Higher Education in the Odessa, TX Metro Area

In the Odessa, TX Metro Area according the 2005 American Community Survey, 11.6 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, . percent of the Asian alone and 5.8 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the Odessa, TX Metro Area, the largest educational attainment category for men is the High School Diploma category, with 31.8 percent obtaining this level of education. The women in the Odessa metro area on average have achieved a greater level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men; 10.2 percent (Men) versus 12.4 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 30 percent of women in the area reaching this education level.

Odessa, TX Metro Area can be considered to have a less-educated 2005 population, with 11.4 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the American Community Survey of 2005. The Odessa MSA counted a lower percent of individuals with higher educations than the State of Texas's proportion of 25.2 percent and a lower percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

Since 2000, the Odessa metro area has decreased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has declined by 7.0 percent to a total of 11.4 percent in 2005. According to the American Community Survey, the proportion of the population in 2005 with a BA or Higher is less than the 2005 State of Texas percent of 25.2 and less than the average US percent of 27.2.

From the years 2000 to 2005, the proportion of the male population that could be considered highly educated has decreased by 10.8 percent. As reported in 2005, 10.2 percent of the total male population, in the area, has obtained at least a Bachelors Degree. From 2000 to 2005, the percent of women with a Bachelors or Higher has decreased by a total of 4.0 percent. By 2005, a total of 12.4 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

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

Demographic Profile for Odessa, TX

The Odessa metro area had a population of 125,339 in 2005. The estimated population has increased, from the population in the year 2000 of 120,726. This growth shows an increase of 3.8 percent. Odessa ranks 19 of 25 MSAs when calculating total change in population for Texas and the metro area ranks 246 of 361 metro areas by growth in MSA population in the United States.

From 2000, a medium-high amount of people migrated into the Odessa metro area, with 1,154 people migrating in from outside the country. The immigration into Odessa accounts for 0.2 percent of the total international migration into the State of Texas. This amount of international migration is medium-high when analyzed against the base population in the year 2005 and compared to other metro areas across the US.

The Census Bureau estimates in 2005 the median age in the Odessa metro area to be 31.8 years old. The median in Odessa is less than the median age in the State of Texas of 33.2. Since 2000, the area has experienced a decline in the median age, at that time the median was 33.0 years of age. With a total of 29.1 percent of the 2005 population being comprised of individuals under the age of 18, Odessa can be described as having a medium-high proportion of youths. The working age population group (18-64) has a medium-low representation within the population, making up 61.6 percent of the population makes up this age category. The retirement (65 and over) age group comprises 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 Odessa metropolitan statistical area (MSA) has a population that is comprised of 46.1 percent White, 4.4 percent African American, 0.6 percent Asian, and 47.9 percent Hispanic. The area can be described as having a very high level of diversity, with 52.9 percent minorities. This is greater than the State of Texas percent of 49.5. Since 2000, Odessa has increased the percent of minority makeup when 47.7 percent of the people were minorities.

In terms of total land area, the Odessa metro area covers a total land area of 901 square miles. The MSA has a medium-low average population density of 139 persons per square mile. Other metro areas with similar densities in the US include: -- more densely populated -- Rocky Mount (139 per sq. mile ), Ames (140 per sq. mile ), Jackson (140 per sq. mile ), -- less densely populated -- Hot Springs (138 per sq. mile ), Fond du Lac (137 per sq. mile ), Midland (135 per sq. mile ).

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