Education in Durham, North Carolina: official figures
57.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Durham held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 110th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; North Carolina: 35.7%).
How many people in Durham have a graduate degree?
27.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Durham held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 67th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 5.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Durham?
In Durham, 14.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 20.1% 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 Durham?
75,204 residents of Durham aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 26.8% of that age group, 309th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 40,533 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 13,305 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Durham?
17,432 residents of Durham were enrolled as college undergraduates and 13,133 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 10.9% of residents aged 3 and over, 104th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Durham attend preschool?
4,106 children in Durham were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Durham compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Durham ranks 110 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 107 | Allen | 57.5% |
| 108 | Palm Beach Gardens | 57.4% |
| 109 | Arcadia | 57.4% |
| 110 | Durham | 57.3% |
| 111 | Waltham | 57.3% |
| 112 | Maple Grove | 57.1% |
| 113 | Richardson | 57.0% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Durham ranks 67 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Medford | 27.6% |
| 65 | Farmington Hills | 27.5% |
| 66 | Mount Pleasant | 27.2% |
| 67 | Durham | 27.1% |
| 68 | New Rochelle | 27.0% |
| 69 | Redwood City | 26.9% |
| 70 | Lawrence | 26.9% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Durham ranks 507 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 504 | Diamond Bar | 7.9% |
| 505 | Provo | 7.9% |
| 506 | Lexington | 7.9% |
| 507 | Durham | 7.9% |
| 508 | Orlando | 7.8% |
| 509 | DeSoto | 7.8% |
| 510 | Peoria | 7.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Durham ranks 104 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 101 | Cincinnati | 11.1% |
| 102 | Tucson | 11.0% |
| 103 | Richmond | 10.9% |
| 104 | Durham | 10.9% |
| 105 | San Diego | 10.6% |
| 106 | Edinburg | 10.6% |
| 107 | Murfreesboro | 10.5% |
More on Durham: 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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