A recent analysis from the Pew Research Center reveals a dramatic increase in the number of Latinos holding advanced degrees in the United States, a trend that is rapidly transforming the nation’s educational and professional landscape. In 2021, nearly 2.5 million Latinos possessed master’s degrees, doctorates, or professional degrees, a substantial leap from just 710,000 in 2000.

This remarkable growth underscores Latinos’ broader push into postsecondary education, yet the study also highlights a persistent disparity: despite the impressive gains, Latinos accounted for just 8% of all advanced degree holders in the U.S. in 2021, significantly below their 19% share of the overall U.S. population.

Authored by Lauren Mora and Mark Hugo Lopez, the Pew analysis of Census Bureau data paints a picture of rapid progress. Among Latinos aged 25 and older, 7% held a graduate degree as of 2021, up from 4% in 2000. While this is still half the share among all Americans in the same age bracket (14%), the trajectory indicates a powerful demographic shift.

Women Lead the Charge

Hispanic Americans have experienced the fastest growth in advanced degrees compared to any other major racial or ethnic group. This surge has been significantly propelled by Hispanic women, whose numbers holding advanced degrees increased by a staggering 291% between 2000 and 2021. For Hispanic men, the increase was also robust, at 199%. By comparison, growth in graduate degrees for White, Black, and Asian Americans has been slower.

The report notes a historic shift in gender dynamics within Latino graduate degree attainment. In 1990, about 60,000 fewer Hispanic women than men held advanced degrees. By 2010, women surpassed men, and as of 2021, approximately 290,000 more Hispanic women than men held a graduate degree.

Among the nearly 2.5 million Latinos with advanced degrees in 2021, the vast majority – 1.8 million, or 72% – held a master’s degree as their highest level of education. Another 440,000 (18%) had a professional degree, such as an M.D. or J.D., while 250,000 (10%) had a doctoral degree (Ph.D., Ed.D.). These proportions largely mirror the distribution of graduate degrees across the general U.S. population.

Degrees and Demographics

The analysis also provides insights into the origin of Latino graduate degree holders. Most are U.S.-born, though immigrants still comprise more than a third of the total. U.S.-born Hispanics aged 25 and older were more likely to hold a graduate degree in 2021 (8%) compared to their foreign-born counterparts (5%). Among immigrant groups, Mexicans constitute the largest segment of Latino graduate degree holders, numbering around 250,000 in 2021, followed by Cubans, Colombians, Venezuelans, and Dominicans.

Notably, Venezuelans stand out as the most highly educated Latino immigrant origin group. In 2021, a remarkable 22% of Venezuelan immigrants aged 25 and older had a graduate degree, with an additional 36% holding a bachelor’s.

Geographic Concentrations

Nearly half of all Latinos with graduate degrees (48%) reside in just 10 major metropolitan areas across the United States. New York and Miami lead the pack, home to 280,000 and 230,000 Latino graduate degree holders, respectively. Los Angeles follows with 180,000. Interestingly, metro areas like San Francisco and Washington, D.C., appear on the list of top areas for Latino graduate degree holders, even if they aren’t among the top cities for the overall Latino population, suggesting these cities’ roles as hubs for advanced-degree requiring professions like technology and policy.

The findings underscore a significant shift in the educational landscape, with Latinos increasingly contributing to the highly skilled workforce, even as efforts continue to close the representation gap in advanced academic pursuits.