Education in Columbus, Ohio: official figures
38.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbus held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 358th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Ohio: 31.5%).
How many people in Columbus have a graduate degree?
14.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Columbus held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 359th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.8% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Columbus?
In Columbus, 25.3% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 26.3% 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 Columbus?
228,776 residents of Columbus aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 26.0% of that age group, 376th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 138,100 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 40,777 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Columbus?
59,761 residents of Columbus were enrolled as college undergraduates and 19,995 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 9.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 150th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Columbus attend preschool?
10,920 children in Columbus were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Columbus compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Columbus ranks 358 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 355 | San Marcos | 38.3% |
| 356 | Dallas | 38.2% |
| 357 | Napa | 38.2% |
| 358 | Columbus | 38.2% |
| 359 | Appleton | 38.2% |
| 360 | Sioux Falls | 38.1% |
| 361 | Grand Junction | 38.1% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Columbus ranks 359 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 356 | Peoria | 14.1% |
| 357 | Lubbock | 14.1% |
| 358 | Norfolk | 14.1% |
| 359 | Columbus | 14.1% |
| 360 | Sacramento | 14.1% |
| 361 | Alhambra | 14.0% |
| 362 | Layton | 14.0% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Columbus ranks 370 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 367 | Roanoke | 10.3% |
| 368 | Sanford | 10.3% |
| 369 | Fort Lauderdale | 10.3% |
| 370 | Columbus | 10.3% |
| 371 | Everett | 10.3% |
| 372 | Kokomo | 10.2% |
| 373 | Knoxville | 10.2% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Columbus ranks 150 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 147 | Rochester | 9.1% |
| 148 | Whittier | 9.1% |
| 149 | Abilene | 9.1% |
| 150 | Columbus | 9.1% |
| 151 | Eastvale | 9.1% |
| 152 | Boise City | 9.0% |
| 153 | New Rochelle | 9.0% |
More on Columbus: 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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