New numbers in a report released last week by the American Council on Education show no appreciable progress in postsecondary attainment among young Hispanics and African-Americans compared with their older peers in the past two years.
However, women and Asian-Americans are moving ahead of their older counterparts.
As of 2008, a total of 38 percent of Americans ages 25 to 34 earned at least an associate degree compared with 39 percent of 35- to 44-year-olds and 37 percent of those 45 to 57. About 26 percent of African-Americans ages 25 to 37 obtained a two-year degree, compared with 28 percent of those between 35 and 44. Among Hispanics, 18 percent of 25- to 34-year-olds have an associate degree compared with 20 percent of those 35 to 44.