July 2, 2002

Educational Level of North Dakotans Continues to Rise

Slightly more than one in five North Dakotans over the age of 25 (22 percent) had at least a bachelor’s degree in 2000, according to the latest Population Bulletin released from the North Dakota State Data Center at North Dakota State University. This proportion is up from 18 percent in 1990.

"The level of education continues to rise in our state, in part because of heightened demand by employees, but also because of increased educational opportunities. More than 70 percent of the high school graduates in our state go on to college, 5 percent more than nationally. Our state’s university system has 11 campuses throughout the state and provides residents a wide spectrum of educational opportunities including on-line courses. To me, education is the key to solving many of our state’s challenges," said Richard Rathge, director of the North Dakota State Data Center.

About 9 percent of persons 25 and older had less than a ninth grade education, down from 15 percent a decade earlier. The proportion of North Dakotans age 25 and older with a graduate or professional degree increased only slightly between 1990 and 2000 (from 4.5 percent to 5.5 percent, respectively).

North Dakota had the 32nd highest proportion in the nation of persons 25 years and older with at least a bachelor’s degree. West Virginia ranked lowest with 14.8 percent, followed by Arkansas and Mississippi (16.7 and 16.9 percent, respectively). Four states along with the District of Columbia had more than 30 percent of persons 25 years and older with at least a bachelor’s degree (Massachusetts, Colorado, Connecticut, and Maryland).

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Source: Richard Rathge, (701) 231-8621, richard_rathge@ndsu.nodak.edu
Editor: Tom Jirik, (701) 231-9629, tjirik@ndsuext.nodak.edu

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