Key takeaways
- Bachelor's degree or higher counts people aged 25 and older who have completed a bachelor's degree or any advanced degree, such as a master's, doctorate or professional degree.
- People with a bachelor's degree or higher make up a significant part of the highly educated workforce, and are often linked with higher incomes and professional occupations.
- Researchers use bachelor's degree or higher counts to study the economic returns to a college degree and the link between education and civic participation.
Definition
The count of individuals aged 25 years and older who have completed a bachelor's degree or any advanced degree (e.g., master's, doctorate, professional degree).
Why It Matters
This demographic represents a significant portion of a highly educated workforce, often correlated with higher incomes, professional occupations, and specific consumer preferences for quality, innovation, and intellectual engagement.
Specific Relevance for Professionals:
Marketers
A prime target for professional services, technology, financial planning, cultural experiences, and premium consumer goods. Messaging emphasizes innovation, long-term value, and intellectual engagement.
Researchers
Fundamental for studying higher education outcomes, the economic returns to a college degree, labor market trends for skilled professionals, and the correlation between education and civic participation.
Consultants
Essential for advising clients on talent acquisition for professional roles, assessing markets for high-value services, and understanding the economic landscape of regions with concentrated, highly educated populations.
Public Policy Workers
Important for informing higher education funding, intellectual workforce development initiatives, and policies aimed at attracting or retaining highly skilled individuals in a region for economic growth.
