Education in La Mesa, California: official figures
40.6% of adults aged 25 and over in La Mesa held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 313th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in La Mesa have a graduate degree?
14.9% of adults aged 25 and over in La Mesa held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 318th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.8% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in La Mesa?
In La Mesa, 16.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 37.6% 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 La Mesa?
14,121 residents of La Mesa aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 24.3% of that age group, 285th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 8,858 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 2,400 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in La Mesa?
3,354 residents of La Mesa were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,272 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 8.0% of residents aged 3 and over, 221st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in La Mesa attend preschool?
637 children in La Mesa were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow La Mesa compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 313 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 310 | Lewisville | 40.7% |
| 311 | Palm Desert | 40.7% |
| 312 | Southfield | 40.7% |
| 313 | La Mesa | 40.6% |
| 314 | Logan | 40.3% |
| 315 | Omaha | 40.1% |
| 316 | Lincoln | 40.1% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 318 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 315 | Chico | 15.0% |
| 316 | Anchorage | 14.9% |
| 317 | Dallas | 14.9% |
| 318 | La Mesa | 14.9% |
| 319 | Miami | 14.9% |
| 320 | Aurora | 14.8% |
| 321 | Meridian | 14.8% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 637 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 634 | Burleson | 5.5% |
| 635 | Lincoln | 5.5% |
| 636 | Grapevine | 5.5% |
| 637 | La Mesa | 5.5% |
| 638 | Rapid City | 5.5% |
| 639 | Camarillo | 5.5% |
| 640 | Bismarck | 5.5% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
La Mesa ranks 221 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 218 | Killeen | 8.0% |
| 219 | Millcreek | 8.0% |
| 220 | Waukesha | 8.0% |
| 221 | La Mesa | 8.0% |
| 222 | Simi Valley | 8.0% |
| 223 | Reno | 8.0% |
| 224 | Troy | 8.0% |
More on La Mesa: 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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