---
title: "III. Educational Attainment"
description: "High School Diploma Only About one-quarter (26%) of Hispanics ages 25 and older have only a high school diploma. This compares with 28% of the total U.S. population. Puerto Ricans (30%), Cubans (29%), Colombians (27%) and Peruvians (27%) all have slightly higher shares with only a high school diploma compared with the total U.S. Hispanic […]"
date: "2012-06-27"
authors:
  - name: "Seth Motel"
    job_title: "Former Research Analyst"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/seth-motel/"
  - name: "Eileen Patten"
    job_title: "Former Research Analyst"
    link: "https://www.pewresearch.org/staff/eileen-patten/"
url: "https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/06/27/iii-educational-attainment/"
categories:
  - "Hispanic/Latino Demographics"
  - "Hispanics/Latinos & Education"
---

# III. Educational Attainment

### High School Diploma Only

-

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/06/2012-phc-summary-05.png)

About one-quarter (26%) of Hispanics ages 25 and older have only a high school diploma. This compares with 28% of the total U.S. population.

- Puerto Ricans (30%), Cubans (29%), Colombians (27%) and Peruvians (27%) all have slightly higher shares with only a high school diploma compared with the total U.S. Hispanic population.
- Guatemalans (22%) and Salvadorans (24%) have lower-than-average shares of adults ages 25 and older who have only a high school diploma.

### Bachelor’s Degree or More

-

![](https://assets.pewresearch.org/wp-content/uploads/sites/7/2012/06/2012-phc-summary-06.png)

Some 13% of U.S. Hispanics ages 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree, compared with 28% of the total U.S. population of the same age.

- The shares of Colombians (32%) and Peruvians (30%) who have a college degree or more are higher than the share of the total U.S. population with at** **least a bachelor’s degree.
- Salvadorans (7%), Guatemalans (8%) and Mexicans (9%) have the lowest rates of college completion; fewer than one-in-ten adults ages 25 and older in these Hispanic groups have a bachelor’s degree.

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**Next:** [IV. English Proficiency and Citizenship](https://www.pewresearch.org/race-and-ethnicity/2012/06/27/iv-english-proficiency-and-citizenship.md)