Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America
United States of America: Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary was 47.6% in 2024. ▲ Rising
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America, 1970–2024
Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.
Analysis
The most recent figure for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America is 47.6%, measured in 2024.
Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.9% on the previous year and up 16.5% over ten years.
Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America peaked at 48.7% in 1994 and was at its lowest, 24.1%, in 1970.
United States of America ranks 6th of 129 countries on this measure, in the top 10%.
The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 33 years of available data.
Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America, year by year
| Year | cumulative | Change |
|---|---|---|
| 1970 | 24.1% | — |
| 1975 | 30.8% | +27.5% |
| 1979 | 35.8% | +16.4% |
| 1980 | 36.2% | +1.0% |
| 1981 | 36.8% | +1.8% |
| 1994 | 48.7% | +32.4% |
| 1998 | 34.0% | -30.1% |
| 1999 | 35.0% | +2.8% |
| 2000 | 35.3% | +0.8% |
| 2001 | 35.7% | +1.3% |
| 2002 | 36.2% | +1.5% |
| 2003 | 36.6% | +1.1% |
| 2004 | 37.9% | +3.4% |
| 2005 | 36.5% | -3.7% |
| 2006 | 37.3% | +2.3% |
| 2007 | 38.0% | +1.9% |
| 2008 | 38.1% | +0.1% |
| 2009 | 38.0% | -0.0% |
| 2010 | 38.3% | +0.7% |
| 2011 | 39.3% | +2.6% |
| 2012 | 40.2% | +2.2% |
| 2013 | 40.8% | +1.6% |
| 2014 | 40.8% | +0.1% |
| 2015 | 41.2% | +0.8% |
| 2016 | 42.3% | +2.8% |
| 2017 | 43.3% | +2.4% |
| 2018 | 43.8% | +1.1% |
| 2019 | 44.7% | +2.1% |
| 2020 | 46.3% | +3.6% |
| 2021 | 45.8% | -1.0% |
| 2022 | 45.9% | +0.1% |
| 2023 | 47.1% | +2.7% |
| 2024 | 47.6% | +0.9% |
Averages by decade
| Decade | Average | Lowest | Highest | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1970s | 30.2% | 24.1% | 35.8% | 3 |
| 1980s | 36.5% | 36.2% | 36.8% | 2 |
| 1990s | 39.3% | 34.0% | 48.7% | 3 |
| 2000s | 37.0% | 35.3% | 38.1% | 10 |
| 2010s | 41.5% | 38.3% | 44.7% | 10 |
| 2020s | 46.5% | 45.8% | 47.6% | 5 |
Countries ranked near United States of America
- 3 Singapore 55.5% compare
- 4 Republic of Korea 54.7% compare
- 5 United Arab Emirates 53.3% compare
- 7 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 46.8% compare
- 8 Luxembourg 46.8% compare
- 9 Switzerland 46.1% compare
More education data for United States of America
- Teachers in secondary education, both sexes (number), gaps filled 1.74 million (2023)
- Repeaters in primary education, all grades, both sexes (number), gaps 419,732 (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, male (number), gaps filled 4.34 million (2023)
- Enrolment in pre-primary education, female (number), gaps filled 4.14 million (2023)
- Secondary education, pupils, gaps filled 25.35 million (2023)
- Primary education, duration (years), annual growth rate 0 % change on previous year (2025)
- Primary education, pupils, gaps filled 23.83 million (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, annual growth rate 1.33 % change on previous year (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per unit of GDP 0 units per US$ of GDP (2023)
- Primary education, pupils, per capita 0.0708 units per person (2023)
Frequently asked questions
- What is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America?
- Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary in United States of America was 47.6% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
- What is the highest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in United States of America?
- The highest recorded value was 48.7% in 1994.
- What is the lowest educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary recorded in United States of America?
- The lowest recorded value was 24.1% in 1970.
- How does United States of America rank for educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary?
- United States of America ranks 6th out of 129 countries with data for 2024.
- Is educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary rising or falling in United States of America?
- Over the last ten years it is up 16.5%. The long-run trend across the full record is rising.
- Where does this United States of America data come from?
- The figures come from Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), published as part of Educational attainment, at least completed short-cycle tertiary, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.
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About this data
The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed short-cycle tertiary education.