Higher Education in the Bismarck, ND Metro Area

Since 2000, the Bismarck metro area has increased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has grown by 4.6 percent to a total of 30.2 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is greater than the State of North Dakota percent of 25.4 and greater than the United States percent of 27.2.

Bismarck, ND Metro Area has a highly-educated 2005 population, with 30.2 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the American Community Survey of 2005. The Bismarck MSA is reported having a higher percent of population with high education level than the State of North Dakota's proportion of 25.4 percent and a higher percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey in the Bismarck, ND Metro Area, many men in the area have reached the Bachelors Degree or Higher category, with 33 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in the Bismarck metro area have attainment on average a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 33 percent (Men) versus 27.6 percent (Women). The largest educational attainment category for women is Some College or Associates Degree category, with 35.6 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

Between 2000 and 2005, the percent of the male population that can be understood as highly educated has increased by 6.0 percent. By the year 2005, 33 percent of area's male population (+25) achieved a BA or Higher. During the same period, the percent of women (+25) that have earned a BA or higher has increased by a total of 3.2 percent. By 2005, a total of 27.6 percent of the total female population achieved this high level of education.

In the Bismarck, ND Metro Area according to the American Community Survey of 2005, 30.6 percent of the White Alone, . 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.

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

Demographic Profile for Bismarck, ND

When measuring the total land area, Bismarck extends a total area of 3559 total square miles. The area has a low population density of 28 persons per square mile. Other metro areas with similar densities in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Grand Forks (28 per sq. mile ), Great Falls (29 per sq. mile ), Billings (31 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Prescott (24 per sq. mile ), Farmington (23 per sq. mile ), Wenatchee (22 per sq. mile ).

The population division of the Census Bureau estimates in 2005 a median age in Bismarck, ND to be 39.6 years old. The median age in Bismarck is greater than the median age in the State of North Dakota of 39.1. Since the year 2000, the area has witnessed an increase in this median, when at that time it was 36.3 years old. With a total of 20.5 percent of the population in 2005 being comprised of children and youth younger than 18, Bismarck can be described as having a medium-low proportion of youths. The 18 to 64 years old population group has a relatively high presence of the 2005 population base, with 67 percent of the population falling in this age category. The retirement (65 and over) group makes up 12 percent of the population. When compared to other metro areas in the United States, this represents a medium-low proportion of the population.

From 2000, a medium-low number of individuals migrated to the Bismarck, with 257 people migrating in internationally. The migration from outside the US into Bismarck totals 7 percent of the total international migration into the State of North Dakota. This percent of international migration is medium-low when comparing levels of immigration per population in 2005.

Bismarck, ND had a population that was estimated at 99,346 for the year 2005. The total population has increased, since the population in 2000 of 94,850. This growth denotes an increase of 4.7 percent. Bismarck ranks 2 of 3 MSAs by growth in total population in North Dakota and the metro area ranks 247 of 361 metro areas by growth in MSA population in the United States.

Bismarck, ND has a population base that is comprised of 93.8 percent White, 0.3 percent African American, 0.5 percent Asian, and 0.9 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a very modest level of racial and ethnic diversity, with 1.7 percent of minorities in the 2005 population base. This is less than the State of North Dakota percent of 3. Since 2000, Bismarck has increased the percent of minority population when 1.3 percent of the total population were minorities.

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