Education in Cary, North Carolina: official figures
70.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Cary held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 27th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; North Carolina: 35.7%).
How many people in Cary have a graduate degree?
33.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Cary held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 22nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 5.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Cary?
In Cary, 7.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 18.3% 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 Cary?
45,883 residents of Cary aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 26.4% of that age group, 341st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 32,266 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 10,783 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Cary?
7,535 residents of Cary were enrolled as college undergraduates and 3,071 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 326th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Cary attend preschool?
3,011 children in Cary were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Cary compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 27 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 24 | Alpharetta | 70.7% |
| 25 | Santa Monica | 70.7% |
| 26 | Irvine | 70.6% |
| 27 | Cary | 70.5% |
| 28 | Walnut Creek | 70.4% |
| 29 | Pleasanton | 69.9% |
| 30 | Dublin | 69.8% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 22 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 19 | Santa Clara | 35.3% |
| 20 | Alexandria | 34.8% |
| 21 | Bloomington | 34.1% |
| 22 | Cary | 33.7% |
| 23 | Somerville | 33.4% |
| 24 | San Ramon | 33.4% |
| 25 | Pleasanton | 33.4% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 744 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 741 | Auburn | 3.7% |
| 742 | Cedar Park | 3.7% |
| 743 | Carlsbad | 3.7% |
| 744 | Cary | 3.7% |
| 745 | Gilbert | 3.6% |
| 746 | Yorba Linda | 3.6% |
| 747 | Wake Forest | 3.6% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Cary ranks 498 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 495 | Skokie | 6.1% |
| 496 | Concord | 6.1% |
| 497 | Laredo | 6.1% |
| 498 | Cary | 6.1% |
| 499 | Brentwood | 6.1% |
| 500 | Shreveport | 6.1% |
| 501 | Hempstead | 6.1% |
More on Cary: 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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