This report highlights the significant rise in the number of immigrants with university-level degrees in the U.S. This trend is particularly noticeable among recent arrivals, with 48% of immigrants from 2018 to 2022 holding a college degree. As of 2022, immigrants made up 17% of all college-educated adults in the U.S., despite being less than 14% of the total population. The growth of this demographic has been rapid, with the number of college-educated immigrants increasing by 89% from 1990 to 2000, 55% from 2000 to 2010, and 56% from 2010 to 2022. The article notes that immigrants are overrepresented in certain high-skilled occupations, such as computer hardware engineering and medical fields. Geographically, California hosts the largest number of college-educated immigrants, followed by Florida, Texas, and New York. These states account for over half of the 14.1 million immigrant college graduates in the U.S. The article also discusses the challenges faced by college-educated immigrants, such as “brain waste,” where 20% are underemployed or working in low-skilled jobs due to credential recognition issues.
College-Educated Immigrants in the United States,
Migration Policy Institute, September 12, 2024, 17 pp.
Author: Jeanne Batalova