In 2025, nearly two-thirds of Canadian adults aged 25 to 64 (64%) held a college or university credential, up from 55% in 2015. This increase was largely the result of growth in the number of adults with a bachelor's degree or a master's or doctoral degree.
University-level education drives rising postsecondary attainment
From 2015 to 2025, the educational profile of Canadians aged 25 to 64 shifted markedly toward higher levels of formal education. The proportion holding a bachelor's degree rose from 20% to 25%, while the proportion with a master's or doctoral degree increased from 9% to 14%.
During this period, the proportion of adults with lower levels of education declined. The share without a high school diploma fell from 10% to 7%, while the share with only a high school education decreased from 24% to 20%, and the share with only a college education was down from 26% to 25%.
These shifts largely reflect generational replacement within the working-age population, as younger cohorts who are more likely to pursue a college or university education gradually replace older cohorts who historically had more limited educational opportunities. As a result, the overall educational profile of the working-age population continues to move upward.
