Education in Bellingham, Washington: official figures
48.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Bellingham held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 199th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Washington: 39.6%).
How many people in Bellingham have a graduate degree?
19.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Bellingham held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 179th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 3.3% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Bellingham?
In Bellingham, 15.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 31.3% 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 Bellingham?
26,289 residents of Bellingham aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 28.6% of that age group, 186th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 9,585 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 3,315 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Bellingham?
14,437 residents of Bellingham were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,231 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 17.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 50th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Bellingham attend preschool?
1,036 children in Bellingham were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Bellingham compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Bellingham ranks 199 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 196 | Framingham | 48.7% |
| 197 | Rockwall | 48.6% |
| 198 | Mount Prospect | 48.6% |
| 199 | Bellingham | 48.5% |
| 200 | Hoffman Estates | 48.5% |
| 201 | Lexington | 48.3% |
| 202 | Gilbert | 48.2% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Bellingham ranks 179 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 176 | Plainfield | 20.2% |
| 177 | Framingham | 20.2% |
| 178 | Parker | 20.1% |
| 179 | Bellingham | 19.8% |
| 180 | Wellington | 19.7% |
| 181 | New Orleans | 19.7% |
| 182 | Schaumburg | 19.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Bellingham ranks 675 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 672 | Roswell | 4.8% |
| 673 | Santa Cruz | 4.8% |
| 674 | Rio Rancho | 4.8% |
| 675 | Bellingham | 4.8% |
| 676 | League City | 4.8% |
| 677 | Encinitas | 4.8% |
| 678 | McKinney | 4.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Bellingham ranks 50 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Albany | 18.1% |
| 48 | Syracuse | 17.4% |
| 49 | Evanston | 17.2% |
| 50 | Bellingham | 17.1% |
| 51 | Troy | 17.0% |
| 52 | Pittsburgh | 16.9% |
| 53 | Terre Haute | 16.8% |
More on Bellingham: 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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