Education in Lancaster, Pennsylvania: official figures
29.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Lancaster held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 279th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Pennsylvania: 35.2%).
How many people in Lancaster have a graduate degree?
10.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Lancaster held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 273rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Lancaster?
In Lancaster, 32.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 22.6% 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 Lancaster?
15,219 residents of Lancaster aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 27.3% of that age group, 265th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 8,614 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 2,584 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Lancaster?
4,804 residents of Lancaster were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,008 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 10.4% of residents aged 3 and over, 109th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Lancaster attend preschool?
793 children in Lancaster were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Lancaster compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Lancaster ranks 545 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 542 | Albany | 29.4% |
| 543 | Tamarac | 29.4% |
| 544 | Mission | 29.4% |
| 545 | Lancaster | 29.4% |
| 546 | Carson | 29.3% |
| 547 | Gilroy | 29.3% |
| 548 | South Bend | 29.3% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Lancaster ranks 551 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 548 | Lakewood | 10.3% |
| 549 | Gilroy | 10.3% |
| 550 | Southaven | 10.2% |
| 551 | Lancaster | 10.2% |
| 552 | Sanford | 10.2% |
| 553 | Las Vegas | 10.1% |
| 554 | Albany | 10.1% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Lancaster ranks 156 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 153 | Harrisonburg | 15.7% |
| 154 | Berwyn | 15.7% |
| 155 | Cleveland | 15.7% |
| 156 | Lancaster | 15.7% |
| 157 | El Cajon | 15.6% |
| 158 | Flint | 15.5% |
| 159 | Glendale | 15.5% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Lancaster ranks 109 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 106 | Edinburg | 10.6% |
| 107 | Murfreesboro | 10.5% |
| 108 | Fullerton | 10.5% |
| 109 | Lancaster | 10.4% |
| 110 | Chino Hills | 10.4% |
| 111 | Raleigh | 10.4% |
| 112 | Orange | 10.3% |
More on Lancaster: 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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