How frequently US citizens have college degrees?

Nearly all of the people I know now have college degrees, but I live in a highly educated city. Some of my high school classmates don't have college degrees. They work in the trades (plumber, electrician, ironworker, etc.), some became policemen, firemen, truck drivers, or postal employees, and others became clerks or hold low-level jobs. The ones who work at union jobs (the ones in the trades, firemen, policemen) have done pretty well. They own their own homes and live a middle-class life, but this is in a small town where housing is cheap (plus they didn't send their kids to college). The kids who were born poor didn't do as well. They struggled academically in high school and they generally didn't go to college. ,...Show more

Close to 40% of the US workforce now holds bachelor's degree or higher. Since 80% of college students work (and many start earning & saving up for college by age 12-14), coming from a lower-income family is no excuse for not going to school. Plus there's load of financial aid, targeted by family income. There are still merit-based scholarships, but most US financial aid is determined by family income....Show more

Pretty much 100%. And no that's not normal for the poor.

For one thing, those who get their degree are typically not poor. Graduates get those degrees so they can get high paying jobs after graduation. There are exceptions, there always are with people, but generally college grads make good money....Show more

it is less frequent for the poor. census statistics on this, stratified by age range, are available online via FedStats.gov...Show more

Many people have two year career programs form a community college or a two year Associate degree.
About 30% have bachelor degrees. More people now have Masters and Doctorate degrees have double in the last 20 years.

Poor students do get more in financial aid than middle class students...Show more