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State educational attainment rates by citizenship status
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Immigration can impact the social make-up of a state's population, especially regarding such factors as marriage, education, and language. The following charts give basic information about educational attainment rates in the United States.
Native-born citizen refers to anyone born in the United States, Puerto Rico, or a United States territory or born abroad to citizen parents. The foreign-born population refers to "anyone who is not a U.S. citizen at birth," including naturalized citizens. Naturalized citizen refers to anyone born as a citizen of another country who fulfilled the requirements to become a United States citizen. Non-citizen refers to anyone residing in the United States who is not a citizen. According to the United States Census Bureau, "[n]oncitizens include legal permanent residents, temporary migrants, unauthorized immigrants and other resident statuses."[1][2][3]
Note: This page provides data from the American Community Survey (ACS), conducted annually by the United States Census Bureau, on demographics, economic factors, and social factors for the native, naturalized, and non-citizen populations. The ACS refers to immigrants, both naturalized citizens and non-citizens, as the "foreign-born population." The ACS defines those labeled as "non-citizens" as "respondents who indicated that they were not U.S. citizens at the time of the survey." The term "non-citizens" does not distinguish between those who are residing in the country with or without legal permission.[4]
Educational attainment
According to an October 2015 report from the Pew Research Center (PRC), recent immigrants to the United States are the most highly educated in history. More immigrants coming to the United States in 2013 had completed bachelor's degrees than in 1970 (41 percent compared to 20 percent, respectively). PRC also noted that 23 percent of new immigrants in 2013 had not completed high school, while in 1970 half of new arrivals had not completed high school. The level of education immigrants have achieved before coming to the United States helps determine where they will fit into the labor force.[5]
In 2014, about 28 percent of people nationwide had a high school diploma or equivalent, while 18.3 percent held a bachelor's degree. The District of Columbia had the highest percentage of individuals with bachelor's degrees at 24.2 percent, while West Virginia had the smallest percentage at 11.6 percent. Nationwide, about 23.1 percent of non-citizens had a high school diploma or equivalent, while 12.5 percent held a bachelor's degree.[6]
| Educational attainment of residents by citizenship status, 2014 | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| State | Category | Less than high school | High school | Some college or associate's | Bachelor's degree | Graduate degree |
| Alabama | Total | 16.3% | 31.1% | 29.6% | 14.5% | 8.6% |
| Native | 15.6% | 31.4% | 30.2% | 14.5% | 8.4% | |
| Naturalized | 18.9% | 22.2% | 23.2% | 18.7% | 17.1% | |
| Non-citizen | 40.8% | 24.3% | 12.3% | 11.6% | 10.9% | |
| Alaska | Total | 8.2% | 27.5% | 36.6% | 17.9% | 9.8% |
| Native | 6.8% | 27.6% | 37.6% | 18.0% | 10.0% | |
| Naturalized | 18.4% | 25.6% | 30.2% | 17.2% | 8.6% | |
| Non-citizen | 25.8% | 28.1% | 23.3% | 15.2% | 7.6% | |
| Arizona | Total | 14.1% | 24.5% | 34.3% | 17.1% | 10.0% |
| Native | 9.0% | 24.9% | 37.4% | 18.3% | 10.4% | |
| Naturalized | 24.2% | 21.9% | 26.9% | 15.7% | 11.2% | |
| Non-citizen | 47.6% | 23.4% | 14.2% | 8.9% | 5.9% | |
| Arkansas | Total | 15.7% | 35.0% | 28.7% | 13.5% | 7.1% |
| Native | 14.1% | 35.7% | 29.5% | 13.7% | 7.0% | |
| Naturalized | 28.4% | 26.0% | 21.4% | 13.5% | 10.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 49.9% | 22.4% | 10.1% | 9.7% | 8.0% | |
| California | Total | 18.5% | 20.7% | 29.8% | 19.6% | 11.4% |
| Native | 8.4% | 21.6% | 36.1% | 21.5% | 12.4% | |
| Naturalized | 24.4% | 18.4% | 23.9% | 21.2% | 12.1% | |
| Non-citizen | 48.2% | 20.0% | 13.7% | 11.0% | 7.1% | |
| Colorado | Total | 9.6% | 22.0% | 30.9% | 23.7% | 13.7% |
| Native | 6.2% | 22.0% | 32.7% | 25.1% | 14.1% | |
| Naturalized | 19.8% | 20.6% | 25.1% | 19.1% | 15.4% | |
| Non-citizen | 44.3% | 22.9% | 13.7% | 10.7% | 8.5% | |
| Connecticut | Total | 10.5% | 27.6% | 24.9% | 20.6% | 16.4% |
| Native | 8.3% | 28.0% | 26.0% | 21.3% | 16.4% | |
| Naturalized | 16.5% | 24.9% | 23.0% | 18.1% | 17.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 26.1% | 26.6% | 16.2% | 16.7% | 14.5% | |
| Delaware | Total | 12.0% | 31.5% | 27.1% | 17.5% | 11.9% |
| Native | 10.5% | 33.1% | 28.3% | 17.2% | 11.0% | |
| Naturalized | 12.7% | 18.4% | 22.4% | 24.9% | 21.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 35.1% | 18.6% | 11.7% | 16.0% | 18.7% | |
| District of Columbia | Total | 11.1% | 18.6% | 16.9% | 23.3% | 30.1% |
| Native | 9.3% | 19.2% | 17.4% | 24.2% | 29.8% | |
| Naturalized | 12.2% | 16.0% | 18.3% | 21.8% | 31.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 25.4% | 15.5% | 11.3% | 16.8% | 31.0% | |
| Florida | Total | 13.5% | 29.7% | 30.0% | 17.1% | 9.6% |
| Native | 10.3% | 30.2% | 32.1% | 17.6% | 9.8% | |
| Naturalized | 18.6% | 26.0% | 27.2% | 17.6% | 10.6% | |
| Non-citizen | 29.5% | 30.7% | 19.2% | 13.4% | 7.2% | |
| Georgia | Total | 15.0% | 28.6% | 28.1% | 17.9% | 10.4% |
| Native | 13.0% | 29.5% | 29.5% | 18.0% | 10.2% | |
| Naturalized | 14.1% | 20.8% | 25.4% | 23.3% | 16.4% | |
| Non-citizen | 39.8% | 23.5% | 14.4% | 13.6% | 8.8% | |
| Hawaii | Total | 9.3% | 28.1% | 32.1% | 20.2% | 10.3% |
| Native | 5.9% | 28.3% | 33.5% | 20.9% | 11.3% | |
| Naturalized | 18.6% | 26.3% | 29.6% | 18.2% | 7.3% | |
| Non-citizen | 23.6% | 29.4% | 23.9% | 16.5% | 6.6% | |
| Idaho | Total | 10.9% | 27.7% | 36.0% | 17.4% | 8.0% |
| Native | 8.1% | 28.2% | 37.5% | 18.0% | 8.2% | |
| Naturalized | 29.8% | 24.8% | 23.8% | 13.8% | 7.8% | |
| Non-citizen | 53.9% | 20.6% | 12.8% | 7.3% | 5.4% | |
| Illinois | Total | 12.4% | 27.0% | 28.7% | 19.7% | 12.2% |
| Native | 8.7% | 27.7% | 31.2% | 20.3% | 12.1% | |
| Naturalized | 20.3% | 22.5% | 21.4% | 21.2% | 14.6% | |
| Non-citizen | 37.6% | 25.4% | 13.5% | 13.1% | 10.4% | |
| Indiana | Total | 12.4% | 35.0% | 29.0% | 15.1% | 8.5% |
| Native | 11.3% | 35.6% | 29.9% | 15.1% | 8.1% | |
| Naturalized | 19.9% | 24.4% | 20.5% | 17.7% | 17.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 37.9% | 23.6% | 11.8% | 13.1% | 13.6% | |
| Iowa | Total | 8.7% | 32.5% | 32.4% | 18.0% | 8.4% |
| Native | 7.3% | 33.1% | 33.3% | 18.3% | 8.0% | |
| Naturalized | 26.0% | 22.6% | 22.2% | 15.5% | 13.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 39.6% | 20.0% | 13.2% | 11.7% | 15.5% | |
| Kansas | Total | 10.0% | 27.2% | 32.1% | 19.9% | 10.8% |
| Native | 7.6% | 27.8% | 33.5% | 20.5% | 10.7% | |
| Naturalized | 24.8% | 20.9% | 22.2% | 17.5% | 14.6% | |
| Non-citizen | 45.5% | 20.1% | 12.8% | 10.9% | 10.8% | |
| Kentucky | Total | 16.5% | 33.7% | 28.0% | 12.9% | 8.9% |
| Native | 16.1% | 34.1% | 28.4% | 12.7% | 8.6% | |
| Naturalized | 16.0% | 21.6% | 23.5% | 19.1% | 19.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 33.4% | 25.0% | 14.6% | 13.9% | 13.2% | |
| Louisiana | Total | 17.2% | 33.9% | 26.8% | 14.7% | 7.4% |
| Native | 16.5% | 34.4% | 27.2% | 14.7% | 7.2% | |
| Naturalized | 19.0% | 25.0% | 24.3% | 17.5% | 14.3% | |
| Non-citizen | 36.7% | 26.1% | 14.8% | 11.8% | 10.6% | |
| Maine | Total | 8.7% | 33.5% | 29.4% | 18.3% | 10.1% |
| Native | 8.3% | 33.9% | 29.7% | 18.2% | 9.9% | |
| Naturalized | 16.9% | 25.4% | 24.1% | 18.4% | 15.1% | |
| Non-citizen | 20.4% | 22.7% | 22.0% | 21.0% | 13.9% | |
| Maryland | Total | 11.0% | 25.7% | 26.0% | 20.3% | 17.0% |
| Native | 8.9% | 27.2% | 27.4% | 20.3% | 16.2% | |
| Naturalized | 11.4% | 17.4% | 22.3% | 24.4% | 24.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 30.5% | 20.9% | 16.2% | 15.7% | 16.7% | |
| Massachusetts | Total | 10.5% | 25.6% | 24.0% | 22.6% | 17.4% |
| Native | 7.5% | 25.9% | 25.5% | 23.9% | 17.2% | |
| Naturalized | 20.6% | 23.9% | 20.3% | 18.0% | 17.2% | |
| Non-citizen | 26.2% | 24.3% | 14.1% | 16.1% | 19.2% | |
| Michigan | Total | 10.7% | 30.2% | 32.7% | 16.1% | 10.3% |
| Native | 9.7% | 31.0% | 33.8% | 15.9% | 9.5% | |
| Naturalized | 18.6% | 20.5% | 21.3% | 19.7% | 19.9% | |
| Non-citizen | 29.5% | 18.3% | 15.2% | 18.4% | 18.6% | |
| Minnesota | Total | 7.7% | 26.4% | 32.7% | 22.3% | 10.9% |
| Native | 5.9% | 27.0% | 33.8% | 22.7% | 10.5% | |
| Naturalized | 20.5% | 19.5% | 25.4% | 19.7% | 14.9% | |
| Non-citizen | 32.2% | 21.2% | 16.2% | 16.0% | 14.4% | |
| Mississippi | Total | 18.1% | 30.2% | 31.3% | 12.9% | 7.5% |
| Native | 17.6% | 30.4% | 31.7% | 12.9% | 7.4% | |
| Naturalized | 20.7% | 24.9% | 23.4% | 17.3% | 13.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 42.5% | 24.9% | 13.6% | 10.0% | 9.0% | |
| Missouri | Total | 12.0% | 31.4% | 30.0% | 16.7% | 10.0% |
| Native | 11.4% | 31.9% | 30.5% | 16.7% | 9.6% | |
| Naturalized | 15.9% | 22.9% | 22.8% | 19.2% | 19.1% | |
| Non-citizen | 30.6% | 21.2% | 15.5% | 15.4% | 17.4% | |
| Montana | Total | 7.6% | 29.8% | 33.6% | 19.8% | 9.2% |
| Native | 7.4% | 29.9% | 33.7% | 19.9% | 9.1% | |
| Naturalized | 16.0% | 25.2% | 30.2% | 15.4% | 13.2% | |
| Non-citizen | 12.4% | 22.7% | 26.5% | 20.1% | 18.3% | |
| Nebraska | Total | 9.5% | 27.8% | 33.7% | 19.6% | 9.4% |
| Native | 6.4% | 28.6% | 35.3% | 20.3% | 9.4% | |
| Naturalized | 33.9% | 21.5% | 21.0% | 14.2% | 9.4% | |
| Non-citizen | 53.7% | 17.8% | 11.6% | 8.5% | 8.5% | |
| Nevada | Total | 15.1% | 28.7% | 33.7% | 14.9% | 7.7% |
| Native | 9.0% | 29.5% | 37.7% | 15.4% | 8.4% | |
| Naturalized | 21.7% | 25.1% | 27.5% | 18.1% | 7.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 44.3% | 26.9% | 16.0% | 9.1% | 3.7% | |
| New Hampshire | Total | 8.0% | 29.1% | 28.6% | 21.5% | 12.8% |
| Native | 7.3% | 29.6% | 29.1% | 21.6% | 12.4% | |
| Naturalized | 16.2% | 21.7% | 23.4% | 20.1% | 18.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 20.8% | 23.0% | 16.9% | 20.9% | 18.4% | |
| New Jersey | Total | 11.6% | 28.8% | 23.2% | 22.5% | 13.8% |
| Native | 8.3% | 30.2% | 25.3% | 23.0% | 13.3% | |
| Naturalized | 14.9% | 23.1% | 20.9% | 24.3% | 16.9% | |
| Non-citizen | 27.2% | 27.9% | 14.2% | 17.6% | 13.2% | |
| New Mexico | Total | 16.0% | 26.3% | 31.6% | 14.8% | 11.3% |
| Native | 11.6% | 27.1% | 33.9% | 15.7% | 11.8% | |
| Naturalized | 31.1% | 22.1% | 21.3% | 13.2% | 12.2% | |
| Non-citizen | 56.8% | 20.6% | 11.6% | 6.0% | 5.0% | |
| New York | Total | 14.6% | 26.9% | 24.8% | 19.1% | 14.6% |
| Native | 9.8% | 27.5% | 27.1% | 19.9% | 15.7% | |
| Naturalized | 20.8% | 24.8% | 21.7% | 19.6% | 13.2% | |
| Non-citizen | 34.3% | 26.5% | 15.2% | 13.8% | 10.2% | |
| North Carolina | Total | 14.6% | 26.9% | 30.8% | 18.2% | 9.5% |
| Native | 12.5% | 27.5% | 32.1% | 18.6% | 9.3% | |
| Naturalized | 15.9% | 18.9% | 25.7% | 22.1% | 17.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 45.7% | 21.5% | 13.0% | 11.1% | 8.7% | |
| North Dakota | Total | 8.7% | 27.4% | 36.6% | 19.6% | 7.7% |
| Native | 8.4% | 27.7% | 37.1% | 19.7% | 7.3% | |
| Naturalized | 14.2% | 23.5% | 28.1% | 17.2% | 17.0% | |
| Non-citizen | 21.6% | 16.5% | 18.7% | 20.2% | 23.0% | |
| Ohio | Total | 11.2% | 34.5% | 28.7% | 16.1% | 9.5% |
| Native | 10.8% | 35.2% | 29.2% | 15.9% | 8.9% | |
| Naturalized | 15.1% | 21.7% | 21.3% | 20.6% | 21.3% | |
| Non-citizen | 23.1% | 20.5% | 16.0% | 19.9% | 20.4% | |
| Oklahoma | Total | 13.3% | 31.7% | 31.2% | 15.9% | 7.9% |
| Native | 11.4% | 32.3% | 32.2% | 16.2% | 7.8% | |
| Naturalized | 24.7% | 23.5% | 22.0% | 18.3% | 11.4% | |
| Non-citizen | 48.8% | 23.1% | 12.9% | 8.5% | 6.7% | |
| Oregon | Total | 10.5% | 24.5% | 34.9% | 18.9% | 11.2% |
| Native | 7.5% | 25.1% | 36.8% | 19.5% | 11.2% | |
| Naturalized | 19.4% | 20.1% | 27.1% | 18.7% | 14.8% | |
| Non-citizen | 43.7% | 21.2% | 15.4% | 10.9% | 8.8% | |
| Pennsylvania | Total | 11.0% | 36.8% | 24.1% | 17.1% | 11.0% |
| Native | 10.1% | 37.8% | 24.6% | 17.0% | 10.4% | |
| Naturalized | 17.5% | 24.0% | 20.1% | 20.0% | 18.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 27.7% | 23.2% | 14.5% | 16.8% | 17.8% | |
| Rhode Island | Total | 14.6% | 27.4% | 26.7% | 18.8% | 12.6% |
| Native | 10.7% | 27.8% | 28.1% | 20.1% | 13.3% | |
| Naturalized | 28.3% | 26.1% | 23.3% | 13.4% | 9.0% | |
| Non-citizen | 41.8% | 24.3% | 14.6% | 10.5% | 8.8% | |
| South Carolina | Total | 15.0% | 30.0% | 29.7% | 16.2% | 9.2% |
| Native | 14.0% | 30.3% | 30.4% | 16.3% | 9.0% | |
| Naturalized | 15.6% | 22.4% | 26.8% | 19.9% | 15.4% | |
| Non-citizen | 39.3% | 25.8% | 14.2% | 11.0% | 9.7% | |
| South Dakota | Total | 9.3% | 31.5% | 32.5% | 18.7% | 8.0% |
| Native | 8.5% | 31.7% | 33.0% | 18.9% | 7.8% | |
| Naturalized | 23.8% | 26.1% | 22.7% | 12.8% | 14.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 39.4% | 23.6% | 11.4% | 11.1% | 14.5% | |
| Tennessee | Total | 15.1% | 33.1% | 27.5% | 15.6% | 8.8% |
| Native | 14.1% | 33.6% | 28.1% | 15.6% | 8.6% | |
| Naturalized | 16.6% | 22.0% | 24.3% | 20.7% | 16.4% | |
| Non-citizen | 39.7% | 25.5% | 12.2% | 12.1% | 10.4% | |
| Texas | Total | 18.4% | 25.2% | 29.3% | 17.9% | 9.1% |
| Native | 11.5% | 26.7% | 33.1% | 19.4% | 9.3% | |
| Naturalized | 27.9% | 19.4% | 21.7% | 18.8% | 12.3% | |
| Non-citizen | 52.2% | 20.2% | 11.8% | 9.2% | 6.5% | |
| Utah | Total | 9.0% | 23.3% | 37.1% | 20.5% | 10.2% |
| Native | 5.9% | 23.2% | 39.1% | 21.3% | 10.4% | |
| Naturalized | 20.3% | 23.0% | 28.8% | 17.7% | 10.3% | |
| Non-citizen | 39.8% | 24.0% | 17.7% | 11.8% | 6.7% | |
| Vermont | Total | 8.4% | 30.6% | 25.9% | 21.2% | 14.0% |
| Native | 8.0% | 31.1% | 26.0% | 21.2% | 13.7% | |
| Naturalized | 13.1% | 23.0% | 24.4% | 21.6% | 17.9% | |
| Non-citizen | 19.8% | 17.4% | 19.4% | 21.1% | 22.3% | |
| Virginia | Total | 12.1% | 25.0% | 27.1% | 20.7% | 15.0% |
| Native | 10.8% | 25.9% | 28.3% | 20.6% | 14.5% | |
| Naturalized | 11.5% | 17.6% | 24.5% | 25.5% | 20.9% | |
| Non-citizen | 28.7% | 21.8% | 15.9% | 17.9% | 15.7% | |
| Washington | Total | 9.8% | 23.3% | 34.5% | 20.6% | 11.7% |
| Native | 6.6% | 24.0% | 36.9% | 21.0% | 11.4% | |
| Naturalized | 17.2% | 19.8% | 28.0% | 21.5% | 13.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 34.9% | 20.3% | 16.9% | 15.1% | 12.8% | |
| West Virginia | Total | 15.6% | 40.9% | 24.8% | 11.6% | 7.2% |
| Native | 15.6% | 41.3% | 24.9% | 11.5% | 6.9% | |
| Naturalized | 12.5% | 20.0% | 21.7% | 18.9% | 27.0% | |
| Non-citizen | 21.2% | 18.8% | 16.6% | 18.6% | 24.9% | |
| Wisconsin | Total | 9.2% | 32.4% | 31.0% | 18.1% | 9.3% |
| Native | 8.0% | 32.9% | 31.8% | 18.3% | 9.0% | |
| Naturalized | 22.1% | 23.0% | 21.6% | 17.8% | 15.5% | |
| Non-citizen | 37.2% | 22.8% | 13.9% | 11.9% | 14.2% | |
| Wyoming | Total | 7.7% | 29.4% | 37.8% | 16.8% | 8.3% |
| Native | 6.9% | 29.6% | 38.4% | 16.9% | 8.2% | |
| Naturalized | 21.6% | 25.5% | 23.7% | 14.5% | 14.7% | |
| Non-citizen | 31.6% | 26.1% | 20.1% | 12.7% | 9.6% | |
| United States | Total | 13.7% | 28.0% | 29.1% | 18.3% | 11.0% |
| Native | 10.2% | 29.1% | 31.1% | 18.7% | 10.9% | |
| Naturalized | 20.9% | 21.6% | 23.5% | 20.2% | 13.9% | |
| Non-citizen | 40.4% | 23.1% | 14.5% | 12.5% | 9.6% | |
| Source: United States Census Bureau, "Selected Characteristics of the Native and Foreign-Born Populations" | ||||||
See also
Footnotes
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Foreign Born: About this Topic," accessed October 3, 2016
- ↑ U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services, "Citizenship Through Naturalization," accessed October 4, 2016
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Newsroom: Census Bureau Highlights Young Noncitizen Population in the U.S.," February 26, 2014
- ↑ United State Census Bureau, "American Community Survey and Puerto Rico Community Survey 2014: Subject Definitions," accessed September 29, 2016
- ↑ Pew Research Center, "Today’s newly arrived immigrants are the best-educated ever," October 5, 2015
- ↑ United States Census Bureau, "Selected Characteristics of the Native and Foreign-Born Populations," accessed September 8, 2016
