Higher Education in the Dothan, AL Metro Area

Dothan, AL Metro Area may to understood as having a moderately-educated 2005 population, with 18.6 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The Dothan MSA counted a lower percent of population with high education level than the State of Alabama's proportion of 21.4 percent and a lower percent than the US proportion of 27.2 percent.

In the Dothan, AL Metro Area as reported in the American Community Survey of the year 2005, 21.8 percent of the White Alone, 8 percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and . percent of the Hispanic or Latino (+25) population has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey in the Dothan, AL Metro Area, a high proportion of the male population in the area have reached the High School Diploma category, with 33.2 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in the Dothan metro area have on average achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 19.2 percent (Men) versus 18 percent (Women). The largest educational attainment category for women is High School Diploma category, with 31 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

Since the year 2000, the Dothan metro area has decreased in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has declined by 10.2 percent to a total of 18.6 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is less than the 2005 State of Alabama percent of 21.4 and less than the United States percent of 27.2.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of the male population that can be considered highly educated has decreased by 11.8 percent. In the year 2005, 19.2 percent of total male population (over 25), in this area, held at least a Bachelors Degree. At the same time, the percent of women (over 25) holding a BA or higher has decreased by a total of 8.6 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 18 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2005 American Community Survey.

Demographic Profile for Dothan, AL

In terms of total land area, the Dothan metro area covers a total land area of 1718 square miles. This area has a medium-low density of 79 persons per square mile. Other metro areas with similar densities in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Lynchburg (79 per sq. mile ), Sioux Falls (81 per sq. mile ), Lake Charles (82 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Valdosta (79 per sq. mile ), San Luis Obispo-Paso Robles (77 per sq. mile ), Jonesboro (76 per sq. mile ).

The Dothan metro area had an estimated population of 136,594 in 2005. The estimated population has increased, since its 2000 population of 131,089. This growth represents an increase of 4.2 percent. Dothan ranks 5 of 11 MSAs when analyzing total population change in Alabama and the metro area ranks 226 of 361 metro areas by growth in MSA population in the United States.

The Dothan metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population base that is comprised of 73 percent White, 23.6 percent African American, 0.5 percent Asian, and 1.7 percent Hispanic. The area can be described as having a high level of racial and ethnic diversity, with 25.8 percent of the population made up of minorities. This is less than the State of Alabama percent of 29.3. Since 2000, Dothan has increased the percent of minority makeup when 24.6 percent of the people were minorities.

From 2000, a medium-low amount of people have migrated into the Dothan metro area, with 385 people migrating in internationally. The international migration into Dothan accounts for 1.5 percent of all immigration into Alabama. This percent of international migration is medium-low when analyzed against the base population in the year 2005 and compared to other metro areas across the US.



Datasource: Population Estimates Program, U.S. Bureau of the Census.