Chart of the Week: Convergenge in Educational Attainment of Family Heads

by Daniel L. Bennett

As the chart below shows, the percentage of household heads (25+ years of age) with 4+ years of college education has risen steadily since the early 1960s (nearly tripling - a 176% increase - between 1963 and 2009). In the meantime, the percentage with a high school education or less has dropped steadily (nearly cut in half - a 49% decrease - since 1963). These data reveal a convergence in the educational attainment levels of family heads over time. We will explore the implications of these trends in future research.