Education in Chapel Hill, North Carolina: official figures
76.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Chapel Hill held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 10th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; North Carolina: 35.7%).
How many people in Chapel Hill have a graduate degree?
45.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Chapel Hill held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 6th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 13.3% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Chapel Hill?
In Chapel Hill, 7.2% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 12.4% 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 Chapel Hill?
29,352 residents of Chapel Hill aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 48.4% of that age group, 7th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 7,386 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 2,893 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Chapel Hill?
17,658 residents of Chapel Hill were enrolled as college undergraduates and 3,875 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 35.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 8th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Chapel Hill attend preschool?
433 children in Chapel Hill were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Chapel Hill compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 10 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | Sammamish | 77.1% |
| 8 | Boulder | 76.8% |
| 9 | Davis | 76.8% |
| 10 | Chapel Hill | 76.6% |
| 11 | Redmond | 75.3% |
| 12 | Mountain View | 75.0% |
| 13 | Berkeley | 74.9% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 6 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Cambridge | 51.2% |
| 4 | Cupertino | 48.6% |
| 5 | Ann Arbor | 48.0% |
| 6 | Chapel Hill | 45.2% |
| 7 | Mountain View | 45.1% |
| 8 | Davis | 44.5% |
| 9 | Berkeley | 42.0% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 733 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 730 | Coeur d'Alene | 3.9% |
| 731 | Boca Raton | 3.8% |
| 732 | Collierville | 3.8% |
| 733 | Chapel Hill | 3.8% |
| 734 | Arlington Heights | 3.8% |
| 735 | Wheaton | 3.8% |
| 736 | Downers Grove | 3.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Chapel Hill ranks 8 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 5 | Stillwater | 38.5% |
| 6 | Ann Arbor | 36.0% |
| 7 | Gainesville | 35.7% |
| 8 | Chapel Hill | 35.5% |
| 9 | Davis | 34.5% |
| 10 | Iowa City | 34.2% |
| 11 | San Luis Obispo | 33.3% |
More on Chapel Hill: 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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