Higher Education in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area

Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area can be considered to have a moderately-educated working age population, with 23.8 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The Memphis MSA was reported to have a higher percent of population with high education level than the State of Tennessee's proportion of 21.8 percent and a lower percent than the average across the nation of 27.2 percent.

From 2000, the Memphis 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 1.2 percent to a total of 23.8 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 State of Tennessee percent of 21.8 and less than the national percent of 27.2.

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area, a high proportion of the male population in the area have reached the High School Diploma category, with 33.2 percent achieving this level. The female population in the Memphis metro area on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 24 percent (Men) versus 23.4 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 30.6 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of male population that is highly educated has stayed the same by 0.0 percent. As reported in 2005, 24 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 2.0 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 23.4 percent of the total female population achieved this high level of education.

In the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area as reported in the American Community Survey of the year 2005, 30.4 percent of the White Alone, 14.2 percent of Black or African American, 43.2 percent of the Asian alone and 13.2 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

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

Demographic Profile for Memphis, TN-MS-AR

When measuring the total land area, the Memphis metro area spans a total of 4572 square miles. The MSA has a medium-high density of 276 persons per square mile, in 2005. Similar metro areas, in terms of density, in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Monroe (279 per sq. mile ), Denver-Aurora (282 per sq. mile ), St Louis (283 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Syracuse (273 per sq. mile ), Grand Rapids-Wyoming (273 per sq. mile ), Kalamazoo-Portage (272 per sq. mile ).

The Memphis metro area had a population of 1,260,905 in 2005. The estimated population has increased, since the population in 2000 of 1,208,331. This growth denotes an increase of 4.4 percent. Memphis ranks 2 of 10 MSAs when calculating total change in population for Tennessee and the metro area ranks 52 of 361 metro areas when calculating the total change in MSA population across the US.

The Census Bureau estimates in 2005 the median age in the Memphis metro area to be 34.7 years of age. The median age in Memphis is less than the median age in the State of Tennessee of 37.3. Since 2000, the area has experienced an increase in the median, when the median age was 33.2 years old. With 26.9 percent of the 2005 population being comprised of individuals under the age of 18, Memphis can be described as having a medium-high proportion of youths. The 18 to 64 years old population group has a relatively high presence of the population, with 65.8 percent of the population makes up this age category. The retirement (65 and over) age group comprises 10.4 percent of the total population in the area. Compared to other metro areas in the US, this represents a medium-low percent of the population base.

The Memphis metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made up of 49.3 percent White, 44.9 percent African American, 1.6 percent Asian, and 3.1 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a very high amount of racial and ethnic diversity, with 49.6 percent minorities. This is greater than the State of Tennessee percent of 20.9. Since 2000, Memphis has increased the level of diversity when 47.1 percent of the people were minorities.

Since the year 2000, a medium-high number of individuals migrated into the Memphis metro area, with 10,753 people migrating in from outside the country. The immigration into Memphis accounts for 21.5 percent of the total migration into the State of Tennessee. This percent of international migration is medium-high when compared to international migration per 2005 population.

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