Pennsylvania Educational Attainment By Race and Ethnicity for Ages 25 years and Above in 2021 (ACS-5Yrs)

Updated on August 19, 2025.

Based on the US Census ACS-5Yrs estimates, in 2021, the Pennsylvania population aged 25 years and above was 9,111,497. See the following sections for the breakdown of the educational attainment of this important demography by race and ethnicity.

Less high school diploma: there were 787,376 people without a high school diploma (ie. 8.64% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 66.93% White Alone, and 14.11% Black Alone.

High School Graduate or Equivalent: there were 3,079,339 people with a high school diploma or equivalent (ie. 33.80% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 82.78% White Alone, and 10.99% Black Alone.

Some College or Associates Degree: there were 2,227,532 people with some college courses without a degree or an associates degree (ie. 24.45% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 80.60% White Alone, and 12.36% Black Alone.

Bachelors Degree or higher: there were 3,017,250 people with a bachelors degree or a higher degree (ie. 33.12% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 84.13% White Alone, and 6.19% Black Alone.

The first and second charts below shows the race and ethnicity composition at each educational level. Also see tables below for the population and percentages per race and per ethnicity for each educational level.

You can see similar information for other states and for the United States.

Educational Attainment of Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) By Race in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Educational Attainment of Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) By Ethnicity in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 526950 66.93
Black Alone 111065 14.11
Asian Alone 50327 6.39
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 2918 0.37
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 560 0.07
Some Other Race Alone 66041 8.39
Two or More Races 29515 3.75
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 474990 60.33
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 140800 17.88
All Other Ethnicities 171586 21.79
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 2549166 82.78
Black Alone 338422 10.99
Asian Alone 43743 1.42
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 3972 0.13
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 848 0.03
Some Other Race Alone 69237 2.25
Two or More Races 73951 2.40
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 2478122 80.48
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 178512 5.80
All Other Ethnicities 422705 13.73
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 1795491 80.60
Black Alone 275343 12.36
Asian Alone 39242 1.76
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 3518 0.16
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 842 0.04
Some Other Race Alone 41250 1.85
Two or More Races 71846 3.23
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 1741041 78.16
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 127219 5.71
All Other Ethnicities 359272 16.13
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 2538353 84.13
Black Alone 186898 6.19
Asian Alone 179604 5.95
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 2492 0.08
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 738 0.02
Some Other Race Alone 30017 1.00
Two or More Races 79148 2.62
Pennsylvania Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 2490036 82.53
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 103932 3.45
All Other Ethnicities 423282 14.03