Share of Marriages Between Less- Educated Declines % of currently married couples
Another important trend has to do with marriages between spouses with similar education levels. Even though college graduates are increasingly more likely to marry each other, the overall share of couples of similar education levels is down from nearly 80% in 1960 to about 60% in 2012.
The primary reason for the decline in the share of married couples with similar education levels is that marriages between spouses with high school or less than high school education are much less common these days — the share is down from 74% of all marriages in 1960 to 24% in 2012. In addition, adults with high school or less education are much less likely to marry. The marriage rate among this group plummeted —from 72% in 1960 to 46% in 2012.
Just the opposite has occurred among college graduates. The share of couples in which both spouses have a college degree has risen steadily in recent decades. In 1960, only 3% of couples were in this group, the share rose to 22% in 2012. Marriages between spouses with some college education were on the rise until 2000 (from 3% to 12%), but have leveled off since then.
Share of Marriages Between Less-  | Educated Declines  | % of currently married couples  | 80  | 73.6  | 70  | 60  | Both high schoot  | or less  | 50  | 40  | 30  | 24.2  | 20  | Both college  | 22.4  | 10 3.1  | college 12.8  | Both some college 12.8  | 0 2.9  | 2000 2012  | 1960  | 1970  | 1980  | 1990  | Source: Pew Research Centeranalysis ofthe Decennial Census and  | Source: American Pew Community Research Survey, Centeranalysis IPUMS files  | PEW RESEARCH CENTER 