Higher Education in the State of Arizona

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of male population that is highly educated has increased by 1.6 percent. By the year 2005, 27.6 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 increased by a total of 2.2 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 23.6 percent of the women in the population had received a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

In the State of Arizona as reported in the American Community Survey of the year 2005, 27.8 percent of the White Alone, 20.8 percent of Black or African American, 51.6 percent of the Asian alone and 8.8 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Since the year 2000, the State of Arizona has increased in the percent of the population that is over the age of 25 with a BA or Higher. This population cohort has grown by 2.0 percent to a total of 25.6 percent in 2005, as reported by the American Community Survey. The proportion of the 2005 population having received at least a BA is less than the US percent of 27.2.

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of Arizona range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 30 percent in Coconino County to a low of 8.6 percent in La Paz County.

The ten most highly-educated counties in Arizona
Percent of the population holding a bachelors degree or higher

1. Coconino County (30 percent)
2. Pima County (26.8 percent)
3. Maricopa County (25.8 percent)
4. Yavapai County (21.2 percent)
5. Cochise County (18.8 percent)
6. Santa Cruz County (15.2 percent)
7. Gila County (13.8 percent)
8. Navajo County (12.2 percent)
9. Greenlee County (12.2 percent)
10. Pinal County (12 percent)


According to the 2005 American Community Survey in the State of Arizona, the largest educational attainment category for men is the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 31.4 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in the Arizona on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than the men in the area: 27.6 percent (Men) versus 23.6 percent (Women). The most common level of education for women in the area is Some College or Associates Degree category, with 33.8 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

Arizona can be considered to have a moderately-educated population, with 25.6 percent of the population (+25) having received at least a Bachelors Degree, as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey. The State of Arizona counted a lower percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than United States proportion of 27.2 percent.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.