0 5 10 15 20 25 30

4.0

19.0

26.1

28.2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30 35 40

5.4

23.7

36.9

30.4

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

9.4

16.8

15.4

18.8

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14

6.0

12.5

9.5

11.0

Colorado Profile of Adult Learning

Adults with No High School Diploma (%)

Age 18-24

Age 25-64

Speak English Poorly or Not at All – Age 18 to 64 (%)

High School Diploma or Less in Families not Earning a Living Wage – Age 18 to 64

(%)

Colorado’s Adult Population Compared to the U.S. and Top States

High School Attainment (Percent)

College Attainment (Percent)

Gaps Between Whites and Minorities*

(25 to 44 Year Olds)

* Minorities include Hispanic, African-American, and Native American

Adults (Age 18 to 64) In Need of Adult Education and Training, 2010

20102010

Colorado By the Numbers• 448,955 adults have no college

education, are working but living in families with a combined income less than a living wage (twice the level of poverty).

• 312,959 working-age adults have not completed high school (or equivalent).

• 123,143 adults have no college education and speak English poorly or not at all.

• 59,837 adults have not completed high school, speak English poorly or not at all, and are struggling to earn a living wage.

• Therefore, 590,641 have at least one of the basic challenges the state must address – 18.1% of all working-age adults in Colorado.

0 1 2 3 4 5 6

0.5

5.4

4.5

4.2

0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20

10.5

17.8

13.7

11.4

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

• The percentage of adults without a high school diploma is less than the national average.

• Compared to the U.S. average, Colorado has less adults in families not earning a living wage and who do not have a high school diploma.

• The educational gaps between whites and minorities for high school attainment and college attainment are much greater than the national average and far from reaching the top states.

No High School

Diploma

No College Education, Earning Less than a Living

Wage

ESL – No College Education, Speaks Little or

No English

10,530

102,582

242,950

28,574

121,966

24,202

59,837

312,959

123,143 Total: 590,641(18.1% of adults)

448,955

0 50 100 150 200 250 300 350

289.5

87.5

61.2

60.3

Reaching the Target Population

Enrollment per 1,000 Adults Age 18-64: College Participation of Adults Age 25-49 as a Percent of Population Age 25-49 with Only a

High School DiplomaIn State-Administered ABE Programs with Less than a High School

Diploma

In English as a Second Language (ESL) with Little or No

English Proficiency

GEDs Awarded per 1,000 Adults with Less than a High School Diploma

(Age 18 to 24)

The Benefits of More Education

Less than High School

High School

Some College

Associates Degree

Bachelor’s Degree

Graduate/Prof. Degree

Workforce Participation (%)Median Annual Earnings (Age 18

to 64)Education

Prepared by the National Center forHigher Education Management Systems

With Support from the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation

Colorado Profile of Adult Learning 20102010

0 20 40 60 80 100 120 140 160 180

162.5

84.0

42.0

37.6

0 20 40 60 80 100 120

113.3

51.2

88.6

50.2

0 5 10 15 20 25 30

28.0

18.9

27.6

27.9Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2000Colorado 2010United StatesTop 5 States

Colorado 2001Colorado 2009United StatesTop 5 States

• Adult enrollment in educational programs – including state-administered ABE and ESL programs – is significantly lower than the U.S. average and the performance of the top five states.

• The number of GEDs awarded per 1,000 adults in Colorado has increased dramatically since 2000.

• The overall college participation rate of adults ages 25-49 is much higher than the national average and Colorado is one of the top states for college participation of adults.

• Adults with higher levels of education are more likely to participate in the workforce than adults with less than a college degree.

• Additionally, those with a college degree earn substantially more money annually compared to those with less than a college degree.

64.0

76.8

79.7

85.8

86.2

87.0

$20,152

$28,213

$32,345

$36,274

$45,343

$63,480

Sources:U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey – Public Use Microdata Files,

2000, 2010

Office of Vocational and Adult Education

NCES, IPEDS Fall 2000 and 2010 Enrollment Files

General Education Development (GED) Testing Service, 2001, 2010