Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in United States
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in the United States was 52.2% in 2025, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is the 8th highest of 36 countries in 2025.
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in United States, 1981 to 2025
All 44 values
| Period | % |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 52.2 |
| 2023 | 50.7 |
| 2022 | 50 |
| 2021 | 50.3 |
| 2020 | 50.1 |
| 2019 | 48.3 |
| 2018 | 47.4 |
| 2017 | 46.4 |
| 2016 | 45.7 |
| 2015 | 44.6 |
| 2014 | 44.2 |
| 2013 | 43.9 |
| 2012 | 43.1 |
| 2011 | 42.4 |
| 2010 | 41.7 |
| 2009 | 41.2 |
| 2008 | 41.1 |
| 2007 | 40.3 |
| 2006 | 39.5 |
| 2005 | 39.1 |
| 2004 | 39.1 |
| 2003 | 38.4 |
| 2002 | 38.1 |
| 2001 | 37.5 |
| 2000 | 36.5 |
| 1999 | 35.8 |
| 1998 | 34.9 |
| 1997 | 34.1 |
| 1996 | 33.9 |
| 1995 | 33.3 |
| 1994 | 32.2 |
| 1993 | 31.3 |
| 1992 | 30.2 |
| 1991 | 23.7 Series break |
| 1990 | 23.6 Series break |
| 1989 | 23.6 Series break |
| 1988 | 22.7 Series break |
| 1987 | 22.3 Series break |
| 1986 | 21.8 Series break |
| 1985 | 21.8 Series break |
| 1984 | 21.4 Series break |
| 1983 | 20.9 Series break |
| 1982 | 19.8 Series break |
| 1981 | 19.1 Series break |
Rankings
- Countries by tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64
- EU countries by tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64
Definition
People aged 25 to 64 whose highest completed level of education is tertiary (ISCED 2011 levels 5 to 8: short-cycle tertiary, bachelor's or equivalent, master's or equivalent, and doctoral), as a percentage of all people aged 25 to 64. Measured by national labour force surveys.
Includes short-cycle tertiary programmes such as US associate degrees, so it is higher than the US bachelors_degree_share, which also covers everyone aged 25 and over.
How to cite
OECD. OECD Education at a Glance: share of 25 to 64 year-olds with tertiary education, ISCED 2011 levels 5 to 8 (DSD_EAG_LSO_EA@DF_LSO_NEAC_DISTR_EA). https://data-explorer.oecd.org/vis?df[ds]=dsDisseminateFinalDMZ&df[id]=DSD_EAG_LSO_EA%40DF_LSO_NEAC_DISTR_EA&df[ag]=OECD.EDU.IMEP. Accessed 2026-10-12. Data reuse terms and downstream attribution: https://www.oecd.org/en/about/terms-conditions.htmlUse this data in your AI agent
Invokely serves this figure to AI assistants through MCP and to code through a REST API, with the source and citation attached. Ask your assistant:
What is the latest tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in United States? Cite the source.
get_value {"indicator":"tertiary_attainment_share_25_64","place":"us"}
GET https://invokely.ai/api/v1/value?indicator=tertiary_attainment_share_25_64&place=usQuestions
What is the tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in United States?
Tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in the United States was 52.2% in 2025, according to the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. That is the 8th highest of 36 countries in 2025.
Where does this figure come from?
Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. OECD Education at a Glance: share of 25 to 64 year-olds with tertiary education, ISCED 2011 levels 5 to 8 (DSD_EAG_LSO_EA@DF_LSO_NEAC_DISTR_EA). Retrieved by Invokely on 2026-10-12.
What was the highest tertiary education attainment, ages 25 to 64 in United States?
52.2% in 2025, the highest value since 1981 in this series.