Econintersect: From 1949 to 1973 the percentage of men age 25-29 in the U.S. who had a college degree increased from a little less than 8% to 28%. In 
only two years since has the 1973 peak been equaled: 2000 and 2010. For much of the 1980s and early 1990s the number was less than 24%. Women, on the other hand, have grown from 5% with college degrees in the same age group in 1940 to 36% last year. The increase over the 70 years has been relatively smooth. The percentage of young women with college degrees passed that for young men in 1990 and the ladies just kept on climbing.The decline of the U.S. from one of the leading countries for citizens with college education 35 years ago has now fallen to the middle of the pack.
Click on infographic to see larger image at The Wall Street Journal.
Source: Education Slowdown Threatens U.S. (David Wessel and Stephanie Banchero, The Wall Street Journal, 26 April 2012)
