Dive Into Data on Working Age College Attainment Rates in Tucson, Arizona MSA

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Four-Year College Attainment Rate for the Working Age Population (2024)

In 2024, the Tucson Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA)’s working-age population had a college attainment rate of 35.2%, ranking it ninth out of 12 peer western MSAs. Tucson fell far short of Austin's college attainment rate of 52.3%, but outperformed Las Vegas, El Paso, and San Antonio. Tucson’s rate also exceeded the statewide rate of 33.7%. However, Tucson has remained below the national average since 2009. While educational attainment rates among the working-age population in Tucson have steadily increased since 2000, growth has lagged both the state and the nation.

Why is it important?

An educated workforce is a key driver of strong regional economic growth. Workers with higher levels of education earn higher wages, support greater productivity and innovation within firms, and contribute to stronger wage growth across the broader workforce. Overall, regions with a higher concentration of highly educated workers tend to experience faster long-run gains in income, population, and job growth than regions with lower concentrations.

How do we compare?

In 2024, 32.4% of working-age men in Tucson had a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 37.9% of women. College attainment for both men and women in Tucson remained below the national rate, with a slightly larger gap for women. However, Tucson’s rates for both men and women exceeded the comparable rates in Arizona.

What are the key trends?

The share of the working-age population in Tucson with a bachelor’s degree or higher increased from 27.6% in 2000 to 35.2% in 2024. While the college attainment rate has trended upward locally, growth at the national level has been considerably stronger. The U.S. rate surpassed Tucson’s in 2009 and has remained higher since.

How is it measured?

The working-age college attainment rate measures the share of the population aged 25-64 with a bachelor’s degree or higher. The population age 25-64 includes individuals who are employed, unemployed, and those not participating in the labor force. Data are from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS) five-year estimates for 2009, 2019, 2014, and 2024. The ACS is a nationwide rolling sample survey that produces one-year and five-year estimates on demographic, social, housing, and economic measures. Note that the ACS five-year estimates are produced over a five-year period and can only be compared with non-overlapping five-year estimates (for example, 2005-2009 and 2010-2014). Data for 2000 are from the Census 2000 SF3 sample.