Key Takeaways
- 25 percent of Baby Boomers held a bachelor’s degree or higher by age 30
- 89 percent of Baby Boomers completed high school or equivalent by the time they reached late adulthood
- In 1968, only 18 percent of male Baby Boomers had a four-year college degree
- Baby Boomers with a bachelor’s degree earn 66 percent more over a lifetime than those with only a high school diploma
- The average tuition for a Boomer in 1970 at a public 4-year college was $358 per year
- Boomers paid approximately 20 percent of their annual income to cover tuition in 1975
- Only 7 percent of Black Baby Boomers held a college degree in 1970 compared to 17 percent of White Boomers
- By 2015, the college attainment rate for Black Boomers rose to 20 percent
- Female Boomers were 30 percent less likely than male Boomers to major in business in 1970
- 35 percent of male Baby Boomers pursued vocational or trade school instead of a 4-year degree
- Enrollment in vocational programs peaked in 1978 with 2.5 million Boomers
- 12 percent of Boomers completed a formal apprenticeship in manufacturing
- 54 percent of Baby Boomers have taken an online course for personal or professional growth
- 25 percent of Boomers use YouTube as a primary source for DIY educational tutorials
- 31 percent of Boomers have attended a community college course after age 50
Baby Boomers achieved widespread high school completion but varied widely in college attainment and lifelong learning.
Economic Impact & Lifetime Earnings
Economic Impact & Lifetime Earnings Interpretation
Educational Attainment & Literacy
Educational Attainment & Literacy Interpretation
Gender & Racial Disparities
Gender & Racial Disparities Interpretation
Lifelong Learning & Digital Literacy
Lifelong Learning & Digital Literacy Interpretation
Vocational & Skills Training
Vocational & Skills Training Interpretation
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