Before you judge whether "credentials have been devalued," look at the national education structure: only 15467 people per 100000 have a college education (2020 census; 2025 sample estimate about 19%)

In the 2020 census, people nationwide who reached junior college or above were about 15%. The 2025 sample survey estimates about 19%, a few percentage points more in five years. In both, people with junior high were the largest group. People aged 15 and above averaged only 9.91 years of schooling, just past junior-high graduation. So a junior-high credential is the most common band in China, not a scarce one.

Cost

No money. Just look at the figures below.

Benefit

The reference date of the seventh national census was 1 November 2020. Among the national population, 218360767 people had a college education (junior college or above). High school (including secondary specialized school) 213005258. Junior high 487163489. Primary school 349658828. Compared with the sixth census in 2010, people with a college education per 100000 rose from 8930 to 15467. High school from 14032 to 15088. Junior high fell from 38788 to 34507. Primary school fell from 26779 to 24767. Average years of schooling for people aged 15 and above rose from 9.08 to 9.91. The illiteracy rate fell from 4.08% to 2.67%. The reference date of the 2025 national 1% population sample survey was 1 November 2025, with a sample of 20520000 people (2052万). From the sample the national population is estimated at 1405450000 (140545万). Of these, college (junior college or above) 272330000 (27233万), high school (including secondary specialized) 242720000 (24272万), junior high 452830000 (45283万), primary school 331220000 (33122万). The bulletin does not give figures per 100000. Calculated ourselves from the headcounts and total population, college is about 19.4% and junior high about 32.2%, still the largest band

Notes

These figures only show how scarce a credential is in the population. Whether schooling pays for a particular person, run the method in item 6 of this section (how to weigh study against going to work). Also note: the census counts the whole national population, including the old and the young, not the labor force and not your age peers. The bulletin does not break the figures by age. From the rise of more than seven tenths in people with a college education per 100000 from 2010 to 2020, the share among young people is likely higher than the national figure; that is an inference. So comparing yourself with age peers using the national figure overstates your edge. What it can show is: in the national population, a college education is still a minority. The 2025 figures are a sample estimate; the census counts every household. The two use different bases, so both sets are shown side by side and the new figures do not replace the old. The 19.4% and 32.2% are calculated ourselves from the bulletin's headcounts and the total population. The beneficiary is you

Sources · 2

1. 国家统计局、国务院第七次全国人口普查领导小组办公室 (2021). 第七次全国人口普查公报（第六号）——人口受教育情况. stats.gov.cn/sj/tjgb/rkpcgb/qgrkpcgb/202302/t…
2. 国家统计局 (2026). 2025 年全国 1% 人口抽样调查主要数据公报. stats.gov.cn/sj/zxfb/202605/t20260522_1963788…