Higher Education in the Rochester, MN Metro Area

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the Rochester, MN Metro Area, a high proportion of the male population in the area have reached the Bachelors Degree or Higher category, with 34.8 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in the Rochester metro area have attainment on average a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 34.8 percent (Men) versus 34.8 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 35.8 percent of the women population in the area achieving this level of education.

In the Rochester, MN Metro Area as reported in the American Community Survey of the year 2005, 34.2 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and . percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Rochester, MN Metro Area can be considered to have a highly-educated population of the working age, with 34.8 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the American Community Survey of 2005. The Rochester MSA is reported having a higher percent of population with high education level than the State of Minnesota's proportion of 30.8 percent and a higher percent than United States proportion of 27.2 percent.

Since 2000, the Rochester metro area has not changed in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has not changed by 0.0 percent to a total of 34.8 percent in 2005, according to the American Community Survey. The 2005 proportion of highly educated population is greater than the 2005 State of Minnesota percent of 30.8 and greater than the US percent of 27.2.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of male population that is highly educated has decreased by 3.2 percent. By 2005, 34.8 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 3.0 percent. By 2005, a total of 34.8 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

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

Demographic Profile for Rochester, MN

Estimated since the year 2000, a very high amount of people have migrated into the Rochester metro area, with 3,668 people migrating in internationally. The international migration into Rochester accounts for 5.2 percent of the total international migration into the State of Minnesota. This percent of international migration is very high when compared to international migration per 2005 population.

The Rochester metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made up of 89.3 percent White, 2.7 percent African American, 4 percent Asian, and 2.8 percent Hispanic. The population mix can be considered to have a modest level of diversity in terms of race and ethnicity, with 9.5 percent of the population being minorities. This is less than the State of Minnesota percent of 11.2. Since 2000, Rochester has increased the percent of minority population when 8.2 percent of the people were minorities.

The Census Bureau estimates in 2005 the median age in the Rochester metro area to be 36.4 years old. The median in Rochester is less than the median age in Minnesota of 36.7. Since the year 2000, the area has witnessed an increase in this median, when at that time it was 35.0 years of age. With a total of 23.4 percent of the population in 2005 being comprised of children and youth younger than 18, Rochester can be understood as being made up of a medium-low proportion of youths. The 18 to 64 years old population group has a relatively high representation within the population, making up 65.8 percent of the population falling in this age category. The retirement (65 and over) group makes up 11.3 percent of the population. When compared to other metro areas in the United States, this represents a medium-low proportion of the population.

By measuring total land area, the Rochester metro area spans a total of 1618 square miles. The MSA has a medium-low average population density of 109 persons per square mile. Other metro areas with similar densities in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Champaign-Urbana (112 per sq. mile ), Florence-Muscle Shoals (113 per sq. mile ), Clarksville (113 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Salt Lake City (108 per sq. mile ), Waterloo-Cedar Falls (107 per sq. mile ), Lawton (105 per sq. mile ).

The Rochester metro area had a population of 176,984 in 2005. The estimated population has increased sharply, since the 2000 total population of 164,367. This growth signifies an increase of 7.7 percent. Rochester ranks 3 of 4 MSAs in terms of population growth in Minnesota and the metro area ranks 152 of 361 metro areas in terms of population growth in the United States.

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