Education in Columbia, Tennessee: official figures
25.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbia held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 195th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Tennessee: 31.1%).
How many people in Columbia have a graduate degree?
7.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbia held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 141st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.1% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Columbia?
In Columbia, 33.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 32.2% 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?
9,938 residents of Columbia aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 22.8% of that age group, 161st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 8,142 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 2,815 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Columbia?
983 residents of Columbia were enrolled as college undergraduates and 396 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 3.2% of residents aged 3 and over, 6th lowest 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?
417 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 629 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 626 | Fresno | 25.5% |
| 627 | Garland | 25.4% |
| 628 | Schenectady | 25.4% |
| 629 | Columbia | 25.4% |
| 630 | Wichita Falls | 25.4% |
| 631 | Garden Grove | 25.3% |
| 632 | Inglewood | 25.2% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 683 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 680 | Apple Valley | 7.8% |
| 681 | Lauderhill | 7.8% |
| 682 | Longview | 7.8% |
| 683 | Columbia | 7.7% |
| 684 | Pasco | 7.7% |
| 685 | Decatur | 7.7% |
| 686 | Parma | 7.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 469 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 466 | Largo | 8.7% |
| 467 | Concord | 8.6% |
| 468 | Prescott Valley | 8.6% |
| 469 | Columbia | 8.6% |
| 470 | Rock Hill | 8.6% |
| 471 | Daytona Beach | 8.6% |
| 472 | Rancho Cucamonga | 8.5% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Columbia ranks 818 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 815 | Edina | 3.3% |
| 816 | Waterloo | 3.2% |
| 817 | Grand Island | 3.2% |
| 818 | Columbia | 3.2% |
| 819 | Port Arthur | 3.0% |
| 820 | Elkhart | 2.9% |
| 821 | Greer | 2.7% |
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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