Portrait of youth in Canada: Education

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Release date: October 4, 2021
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Infographic: Portrait of youth in Canada: Education
Description: Portrait of youth in Canada: Education

Among young adults aged 25 to 34, women are earning a university credential in higher proportions than men.


Table 1
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 1 Bachelor’s degree or higher (appearing as column headers).
Bachelor’s degree or higher
Women 45%
Men 33%

South Asian and Chinese young adults are the population groups with the greatest proportions of bachelor’s degree or higher attainment.


Table 2
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 2. The information is grouped by Population group (appearing as row headers), Bachelor’s degree or higher (appearing as column headers).
Population group Bachelor’s degree or higher
Chinese 68%
South Asian 58%
Filipino 39%
Black 27%
Not a visible minority 23%

Student debt levels have remained fairly constant over the past 15 years, except for students studying in professional degrees.

Median student debt at graduation, by level of study, classes of 2000 to 2015


Table 3
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 3. The information is grouped by Level of education (appearing as row headers), Year of graduation, 2000, 2005, 2010 and 2015, calculated using 2015 constant dollars units of measure (appearing as column headers).
Level of education Year of graduation
2000 2005 2010 2015
2015 constant dollars
College 13,270 11,830 11,917 11,467
Bachelor’s 21,232 20,111 19,164 20,004
Master’s 21,232 21,294 20,832 19,735
Doctorate 22,559 23,660 24,951 25,401
Professional 39,810 47,320 59,687 60,287

Higher levels of education are associated with higher median cumulative earnings, and this difference is far greater than the average amount of debt ($23,000) owed at graduation.

Median cumulative earnings over a 15-year period, by level of education and sex, 2001 cohort.


Table 4
Table summary
This table displays the results of Table 4 Men and Women (appearing as column headers).
Men Women
Bachelor’s degree graduates $1,292,247 $816,282
High school graduates $723,499 $344,012
Difference $568,748 $472,270

Sources: Zeman, Klarka and Marc Frenette. 2021. “Youth and Education in Canada.” Portrait of Youth in Canada: Data Report. Statistics Canada Catalogue no. 42280002; Statistics Canada, 2019 Labour Force Survey, 2016 Census of Population, National Graduates Survey classes of 2000 to 2015 and Census of Population – T1 Personal Master files.

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Published by authority of the Minister responsible for Statistics Canada.

© Her Majesty the Queen in Right of Canada as represented by the Minister of Industry, 2021

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