Statistics About Black Americans - Education

Among blacks ages 25 and older, 82% have at least a high school diploma (as of July 2007). Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Vs. 14% in 1950.

Among blacks ages 25 and older, 19% have a bachelor's degree or higher (as of July 2007). Source: U.S. Census Bureau. Vs. 2% in 1950.

1.2 million blacks have advanced degrees (master's, doctorate, medical, law). 2.9% of total black population (as of July 2007). Source: U.S. Census Bureau.

Top 5 states with largest % of black college grads: Vermont 35%, Montana 33%, New Hampshire 28%, Maine 23%, Idaho 22%

95% of black children ages 5 and 6 are enrolled in school (vs. 69% in 1954)

School vouchers: 57% support, 43% oppose

Best way for more black kids to receive a good education: 44% say change district boundaries, 40% more government money, 10% vouchers, 6% combo or other answer

81% believe too little money is spent on schools

School prayer: 79% support, 20% oppose, 1% don't know

Has educational equality happened since 1964: 77% say yes

Quality of their kid's school: 37% fair, 35% excellent or good, 25% poor

Are black kids' school options = to white kids: 68% say no, 31%yes

Single-gender public schools: 26% support

What would best help more blacks go to college: 65% say better college preparation, 25% more financial aid, 4% more spaces for black students

Blacks received 12.4% of the baccalaureates in computer and information sciences awarded by U.S. colleges and universities in 2005-06, nearly equal to the percentage of blacks in the U.S. population (12.8%). Source: National Center for Education Statistics

African immigrants: 880,000. They are more likely to have a college degree (43.8% do) than the U.S. population as a whole (23.1%). Source: U.S. Census Bureau

Sources: U.S. Census Bureau, 2002 JCPES survey