Education in Boston, Massachusetts: official figures
54.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Boston held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 129th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Massachusetts: 47.3%).
How many people in Boston have a graduate degree?
26.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Boston held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 81st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 4.0% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Boston?
In Boston, 18.0% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 16.0% 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 Boston?
180,214 residents of Boston aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 27.8% of that age group, 234th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 72,990 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 23,085 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Boston?
70,482 residents of Boston were enrolled as college undergraduates and 29,690 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 15.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 58th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Boston attend preschool?
7,052 children in Boston were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Boston compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 129 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 126 | Bentonville | 55.3% |
| 127 | West Des Moines | 54.9% |
| 128 | Folsom | 54.9% |
| 129 | Boston | 54.9% |
| 130 | Jersey City | 54.8% |
| 131 | Eagan | 54.7% |
| 132 | Redwood City | 54.4% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 81 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 78 | Arlington Heights | 26.3% |
| 79 | Bozeman | 26.2% |
| 80 | Hoover | 26.2% |
| 81 | Boston | 26.1% |
| 82 | Fort Collins | 26.1% |
| 83 | Plymouth | 26.1% |
| 84 | Atlanta | 26.0% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 320 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 317 | Sherman | 11.2% |
| 318 | Stamford | 11.2% |
| 319 | Orange | 11.1% |
| 320 | Boston | 11.1% |
| 321 | Renton | 11.1% |
| 322 | Milpitas | 11.1% |
| 323 | Terre Haute | 11.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Boston ranks 58 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 55 | Irvine | 16.1% |
| 56 | Baton Rouge | 15.8% |
| 57 | Bowling Green | 15.5% |
| 58 | Boston | 15.5% |
| 59 | New Haven | 15.4% |
| 60 | Waco | 15.4% |
| 61 | Eugene | 15.3% |
More on Boston: 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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