Youth Indicators 1996 / Indicator 60, Chart 1

Indicator 60. Educational Aspirations

Percent of high school seniors aspiring to various levels of education: 1982 and 1992

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, "High School and Beyond," First Followup survey; and "National Education Longitudinal Study of 1988," Second Followup survey.

The hopes for the future of high school seniors included more education in 1992 than in 1982. In 1992, 69 percent said that they hoped to graduate from college as compared with 39 percent in 1982. Moreover, 33 percent said they hoped to get a postgraduate degree as compared with 18 percent in 1982. The proportion of minority students aspiring for postgraduate degrees was about the same or higher as for whites.