Educational attainment has reached a new milestone in the United States, as more than 30% of adults age 25 and older had earned at least a bachelor’s degree as of March 2011, reports the Census Bureau.

Socioeconomic disparities persist, but one segment of the population showed particularly promising improvement: The number of Hispanics with at least a bachelor’s degree increased by 80% in the first decade of the century, climbing to 3.8 million (14.1% of Hispanic adults) by 2011.

“For many people, education is a sure path to a prosperous life,” says Census Bureau director Robert Groves. “The more education people have, the more likely they are to have a job and earn more money, particularly for individuals who hold a bachelor’s degree.”

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, www.census.gov.