Education in Detroit, Michigan: official figures
18.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Detroit held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 58th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Michigan: 32.4%).
How many people in Detroit have a graduate degree?
7.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Detroit held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 112th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.7% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Detroit?
In Detroit, 32.6% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 32.6% 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 Detroit?
150,781 residents of Detroit aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 24.6% of that age group, 312th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 113,266 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 36,091 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Detroit?
24,284 residents of Detroit were enrolled as college undergraduates and 6,856 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 5.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 134th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Detroit attend preschool?
6,375 children in Detroit were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Detroit compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Detroit ranks 766 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 763 | Hanford | 18.1% |
| 764 | Kokomo | 18.1% |
| 765 | Miami Gardens | 18.1% |
| 766 | Detroit | 18.1% |
| 767 | National City | 18.1% |
| 768 | Elyria | 17.8% |
| 769 | Moreno Valley | 17.8% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Detroit ranks 712 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 709 | Brockton | 7.3% |
| 710 | Menifee | 7.3% |
| 711 | Council Bluffs | 7.3% |
| 712 | Detroit | 7.3% |
| 713 | Evansville | 7.3% |
| 714 | Brownsville | 7.3% |
| 715 | Pinellas Park | 7.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Detroit ranks 133 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 130 | Hammond | 16.9% |
| 131 | Aurora | 16.9% |
| 132 | Riverside | 16.8% |
| 133 | Detroit | 16.7% |
| 134 | Yonkers | 16.7% |
| 135 | Danbury | 16.6% |
| 136 | Gilroy | 16.6% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Detroit ranks 690 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 687 | Sandy | 5.1% |
| 688 | Elyria | 5.1% |
| 689 | Kokomo | 5.1% |
| 690 | Detroit | 5.1% |
| 691 | Kansas City | 5.1% |
| 692 | Passaic | 5.1% |
| 693 | Lawrence | 5.1% |
More on Detroit: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.