Did you know that there may be a correlation between divorce and education level? Studies have found that marriages of college-educated couples seem to last longer than they did 30 years ago — and nearly 78 percent of college-educated women who were married for the first time between 2006 and 2010 can expect their marriages to last at least two decades.
In this article, we will go over some studies and statistics related to divorce rate by education level.
Recent studies have shown that there is a significant correlation between higher education and divorce rates. Let's start with a question: Divorce is least common among people with which of the following levels of education?
If you said, "Bachelor's degree or higher," you're right. Research conducted by the National Center for Family & Marriage Research at Bowling Green State University discovered that individuals with higher levels of education tend to have lower divorce rates compared to those with lower levels of education. Data from the U.S. Census Bureau backs up those findings with similar numbers. Let's take a closer look at the data on divorce rate by education level.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, in 2019, the divorce rate for individuals with a bachelor's degree or higher was 25.9%. This suggests that individuals with higher education levels, such as a bachelor's degree or beyond, tend to have lower divorce rates compared to individuals with lower levels of education.
Individuals with some college education or an associate's degree also tend to have lower divorce rates compared to those with lower education levels. The Census Bureau reported the divorce rate for individuals with some college education as 36.3%, while the divorce rate for those with an associate's degree was 30.1% This further supports the correlation between higher education levels and lower divorce rates.
In contrast, individuals with lower levels of education, such as a high school diploma or less, tend to have higher divorce rates. The divorce rate for individuals with a high school diploma was 38.8%, while the divorce rate for those with less than a high school diploma was 45.3%.
The data consistently suggests that higher education levels are associated with lower divorce rates, and vice versa. This correlation underscores the importance of education in promoting marital stability and resilience.
Why do people with less education have a higher likelihood of divorce? Several factors may contribute to the relationship between divorce and education:
It's important to note that the relationship between education levels and divorce rates is complex.
While these trends may be present, you cannot simply determine someone's divorce rate by their education level. Many other factors, such as age, income, cultural norms and personal beliefs about marriage and divorce, also play a role.
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