Education in Denver, Colorado: official figures
56.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Denver held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 115th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Colorado: 45.7%).
How many people in Denver have a graduate degree?
22.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Denver held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 134th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.3% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Denver?
In Denver, 14.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 20.2% 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 Denver?
145,413 residents of Denver aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 20.9% of that age group, 65th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 90,110 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 28,278 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Denver?
29,604 residents of Denver were enrolled as college undergraduates and 15,402 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 392nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Denver attend preschool?
10,297 children in Denver were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Denver compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Denver ranks 115 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 118 | Pasadena | 56.1% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Denver ranks 134 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 131 | Millcreek | 22.5% |
| 132 | Salt Lake City | 22.4% |
| 133 | Rochester | 22.3% |
| 134 | Denver | 22.3% |
| 135 | Santa Barbara | 22.2% |
| 136 | Greenville | 22.2% |
| 137 | Stamford | 22.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Denver ranks 451 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 448 | Mishawaka | 8.9% |
| 449 | Albuquerque | 8.8% |
| 450 | Kyle | 8.8% |
| 451 | Denver | 8.8% |
| 452 | Urban Honolulu | 8.8% |
| 453 | Santa Clarita | 8.8% |
| 454 | Upland | 8.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Denver ranks 432 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 429 | Draper | 6.5% |
| 430 | Oak Park | 6.5% |
| 431 | San Leandro | 6.5% |
| 432 | Denver | 6.5% |
| 433 | Alameda | 6.5% |
| 434 | Sunnyvale | 6.5% |
| 435 | Kirkland | 6.5% |
More on Denver: 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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