 | (1.90) | 56.7 | (5.59) | 59.8 | (3.62) | 80.1 | (6.52) | 66.8 | (0.98) | 67.4 | (1.26) | 60.7 | (3.09) | 65.5 | (2.06) | 83.6 | (3.20) | 6.7 | ! | (3.34) | ‡ | (†) | -16.2 | (3.44) | ||
| 20146,7 | 68.4 | (1.67) | 67.7 | (2.25) | 70.2 | (4.56) | 65.2 | (4.08) | 90.9 | (3.91) | 67.8 | (1.00) | 69.3 | (1.17) | 60.6 | (3.40) | 64.7 | (2.16) | 84.2 | (3.16) | 8.8 | ! | (3.59) | ‡ | (†) | -14.9 | (3.37) | ||
| 20156,7 | 69.2 | (1.54) | 71.3 | (1.74) | 55.6 | (5.69) | 68.9 | (3.64) | 83.2 | (4.65) | 68.8 | (1.14) | 69.5 | (1.35) | 62.6 | (3.74) | 67.1 | (2.60) | 86.7 | (3.30) | ‡ | (†) | ‡ | (†) | -17.2 | (3.56) | |||
| —Not available. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| †Not applicable. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| !Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ‡Reporting standards not met. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1 Individuals ages 16 to 24 who graduated from high school or completed a GED. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2 Enrollment in college as of October of each year for individuals ages 16 to 24 who had completed high school earlier in the calendar year. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 3 A 3-year moving average is a weighted average of the year indicated, the year immediately preceding, and the year immediately following. For the first and final years of available data, a 2-year moving average is used: The moving average for 1960 reflects an average of 1960 and 1961; for Black and Hispanic data, the moving average for 1972 reflects an average of 1972 and 1973; for Asian data, the moving average for 2003 reflects an average of 2003 and 2004; and the moving average for 2015 reflects an average of 2014 and 2015. Moving averages are used to produce more stable estimates. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 Prior to 2003, Asian data include Pacific Islanders. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 5 Prior to 1972, White data include persons of Hispanic ethnicity. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 6 White, Black, and Asian data exclude persons of Two or more races. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 7 Beginning in 2010, standard errors were computed using replicate weights, which produced more precise values than the generalized variance function methodology used in prior years. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity except where otherwise noted. Total includes persons of other racial/ethnic groups not separately shown. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 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 2015. (This table was prepared July 2016.) |
