2008 College Enrollment and Work Activity of High School Graduates — 2009-04-28

In October 2008, 68.6 percent of 2008 high school graduates were en- rolled in colleges or universities, according to data released today by the Bureau of Labor Statistics of the U.S. Department of Labor. Information on school enrollment and work activity is collected month- ly in the Current Population Survey (CPS). Each October, a supplement to the basic CPS gathers more detailed information on employment, unemploy- ment, earnings, demographics, and other characteristics of the civilian noninstitutional population age 16 and over. Additional information about the October supplement is included in the Technical Note. Of the 3.2 million youth who graduated from high school from October 2007 to October 2008, 2.2 million (68.6 percent) were attending college in October 2008. College enrollment rates were 71.5 percent for young women and 65.9 percent for young men.