Indicator: 38 - Bachelor's Degree Attainment

 

Why This Is Important

The level of educational attainment of Maine citizens is critically important to the State’s
quality of life and economic well-being. The long-term economic competitiveness of Maine
is directly linked to the skill and education level of its workforce.

 

 

Where We Stand

In 2004, an estimated 57% of Maine people over the age of 25 had at least a Bachelor’s
Degree, compared with a national rate of 64%. Maine’s percentage has been fairly static
since 2000, and Maine has continued to lag behind the national rate. Maine also has
consistently ranked last among the six New England states on this measure since 1996.

Data Sources and Context

Data is taken from the National Center for Public Policy and Higher Education Measuring
Up 2004. This source consists of a national report card for higher education and fifty state
report cards. Its purpose is to provide the public and policymakers with information to assess
and improve post-secondary education in each state. Measuring Up 2004 is the third in a
series of biennial report cards. In this report card, "higher education" refers to all education
and training beyond high school, including all public and private, two- and four-year, for-profit
and nonprofit institutions. For more information, see the website at: http://www.highereducation.org/