Educational Attainment in the United States: March 1991 and 1990.

This report contains data on the educational attainment of persons in the United States from the Current Population Surveys of the Census in March 1990 and 1991. Summary data on years of school completed by: (1) age; (2) sex; (3) race; (4) Hispanic origin; (5) marital status; (6) household relationship; (7) education of spouse; (8) labor force status; (9) occupation; (10) income; (11) earnings; and (12) region of residence; are shown for 1990 and 1991 in Table 1. Other detailed data in similar categories are shown for 1991 in Tables 2 through 16. Tables 17 and 18 contain time series data from 1940 through 1991 from decennial censuses and current population reports. Summary data are also presented for all states and large metropolitan areas, as well as detailed data for the 25 largest states and 15 largest metropolitan areas. Over three-fourths of adults aged 25 and older have completed high school, and over one-fifth have completed four or more years of college. Educational attainment levels for young adults resemble those of the late 1970s. Among persons aged 25 and over, there is no statistical difference in proportions of women and men who complete high school, but a larger proportion of men have completed college. Whites and persons of races other than white or black have the highest level of high school completion for those aged over 25, and persons of races other than white or black have the highest college completion level. Both high school and college completion levels are higher in metropolitan areas. Four text tables, 1 figure, and 18 detailed tables present the information. Appendices provide definitions, explanations and a discussion of the source and accuracy of estimates. There are seven appendix tables. (SLD)