Education in Chicago, Illinois: official figures
44.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Chicago held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 249th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Illinois: 37.8%).
How many people in Chicago have a graduate degree?
19.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Chicago held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 204th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.2% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Chicago?
In Chicago, 21.1% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 21.8% 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 Chicago?
618,889 residents of Chicago aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 23.6% of that age group, 219th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 379,471 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 124,241 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Chicago?
135,301 residents of Chicago were enrolled as college undergraduates and 66,550 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 7.7% of residents aged 3 and over, 256th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Chicago attend preschool?
37,567 children in Chicago were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Chicago compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Chicago ranks 249 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 246 | Norwalk | 44.8% |
| 247 | Little Rock | 44.6% |
| 248 | Westminster | 44.6% |
| 249 | Chicago | 44.3% |
| 250 | Roseville | 44.3% |
| 251 | Placentia | 44.2% |
| 252 | Little Elm | 44.2% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Chicago ranks 204 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 201 | West Des Moines | 19.1% |
| 202 | Tampa | 19.0% |
| 203 | Norwalk | 19.0% |
| 204 | Chicago | 19.0% |
| 205 | Chandler | 19.0% |
| 206 | Conway | 18.9% |
| 207 | Southfield | 18.9% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Chicago ranks 249 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 246 | West Sacramento | 12.8% |
| 247 | West Palm Beach | 12.8% |
| 248 | Beaumont | 12.8% |
| 249 | Chicago | 12.8% |
| 250 | Memphis | 12.8% |
| 251 | Rocky Mount | 12.7% |
| 252 | High Point | 12.7% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Chicago ranks 256 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 253 | Elk Grove | 7.7% |
| 254 | Victorville | 7.7% |
| 255 | South Gate | 7.7% |
| 256 | Chicago | 7.7% |
| 257 | Fontana | 7.7% |
| 258 | Huntington Beach | 7.7% |
| 259 | Rock Hill | 7.7% |
More on Chicago: 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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