Italian Diasporas: Data Snapshot 3 (June 2024)

Demographics, Research, and Analysis News

The John D. Calandra Italian American Institute continues with its project in demographics, research, and data analysis. The Italian Diasporas: Data Snapshot series provides information regarding a variety of characteristics related to the Italian diaspora. These summaries and more extensive reports answer questions such as:

• What sets the Italian diaspora apart from those of other ethnic groups?
• What distinguishes the Italian diaspora across the countries of immigration?
• Are there significant differences in patterns of assimilation and acculturation for the Italian diaspora?

Educational attainment is simply the highest level of education completed. In assessing its achievement, the statistics include only those twenty-five years of age and older in order to eliminate current college students because it is unknown if these students will complete their degree. The rates of educational attainment have increased substantially in the United States since the 1960s, especially for the attainment of a high school diploma going from less than 8% in 1960 to more than 90% in 2022.*

There are many reasons given across the research literature indicating why the course of Italian American acculturation with respect to educational attainment has been slow incoming and, for many decades, difficult to achieve. The failure of Americans of Italian heritage in the first and second generations to move outside the boundaries of community and family has been well documented. Those who have educational attainment want the same for their children.

The June Data Snapshot provides information about the educational attainment of Italian Americans as compared to the general populations in the United States. This tells only part of the story because economic achievement is linked to educational attainment. While it is evident that rates of educational attainment have increased compared to the general population, they are still not on par with the data for other immigrant groups with similar economic status. This is one reason why education must remain a priority for the Italian American community.

There will be more to come in this important topic.

The Institute invites you to share suggestions for future snapshots and reports.