Education in Bakersfield, California: official figures
23.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Bakersfield held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 150th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Bakersfield have a graduate degree?
8.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Bakersfield held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 181st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.8% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Bakersfield?
In Bakersfield, 26.3% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 31.9% 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 Bakersfield?
121,505 residents of Bakersfield aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 30.8% of that age group, 101st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 89,068 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 28,524 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Bakersfield?
22,917 residents of Bakersfield were enrolled as college undergraduates and 5,080 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 7.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 315th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Bakersfield attend preschool?
4,440 children in Bakersfield were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Bakersfield compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Bakersfield ranks 674 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 671 | Pueblo | 23.7% |
| 672 | Pittsburg | 23.6% |
| 673 | Gulfport | 23.6% |
| 674 | Bakersfield | 23.6% |
| 675 | Akron | 23.6% |
| 676 | Maricopa | 23.6% |
| 677 | Rockford | 23.5% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Bakersfield ranks 643 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 640 | Everett | 8.5% |
| 641 | Janesville | 8.5% |
| 642 | Vineland | 8.5% |
| 643 | Bakersfield | 8.4% |
| 644 | Corpus Christi | 8.4% |
| 645 | Garland | 8.4% |
| 646 | Wichita Falls | 8.4% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Bakersfield ranks 112 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 109 | Odessa | 18.4% |
| 110 | Hemet | 18.3% |
| 111 | Grand Prairie | 18.3% |
| 112 | Bakersfield | 18.2% |
| 113 | Revere | 18.1% |
| 114 | Hayward | 18.0% |
| 115 | Providence | 17.9% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Bakersfield ranks 315 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 312 | Gilroy | 7.1% |
| 313 | Yorba Linda | 7.1% |
| 314 | Oceanside | 7.1% |
| 315 | Bakersfield | 7.1% |
| 316 | San Rafael | 7.1% |
| 317 | San Francisco | 7.1% |
| 318 | Augusta | 7.1% |
More on Bakersfield: 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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