Higher Education in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area, many men in the area have reached the Less than High School category, with 39.8 percent receiving this level of education. The women in the McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metro area have on average achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 16.4 percent (Men) versus 14.4 percent (Women). Many of the women in the area achieving a Less than High School category, with 43.4 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

In the McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area according to the American Community Survey of 2005, 17.4 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and 12.2 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of male population that is highly educated has increased by 2.4 percent. By the year 2005, 16.4 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 2.2 percent. By 2005, a total of 14.4 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX Metro Area can be considered to have a less-educated 2005 population, with 15.4 percent of the over 25 years old population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher, according to the 2005 American Community Survey. The McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr 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.

From 2000, the McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metro area has increased in the population percent with a Bachelors of Higher. This population percent has grown by 2.4 percent to a total of 15.4 percent in 2005. The American Community Survey reports that the proportion of the 2005 population that is highly educated is less than the 2005 State of Texas percent of 25.2 and less than the national percent of 27.2.

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

Demographic Profile for McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr, TX

The McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is made up of 9.4 percent White, 0.4 percent African American, 0.7 percent Asian, and 89.4 percent Hispanic. The population mix can be considered to have a very high level of diversity in terms of race and ethnicity, with 90.5 percent of minorities in the 2005 population base. This is greater than the State of Texas percent of 49.5. Since 2000, McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr has increased the percent of minority makeup when 89.3 percent of the total population were minorities.

From 2000, a very high amount of people migrated into the McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metro area, with 26,572 people migrating in internationally. The migration from outside the US into McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr accounts for 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metro area spans a total of 1570 square miles. The land areas has a medium-high average population density of 432 persons per square mile, in 2005. Other US metro areas with similar densities include: -- more densely populated -- Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach (444 per sq. mile ), Raleigh-Cary (449 per sq. mile ), Holland-Grand Haven (452 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura (431 per sq. mile ), Columbus (429 per sq. mile ), Rockford (427 per sq. mile ).

The McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metro area had a population of 678,275 in 2005. The total population has increased very sharply, from the population in the year 2000 of 574,029. This growth represents an increase of 18.2 percent. McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr ranks 5 of 25 MSAs by growth in total population in Texas and the metro area ranks 30 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 McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr metro area to be 26.9 years of age. The median age in McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr is less than the median age in Texas of 33.2. From 2000, the area has seen a decline in the median, when the median age was 27.2 years of age. With 5.4 percent of the population in 2005 being comprised of children and youth younger than 18, McAllen-Edinburg-Pharr can be described as having a medium-high percent of individuals under 18. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the population, making up 61.6 percent of the population within the age category. People 65 years old and older make up 13.4 percent of the total population base. Compared to other metro areas throughout the nation, this represents a medium-low proportion of the population.

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