Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in United States of America

United States of America: Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population was 14.2% in 2024. ▲ Rising

Latest (2024)
14.2%
Change on year
up 0.5%
World rank
18th
of 80 countries
All-time high
14.2%
in 2024
All-time low
9.2%
in 1994
Years of data
31
1994–2024

Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in United States of America, 1994–2024

0510151994200920241994: 9.2 cumulative1995: 9.5 cumulative1996: 9.5 cumulative1997: 9.6 cumulative1998: 9.8 cumulative1999: 10.1 cumulative2000: 10.2 cumulative2001: 10.3 cumulative2002: 10.4 cumulative2003: 10.6 cumulative2004: 10.7 cumulative2005: 10.7 cumulative2006: 10.8 cumulative2007: 10.9 cumulative2008: 11 cumulative2009: 11.1 cumulative2010: 11.1 cumulative2011: 11.3 cumulative2012: 11.6 cumulative2013: 12 cumulative2014: 11.9 cumulative2015: 12 cumulative2016: 12.6 cumulative2017: 12.8 cumulative2018: 12.8 cumulative2019: 13 cumulative2020: 13.8 cumulative2021: 13.6 cumulative2022: 13.3 cumulative2023: 14.1 cumulative2024: 14.2 cumulative

Source: Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Measured in cumulative.

Analysis

In 2024, educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in United States of America stood at 14.2%. That is the highest value across all 31 years on record.

Compared with earlier readings it is up 0.5% on the previous year and up 19.0% over ten years.

Over the whole period, educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in United States of America peaked at 14.2% in 2024 and was at its lowest, 9.2%, in 1994.

United States of America ranks 18th of 80 countries on this measure, in the top quarter.

The long-run direction has been consistently rising across the 31 years of available data.

Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in United States of America, year by year

Annual values for Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative) in United States of America, 1994 to 2024.
Year cumulative Change
1994 9.2%
1995 9.5% +3.8%
1996 9.5% +0.0%
1997 9.6% +0.4%
1998 9.8% +2.0%
1999 10.1% +3.5%
2000 10.2% +0.6%
2001 10.3% +1.4%
2002 10.4% +1.2%
2003 10.6% +1.5%
2004 10.7% +1.3%
2005 10.7% -0.5%
2006 10.8% +1.8%
2007 10.9% +0.7%
2008 11.0% +0.4%
2009 11.1% +0.7%
2010 11.1% +0.1%
2011 11.3% +2.0%
2012 11.6% +2.4%
2013 12.0% +3.4%
2014 11.9% -0.2%
2015 12.0% +0.6%
2016 12.6% +4.8%
2017 12.8% +1.4%
2018 12.8% +0.6%
2019 13.0% +1.6%
2020 13.8% +5.6%
2021 13.6% -1.0%
2022 13.3% -2.2%
2023 14.1% +5.9%
2024 14.2% +0.5%

Averages by decade

DecadeAverage LowestHighest Years
1990s 9.6% 9.2% 10.1% 6
2000s 10.7% 10.2% 11.1% 10
2010s 12.1% 11.1% 13.0% 10
2020s 13.8% 13.3% 14.2% 5

Countries ranked near United States of America

  1. 15 Cyprus 15.5% compare
  2. 16 Ireland 14.8% compare
  3. 17 France 14.7% compare
  4. 19 Spain 14.1% compare
  5. 20 United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland 14.1% compare
  6. 21 Iceland 14.0% compare

See the full ranking of 80 places →

More education data for United States of America

All data for United States of America →

Frequently asked questions

What is educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in United States of America?
Educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population in United States of America was 14.2% in 2024, according to Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
What is the highest educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population recorded in United States of America?
The highest recorded value was 14.2% in 2024.
What is the lowest educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population recorded in United States of America?
The lowest recorded value was 9.2% in 1994.
How does United States of America rank for educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population?
United States of America ranks 18th out of 80 countries with data for 2024.
Is educational attainment, at least master's or equivalent, population rising or falling in United States of America?
Over the last ten years it is up 19.0%. 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 Master's or equivalent, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative). Statizoid updates them automatically from the source API.

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Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population in United States of America. Statizoid, drawing on Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). Retrieved 05 September 2026, from https://education.statizoid.com/stat/educational-attainment-at-least-master-s-or-equivalent-population-25-male-percent/united-states/

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About this data

Indicator
Educational attainment, at least Master's or equivalent, population 25+, male (%) (cumulative)
Unit
cumulative
Source
Data API, UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)
Licence
CC BY 4.0 (World Bank Open Data)
Coverage
80 places, 888 data points, 1990–2024
Last refreshed

The percentage of population ages 25 and over that attained or completed Master's or equivalent.