Census Bureau data on educational attainment of the U.S. population are presented for 1982 to 1985, with trend data for 1940 to 1985. A brief narrative summary of the findings is also provided. Detailed tables cover years of school completed by persons 15 years old and over by age, sex, race, Spanish origin, type of residence, region of residence, occupation, marital status, and education of spouse. Summary data also cover the 15 largest states and metropolitan areas. Years of school data were derived by considering the highest grade ever attended and whether the grade was finished. Persons of Spanish origin may be of any race and responses generally refer to a person's perceived national or ethnic lineage (i.e., Mexican American, Chicano, Mexican, Mexicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, Central or South American, or other Spanish origin). Findings include: 36% of the adult population had completed at least 1 year of college and 19% had completed 4 or more years of college in 1985; and there was virtually no difference in the proportion of men and women aged 25 to 29 who were high school graduates. Appendices include definitions and information on the source and reliability of estimates. (SW)