Over two-thirds of all U.S. high school graduates enroll in postsecondary education immediately after graduation, although immediate enrollment rates for low-income families are lower.
Why is this indicator important?
College enrollment rates influence the size of the future workforce qualified for certain occupations.
Key Observations
Between 1975 and 2005, the percentage of students ages 16 to 24 enrolling in college immediately following high school graduation rose from 51 to 69%, with increases evident across all income levels.
Over 80% of high school graduates from high-income families attend college immediately after graduation, compared with 54% from low-income families.
Related Discussion
High school completion rates have been increasing gradually and the white-black gaps in completion rates have been narrowing. (SEI 2008
Appendix Table 1-22)
In 2005, 88% of 18 to 24 year olds not enrolled in high school had received a high school diploma or earned an equivalent credential such as a General Equivalency Diploma (GED) certificate, up from 84% in 1975. (SEI 2008
Figure 1-22)
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