Education in Decatur, Illinois: official figures
21.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Decatur held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 104th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Illinois: 37.8%).
How many people in Decatur have a graduate degree?
7.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Decatur held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 139th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Decatur?
In Decatur, 40.3% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 29.8% 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 Decatur?
14,745 residents of Decatur aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 22.0% of that age group, 118th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 9,842 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 3,302 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Decatur?
3,422 residents of Decatur were enrolled as college undergraduates and 576 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.0% of residents aged 3 and over, 295th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Decatur attend preschool?
905 children in Decatur were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Decatur compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 720 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 717 | Waterloo | 21.8% |
| 718 | Casa Grande | 21.7% |
| 719 | Manteca | 21.7% |
| 720 | Decatur | 21.6% |
| 721 | Dayton | 21.6% |
| 722 | Bellflower | 21.6% |
| 723 | Council Bluffs | 21.5% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 685 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 682 | Longview | 7.8% |
| 683 | Columbia | 7.7% |
| 684 | Pasco | 7.7% |
| 685 | Decatur | 7.7% |
| 686 | Parma | 7.7% |
| 687 | Montebello | 7.7% |
| 688 | Lawton | 7.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 485 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 482 | West Jordan | 8.4% |
| 483 | Tuscaloosa | 8.4% |
| 484 | Topeka | 8.3% |
| 485 | Decatur | 8.3% |
| 486 | Port St. Lucie | 8.3% |
| 487 | Maricopa | 8.3% |
| 488 | Brentwood | 8.3% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Decatur ranks 529 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 526 | League City | 6.0% |
| 527 | Plano | 6.0% |
| 528 | Joliet | 6.0% |
| 529 | Decatur | 6.0% |
| 530 | Apple Valley | 6.0% |
| 531 | Council Bluffs | 6.0% |
| 532 | White Plains | 5.9% |
More on Decatur: 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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