Educational Attainment

For more information, please reference these resources:

Racial and Ethnic Disparities

Racial and ethnic disparities in educational attainment persist among Minnesotans. Overall trends also mask significant disparities in attainment within racial groups.

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Boost Postsecondary Attainment

To increase postsecondary attainment, Minnesota can work to improve four-year high school graduation and ensure all students are prepared for college and have access to rigorous courses in high school.
Preventing Stop-Outs

Most postsecondary students that do not persist stop out in year two. Identifying reasons why students stop out may allow for early interventions that keep students on a path to college completion.
Students of Color and Indigenous Students

Minnesota largely fails to graduate students of color and indigenous students at the same rates as white students.
Indigenous Graduates

Even after completing a college degree, most graduates of color and indigenous graduates see lower rates of full-time employment and lower wages than white graduates.

Postsecondary

“College”, “postsecondary education”, or “higher education” are different ways of describing any type of education or training one receives after graduating from high school or getting a GED. The Minnesota Office of Higher Education (OHE) collects data on public colleges and universities in Minnesota, and private colleges which are licensed or registered under state law. To find a complete list of colleges visit the Institution and Data Search page on OHE’s website.

Educational attainment

The highest level of education an individual completes.

Minnesota’s Educational Attainment Goal

The 2015 Minnesota Legislature enacted legislation setting a target that 70 percent of Minnesota adults age 25 to 44 will have attained a postsecondary certificate or degree by 2025.

Rigorous course-taking

Rigorous courses offer high school students the opportunity to earn college credits prior while in school through college-level classes. Such offerings include Advanced Placement (AP), International Baccalaureate (IB), Postsecondary Enrollment Options (PSEO) and Concurrent Enrollment programs. Rigorous course offerings vary by school and school district. Completion of rigorous courses is correlated to college enrollment and persistence through college.

Developmental education

Programs offered by postsecondary institutions to prepare students for success in college-level work. This may include “remedial instruction,” but also encompasses pre-college-level education and other academic support services that the student may benefit from for any reason.

Persistence

For students enrolled in a postsecondary institution, this indicates continued enrollment in the next academic year (or graduation) at any postsecondary institution in Minnesota.

Freshman

First time new entering undergraduate student.

Transfer

New formal or informal transfer student.

150% on-time completion

For students pursuing a bachelor’s degree, 150% on-time completion is six years. For students pursuing an associate degree or a sub-baccalaureate certificate, 150% on-time completion is three years.

Level of employment

Full-time employment is defined as working more than 35 hours per week (1,855 hours annually). Individuals with fewer annual hours are categorized in part-time employment.

Associates or less

Includes Associate Degrees and Sub-baccalaureate certificates.