Education in Atlanta, Georgia: official figures
59.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Atlanta held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 94th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Georgia: 34.9%).
How many people in Atlanta have a graduate degree?
26.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Atlanta held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 84th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 3.0% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Atlanta?
In Atlanta, 15.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 18.5% had some college or an associate's degree (US: 26.0% and 27.9%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many students are there in Atlanta?
125,988 residents of Atlanta aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 25.7% of that age group, 399th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 59,989 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 18,074 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Atlanta?
41,842 residents of Atlanta were enrolled as college undergraduates and 17,010 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 12.0% of residents aged 3 and over, 85th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Atlanta attend preschool?
7,147 children in Atlanta were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Atlanta compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Atlanta ranks 94 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 91 | Austin | 59.6% |
| 92 | Wake Forest | 59.5% |
| 93 | Smyrna | 59.4% |
| 94 | Atlanta | 59.2% |
| 95 | Doral | 59.2% |
| 96 | Bloomington | 58.8% |
| 97 | Charleston | 58.3% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Atlanta ranks 84 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 81 | Boston | 26.1% |
| 82 | Fort Collins | 26.1% |
| 83 | Plymouth | 26.1% |
| 84 | Atlanta | 26.0% |
| 85 | Overland Park | 25.9% |
| 86 | Carlsbad | 25.8% |
| 87 | Madison | 25.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Atlanta ranks 565 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 562 | Goose Creek | 6.6% |
| 563 | Portland | 6.6% |
| 564 | Bristol | 6.6% |
| 565 | Atlanta | 6.6% |
| 566 | South Fulton | 6.6% |
| 567 | Georgetown | 6.6% |
| 568 | Summerville | 6.6% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Atlanta ranks 85 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | Dayton | 12.4% |
| 83 | Richardson | 12.3% |
| 84 | Las Cruces | 12.2% |
| 85 | Atlanta | 12.0% |
| 86 | Savannah | 11.9% |
| 87 | Wilmington | 11.9% |
| 88 | Minneapolis | 11.8% |
More on Atlanta: overview · economy and jobs · health · poverty and living standards · government budget · all cities in the United States
Sources
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B15003: Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 d0c8609e958022459215c8a31d7452ef7528ee8dd70fbb6f9a99de0f491f42d7), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 609deae49c91…)
- U.S. Census Bureau: American Community Survey 2020-2024 5-year estimates, table B14001: School Enrollment by Level of School for the Population 3 Years and Over (Summary File rows for the US, the states and the listed cities, copied unchanged from the full file, sha256 e175af4a33616da45fb590da3d67f37eee65a3cb51e6f5864c64ff31fb716b81), read 23 October 2026 · saved copy (SHA-256 b85f52a6d640…)
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