Education in Knoxville, Tennessee: official figures
34.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Knoxville held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 403rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Tennessee: 31.1%).
How many people in Knoxville have a graduate degree?
13.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Knoxville held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 375th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Knoxville?
In Knoxville, 26.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 28.4% 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 Knoxville?
54,751 residents of Knoxville aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 28.9% of that age group, 170th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 24,575 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 8,270 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Knoxville?
22,972 residents of Knoxville were enrolled as college undergraduates and 5,041 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 14.8% of residents aged 3 and over, 67th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Knoxville attend preschool?
2,163 children in Knoxville were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Knoxville compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Knoxville ranks 421 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 418 | Oklahoma City | 34.7% |
| 419 | Melbourne | 34.7% |
| 420 | Dearborn | 34.6% |
| 421 | Knoxville | 34.6% |
| 422 | Providence | 34.6% |
| 423 | Tacoma | 34.5% |
| 424 | West Sacramento | 34.5% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Knoxville ranks 375 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 372 | Coconut Creek | 13.8% |
| 373 | Syracuse | 13.8% |
| 374 | West New York | 13.8% |
| 375 | Knoxville | 13.8% |
| 376 | Hollywood | 13.8% |
| 377 | Des Plaines | 13.7% |
| 378 | Renton | 13.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Knoxville ranks 373 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 370 | Columbus | 10.3% |
| 371 | Everett | 10.3% |
| 372 | Kokomo | 10.2% |
| 373 | Knoxville | 10.2% |
| 374 | Cranston | 10.2% |
| 375 | Savannah | 10.1% |
| 376 | Lawton | 10.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Knoxville ranks 67 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 64 | Providence | 14.9% |
| 65 | Orem | 14.8% |
| 66 | Valdosta | 14.8% |
| 67 | Knoxville | 14.8% |
| 68 | Worcester | 14.5% |
| 69 | Daytona Beach | 14.3% |
| 70 | Johnson City | 14.3% |
More on Knoxville: 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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