Education in Des Moines, Iowa: official figures
29.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Des Moines held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 290th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Iowa: 31.4%).
How many people in Des Moines have a graduate degree?
9.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Des Moines held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 227th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.0% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Des Moines?
In Des Moines, 28.3% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 29.0% 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 Des Moines?
49,287 residents of Des Moines aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 24.2% of that age group, 275th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 34,473 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 11,239 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Des Moines?
9,781 residents of Des Moines were enrolled as college undergraduates and 2,510 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.0% of residents aged 3 and over, 306th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Des Moines attend preschool?
2,523 children in Des Moines were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Des Moines compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 534 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 531 | Goose Creek | 29.7% |
| 532 | St. Clair Shores | 29.7% |
| 533 | Anaheim | 29.7% |
| 534 | Des Moines | 29.7% |
| 535 | Kannapolis | 29.7% |
| 536 | Palm Coast | 29.7% |
| 537 | West Allis | 29.6% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 597 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 594 | Elgin | 9.4% |
| 595 | Jeffersonville | 9.4% |
| 596 | Grand Prairie | 9.3% |
| 597 | Des Moines | 9.3% |
| 598 | Palm Bay | 9.3% |
| 599 | Homestead | 9.3% |
| 600 | Moore | 9.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 237 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 234 | Sterling Heights | 13.1% |
| 235 | Middletown | 13.0% |
| 236 | Buffalo | 13.0% |
| 237 | Des Moines | 13.0% |
| 238 | Visalia | 13.0% |
| 239 | Gaithersburg | 13.0% |
| 240 | Ogden | 13.0% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Des Moines ranks 518 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 515 | Mountain View | 6.0% |
| 516 | Ankeny | 6.0% |
| 517 | West Jordan | 6.0% |
| 518 | Des Moines | 6.0% |
| 519 | Reading | 6.0% |
| 520 | Mesa | 6.0% |
| 521 | Westland | 6.0% |
More on Des Moines: 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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