College Graduate - Age 65+ in South Dakota

South Dakota

Educational attainment is important to the continuous development of a society. Those with a college degree earn more on average than those without a college degree.

College graduates tend to engage in healthier behaviors, which contribute to longevity and a better quality of life. College graduates are also more likely to participate in civic engagement activities like voting, community service and community organizing, all of which are associated with positive mental and physical health outcomes. For older adults in particular, volunteering has been associated with a lower risk of cognitive impairment. Higher educational attainment is also associated with fewer hospitalizations for older adults.

Although older adults cannot change their educational history, it is important to recognize that education remains one of the greatest drivers of health inequities.

The percentage of college graduates is higher among: 

• Asian older adults compared with non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic African American and Hispanic older adults.
• Older men compared with older women.

While obtaining a college degree after age 65 is uncommon, education remains a major predictor of health and mortality outcomes. Attaining a college degree by age 25, instead of only completing high school, has been linked to better cognitive function later in life. Education also contributes to socioeconomic status, which, in turn, is a reliable predictor of health outcomes across age, gender and race. Therefore, implementing policies that improve access to quality education for low-income and racial/ethnic minority populations can significantly improve long-term health and overall community well-being. Additionally, inclusive policies for older adult education can boost enrollment of older adults in degree-conferring programs.

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