Boys and Men’s Issues – Educational Attainment of Young Adults

Listed below are national statistics. For statistics specific to the Seattle area or Washington state, please see our series of blog posts on Seattle and Washington. If you want local statistics, if you have statistics to offer, or if you are willing to help with research please contact us.

Directory of major topics for boys’ and men’s issues
Death RatesK-12 EducationSpecial Education
Higher Education
and Labor Force Participation
Educational Attainment 
of Young Adults
Other Indicators

Gender Equality in Educational Attainment
of Young Adults

Men earn associate’s, bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral degrees at lower rates than women. The percentages provided below draw attention to the inequality between males and females, with latest-available statistics rounded to the nearest 5%.

Gender equality in educational attainment of young adults calls for a country in which…

  • more men ages 25 to 29 have a first professional degree or doctor’s degree (currently 25% more women than men)
  • more men ages 25 to 29 have a master’s degree (currently 35% more women than men)
  • more men ages 25 to 29 have a bachelor’s degree (currently 20% more women than men)
  • more men ages 25 to 29 have an associate’s degree (currently 25% more women than men)
  • more men ages 25 to 29 have at least some college but no degree (currently 10% more women than men)
    Source: National Center for Education Statistics, Highest level of educational attainment, 2017

(This list is based on “For Every 100 Girls…2020 Update” compiled by Tom Mortenson and originally published by Education Week on March 28, 2011, then updated in 2020 by Professor Mark J. Perry.)