U.S. Educational Attainment by Gender and Birth Cohort (1900-Present) #1435108 (License: Personal Use)

This line chart displays the percentage of U.S. adults aged 25 to 60 holding a high school diploma (HSGrad) or bachelor’s degree (BA+) from 1900 to the present, using 3-year moving averages. Men historically led in both metrics until the mid-20th century, after which women’s attainment rose sharply-surpassing men in BA+ by the 1980s-and now show higher rates for bachelor’s degrees (36% vs. 29% in recent cohorts), while HSGrad remains slightly higher for men (91% vs. 89%). The data highlights pivotal shifts in educational equity and workforce preparation over time.

Used in education policy reports, demographic analyses, and historical trend articles; supports user intent to understand gender disparities, generational progress in schooling, or long-term labor market qualifications.