Higher Education in the State of Oregon

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of male population that is highly educated has increased by 1.6 percent. In the year 2005, 28.6 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 26.8 percent of the total female population achieved this high level of education.

In the State of Oregon as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey, 28 percent of the White Alone, 20.4 percent of Black or African American, 46 percent of the Asian alone and 9.2 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Oregon can be considered to have a moderately-educated population, with 27.8 percent of the population (+25) having received at least a Bachelors Degree, as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey. The State of Oregon counted a higher percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey in the State of Oregon, a high proportion of the male population in the area have reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 32.2 percent receiving this level of education. The women in the Oregon on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 28.6 percent (Men) versus 26.8 percent (Women). The largest educational attainment category for women is Some College or Associates Degree category, with 34.6 percent of the female population achieving this education level.

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of Oregon range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 47.4 percent in Benton County to a low of 11 percent in Morrow County.

The ten most highly-educated counties in Oregon
Percent of the population (over 25) holding a bachelors degree or higher

1. Benton County (47.4 percent)
2. Washington County (34.6 percent)
3. Multnomah County (30.6 percent)
4. Clackamas County (28.4 percent)
5. Lane County (25.6 percent)
6. Polk County (25.4 percent)
7. Deschutes County (25 percent)
8. Hood River County (23 percent)
9. Jackson County (22.2 percent)
10. Union County (21.8 percent)


Since the year 2000, the State of Oregon has increased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has grown by 2.8 percent to a total of 27.8 percent in 2005. According to the American Community Survey, the proportion of the population in 2005 with a BA or Higher is greater than the United States percent of 27.2.

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