Americans with a College Degree (2026)
39%
Percent of US adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher
Summary
About 39% of US adults 25 and older hold a bachelor's degree or higher in 2026 — up from 28% in 2000 and just 11% in 1970. Master's, professional, and doctoral degrees add another 14%. The college wage premium (degree vs no-degree median income) is approximately 65%, though the gap has narrowed slightly since 2018.
Breakdown
Source
US Census Bureau ACS / BLS Education Pays· As of 2026-Q1
Related stats
More income & wages stats
All Pulsafi stats are sourced from primary government data and major financial institutions. Read the full methodology and data-sources page.