Education Degrees Decline Among Recent Graduates

Data from 2025 reveals that degrees in education are increasingly concentrated among older demographic cohorts.

Updated on Oct. 29, 2026 in Distance Learning

Bold vector editorial illustration showing a stack of academic books topped by a graduation cap, representing changing degree trends. — Education degrees have dropped to 10% of all bachelor's degrees awarded in the United States as of 2025, according to new data. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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As of 2025, 89 million adults in the United States aged 25 and over hold a bachelor's degree or higher. While education degrees once comprised a larger portion of the academic landscape, they have declined from 14% of all degrees in 2010 to 10% by 2025.

Why it matters

The shift in degree preferences reflects how expected lifetime earnings influence student choices, with degrees in science and engineering rising to represent 47% of all awards. This trend highlights a broad change in the workforce composition as older degree holders age.

Nationally, 42% of all education degree holders are aged 65 and over. Earnings for these graduates vary significantly by region, ranging from $82,011 in Washington, D.C. to $47,604 in Mississippi.

The players

American Community Survey

This is a continuous demographic survey program conducted by the U.S. Census Bureau that provides yearly data on the population.

The details

Women aged 65 and older represent 32% of all education bachelor's degree holders, while those aged 40 to 64 account for 31%. Conversely, degrees in science and engineering have grown to 47% of the total, up from 44% in 2010.

2010 was the baseline year for measuring trends in field of study.
2025 served as the primary data collection period for degree attainment.
October 29, 2026, marked the official release of the American Community Survey estimates.

Culture Shift

This decline in education degrees reflects a broader societal shift toward high-earning technical fields tracked by the American Community Survey's educational attainment statistics. It marks a departure from historical norms where education was a dominant degree choice for previous generations.

Prospective students should consider that median earnings for education graduates vary by more than $34,000 between different regions like D.C. and Mississippi. This disparity influences the financial return on investment for individuals choosing where to pursue their careers.

The takeaway

The concentration of education degrees among older populations suggests a significant shift in how younger cohorts are prioritizing their fields of study. Students may benefit from comparing regional salary data to align their educational path with long-term financial stability.