Higher Education in the State of Rhode Island

Rhode Island has a moderately-educated working age population, with 29.4 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The State of Rhode Island is reported having a higher percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

The American Community Survey reported that in the State of Rhode Island, the largest educational attainment category for men is the Bachelors Degree or Higher category, with 30.2 percent reaching this education level. The female population in the Rhode Island have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than the men in the area: 30.2 percent (Men) versus 28.4 percent (Women). The largest educational attainment category for women is High School Diploma category, with 28.8 percent of the female population achieving this education level.

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of Rhode Island range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 38.4 percent in Newport County to a low of 21.2 percent in Providence County.

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

1. Newport County (38.4 percent)
2. Washington County (35.4 percent)
3. Bristol County (34.2 percent)
4. Kent County (24.8 percent)
5. Providence County (21.2 percent)
6. Allegheny County (28.4 percent)
7. Cumberland County (28 percent)
8. Dauphin County (23.6 percent)
9. Butler County (23.4 percent)
10. Lehigh County (23.4 percent)


Since 2000, the State of Rhode Island has increased in the population percent with a Bachelors of Higher. This population percent has grown by 3.8 percent to a total of 29.4 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is greater than the United States percent of 27.2.

From the years 2000 to 2005, the proportion of the male population that could be considered highly educated has increased by 2.2 percent. By 2005, 30.2 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 4.8 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 28.4 percent of the women in the population had received a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

In the State of Rhode Island according to the American Community Survey of 2005, 30.6 percent of the White Alone, 22 percent of Black or African American, 44.2 percent of the Asian alone and 14.8 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

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