Education
masters_or_higher_rateMaster's degree or higher
Share of adults age 25–64 with at least a master's degree.
What this measure means
The weighted percentage of people age 25–64 whose highest educational attainment is a master's, professional, or doctoral degree.
Who is included
- Population (universe)
- Civilian noninstitutionalized population age 25–64
- Age range
- 25–64
- Measure and unit
- Rate; Percent
- Denominator
- people in universe
Supported data sources and areas
These are the combinations this definition supports. Available estimates depend on the selected release, source coverage and reporting rules. National estimates can use annual or pooled ACS data; state estimates use pooled data. Eligible PUMA estimates use annual or pooled data with the selected release's native boundaries.
Products
- ACS 1-year
- ACS 5-year
Geographies
- United States
- Public Use Microdata Area (PUMA), using the selected release’s documented native boundaries
- State and District of Columbia
Compatible ACS release years
ACS 1-year: 2015 onward, excluding 2020; ACS 5-year: periods ending in 2015 onward
Analysis options defined for this measure
The explorer shows the options available in the selected release. Calculated changes between periods are currently unavailable.
Filters and breakdowns
- Age
- Race and ethnicity
- Sex reported in the ACS
- Additional disability
- Disability
Calculations
- Difference
- Percentage point difference
- Ratio
- Percent change
Uncertainty and reliability
- When results are withheld
- Results are withheld when fewer than 351 survey records are included in the denominator.
- When to use caution
- Results are marked unstable when the standard error exceeds 30% of the estimate's absolute value. This is the relative standard error (RSE). Use these estimates with caution.
Survey weights used: PWGTP and PWGTP1–PWGTP80
Version and sources
- Definition version
- ndc-definitions-2026.12
- Methodology version
- ndc-observatory-2026.3
- Change note
- Adds the master's-or-higher milestone previously available in the legacy dashboard.