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US Population vs US College Enrollment
US Population and US College Enrollment correlate at r = +0.93 over 39 years (1971–2022), p < 0.0001. With the time trend removed, r = -0.13. Likely spurious (shared time trend).
Verdict: Likely spurious (shared time trend). Both series mostly just trend over time. After removing that trend the correlation collapses to -0.13 — the relationship is probably coincidental, not causal.
- Pearson r
- +0.93
- p-value
- < 0.0001
- Years compared (n)
- 39 (1971–2022)
- 95% confidence interval
- 0.88 to 0.96
- Correlation with the time trend removed
- -0.13
Sources
- US Population (people): World Bank. US Population (World Bank indicator SP.POP.TOTL).
- US College Enrollment (% gross): World Bank. US College Enrollment (World Bank indicator SE.TER.ENRR).
Related pairs
- US Adult Obesity vs US Population (r = +1.00)
- Atmospheric CO₂ (Mauna Loa) vs US Population (r = +0.99)
- US Resident Patent Applications vs US Population (r = +0.98)
- US Median Age vs US Population (r = +0.98)
- US Cereal Yield vs US Population (r = +0.97)
- US GDP per Capita vs US Population (r = +0.97)
Correlation does not imply causation. How the verdict is worked out.