Higher Education in the Laredo, TX Metro Area

Laredo, TX Metro Area has a moderately-educated population of the working age, with 17.8 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the American Community Survey of 2005. The Laredo MSA is reported having a lower percent of the population with at least a Bachelors than the State of Texas's proportion of 25.2 percent and a lower percent than the average across the nation of 27.2 percent.

Since 2000, the Laredo metro area has increased in the population percent with a Bachelors of Higher. This population percent has grown by 3.8 percent to a total of 17.8 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is less than the State of Texas percent of 25.2 and less than the national percent of 27.2.

Between 2000 and 2005, the percent of the male population that can be understood as highly educated has increased by 4.2 percent. In the year 2005, 19.2 percent of area's male population, over the age 25, achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher. At the same time, the percent of women, over the age 25, holding at least a Bachelors Degree has increased by a total of 4.0 percent. By 2005, a total of 16.8 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that in the Laredo, TX Metro Area, many men in the area have reached the Less than High School category, with 39.4 percent reaching this education level. The female population in the Laredo metro area on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than the men in the area: 19.2 percent (Men) versus 16.8 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Less than High School category, with 43.4 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

In the Laredo, TX Metro Area as reported in the American Community Survey of the year 2005, 18.2 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and 16.2 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.

Demographic Profile for Laredo, TX

Estimated since the year 2000, a very high number of individuals have migrated into the Laredo metro area, with 9,258 people migrating in from outside the country. The immigration into Laredo makes up 1.4 percent of the total international migration into the State of Texas. This percent of immigration can be considered very high when analyzed against immigration per population in 2005.

By measuring total land area, the Laredo metro area covers a total land area of 3357 square miles. The land areas has a medium-low density of 67 persons per square mile. Similar metro areas in the US, in terms of density, include: -- more densely populated -- Sioux City (69 per sq. mile ), Medford (70 per sq. mile ), Topeka (71 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Madera (67 per sq. mile ), Fargo (66 per sq. mile ), Mount Vernon-Anacortes (65 per sq. mile ).

The Laredo metro area had a population that was estimated at 224,695 in 2005. The estimated population has increased very sharply, from the population in the year 2000 of 194,679. This growth represents an increase of 15.4 percent. Laredo ranks 8 of 25 MSAs when calculating total change in population for Texas and the metro area ranks 81 of 361 metro areas in terms of population growth in the United States.

In the year 2005, the U.S. Census Bureau estimates the median age in the Laredo metro area to be 26.5 years of age. The median age in Laredo is less than the median age in Texas of 33.2. Since 2000, the area has experienced no change in the median age, at that time the median was 26.5 years of age. With a total of 16.2 percent of the 2005 population being made up of children and youth younger than 18, Laredo can be described as having a medium-high percent of individuals under 18. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low presence of the population, with 61.6 percent of the population falling in this age category. The retirement (65 and over) group makes up 13.4 percent of the population. When compared to other metro areas in the United States, this represents a medium-low proportion of the area population base.

The Laredo metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made up of 4.3 percent White, 0.2 percent African American, 0.4 percent Asian, and 94.9 percent Hispanic. This area can be considered to have a very high level of diversity in terms of race and ethnicity, with 95.5 percent of minorities in the 2005 population base. This is greater than the State of Texas percent of 49.5. Since 2000, Laredo has increased the percent of minority makeup when 94.9 percent of the population were minorities.

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