Higher Education in the Columbus, OH Metro Area

Columbus, OH Metro Area may to understood as having a highly-educated population of the working age, with 32 percent of the population (+25) having received at least a Bachelors Degree, as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey. The Columbus MSA has a higher percent of highly educated individuals than the State of Ohio's proportion of 23.4 percent and a higher percent than United States proportion of 27.2 percent.

In the Columbus, OH Metro Area as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey, 32.8 percent of the White Alone, 19.2 percent of Black or African American, 66.2 percent of the Asian alone and 23.6 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of the male population that can be considered highly educated has increased by 1.8 percent. By the year 2005, 33.8 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 3.8 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 30.4 percent of the women in the population had received a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the Columbus, OH Metro Area, the most common level of education achieved in the area for the male population is the Bachelors Degree or Higher category, with 33.8 percent achieving this level. The female population in the Columbus metro area on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men -- 33.8 percent (Men) versus 30.4 percent (Women). Many of the women in the area achieving a High School Diploma category, with 32 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

Since the year 2000, the Columbus metro area 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 3.0 percent to a total of 32 percent in 2005, according to the American Community Survey. The 2005 proportion of highly educated population is greater than the 2005 State of Ohio percent of 23.4 and greater than the average US percent of 27.2.

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

Demographic Profile for Columbus, OH

The Columbus metro area had a population of 1,708,625 for the year 2005. The total population has increased sharply, since the 2000 total population of 1,618,909. This growth shows an increase of 5.5 percent. Columbus ranks 1 of 12 MSAs when calculating total change in population for Ohio and the metro area ranks 34 of 361 metro areas when analyzing total MSA population change across the nation.

The U.S. Census Bureau, in the year 2005, estimated the median age in the Columbus metro area to be 34.9 years of age. The median in Columbus is less than the median age in the State of Ohio of 37.6. Since the year 2000, the area has seen an increase in the median age, when it was 33.6 years of age. With a total of 7.7 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Columbus can be understood as having a medium-low proportion of youths. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the population, making up 61.1 percent of the population falling in this age category. The retirement (65 and over) group makes up 16.8 percent of the population. When compared to other metro areas in the United States, this represents a medium-high percent of the population.

The Columbus metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is comprised of 79 percent White, 13.9 percent African American, 2.8 percent Asian, and 2.5 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a high amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 19.2 percent of the population being minorities. This is greater than the State of Ohio percent of 15.5. Since 2000, Columbus has increased the percent of minority population when 17.1 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

Since 2000, a high number of individuals migrated into the Columbus metro area, with 24,430 people migrating in from another country. The international migration into Columbus accounts for 32.5 percent of all immigration into Ohio. This level of international migration can be considered high when compared to international migration per 2005 population.

By measuring total land area, the Columbus metro area encompasses a total area of 3984 square miles. The land areas has a medium-high average area density of 429 persons per square mile, in 2005. Other US metro areas with similar densities include: -- more densely populated -- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura (431 per sq. mile ), McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr (432 per sq. mile ), Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach (444 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Rockford (427 per sq. mile ), Indianapolis (425 per sq. mile ), Canton-Massillon (422 per sq. mile ).

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