Massachusetts Educational Attainment By Race and Ethnicity for Ages 25 years and Above in 2021 (ACS-5Yrs)

Updated on August 19, 2025.

Based on the US Census ACS-5Yrs estimates, in 2021, the Massachusetts population aged 25 years and above was 4,902,868. See the following sections for the breakdown of the educational attainment of this important demography by race and ethnicity.

Less high school diploma: there were 433,215 people without a high school diploma (ie. 8.84% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 54.95% White Alone, and 10.29% Black Alone.

High School Graduate or Equivalent: there were 1,137,085 people with a high school diploma or equivalent (ie. 23.19% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 77.84% White Alone, and 7.82% Black Alone.

Some College or Associates Degree: there were 1,116,219 people with some college courses without a degree or an associates degree (ie. 22.77% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 79.30% White Alone, and 9.01% Black Alone.

Bachelors Degree or higher: there were 2,216,349 people with a bachelors degree or a higher degree (ie. 45.21% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 81.08% White Alone, and 4.31% Black Alone.

The first and second charts below shows the race and ethnicity composition at each educational level. Also see tables below for the population and percentages per race and per ethnicity for each educational level.

You can see similar information for other states and for the United States.

Educational Attainment of Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) By Race in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Educational Attainment of Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) By Ethnicity in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 238028 54.95
Black Alone 44566 10.29
Asian Alone 45975 10.61
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 2043 0.47
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 133 0.03
Some Other Race Alone 58292 13.46
Two or More Races 44178 10.20
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 189765 43.80
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 135239 31.22
All Other Ethnicities 108211 24.98
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 885098 77.84
Black Alone 88909 7.82
Asian Alone 42244 3.72
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 2646 0.23
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 418 0.04
Some Other Race Alone 61179 5.38
Two or More Races 56591 4.98
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 831717 73.15
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 141499 12.44
All Other Ethnicities 163869 14.41
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 885145 79.30
Black Alone 100529 9.01
Asian Alone 34421 3.08
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 2843 0.26
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 308 0.03
Some Other Race Alone 40986 3.67
Two or More Races 51987 4.66
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 840280 75.28
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 110383 9.89
All Other Ethnicities 165556 14.83
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 1796983 81.08
Black Alone 95623 4.31
Asian Alone 207041 9.34
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 1997 0.09
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 595 0.03
Some Other Race Alone 34984 1.58
Two or More Races 79126 3.57
Massachusetts Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 1750580 78.99
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 106895 4.82
All Other Ethnicities 358874 16.19