Education in Des Plaines, Illinois: official figures
38.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Des Plaines held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 340th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Illinois: 37.8%).
How many people in Des Plaines have a graduate degree?
13.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Des Plaines held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 377th highest 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 Plaines?
In Des Plaines, 22.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 28.7% 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 Plaines?
12,351 residents of Des Plaines aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 21.5% of that age group, 89th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 8,741 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 2,929 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Des Plaines?
1,987 residents of Des Plaines were enrolled as college undergraduates and 959 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 5.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 148th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Des Plaines attend preschool?
664 children in Des Plaines were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Des Plaines compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 340 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 337 | Greenville | 39.1% |
| 338 | Loveland | 39.0% |
| 339 | South Fulton | 39.0% |
| 340 | Des Plaines | 38.9% |
| 341 | Daly City | 38.9% |
| 342 | Coconut Creek | 38.9% |
| 343 | New Haven | 38.9% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 377 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 374 | West New York | 13.8% |
| 375 | Knoxville | 13.8% |
| 376 | Hollywood | 13.8% |
| 377 | Des Plaines | 13.7% |
| 378 | Renton | 13.7% |
| 379 | Greenwood | 13.7% |
| 380 | Herriman | 13.6% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 386 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 383 | Beaumont | 10.0% |
| 384 | Bayonne | 10.0% |
| 385 | Cincinnati | 10.0% |
| 386 | Des Plaines | 9.9% |
| 387 | Marietta | 9.9% |
| 388 | Lansing | 9.9% |
| 389 | Waxahachie | 9.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Des Plaines ranks 676 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 673 | West New York | 5.1% |
| 674 | Deerfield Beach | 5.1% |
| 675 | Nampa | 5.1% |
| 676 | Des Plaines | 5.1% |
| 677 | Perth Amboy | 5.1% |
| 678 | Arlington Heights | 5.1% |
| 679 | Nashua | 5.1% |
More on Des Plaines: 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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