Focus on Geography Series, 2021 Census of Population

31.1%

31.1% of people aged 25 to 64 in Alberta had a bachelor's degree or higher, compared to 32.9% in Canada.

22.2%

22.2% of people in Alberta had a location of study outside Canada, out of those aged 25 to 64 with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. This compares to 20.1% in Canada overall. The most common location of study outside Canada for Alberta was the Philippines.

42.4%

Among youth aged 18 to 24 in Alberta, 42.4% were attending postsecondary school, compared to 50.2% in Canada overall.

21.7%

Alberta was the province with the third-highest proportion of people with a bachelor's degree, at 21.7% of the population aged 25 to 64. In comparison, Canada overall had 21.4%.

0.9%

Alberta was the province with the third-highest proportion of people with a degree in medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine or optometry, at 0.9% of the population aged 25 to 64. In comparison, Canada overall had 0.9%.

12.1%

Alberta was the province with the highest proportion of people who studied engineering and engineering technology, at 12.1% of the population aged 25 to 64 with a postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree. In comparison, Canada overall had 9.6%.

82.5%

Among people aged 25 to 64 who obtained their highest postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree in Alberta, 82.5% still lived in Alberta at the time of the 2021 Census, while 17.5% lived in other provinces and territories. The most common other province or territory for them to live in was British Columbia.

88.2%

For comparison, in Canada overall, 88.2% of people aged 25 to 64 lived in the same province or territory where they obtained their highest postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree, while 11.8% lived in other provinces and territories.

59.5%

Among people aged 25 to 64 living in Alberta, 59.5% had obtained their highest postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree in Alberta, 18.3% had obtained it in another province or territory, and 22.2% had obtained it outside Canada.

70.4%

For comparison, in Canada overall, 70.4% of people aged 25 to 64 had obtained their highest postsecondary certificate, diploma or degree in the same province or territory where they lived in 2021; 9.4% had obtained it in another province or territory; and 20.1% had obtained it outside Canada.