INDICATORS OF HIGHER EDUCATION EQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES - Indicator 5a(i) Estimated bachelor’s degree attainment by age 24 - Historical trend report

Oct 15, 2026

Historical trend report examining differences between equity and equality in higher education opportunity in the United States, focused on higher education equity outcomes by family income quartile. Indicator 5a(i) estimates bachelor’s degree attainment by age 24 for dependent family members across the U.S. population over time from 1970 to 2023. The report contextualizes who benefits from access and success, discusses cost, enrollment, and student characteristics, and supports policy discussion with research and statistics from the Pell Institute.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages118

Reading Time4 h 57 min

AccessFree to download

Table of Contents

Suggested Citation and Licensing

Acknowledgments

Executive Summary

Introduction

Setting the Stage

Indicator 1: Who Enrolls in Higher Education?

Indicator 2: What Types of Higher Education Institutions Do Students Attend?

Indicator 3: Is Cost a Barrier to Higher Education Access and Completion?

Indicator 4: How Do Students Pay for College?

Indicator 5: Do Higher Education Attainment Rates and Outcomes Vary by Student Characteristics?

Indicator 6: How Do Educational Attainment Rates in the U.S. Compare with Rates in Other Countries?

Indicator 7: Are There Differences in Higher Education Access, Attainment, and Cost by State?

Conclusion

References

INDICATORS OF HIGHER EDUCATION EQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES The State of Higher Education Opportunity: Examining Differences Between Equity and Equality 2026 HISTORICAL TREND REPORT Indicator 5a(i) -Estimated bachelor’s degree attainment by age 24 for dependent family members in the U.S. population, by family income quartile: 1970-2023 100% 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 4th Quartile (Highest) 3rd Quartile 40% 15% 11% 6% 2nd Quartile Bottom Quartile (Lowest) 58% 50% 25% 14% 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 2010 2020 2030 [pellinstitute.org](pellinstitute.org) INDICATORS OF HIGHER EDUCATION EQUITY IN THE UNITED STATES 2026 HISTORICAL TREND REPORT The State of Higher Education Opportunity: Examining Differences Between Equity and Equality [pellinstitute.org](pellinstitute.org) The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education of the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) conducts and disseminates research and policy analysis to encourage policymakers, educators, and the public to support college access and success for low-income and first-generation students through unimpeachable research and statistics. The Pell Institute shares the Council’s mission to advance and defend the ideal of equal opportunity in postsecondary education. As such, the Council’s focus is to ensure that the least advantaged segments of the American population have a realistic chance to enter and graduate from a college or university with a bachelor’s degree. Visit [pellinstitute.org](pellinstitute.org) to learn more. Suggested Citation: Simone, S. A., & Brunt, N. (2026). Indicators of higher education equity in the United States: 2026 Historical trend report. The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education, Council for Opportunity in Education (COE). [https://www.pellinstitute.org/equity-indicators](https://www.pellinstitute.org/equity-indicators) Creative Commons License: CC BY-NC-SA This license enables users to distribute, remix, adapt, and build upon the material in any medium or format for noncommercial purposes only, and only so long as attribution is given to the creator. If you remix, adapt, or build upon the material, you must license the modified material under identical terms. CC BY-NC-SA includes the following elements: BY: credit must be given to the creator. NC: Only noncommercial uses of the work are permitted. SA: Adaptations must be shared under the same terms. This license only applies to work products generated by the authors. Reproducing copyrighted materials cited in this publication requires permission from the respective publisher. TABLE OF CONTENTS 2 3 6 9 24 32 47 56 66 80 88 109 111 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY INTRODUCTION SETTING THE STAGE Why Do We Study Equity in Higher Education? INDICATOR 1 Who Enrolls in Higher Education? INDICATOR 2 What Types of Higher Education Institutions Do Students Attend? INDICATOR 3 Is Cost a Barrier to Higher Education Access and Completion? INDICATOR 4 How Do Students Pay for College? INDICATOR 5 Do Higher Education Attainment Rates and Outcomes Vary by Student Characteristics? INDICATOR 6 How Do Educational Attainment Rates in the U.S. Compare with Rates in Other Countries? INDICATOR 7 Are There Differences in Higher Education Access, Attainment, and Cost by State? CONCLUSION REFERENCES ACKNOWLEDGMENTS We are most grateful to the many people who made this report possible. First and foremost, we wish to thank Dr. Margaret Cahalan (former Director of the Pell Institute and current Senior Research Fellow) and Dr. Laura Perna (University of Pennsylvania) for their work in the conception, design, and implementation of the inaugural report. Without their work, the preceding nine editions would not exist, and the Pell Institute, the University of Pennsylvania, the Alliance for Higher Education and

FAQs

What is the main focus of the report?

The report focuses on indicators of higher education equity in the United States, examining differences between equity and equality and how opportunity varies across student and family circumstances.

What does Indicator 5a(i) measure?

Indicator 5a(i) estimates bachelor’s degree attainment by age 24 for dependent family members in the U.S. population, broken down by family income quartile over 1970–2023.

Who produced and supports the research behind the report?

The Pell Institute for the Study of Opportunity in Higher Education at the Council for Opportunity in Education (COE) conducts and disseminates research and policy analysis, drawing on research and statistics and acknowledging multiple academic, government, and contractor contributors.

Oct 15, 2026

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