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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 302.30. | Percentage of recent high school completers enrolled in 2-year and 4-year colleges, by income level: 1975 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 | Low income | Middle income | High income | Total | Low income | Middle income | High income | High-low income | High-middle income | |||||||||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | ||||||||||||
| 1975 | 50.7 | (1.29) | 31.2 | (3.65) | 46.2 | (1.72) | 64.5 | (2.13) | 49.1 | (0.75) | 34.7 | (2.79) | 43.5 | (1.24) | 63.7 | (1.49) | 29.0 | (3.16) | 20.2 | (1.94) | ||
| 1976 | 48.8 | (1.33) | 39.1 | (4.27) | 40.5 | (1.79) | 63.0 | (2.09) | 50.1 | (0.75) | 32.3 | (2.21) | 43.8 | (1.02) | 64.6 | (1.20) | 32.3 | (2.51) | 20.8 | (1.57) | ||
| 1977 | 50.6 | (1.30) | 27.7 | (3.56) | 44.2 | (1.77) | 66.3 | (2.02) | 49.9 | (0.75) | 32.4 | (2.23) | 43.1 | (1.02) | 64.4 | (1.19) | 32.1 | (2.53) | 21.4 | (1.57) | ||
| 1978 | 50.1 | (1.29) | 31.4 | (3.76) | 44.3 | (1.75) | 64.0 | (2.06) | 50.0 | (0.75) | 29.8 | (2.14) | 43.9 | (1.02) | 64.5 | (1.18) | 34.6 | (2.45) | 20.5 | (1.56) | ||
| 1979 | 49.3 | (1.29) | 30.5 | (3.80) | 43.2 | (1.75) | 63.2 | (2.05) | 49.6 | (0.75) | 31.6 | (2.12) | 43.4 | (1.02) | 64.1 | (1.19) | 32.6 | (2.44) | 20.8 | (1.57) | ||
| 1980 | 49.3 | (1.31) | 32.5 | (3.49) | 42.5 | (1.79) | 65.2 | (2.09) | 50.8 | (0.75) | 32.2 | (2.15) | 45.0 | (1.02) | 65.3 | (1.20) | 33.0 | (2.47) | 20.2 | (1.58) | ||
| 1981 | 53.9 | (1.31) | 33.6 | (3.93) | 49.2 | (1.76) | 67.6 | (2.10) | 51.3 | (0.76) | 32.9 | (2.12) | 44.5 | (1.02) | 67.9 | (1.20) | 34.9 | (2.44) | 23.4 | (1.57) | ||
| 1982 | 50.6 | (1.38) | 32.8 | (3.87) | 41.7 | (1.84) | 70.9 | (2.16) | 52.4 | (0.80) | 33.6 | (2.33) | 45.4 | (1.08) | 69.6 | (1.27) | 36.0 | (2.65) | 24.2 | (1.67) | ||
| 1983 | 52.7 | (1.41) | 34.6 | (4.07) | 45.2 | (1.90) | 70.3 | (2.20) | 52.8 | (0.81) | 34.0 | (2.23) | 45.1 | (1.09) | 71.7 | (1.25) | 37.8 | (2.55) | 26.7 | (1.66) | ||
| 1984 | 55.2 | (1.39) | 34.5 | (3.67) | 48.4 | (1.92) | 74.0 | (2.12) | 55.1 | (0.82) | 36.3 | (2.29) | 48.0 | (1.13) | 72.9 | (1.25) | 36.6 | (2.61) | 24.9 | (1.69) | ||
| 1985 | 57.7 | (1.47) | 40.2 | (4.20) | 50.6 | (2.05) | 74.6 | (2.19) | 55.5 | (0.83) | 35.9 | (2.21) | 49.1 | (1.15) | 73.2 | (1.27) | 37.3 | (2.55) | 24.1 | (1.71) | ||
| 1986 | 53.8 | (1.45) | 33.9 | (3.64) | 48.5 | (2.00) | 71.0 | (2.31) | 56.1 | (0.85) | 36.8 | (2.26) | 49.6 | (1.18) | 73.2 | (1.29) | 36.4 | (2.60) | 23.5 | (1.75) | ||
| 1987 | 56.8 | (1.48) | 36.9 | (3.94) | 50.0 | (2.10) | 73.8 | (2.19) | 56.5 | (0.85) | 37.6 | (2.25) | 51.1 | (1.17) | 72.6 | (1.32) | 35.0 | (2.60) | 21.5 | (1.76) | ||
| 1988 | 58.9 | (1.60) | 42.5 | (4.46) | 54.7 | (2.17) | 72.8 | (2.56) | 58.4 | (0.94) | 42.4 | (2.58) | 53.4 | (1.30) | 72.5 | (1.46) | 30.2 | (2.97) | 19.1 | (1.96) | ||
| 1989 | 59.6 | (1.58) | 48.1 | (4.40) | 55.4 | (2.20) | 70.7 | (2.52) | 59.5 | (0.90) | 45.6 | (2.57) | 54.9 | (1.23) | 73.2 | (1.44) | 27.6 | (2.95) | 18.4 | (1.90) | ||
| 1990 | 60.1 | (1.60) | 46.7 | (4.76) | 54.4 | (2.14) | 76.6 | (2.54) | 60.7 | (0.92) | 44.8 | (2.63) | 56.0 | (1.27) | 75.0 | (1.44) | 30.2 | (3.00) | 19.0 | (1.92) | ||
| 1991 | 62.5 | (1.62) | 39.5 | (4.50) | 58.4 | (2.25) | 78.2 | (2.39) | 61.5 | (0.92) | 42.2 | (2.62) | 56.5 | (1.26) | 78.0 | (1.40) | 35.8 | (2.97) | 21.4 | (1.88) | ||
| 1992 | 61.9 | (1.58) | 40.9 | (4.37) | 57.0 | (2.18) | 79.0 | (2.35) | 62.3 | (0.92) | 43.6 | (2.60) | 57.4 | (1.26) | 78.8 | (1.38) | 35.3 | (2.94) | 21.4 | (1.87) | ||
| 1993 | 62.6 | (1.59) | 50.4 | (4.56) | 56.9 | (2.15) | 79.3 | (2.46) | 62.1 | (0.91) | 44.7 | (2.55) | 57.3 | (1.23) | 78.7 | (1.39) | 34.0 | (2.90) | 21.5 | (1.86) | ||
| 1994 | 61.9 | (1.54) | 43.3 | (4.27) | 57.8 | (2.09) | 77.9 | (2.40) | 62.1 | (0.89) | 42.0 | (2.45) | 57.0 | (1.23) | 80.4 | (1.31) | 38.4 | (2.78) | 23.4 | (1.80) | ||
| 1995 | 61.9 | (1.41) | 34.2 | (3.57) | 56.0 | (2.00) | 83.5 | (1.87) | 63.0 | (0.81) | 42.1 | (2.16) | 58.9 | (1.12) | 79.9 | (1.21) | 37.8 | (2.48) | 21.0 | (1.65) | ||
| 1996 | 65.0 | (1.42) | 48.6 | (3.78) | 62.7 | (1.95) | 78.0 | (2.27) | 64.7 | (0.82) | 47.1 | (2.18) | 59.9 | (1.16) | 81.3 | (1.19) | 34.3 | (2.49) | 21.4 | (1.66) | ||
| 1997 | 67.0 | (1.37) | 57.0 | (3.65) | 60.7 | (1.97) | 82.2 | (1.98) | 65.9 | (0.80) | 50.6 | (2.13) | 62.7 | (1.12) | 79.3 | (1.24) | 28.7 | (2.47) | 16.6 | (1.67) | ||
| 1998 | 65.6 | (1.38) | 46.4 | (3.62) | 64.7 | (1.89) | 77.5 | (2.20) | 65.2 | (0.80) | 50.3 | (2.13) | 61.9 | (1.10) | 78.4 | (1.24) | 28.1 | (2.47) | 16.6 | (1.66) | ||
| 1999 | 62.9 | (1.38) | 47.6 | (3.77) | 60.2 | (1.87) | 75.4 | (2.26) | 64.0 | (0.80) | 47.9 | (2.13) | 61.5 | (1.10) | 76.6 | (1.29) | 28.7 | (2.49) | 15.1 | (1.70) | ||
| 2000 | 63.3 | (1.41) | 49.7 | (3.67) | 59.5 | (1.97) | 76.9 | (2.22) | 62.7 | (0.82) | 47.1 | (2.16) | 58.8 | (1.14) | 77.4 | (1.29) | 30.3 | (2.52) | 18.6 | (1.72) | ||
| 2001 | 61.8 | (1.41) | 43.8 | (3.61) | 56.4 | (1.97) | 80.0 | (2.08) | 63.5 | (0.78) | 49.9 | (2.07) | 59.1 | (1.08) | 78.3 | (1.22) | 28.4 | (2.40) | 19.3 | (1.63) | ||
| 2002 | 65.2 | (1.31) | 56.3 | (3.64) | 60.9 | (1.78) | 78.2 | (2.12) | 63.7 | (0.78) | 50.9 | (2.14) | 58.4 | (1.08) | 79.5 | (1.20) | 28.6 | (2.45) | 21.0 | (1.61) | ||
| 2003 | 63.9 | (1.35) | 52.8 | (3.83) | 57.6 | (1.87) | 80.1 | (2.02) | 65.3 | (0.77) | 52.5 | (2.20) | 60.6 | (1.05) | 79.5 | (1.18) | 27.0 | (2.49) | 18.9 | (1.58) | ||
| 2004 | 66.7 | (1.31) | 47.8 | (3.95) | 63.3 | (1.79) | 80.1 | (1.98) | 66.4 | (0.77) | 51.4 | (2.24) | 62.0 | (1.05) | 80.5 | (1.15) | 29.0 | (2.52) | 18.5 | (1.56) | ||
| 2005 | 68.6 | (1.31) | 53.5 | (3.86) | 65.1 | (1.81) | 81.2 | (1.98) | 67.1 | (0.76) | 50.8 | (2.26) | 63.3 | (1.04) | 80.7 | (1.15) | 29.9 | (2.53) | 17.4 | (1.55) | ||
| 2006 | 66.0 | (1.33) | 50.9 | (3.92) | 61.4 | (1.82) | 80.7 | (2.01) | 67.2 | (0.75) | 54.5 | (2.18) | 63.3 | (1.03) | 80.0 | (1.15) | 25.5 | (2.47) | 16.7 | (1.55) | ||
| 2007 | 67.2 | (1.26) | 58.4 | (3.57) | 63.3 | (1.73) | 78.2 | (2.01) | 67.3 | (0.73) | 55.3 | (2.11) | 63.5 | (0.99) | 80.2 | (1.14) | 24.9 | (2.40) | 16.8 | (1.51) | ||
| 2008 | 68.6 | (1.21) | 55.9 | (3.50) | 65.2 | (1.62) | 81.9 | (1.90) | 68.6 | (0.71) | 56.1 | (2.08) | 65.1 | (0.96) | 81.4 | (1.11) | 25.3 | (2.36) | 16.2 | (1.47) | ||
| 2009 | 70.1 | (1.23) | 53.9 | (3.75) | 66.7 | (1.66) | 84.2 | (1.84) | 68.9 | (0.70) | 53.3 | (2.02) | 66.2 | (0.94) | 82.8 | (1.10) | 29.5 | (2.30) | 16.6 | (1.44) | ||
| 20104 | 68.1 | (1.49) | 50.7 | (3.88) | 66.7 | (2.03) | 82.2 | (2.34) | 68.8 | (0.71) | 52.6 | (1.97) | 66.5 | (0.94) | 83.0 | (1.12) | 30.4 | (2.27) | 16.4 | (1.46) | ||
| 20114 | 68.2 | (1.45) | 53.5 | (4.25) | 66.2 | (1.94) | 82.4 | (2.46) | 67.5 | (0.89) | 51.6 | (2.47) | 65.9 | (1.11) | 81.7 | (1.42) | 30.1 | (2.85) | 15.9 | (1.81) | ||
| 20124 | 66.2 | (1.59) | 50.9 | (4.39) | 64.7 | (2.10) | 80.7 | (2.54) | 66.8 | (0.94) | 50.3 | (2.63) | 64.9 | (1.26) | 80.4 | (1.59) | 30.1 | (3.07) | 15.5 | (2.03) | ||
| 20134 | 65.9 | (1.58) | 45.5 | (4.31) | 63.8 | (2.32) | 78.5 | (2.68) | 66.8 | (0.98) | 51.6 | (2.74) | 64.0 | (1.36) | 80.8 | (1.46) | 29.2 | (3.10) | 16.8 | (2.00) | ||
| 20144 | 68.4 | (1.67) | 57.8 | (4.42) | 63.6 | (2.31) | 83.6 | (2.17) | 67.8 | (1.00) | 57.5 | (2.54) | 63.2 | (1.36) | 81.7 | (1.41) | 24.2 | (2.91) | 18.5 | (1.96) | ||
| 20154 | 69.2 | (1.54) | 69.2 | (4.42) | 62.2 | (2.04) | 83.2 | (2.33) | 68.8 | (1.14) | 63.1 | (3.03) | 62.9 | (1.54) | 83.4 | (1.58) | 20.3 | (3.42) | 20.5 | (2.21) | ||
| 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 1975 and 2015, a 2-year moving average is used: The moving average for income groups in 1975 reflects an average of 1975 and 1976, and the moving average for 2015 reflects an average of 2014 and 2015. Moving averages are used to produce more stable estimates. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| 4 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. Low income refers to the bottom 20 percent of all family incomes, high income refers to the top 20 percent of all family incomes, and middle income refers to the 60 percent in between. Some data have been revised from previously published figures. | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 1975 through 2015. (This table was prepared July 2016.) |
