Digest of Education Statistics
2024 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest


Table 302.10.Number of recent high school completers and percent enrolled in college, by sex and level of institution: 1960 through 2023
[Standard errors appear in parentheses]
YearNumber of recent high school completers (in thousands)Percent of recent high school completers enrolled in college1
TotalMaleFemaleTotalMaleFemale
Total2-year college4-year college or universityTotal2-year college4-year college or universityTotal2-year college4-year college or university
12345678910111213
19601,679(44.5)756(32.3)923(30.1)45.1(2.16)---(†)---(†)54.0(3.23)---(†)---(†)37.9(2.85)---(†)---(†)
19611,763(46.7)790(33.7)973(31.8)48.0(2.12)---(†)---(†)56.3(3.14)---(†)---(†)41.3(2.81)---(†)---(†)
19621,838(44.3)872(32.0)966(30.4)49.0(2.08)---(†)---(†)55.0(3.00)---(†)---(†)43.5(2.84)---(†)---(†)
19631,741(44.9)794(32.6)947(30.5)45.0(2.12)---(†)---(†)52.3(3.16)---(†)---(†)39.0(2.82)---(†)---(†)
19642,145(43.6)997(32.3)1,148(28.9)48.3(1.92)---(†)---(†)57.2(2.79)---(†)---(†)40.7(2.58)---(†)---(†)

1965

2,659

(48.5)

1,254

(35.7)

1,405

(32.5)

50.9

(1.73)

---

(†)

---

(†)

57.3

(2.49)

---

(†)

---

(†)

45.3

(2.37)

---

(†)

---

(†)
19662,612(45.7)1,207(34.4)1,405(29.5)50.1(1.74)---(†)---(†)58.7(2.53)---(†)---(†)42.7(2.35)---(†)---(†)
19672,525(38.5)1,142(28.9)1,383(24.7)51.9(1.44)---(†)---(†)57.6(2.12)---(†)---(†)47.2(1.95)---(†)---(†)
19682,606(38.0)1,184(28.7)1,422(24.2)55.4(1.41)---(†)---(†)63.2(2.04)---(†)---(†)48.9(1.93)---(†)---(†)
19692,842(36.6)1,352(27.3)1,490(24.2)53.3(1.36)---(†)---(†)60.1(1.93)---(†)---(†)47.2(1.88)---(†)---(†)

1970

2,758

(38.1)

1,343

(26.6)

1,415

(27.3)

51.7

(1.38)

---

(†)

---

(†)

55.2

(1.97)

---

(†)

---

(†)

48.5

(1.93)

---

(†)

---

(†)
19712,875(38.7)1,371(27.1)1,504(27.6)53.5(1.35)---(†)---(†)57.6(1.94)---(†)---(†)49.8(1.87)---(†)---(†)
19722,964(38.5)1,423(27.5)1,542(26.9)49.2(1.33)---(†)---(†)52.7(1.92)---(†)---(†)46.0(1.84)---(†)---(†)
19733,058(37.7)1,460(28.0)1,599(25.0)46.6(1.31)14.9(0.94)31.6(1.22)50.0(1.90)14.6(1.34)35.4(1.82)43.4(1.80)15.2(1.30)28.2(1.63)
19743,101(39.3)1,491(28.2)1,611(27.3)47.6(1.30)15.2(0.94)32.4(1.22)49.4(1.88)16.6(1.40)32.8(1.77)45.9(1.80)13.9(1.25)32.0(1.69)

1975

3,185

(39.3)

1,513

(27.8)

1,672

(27.7)

50.7

(1.29)

18.2

(0.99)

32.6

(1.21)

52.6

(1.86)

19.0

(1.47)

33.6

(1.76)

49.0

(1.78)

17.4

(1.35)

31.6

(1.65)
19762,986(40.5)1,451(29.4)1,535(27.8)48.8(1.33)15.6(0.96)33.3(1.25)47.2(1.90)14.5(1.34)32.7(1.79)50.3(1.85)16.6(1.38)33.8(1.75)
19773,141(41.0)1,483(29.8)1,659(27.9)50.6(1.30)17.5(0.98)33.1(1.22)52.1(1.88)17.2(1.42)35.0(1.80)49.3(1.78)17.8(1.36)31.5(1.66)
19783,163(40.0)1,485(29.4)1,677(26.8)50.1(1.29)17.0(0.97)33.1(1.22)51.1(1.88)15.6(1.37)35.5(1.80)49.3(1.77)18.3(1.37)31.0(1.64)
19793,160(40.3)1,475(29.4)1,685(27.4)49.3(1.29)17.5(0.98)31.8(1.20)50.4(1.89)16.9(1.42)33.5(1.79)48.4(1.77)18.1(1.36)30.3(1.63)

1980

3,088

(39.6)

1,498

(28.5)

1,589

(27.5)

49.3

(1.31)

19.4

(1.03)

29.9

(1.20)

46.7

(1.87)

17.1

(1.41)

29.7

(1.71)

51.8

(1.82)

21.6

(1.50)

30.2

(1.67)
19813,056(42.4)1,491(30.6)1,565(29.3)53.9(1.31)20.5(1.06)33.5(1.24)54.8(1.87)20.9(1.53)33.9(1.78)53.1(1.83)20.1(1.47)33.0(1.73)
19823,100(41.0)1,509(29.4)1,592(28.6)50.6(1.38)19.1(1.09)31.5(1.28)49.1(1.98)17.5(1.50)31.6(1.84)52.0(1.93)20.6(1.56)31.4(1.79)
19832,963(42.2)1,389(30.8)1,573(28.6)52.7(1.41)19.2(1.11)33.5(1.33)51.9(2.06)20.2(1.66)31.7(1.92)53.4(1.93)18.4(1.50)35.1(1.85)
19843,012(37.0)1,429(29.1)1,584(22.2)55.2(1.39)19.4(1.11)35.8(1.34)56.0(2.02)17.7(1.55)38.4(1.98)54.5(1.92)21.0(1.57)33.5(1.82)

1985

2,668

(40.7)

1,287

(29.1)

1,381

(28.3)

57.7

(1.47)

19.6

(1.18)

38.1

(1.45)

58.6

(2.11)

19.9

(1.71)

38.8

(2.09)

56.8

(2.05)

19.3

(1.63)

37.5

(2.00)
19862,786(39.2)1,332(28.9)1,454(26.4)53.8(1.45)19.2(1.15)34.5(1.39)55.8(2.09)21.3(1.73)34.5(2.00)51.9(2.02)17.3(1.53)34.6(1.92)
19872,647(41.5)1,278(30.2)1,369(28.4)56.8(1.48)18.9(1.17)37.9(1.45)58.3(2.12)17.3(1.63)41.0(2.12)55.3(2.07)20.3(1.67)35.0(1.98)
19882,673(47.7)1,334(34.6)1,339(32.8)58.9(1.60)21.9(1.34)37.1(1.57)57.1(2.27)21.3(1.88)35.8(2.20)60.7(2.24)22.4(1.91)38.3(2.23)
19892,450(44.8)1,204(31.7)1,246(31.7)59.6(1.58)20.7(1.30)38.9(1.57)57.6(2.27)18.3(1.77)39.3(2.24)61.6(2.19)23.1(1.90)38.5(2.20)

1990

2,362

(43.0)

1,173

(30.6)

1,189

(30.2)

60.1

(1.60)

20.1

(1.31)

40.0

(1.61)

58.0

(2.29)

19.6

(1.85)

38.4

(2.26)

62.2

(2.24)

20.6

(1.87)

41.6

(2.28)
19912,276(41.1)1,140(29.0)1,136(29.0)62.5(1.62)24.9(1.44)37.7(1.62)57.9(2.33)22.9(1.98)35.0(2.25)67.1(2.22)26.8(2.09)40.3(2.32)
19922,397(40.5)1,216(29.1)1,180(28.1)61.9(1.58)23.0(1.37)38.9(1.59)60.0(2.24)22.1(1.89)37.8(2.21)63.8(2.23)23.9(1.98)40.0(2.27)
19932,342(41.4)1,120(30.6)1,223(27.7)62.6(1.59)22.8(1.38)39.8(1.61)59.9(2.33)22.9(2.00)37.0(2.30)65.2(2.17)22.8(1.91)42.4(2.25)
19942,517(41.1)1,244(30.1)1,273(27.9)61.9(1.54)21.0(1.29)40.9(1.56)60.6(2.21)23.0(1.90)37.5(2.19)63.2(2.15)19.1(1.75)44.1(2.22)

1995

2,599

(41.0)

1,238

(30.0)

1,361

(27.7)

61.9

(1.41)

21.5

(1.19)

40.4

(1.43)

62.6

(2.04)

25.3

(1.83)

37.4

(2.04)

61.3

(1.96)

18.1

(1.55)

43.2

(1.99)
19962,660(40.5)1,297(29.5)1,363(27.7)65.0(1.42)23.1(1.26)41.9(1.47)60.1(2.09)21.5(1.76)38.5(2.08)69.7(1.91)24.6(1.79)45.1(2.07)
19972,769(41.8)1,354(31.0)1,415(27.9)67.0(1.37)22.8(1.23)44.3(1.45)63.6(2.01)21.4(1.71)42.2(2.06)70.3(1.87)24.1(1.75)46.2(2.04)
19982,810(43.9)1,452(31.0)1,358(31.0)65.6(1.38)24.4(1.25)41.3(1.43)62.4(1.96)24.4(1.73)38.0(1.96)69.1(1.93)24.3(1.79)44.8(2.08)
19992,897(41.5)1,474(29.9)1,423(28.8)62.9(1.38)21.0(1.16)41.9(1.41)61.4(1.95)21.0(1.63)40.5(1.97)64.4(1.95)21.1(1.66)43.3(2.02)

2000

2,756

(45.3)

1,251

(33.6)

1,505

(29.7)

63.3

(1.41)

21.4

(1.20)

41.9

(1.45)

59.9

(2.13)

23.1

(1.83)

36.8

(2.10)

66.2

(1.88)

20.0

(1.59)

46.2

(1.98)
20012,549(44.1)1,277(32.0)1,273(30.3)61.8(1.41)19.6(1.15)42.1(1.43)60.1(2.00)18.6(1.59)41.4(2.01)63.5(1.97)20.6(1.66)42.8(2.02)
20022,796(42.7)1,412(31.3)1,384(29.0)65.2(1.31)21.6(1.14)43.6(1.37)62.1(1.88)20.4(1.57)41.7(1.92)68.4(1.82)22.8(1.65)45.6(1.95)
20032,677(42.2)1,306(29.9)1,372(29.7)63.9(1.35)21.5(1.16)42.5(1.39)61.2(1.97)21.9(1.67)39.3(1.97)66.5(1.86)21.0(1.61)45.5(1.96)
20042,752(40.0)1,327(29.1)1,425(27.3)66.7(1.31)22.4(1.16)44.2(1.38)61.4(1.95)21.8(1.65)39.6(1.96)71.5(1.74)23.1(1.63)48.5(1.93)

2005

2,675

(40.8)

1,262

(31.5)

1,414

(24.9)

68.6

(1.31)

24.0

(1.21)

44.6

(1.40)

66.5

(1.94)

24.7

(1.77)

41.8

(2.03)

70.4

(1.77)

23.4

(1.64)

47.0

(1.94)
20062,692(44.6)1,328(32.7)1,363(30.1)66.0(1.33)24.7(1.21)41.3(1.39)65.8(1.90)24.9(1.73)40.9(1.97)66.1(1.87)24.5(1.70)41.7(1.95)
20072,955(42.6)1,511(30.0)1,444(30.3)67.2(1.26)24.1(1.15)43.1(1.33)66.1(1.78)22.7(1.57)43.4(1.86)68.3(1.79)25.5(1.67)42.8(1.90)
20083,151(42.8)1,640(29.6)1,511(30.9)68.6(1.21)27.7(1.16)40.9(1.28)65.9(1.71)24.9(1.56)41.0(1.77)71.6(1.69)30.6(1.73)40.9(1.85)
20092,937(45.0)1,407(32.8)1,531(30.6)70.1(1.23)27.7(1.21)42.4(1.33)66.0(1.84)25.1(1.69)40.9(1.91)73.8(1.64)30.1(1.71)43.8(1.85)

2010

3,160

(91.8)

1,679

(64.6)

1,482

(58.4)

68.1

(1.49)

26.7

(1.52)

41.4

(1.61)

62.8

(1.88)

28.5

(2.03)

34.3

(1.97)

74.0

(2.31)

24.6

(2.32)

49.5

(2.59)
20113,079(88.3)1,611(60.6)1,468(58.4)68.2(1.45)25.9(1.49)42.3(1.44)64.7(2.16)24.7(1.79)40.0(2.10)72.2(1.98)27.3(2.17)44.9(2.37)
20123,203(96.2)1,622(70.1)1,581(54.0)66.2(1.59)28.8(1.57)37.5(1.60)61.3(2.17)26.9(2.20)34.4(2.15)71.3(2.11)30.7(2.09)40.6(2.21)
20132,977(84.4)1,524(62.9)1,453(57.0)65.9(1.58)23.8(1.44)42.1(1.76)63.5(2.20)24.5(2.14)39.0(2.48)68.4(2.17)23.0(2.15)45.3(2.21)
20142,868(78.5)1,423(58.1)1,445(57.5)68.4(1.67)24.6(1.56)43.7(1.81)64.0(2.32)21.2(2.07)42.8(2.69)72.6(2.50)28.0(2.35)44.6(2.57)

2015

2,965

(87.5)

1,448

(64.6)

1,516

(56.6)

69.2

(1.54)

25.2

(1.48)

44.0

(1.61)

65.8

(2.27)

24.3

(2.00)

41.5

(2.27)

72.5

(2.18)

26.2

(2.08)

46.4

(2.42)
20163,137(102.3)1,517(70.6)1,620(66.7)69.8(1.64)23.7(1.56)46.0(1.85)67.5(2.12)25.3(2.26)42.2(2.47)71.9(2.40)22.3(1.99)49.6(2.46)
20172,870(95.9)1,345(60.2)1,525(71.3)66.7(1.68)22.6(1.50)44.2(1.83)61.1(2.57)23.9(2.36)37.2(2.32)71.7(2.29)21.4(2.09)50.3(2.70)
20183,212(94.6)1,614(61.2)1,598(69.9)69.1(1.62)25.5(1.54)43.6(1.76)66.9(2.22)24.9(1.92)42.0(2.23)71.4(2.32)26.1(2.19)45.2(2.75)
20193,178(113.2)1,486(73.8)1,693(74.7)66.2(1.80)21.8(1.46)44.4(1.67)62.0(2.40)22.8(1.95)39.2(2.37)69.8(2.23)20.9(1.97)48.9(2.50)

2020

3,118

(106.3)

1,581

(76.4)

1,537

(72.5)

62.7

(1.76)

19.9

(1.71)

42.8

(1.86)

59.3

(2.45)

19.2

(2.12)

40.1

(2.60)

66.2

(2.48)

20.6

(2.37)

45.6

(2.57)
20212,731(98.1)1,444(75.9)1,287(67.0)61.8(1.86)18.5(1.50)43.3(2.10)54.9(2.59)18.8(2.19)36.1(2.66)69.5(2.57)18.2(2.10)51.3(3.13)
20222,987(104.7)1,355(67.3)1,632(77.4)62.0(2.06)16.9(1.38)45.1(2.12)57.2(3.03)18.8(2.39)38.4(2.87)66.0(2.66)15.3(1.77)50.7(2.92)
20233,086(95.4)1,551(69.7)1,535(76.0)61.4(1.89)15.6(1.38)45.9(2.01)57.6(2.69)14.4(2.04)43.2(2.67)65.3(2.68)16.7(1.96)48.6(2.96)
---Not available.
†Not applicable.
1Enrollment in college as of October of each year for individuals ages 16 to 24 who had completed high school earlier in the calendar year.
NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Recent high school completers include individuals ages 16 to 24 who graduated from high school or completed a GED or other high school equivalency credential. Data are based on sample surveys of the civilian noninstitutionalized population, which excludes persons in the military and persons living in institutions (e.g., prisons or nursing facilities). Prior to 2010, standard errors were computed using generalized variance function methodology rather than the more precise replicate weight methodology used in later years. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.
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 2023. (This table was prepared November 2024.)

2024 Tables and Figures All Years of Tables and Figures Most Recent Full Issue of the Digest