Higher Education in the Salem, OR Metro Area

In the Salem, OR Metro Area according the 2005 American Community Survey, 22.8 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, 34.8 percent of the Asian alone and 7.6 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Salem, OR Metro Area can be considered to have a moderately-educated 2005 population, with 21.8 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The Salem MSA was reported to have a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of Oregon's proportion of 27.8 percent and a lower percent than the US proportion of 27.2 percent.

In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that in the Salem, OR Metro Area, a high proportion of the male population in the area have reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 32.8 percent achieving this level. The female population in the Salem metro area have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 22.8 percent (Men) versus 21.2 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 33 percent of the female population achieving this education level.

From the years 2000 to 2005, the proportion of the male population that could be considered highly educated has decreased by 5.2 percent. By 2005, 22.8 percent of total male population (over 25), in this area, held at least a Bachelors Degree. At the same time, the percent of women (over 25) holding a BA or higher has decreased by a total of 1.8 percent. By 2005, a total of 21.2 percent of the female population had achieved this level of education.

From 2000, the Salem metro area has decreased in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has declined by 3.6 percent to a total of 21.8 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 2005 State of Oregon percent of 27.8 and less than the national percent of 27.2.

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

Demographic Profile for Salem, OR

The Salem metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made of 75 percent White, 0.9 percent African American, 1.8 percent Asian, and 18.9 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a high amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 21.6 percent of the population made up of minorities. This is greater than the State of Oregon percent of 14.9. Since 2000, Salem has increased the level of diversity when 18.1 percent of the population was made up of minorities.

The Salem metro area had an estimated population of 375,560 in 2005. The total population has increased sharply, since the population in 2000 of 348,277. This growth signifies an increase of 7.8 percent. Salem ranks 2 of 6 MSAs when calculating total change in population for Oregon and the metro area ranks 93 of 361 metro areas when calculating the total change in MSA population across the US.

By measuring total land area, the Salem metro area extends a total area of 1925 square miles. The land areas has a medium-low density of 195 persons per square mile. Similar metro areas in the US, in terms of density, include: -- more densely populated -- Madison (196 per sq. mile ), Battle Creek (196 per sq. mile ), Gainesville (196 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Fort Walton Beach-Crestview-Destin (195 per sq. mile ), Asheville (193 per sq. mile ), Gadsden (193 per sq. mile ).

Since 2000, a very high number of individuals migrated into the Salem metro area, with 10,483 people migrating in from outside the country. The immigration into Salem totals 14.5 percent of the total migration into the State of Oregon. This percent of immigration can be considered very high when compared to international migration per 2005 population.



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