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Digest of Education Statistics
2019 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 302.60. Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in college, by level of institution and sex and race/ethnicity of student: 1970 through 2018
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
Year Total, all students Level of institution Sex Race/ethnicity Race/ethnicity, by sex
2-year college 4-year college or university Male Female White Black Hispanic Asian1 Pacific Islander American Indian/ Alaska Native Two or more races White Black Hispanic
Male Female Male Female Male Female
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19
19702 25.7 (0.42) --- (†) --- (†) 32.1 (0.67) 20.3 (0.53) 27.1 (0.46) 15.5 (1.18) --- (†) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†)
19712 26.2 (0.42) --- (†) --- (†) 32.5 (0.65) 20.8 (0.53) 27.2 (0.45) 18.2 (1.22) --- (†) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†) --- (†)
1972 25.5 (0.40) --- (†) --- (†) 30.2 (0.62) 21.2 (0.52) 27.2 (0.46) 18.3 (1.20) 13.4 (2.42) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 32.3 (0.69) 22.5 (0.60) 21.1 (1.87) 15.9 (1.55) 15.1 (3.77) 12.0 (3.13)
1973 24.0 (0.39) 6.9 (0.23) 17.1 (0.34) 27.7 (0.59) 20.5 (0.51) 25.5 (0.44) 15.9 (1.11) 16.1 (2.66) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 29.6 (0.67) 21.8 (0.58) 18.7 (1.75) 13.5 (1.42) 16.7 (3.88) 15.5 (3.66)
1974 24.6 (0.39) 7.6 (0.24) 17.0 (0.34) 27.7 (0.59) 21.7 (0.52) 25.8 (0.44) 17.6 (1.17) 18.0 (2.57) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 28.9 (0.66) 22.9 (0.59) 19.8 (1.82) 15.9 (1.51) 19.7 (3.85) 16.5 (3.44)
                                                                             
1975 26.3 (0.39) 9.0 (0.26) 17.3 (0.34) 29.0 (0.58) 23.7 (0.53) 27.4 (0.44) 20.4 (1.21) 20.4 (2.75) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 30.7 (0.66) 24.3 (0.60) 19.9 (1.78) 20.8 (1.65) 21.4 (4.10) 19.5 (3.71)
1976 26.7 (0.39) 6.4 (0.22) 20.2 (0.36) 28.2 (0.57) 25.2 (0.53) 27.6 (0.44) 22.5 (1.23) 20.0 (2.64) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 29.3 (0.64) 26.1 (0.61) 22.0 (1.82) 22.9 (1.68) 21.3 (4.02) 18.8 (3.48)
1977 26.1 (0.39) 6.8 (0.22) 19.4 (0.35) 28.1 (0.57) 24.3 (0.52) 27.2 (0.44) 21.1 (1.19) 17.2 (2.45) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 29.4 (0.64) 25.1 (0.60) 20.3 (1.74) 21.9 (1.63) 18.3 (3.66) 16.3 (3.28)
1978 25.3 (0.38) 6.6 (0.22) 18.7 (0.34) 27.1 (0.56) 23.6 (0.52) 26.5 (0.43) 20.1 (1.16) 15.2 (2.28) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 28.4 (0.63) 24.6 (0.59) 19.7 (1.72) 20.4 (1.57) 16.1 (3.42) 14.3 (3.05)
1979 25.0 (0.38) 6.3 (0.21) 18.7 (0.34) 25.9 (0.55) 24.2 (0.52) 26.3 (0.43) 19.8 (1.14) 16.7 (2.31) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 27.1 (0.62) 25.5 (0.60) 19.1 (1.69) 20.3 (1.55) 18.3 (3.47) 15.2 (3.08)
                                                                             
1980 25.7 (0.38) 7.1 (0.22) 18.6 (0.34) 26.4 (0.55) 25.0 (0.52) 27.3 (0.44) 19.4 (1.13) 16.1 (2.15) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 28.4 (0.63) 26.3 (0.60) 17.5 (1.62) 20.9 (1.57) 15.9 (3.05) 16.2 (3.04)
1981 26.1 (0.38) 7.5 (0.22) 18.6 (0.33) 27.1 (0.54) 25.2 (0.52) 27.7 (0.43) 19.9 (1.10) 16.6 (2.14) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 28.7 (0.62) 26.6 (0.60) 18.9 (1.60) 20.7 (1.52) 16.6 (3.08) 16.7 (2.97)
1982 26.6 (0.40) 7.7 (0.24) 18.9 (0.35) 27.2 (0.58) 26.0 (0.56) 28.1 (0.46) 19.9 (1.16) 16.8 (2.30) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 28.9 (0.67) 27.4 (0.64) 18.7 (1.66) 21.0 (1.61) 14.9 (3.19) 18.6 (3.29)
1983 26.2 (0.40) 7.4 (0.24) 18.8 (0.36) 27.3 (0.58) 25.1 (0.55) 27.9 (0.47) 19.2 (1.14) 17.3 (2.31) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 29.4 (0.67) 26.5 (0.64) 18.1 (1.63) 20.1 (1.59) 15.6 (3.21) 18.8 (3.31)
1984 27.1 (0.41) 7.3 (0.24) 19.8 (0.37) 28.6 (0.59) 25.6 (0.56) 28.9 (0.48) 20.3 (1.16) 17.9 (2.35) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 30.8 (0.69) 27.1 (0.66) 20.3 (1.70) 20.3 (1.60) 16.1 (3.27) 19.6 (3.35)
                                                                             
1985 27.8 (0.42) 7.4 (0.24) 20.4 (0.38) 28.4 (0.60) 27.2 (0.58) 30.0 (0.49) 19.6 (1.17) 16.9 (1.85) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 30.9 (0.71) 29.2 (0.68) 20.2 (1.74) 19.1 (1.58) 14.9 (2.46) 18.9 (2.75)
1986 27.9 (0.42) 7.6 (0.25) 20.3 (0.38) 28.2 (0.61) 27.6 (0.59) 29.7 (0.50) 21.9 (1.23) 17.6 (1.77) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 30.6 (0.73) 28.8 (0.69) 20.0 (1.75) 23.4 (1.72) 16.7 (2.37) 18.7 (2.65)
1987 29.6 (0.44) 8.1 (0.26) 21.5 (0.39) 30.6 (0.63) 28.7 (0.60) 31.9 (0.52) 22.8 (1.26) 17.5 (1.74) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 33.0 (0.75) 30.8 (0.72) 22.6 (1.86) 22.9 (1.72) 18.5 (2.47) 16.5 (2.44)
1988 30.3 (0.48) 8.8 (0.30) 21.5 (0.43) 30.2 (0.69) 30.4 (0.67) 33.2 (0.58) 21.2 (1.35) 17.0 (1.90) --- (†) ---   (†) ---   (†) --- (†) 33.4 (0.83) 33.0 (0.80) 18.5 (1.90) 23.5 (1.91) 16.5 (2.60) 17.6 (2.77)
1989 30.9 (0.46) 8.0 (0.27) 22.9 (0.42) 30.2 (0.66) 31.6 (0.65) 34.2 (0.56) 23.4 (1.32) 16.1 (1.66) 46.1 (3.77) ---   (†) 15.7 ! (5.13) --- (†) 34.1 (0.80) 34.4 (0.79) 19.7 (1.82) 26.7 (1.89) 14.6 (2.23) 17.6 (2.47)
                                                                             
1990 32.0 (0.47) 8.7 (0.28) 23.3 (0.43) 32.3 (0.68) 31.8 (0.66) 35.1 (0.57) 25.4 (1.37) 15.8 (1.67) 56.9 (3.56) ---   (†) 15.8 ! (5.07) --- (†) 35.5 (0.82) 34.7 (0.80) 26.0 (2.03) 24.8 (1.85) 15.3 (2.31) 16.4 (2.42)
1991 33.3 (0.48) 9.7 (0.30) 23.6 (0.43) 32.8 (0.68) 33.6 (0.67) 36.8 (0.58) 23.5 (1.34) 17.9 (1.72) 57.1 (3.19) ---   (†) 15.9 ! (5.45) --- (†) 36.5 (0.83) 37.0 (0.82) 23.2 (1.95) 23.8 (1.84) 14.0 (2.15) 22.2 (2.70)
1992 34.4 (0.49) 9.9 (0.31) 24.4 (0.44) 32.7 (0.68) 36.0 (0.69) 37.3 (0.59) 25.2 (1.36) 21.3 (1.87) 58.4 (3.27) ---   (†) 18.5 ! (6.17) --- (†) 36.2 (0.83) 38.3 (0.83) 21.3 (1.87) 28.8 (1.96) 17.8 (2.47) 24.7 (2.80)
1993 34.0 (0.49) 9.8 (0.30) 24.2 (0.44) 33.6 (0.69) 34.4 (0.68) 36.8 (0.59) 24.5 (1.35) 21.7 (1.88) 61.2 (3.26) ---   (†) 18.9   (5.65) --- (†) 36.5 (0.84) 37.1 (0.83) 22.9 (1.92) 26.0 (1.90) 19.7 (2.59) 23.7 (2.71)
1994 34.6 (0.48) 9.1 (0.29) 25.5 (0.44) 33.1 (0.67) 36.0 (0.68) 38.1 (0.59) 27.7 (1.38) 18.8 (1.58) 62.7 (3.31) ---   (†) 29.4   (6.65) --- (†) 37.0 (0.84) 39.2 (0.84) 25.6 (1.95) 29.5 (1.94) 16.5 (2.04) 21.5 (2.44)
                                                                             
1995 34.3 (0.45) 8.9 (0.27) 25.4 (0.41) 33.1 (0.63) 35.5 (0.63) 37.9 (0.55) 27.5 (1.18) 20.7 (1.13) 54.6 (3.11) ---   (†) 27.6   (6.16) --- (†) 37.0 (0.78) 38.8 (0.78) 26.0 (1.72) 28.7 (1.63) 18.7 (1.50) 23.0 (1.72)
1996 35.5 (0.47) 9.5 (0.29) 26.1 (0.43) 34.1 (0.66) 37.0 (0.67) 39.5 (0.59) 27.4 (1.23) 20.1 (1.18) 53.9 (2.47) ---   (†) 30.3   (5.24) --- (†) 38.3 (0.83) 40.6 (0.84) 25.7 (1.77) 28.8 (1.70) 16.5 (1.52) 24.0 (1.81)
1997 36.8 (0.47) 9.9 (0.29) 27.0 (0.43) 35.0 (0.66) 38.7 (0.67) 40.6 (0.59) 29.8 (1.25) 22.4 (1.21) 55.1 (2.60) ---   (†) 27.1   (4.62) --- (†) 39.3 (0.82) 41.8 (0.84) 25.4 (1.75) 33.7 (1.77) 19.2 (1.56) 26.1 (1.88)
1998 36.5 (0.46) 10.2 (0.29) 26.3 (0.42) 34.5 (0.65) 38.6 (0.66) 40.6 (0.59) 29.8 (1.24) 20.4 (1.11) 60.4 (2.49) ---   (†) 20.3   (4.90) --- (†) 39.4 (0.82) 41.9 (0.84) 26.1 (1.76) 32.9 (1.73) 16.4 (1.41) 24.9 (1.73)
1999 35.6 (0.46) 9.1 (0.27) 26.5 (0.42) 34.1 (0.64) 37.0 (0.65) 39.4 (0.58) 30.4 (1.24) 18.7 (1.08) 55.7 (2.42) ---   (†) 19.5   (4.70) --- (†) 38.3 (0.81) 40.6 (0.82) 28.9 (1.81) 31.6 (1.69) 15.8 (1.41) 21.9 (1.65)
                                                                             
2000 35.5 (0.45) 9.4 (0.27) 26.0 (0.41) 32.6 (0.62) 38.4 (0.65) 38.7 (0.57) 30.5 (1.21) 21.7 (1.12) 55.9 (2.42) ---   (†) 15.9   (4.30) --- (†) 36.2 (0.79) 41.3 (0.81) 25.1 (1.67) 35.2 (1.72) 18.5 (1.45) 25.4 (1.71)
2001 36.3 (0.43) 9.8 (0.26) 26.6 (0.39) 33.6 (0.59) 39.0 (0.61) 39.5 (0.54) 31.4 (1.15) 21.7 (1.04) 61.3 (2.23) ---   (†) 23.3   (4.07) --- (†) 37.2 (0.75) 41.9 (0.77) 26.7 (1.62) 35.5 (1.62) 17.4 (1.35) 26.1 (1.58)
2002 36.7 (0.43) 9.7 (0.26) 27.0 (0.39) 33.7 (0.59) 39.7 (0.61) 40.9 (0.55) 31.9 (1.18) 19.9 (0.94) 60.9 (2.10) ---   (†) 23.6   (3.96) --- (†) 38.9 (0.77) 42.8 (0.78) 26.3 (1.63) 36.9 (1.68) 16.2 (1.17) 24.4 (1.51)
20033 37.8 (0.43) 10.2 (0.27) 27.7 (0.39) 34.3 (0.59) 41.3 (0.61) 41.6 (0.55) 32.3 (1.20) 23.5 (1.02) 61.2 (2.27) 43.3   (9.97) 17.7   (4.45) 41.6 (3.58) 38.5 (0.77) 44.5 (0.78) 28.2 (1.68) 36.0 (1.69) 18.3 (1.27) 29.4 (1.60)
20043 38.0 (0.42) 9.4 (0.25) 28.6 (0.39) 34.7 (0.59) 41.2 (0.61) 41.7 (0.55) 31.8 (1.18) 24.7 (1.02) 60.6 (2.24) 55.8   (8.99) 24.4   (4.52) 36.8 (3.44) 38.4 (0.76) 45.0 (0.78) 26.5 (1.63) 36.6 (1.67) 21.7 (1.33) 28.2 (1.56)
                                                                             
20053 38.9 (0.43) 9.6 (0.26) 29.2 (0.40) 35.3 (0.59) 42.5 (0.61) 42.8 (0.55) 33.1 (1.18) 24.8 (1.02) 61.0 (2.26) 50.6   (10.95) 27.8   (4.88) 41.8 (3.48) 39.4 (0.76) 46.1 (0.79) 28.2 (1.64) 37.6 (1.69) 20.7 (1.31) 29.5 (1.58)
20063 37.3 (0.42) 9.6 (0.25) 27.8 (0.39) 34.1 (0.58) 40.6 (0.60) 41.0 (0.54) 32.6 (1.16) 23.6 (0.99) 58.3 (2.28) 39.1   (8.36) 26.2   (5.18) 38.5 (3.51) 37.9 (0.75) 44.1 (0.78) 28.1 (1.60) 36.9 (1.65) 20.0 (1.29) 27.6 (1.52)
20073 38.8 (0.42) 10.9 (0.27) 27.9 (0.39) 35.5 (0.58) 42.1 (0.60) 42.6 (0.54) 33.1 (1.15) 26.6 (1.02) 57.2 (2.28) 37.1   (9.07) 24.7   (4.63) 39.2 (3.48) 39.6 (0.76) 45.7 (0.78) 32.2 (1.63) 34.0 (1.61) 20.7 (1.29) 33.0 (1.57)
20083 39.6 (0.42) 11.8 (0.28) 27.8 (0.38) 37.0 (0.58) 42.3 (0.60) 44.2 (0.54) 32.1 (1.13) 25.8 (1.01) 59.3 (2.32) 27.3 ! (8.92) 21.9   (4.22) 45.7 (3.55) 41.7 (0.76) 46.9 (0.78) 29.7 (1.61) 34.2 (1.59) 23.0 (1.35) 28.9 (1.50)
20093 41.3 (0.42) 11.7 (0.27) 29.6 (0.39) 38.4 (0.59) 44.2 (0.60) 45.0 (0.55) 37.7 (1.17) 27.5 (1.01) 65.2 (2.17) 33.4   (7.45) 29.8   (5.10) 39.3 (3.32) 42.3 (0.76) 47.7 (0.78) 33.2 (1.64) 41.9 (1.64) 24.2 (1.35) 31.0 (1.50)
                                                                             
20103 41.2 (0.57) 12.9 (0.36) 28.2 (0.53) 38.3 (0.78) 44.1 (0.84) 43.3 (0.81) 38.4 (1.66) 31.9 (1.15) 63.6 (2.70) 36.0   (8.36) 41.4   (6.60) 38.3 (4.38) 40.6 (1.00) 46.1 (1.17) 35.2 (2.13) 41.4 (2.16) 27.9 (1.57) 36.1 (1.60)
20113 42.0 (0.59) 12.0 (0.35) 30.0 (0.58) 39.1 (0.80) 44.9 (0.80) 44.7 (0.77) 37.1 (1.53) 34.8 (1.20) 60.1 (2.45) 37.8   (7.93) 23.5   (5.30) 38.8 (3.60) 42.4 (0.96) 47.1 (1.08) 34.0 (2.29) 39.9 (1.90) 31.0 (1.63) 39.4 (1.58)
20123 41.0 (0.62) 12.7 (0.38) 28.3 (0.58) 37.6 (0.79) 44.5 (0.86) 42.1 (0.83) 36.4 (1.62) 37.5 (1.18) 59.8 (2.61) 50.3   (9.60) 27.8   (4.43) 39.4 (3.64) 38.3 (1.06) 46.0 (1.08) 33.9 (2.04) 38.7 (2.33) 33.5 (1.58) 41.7 (1.73)
20133 39.9 (0.63) 11.6 (0.36) 28.3 (0.57) 36.6 (0.85) 43.3 (0.80) 41.6 (0.90) 34.2 (1.58) 33.8 (1.24) 62.3 (2.62) 32.9   (8.26) 31.8   (5.58) 44.7 (3.99) 38.1 (1.11) 45.3 (1.11) 30.6 (2.13) 37.6 (2.18) 29.1 (1.72) 38.8 (1.58)
20143 40.0 (0.65) 10.6 (0.40) 29.4 (0.61) 37.3 (0.89) 42.8 (0.79) 42.2 (0.87) 32.6 (1.48) 34.7 (1.21) 65.2 (2.27) 41.0   (11.29) 35.4   (4.63) 31.6 (3.20) 40.2 (1.28) 44.2 (0.99) 28.5 (1.95) 36.6 (2.04) 30.3 (1.65) 39.4 (1.70)
                                                                             
20153 40.5 (0.70) 10.6 (0.35) 29.9 (0.69) 37.8 (0.91) 43.2 (0.93) 41.8 (0.88) 34.9 (1.54) 36.6 (1.31) 62.6 (2.65) 24.1 ! (7.29) 23.0   (4.45) 38.3 (3.86) 39.1 (1.16) 44.5 (1.10) 34.1 (2.21) 35.7 (2.17) 32.8 (1.76) 40.5 (1.91)
20163 41.2 (0.71) 10.1 (0.36) 31.1 (0.64) 38.6 (0.83) 43.9 (0.91) 42.1 (0.88) 36.2 (1.69) 39.2 (1.28) 57.6 (2.17) 20.7 ! (8.02) 18.6   (3.72) 42.3 (3.64) 39.8 (1.09) 44.5 (1.12) 33.0 (2.18) 39.4 (2.51) 34.9 (1.67) 43.6 (1.76)
20173 40.4 (0.66) 10.0 (0.37) 30.4 (0.64) 36.8 (0.84) 44.0 (0.91) 41.0 (0.76) 36.5 (1.71) 36.2 (1.50) 64.7 (2.49) 32.6 ! (10.94) 20.1   (4.47) 41.5 (3.66) 37.8 (1.05) 44.4 (1.12) 33.1 (2.45) 39.6 (2.18) 31.1 (1.82) 41.4 (2.02)
20183 40.9 (0.68) 9.9 (0.37) 31.0 (0.64) 37.6 (0.90) 44.3 (0.80) 42.3 (0.86) 37.2 (1.58) 35.9 (1.25) 59.0 (3.20) 23.8 ! (8.62) 24.2   (5.60) 44.3 (3.86) 39.1 (1.08) 45.4 (1.08) 33.3 (1.86) 40.9 (2.43) 31.6 (1.59) 40.4 (1.80)
---Not available.
†Not applicable.
!Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 and 50 percent.
1 Prior to 2003, Asian data include Pacific Islanders.
2 Prior to 1972, White and Black data include persons of Hispanic ethnicity.
3 After 2002, data for individual race categories exclude persons of Two or more races. In 2002 and earlier years, the questionnaire did not include the "Two or more races" category, and each respondent could select only one race category.
NOTE: Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population. Totals include other racial/ethnic groups not separately shown. Race categories exclude persons of Hispanic ethnicity except where otherwise noted. Prior to 2010, standard errors were computed using generalized variance function methodology rather than the more precise replicate weight methodology used in later years.
SOURCE: U.S. Department of Commerce, Census Bureau, Current Population Survey (CPS), October, 1970 through 2018. (This table was prepared August 2019.)

2019 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest