What does this measure?

The number of residents of various racial and ethnic backgrounds with a particular level of education, expressed as a percentage of all residents 25 and older.

Why is this important?

An educated population makes a more attractive workforce and is better prepared to instruct the next generation of residents. High educational attainment represents a region's investment in human capital and preparation for long-term growth.

How is the Greater Capital Region performing?

Overall, the region mirrors the state and nation in disparities in educational attainment among racial and ethnic groups, with the exception of Hispanic residents. About a quarter of Hispanic residents in counties in the region have at least a bachelor's degree, higher than state and national levels. Also, more black residents of Albany County have attended at least some college, compared to the state and national levels. Generally speaking, educational attainment in the region is highest among white residents, and higher proportions of black and Hispanic residents are lacking a high school diploma. The proportion of white residents with a bachelor's degree or higher ranged from a high of 37% in Albany County to a low of 18% in Schoharie County. This compares to 20% or less of black residents (depending on the county), which is similar to state and national levels. Figures are from the 2005-07 American Community Survey and were not available for every racial and ethnic group in every county.

Notes about the data

The 2005-07 figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined three years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census.