Higher Education in the Fresno, CA Metro Area

Since 2000, the Fresno metro area has increased in the population percent with a Bachelors of Higher. This population percent has grown by 2.8 percent to a total of 19.6 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 State of California percent of 29.6 and less than the national percent of 27.2.

Between 2000 and 2005, the percent of the male population that can be understood as highly educated has increased by 2.4 percent. In the year 2005, 20.4 percent of the total male population, in the area, has obtained at least a Bachelors Degree. From 2000 to 2005, the percent of women with a Bachelors or Higher has increased by a total of 3.4 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 19 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the Fresno, CA Metro Area, the largest educational attainment category for men is the Less than High School category, with 29.8 percent achieving this level. The female population in the Fresno metro area have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 20.4 percent (Men) versus 19 percent (Women). Many of the women in the area achieving a Some College or Associates Degree category, with 30.8 percent of the female population achieving this education level.

In the Fresno, CA Metro Area as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey, 23 percent of the White Alone, 15.2 percent of Black or African American, 25.6 percent of the Asian alone and 7.4 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Fresno, CA Metro Area is made up of a moderately-educated population, with 19.6 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The Fresno MSA is reported having a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of California's proportion of 29.6 percent and a lower percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

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

Demographic Profile for Fresno, CA

The Fresno metro area had an estimated population of 877,584 in 2005. The total population has increased sharply, since the population in 2000 of 802,170. This growth denotes an increase of 9.4 percent. Fresno ranks 7 of 26 MSAs when calculating total change in population for California and the metro area ranks 39 of 361 metro areas when calculating the total change in MSA population across the US.

In the year 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the median age in the Fresno metro area to be 30.1 years of age. The median in Fresno is less than the median age in the State of California of 34.4. Since the year 2000, the area has seen a decline in the median age, when it was 30.2 years of age. With a total of 5.1 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Fresno can be understood as having a relatively high proportion of youths. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the population, making up 60.3 percent of the population makes up this age category. The retirement (65 and over) age group comprises 11 percent of the total population base. Compared to other metro areas throughout the nation, this represents a medium-low proportion of the population.

The Fresno metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population base that is comprised of 37.1 percent White, 5.1 percent African American, 8.5 percent Asian, and 46.9 percent Hispanic. The area can be described as having a very high level of diversity, with 60.5 percent of the population made up of minorities. This is greater than the State of California percent of 53.4. Since 2000, Fresno has increased the percent of minority population when 57.5 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

When measuring the total land area, the Fresno metro area spans a total area of 5963 square miles. The MSA has a medium-low density of 147 persons per square mile. Similar metro areas in the US, in terms of density, include: -- more densely populated -- Shreveport-Bossier City (147 per sq. mile ), Peoria (149 per sq. mile ), Dubuque (151 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Columbus (147 per sq. mile ), Santa Barbara-Santa Maria-Goleta (146 per sq. mile ), Florence (146 per sq. mile ).

Since the year 2000, a very high amount of people have migrated into the Fresno metro area, with 26,772 people migrating in internationally. The migration from outside the US into Fresno accounts for 1.9 percent of the total migration into the State of California. This percent of immigration can be considered very high when analyzed against immigration per population in 2005.

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