Education in Toowoomba, Australia: official figures
51.5% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over had completed Year 12 or equivalent at the 2021 Census, 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (58.8%). Boundary: the Toowoomba Region local government area (the council area), not the wider urban region around it.
How many people in Toowoomba left school before Year 10?
11.0% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over had left school at Year 9 or below, or never attended school, at the 2021 Census, above the national figure (9.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Toowoomba have a postgraduate degree?
3.8% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over held a postgraduate degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (6.5%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Toowoomba have a university degree?
13.0% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over held a bachelor degree as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 4th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (17.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Toowoomba have a diploma?
8.7% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over held an advanced diploma or diploma as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 6th lowest of 31 areas, below the national figure (9.4%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Toowoomba have a trade or certificate qualification?
23.4% of residents of the Toowoomba Region aged 15 and over held a certificate (levels I to IV, including trade qualifications) as their highest non-school qualification at the 2021 Census, 8th highest of 31 areas, above the national figure (19.1%).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many teenagers in Toowoomba are in work or study?
79.3% of 15 to 19 year olds in the Toowoomba Region were fully engaged in work or study at the 2021 Census (37.5% were studying full-time and not working), against 81.4% fully engaged across Australia.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many children attend preschool in Toowoomba?
1,948 four-year-olds and 243 five-year-olds were enrolled in a preschool program in the Toowoomba Region in 2024; 1,784 children attended 15 hours or more a week.
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow many people in Toowoomba are repaying student loans?
7,763 residents of the Toowoomba Region made a repayment on a Higher Education Loan Program (HELP) debt in 2021-22, which is 44 per 1,000 residents (6th lowest of 26 areas; Australia 45).
Source: Australian Bureau of Statistics · saved copyHow Toowoomba compares with other cities in Australia
Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Toowoomba ranks 26 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 15+ who completed Year 12, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Townsville | 54.1% |
| 24 | Wollongong | 53.7% |
| 25 | Ballarat | 52.7% |
| 26 | Toowoomba | 51.5% |
| 27 | Greater Wollongong | 49.0% |
| 28 | Bendigo | 47.9% |
| 29 | Central Coast | 47.2% |
Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Toowoomba ranks 28 of 31, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 15+ with a bachelor degree as highest non-school qualification, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 25 | Newcastle-Maitland | 14.2% |
| 26 | Cairns | 13.4% |
| 27 | Bendigo | 13.1% |
| 28 | Toowoomba | 13.0% |
| 29 | Townsville | 12.7% |
| 30 | Central Coast | 12.6% |
| 31 | Albury-Wodonga | 12.0% |
Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census (2021 Census)
Toowoomba ranks 19 of 26, highest first. Values cover the 18 city council areas (ABS Local Government Areas), 8 greater capital city areas (Canberra is the whole Australian Capital Territory) and, where the 2021 Census community profile gives the figure, 5 Significant Urban Areas. The areas overlap (for example the City of Brisbane lies inside Greater Brisbane), so compare like with like. Not published for Significant Urban Areas.
| Rank | City | Teenagers (15 to 19) fully engaged in work or study, 2021 Census |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Ballarat | 80.3% |
| 17 | Greater Hobart | 79.9% |
| 18 | Gold Coast | 79.6% |
| 19 | Toowoomba | 79.3% |
| 20 | Bendigo | 79.0% |
| 21 | Sunshine Coast | 78.7% |
| 22 | Central Coast | 77.5% |
More on Toowoomba: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · all cities in Australia
Sources
- Australian Bureau of Statistics: Data by region 2011-2025: Local Government Areas (ASGS Edition 3), 18 city councils, all indicators, read 28 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 788eca55906d…)
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