Source: National Center for Education Statistics

Total number of degree-granting colleges and universities in the United States in 2009:  4,495

Post-secondary enrollment in 2009:  20.4 million

Percentage of the total U.S. population enrolled in 2009:  5.7%

Enrollment by percentage in four-year institutions in 2009:  62%

Enrollment by percentage in two-year institutions in 2009:  38%

Enrollment of 18- to 24-year-olds at public four-year institutions in 2009:  49%

Enrollment of 18- to 24-year-olds at private four-year institutions in 2009:  22%

Enrollment of 18- to 24-year-olds at public two-year institutions in 2009:  22%

Enrollment of 18- to 24-year-olds at private two-year institutions in 2009:  7%

Increase in post-secondary enrollment from 1990 to 1999:  9%

Increase in post-secondary enrollment from 2000 to 2009:  38%

Percentage increase in full-time enrollment from 2000 to 2009:  45%

Percentage increase in part-time enrollment from 2000 to 2009:  28%

Percentage increase in male enrollment from 2000 to 2009:  35%

Percentage increase in female enrollment from 2000 to 2009:  40%

Percentage of 2009 high school graduates who enrolled:  70.1%

Percentage of 18- to 24-year-olds enrolled in 2009:  41%

Percentage increase in enrollment of students under age 25 from 2000 to 2009:  27%

Percentage increase in enrollment of students over age 25 from 2000 to 2009:  41%

Increase by percentage in Hispanic enrollment from 1976 to 2009:  3% to 12%

Increase by percentage in Asian-American enrollment from 1976 to 2009:  2% to 7%

Increase by percentage in African-American enrollment from 1976 to 2009:  9% to 14%

Decrease by percentage in non-Hispanic White enrollment from 1976 to 2009:  83% to 62%

Percentage increase in male enrollment in graduate programs from 2000 to 2009:  36%

Percentage increase in female enrollment in graduate programs from 2000 to 2009:  63%

Four-year graduation rate at all four-year institutions in 2009:  36.7%

Four-year graduation rate at private not-for-profit four-year institutions in 2009:  51.5%

Four-year graduation rate at public four-year institutions in 2009:  30.7%

Four-year graduation rate at private for-profit four-year institutions in 2009:  12.7%

Percentage of the U.S. population with a graduate or professional degree in 2009:  9.9%

Percentage of the U.S. population with a baccalaureate degree in 2009:  17.1%

Percentage of the U.S. population with an associate degree in 2009:  7.4%

Percentage of the U.S. population who had enrolled without completing a degree:  19.5%

States with the highest percentage of their population with a baccalaureate degree or higher in 2009:  Massachusetts, 37%; Maryland, 35.1%; Colorado, 34.3%; and Connecticut: 33.7%

States with the lowest percentage of their population with baccalaureate degree or higher:  West Virginia, 16.5%; Arkansas, 18.2%; Mississippi, 18.8%; and Kentucky, 20%

Percentage of Americans age 24 or younger who had completed a baccalaureate degree in 1970:  17%

Percentage of Americans age 24 or younger who had completed a baccalaureate degree in 2008:  29%

Percentage of students who graduate in the bottom 40% of their high school classes who enroll at a post-secondary institution and complete a baccalaureate degree:  24%

Percentage of students from families in the lowest 25% in income who completed baccalaureate degrees by age 24 in 2008:  9%.

Percentage of students from families in the highest 25% in income who completed baccalaureate degrees by age 24 in 2008:  95%.