Education in Irvine, California: official figures
70.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Irvine held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 26th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Irvine have a graduate degree?
31.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Irvine held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 35th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 4.5% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Irvine?
In Irvine, 7.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 18.4% 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 Irvine?
102,137 residents of Irvine aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 33.9% of that age group, 48th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 47,486 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 14,128 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Irvine?
37,428 residents of Irvine were enrolled as college undergraduates and 10,982 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 16.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 55th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Irvine attend preschool?
6,241 children in Irvine were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Irvine compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Irvine ranks 26 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 23 | Brookhaven | 70.9% |
| 24 | Alpharetta | 70.7% |
| 25 | Santa Monica | 70.7% |
| 26 | Irvine | 70.6% |
| 27 | Cary | 70.5% |
| 28 | Walnut Creek | 70.4% |
| 29 | Pleasanton | 69.9% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Irvine ranks 35 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 32 | Troy | 31.9% |
| 33 | Ames | 31.8% |
| 34 | Carmel | 31.7% |
| 35 | Irvine | 31.5% |
| 36 | Fulshear | 31.5% |
| 37 | Fremont | 31.4% |
| 38 | Brookhaven | 31.4% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Irvine ranks 769 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 766 | Alpharetta | 3.4% |
| 767 | Bend | 3.3% |
| 768 | Laguna Niguel | 3.3% |
| 769 | Irvine | 3.3% |
| 770 | Huntersville | 3.2% |
| 771 | Palo Alto | 3.2% |
| 772 | Centennial | 3.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Irvine ranks 55 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 52 | Pittsburgh | 16.9% |
| 53 | Terre Haute | 16.8% |
| 54 | Conway | 16.3% |
| 55 | Irvine | 16.1% |
| 56 | Baton Rouge | 15.8% |
| 57 | Bowling Green | 15.5% |
| 58 | Boston | 15.5% |
More on Irvine: 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.