Higher Education Attainment

Description of Indicator
This indicator examines post high school educational attainment of the population in the region. It includes the percentages of populations aged 25 and older with an Associate’s Degree or a Bachelor’s Degree or Higher.

Why is it important?
Though it should not serve as a singular measure of success, educational attainment is an important indicator of strength or wealth of an economy. Tracking numbers of degrees, apprenticeships, certifications, and credentials that are acquired in a community helps inform projections relative to a region’s career pipeline and job market trends.

How is the region performing?
The share of people with Associate’s degrees in the region has exceeded the Commonwealth’s measure. The share with Bachelor’s degrees or higher still lags behind the state’s measure, though the region is showing annual improvement.