Education in Columbia, Missouri: official figures
56.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbia held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 114th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Missouri: 32.4%).
How many people in Columbia have a graduate degree?
26.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbia held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 75th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 5.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Columbia?
In Columbia, 17.2% 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 Columbia?
47,417 residents of Columbia aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 38.0% of that age group, 32nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 17,177 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 5,310 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Columbia?
22,953 residents of Columbia were enrolled as college undergraduates and 5,394 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 22.7% of residents aged 3 and over, 34th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Columbia attend preschool?
1,893 children in Columbia were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Columbia compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 114 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | Waltham | 57.3% |
| 112 | Maple Grove | 57.1% |
| 113 | Richardson | 57.0% |
| 114 | Columbia | 56.7% |
| 115 | Denver | 56.5% |
| 116 | College Station | 56.5% |
| 117 | Yorba Linda | 56.2% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 75 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 72 | Pasadena | 26.9% |
| 73 | Collierville | 26.9% |
| 74 | Milpitas | 26.8% |
| 75 | Columbia | 26.7% |
| 76 | Alameda | 26.7% |
| 77 | San Mateo | 26.5% |
| 78 | Arlington Heights | 26.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 703 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 700 | Meridian | 4.3% |
| 701 | Schaumburg | 4.3% |
| 702 | Grand Forks | 4.3% |
| 703 | Columbia | 4.3% |
| 704 | Blue Springs | 4.3% |
| 705 | Allen | 4.2% |
| 706 | Corvallis | 4.2% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 34 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 31 | Greenville | 24.3% |
| 32 | Muncie | 23.2% |
| 33 | Kalamazoo | 22.8% |
| 34 | Columbia | 22.7% |
| 35 | Lynchburg | 22.6% |
| 36 | La Crosse | 22.2% |
| 37 | Fayetteville | 21.5% |
More on Columbia: 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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