Education in Columbia, South Carolina: official figures
45.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbia held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 229th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; South Carolina: 32.1%).
How many people in Columbia have a graduate degree?
21.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbia held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 156th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 3.1% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Columbia?
In Columbia, 19.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 25.6% 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?
44,664 residents of Columbia aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 33.0% of that age group, 58th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 16,469 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 5,938 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Columbia?
21,763 residents of Columbia were enrolled as college undergraduates and 4,705 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 19.6% of residents aged 3 and over, 42nd 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?
1,727 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 229 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 226 | Bloomington | 46.2% |
| 227 | Sandy | 46.0% |
| 228 | Norman | 45.9% |
| 229 | Columbia | 45.9% |
| 230 | Apple Valley | 45.9% |
| 231 | Plantation | 45.9% |
| 232 | Tampa | 45.7% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 156 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 153 | St. Louis Park | 21.6% |
| 154 | Quincy | 21.6% |
| 155 | Grapevine | 21.6% |
| 156 | Columbia | 21.5% |
| 157 | Milford | 21.3% |
| 158 | Albany | 21.2% |
| 159 | Huntersville | 21.1% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 460 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 457 | St. Cloud | 8.8% |
| 458 | Mesa | 8.8% |
| 459 | Fountain Valley | 8.8% |
| 460 | Columbia | 8.8% |
| 461 | Santa Fe | 8.7% |
| 462 | Gallatin | 8.7% |
| 463 | Miramar | 8.7% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 42 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 39 | Grand Forks | 20.8% |
| 40 | Fort Collins | 20.5% |
| 41 | Waltham | 19.7% |
| 42 | Columbia | 19.6% |
| 43 | Norman | 19.4% |
| 44 | Denton | 18.8% |
| 45 | Madison | 18.3% |
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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