Education in Madison, Wisconsin: official figures
59.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Madison held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 85th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Wisconsin: 33.4%).
How many people in Madison have a graduate degree?
25.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Madison held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 87th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 5.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Madison?
In Madison, 14.6% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 21.4% 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 Madison?
83,858 residents of Madison aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 31.0% of that age group, 96th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 31,014 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 8,637 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Madison?
36,980 residents of Madison were enrolled as college undergraduates and 12,443 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 18.3% of residents aged 3 and over, 45th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Madison attend preschool?
3,421 children in Madison were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Madison compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 85 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 82 | Arlington Heights | 60.4% |
| 83 | San Francisco | 60.3% |
| 84 | Broomfield | 60.3% |
| 85 | Madison | 59.9% |
| 86 | Laguna Niguel | 59.8% |
| 87 | Medford | 59.8% |
| 88 | Westfield | 59.8% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 87 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Atlanta | 26.0% |
| 85 | Overland Park | 25.9% |
| 86 | Carlsbad | 25.8% |
| 87 | Madison | 25.7% |
| 88 | Redondo Beach | 25.7% |
| 89 | Eden Prairie | 25.6% |
| 90 | Royal Oak | 25.6% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 709 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 706 | Corvallis | 4.2% |
| 707 | Berkeley | 4.2% |
| 708 | Waukesha | 4.2% |
| 709 | Madison | 4.2% |
| 710 | Duluth | 4.2% |
| 711 | Rocklin | 4.1% |
| 712 | Marana | 4.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Madison ranks 45 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 42 | Columbia | 19.6% |
| 43 | Norman | 19.4% |
| 44 | Denton | 18.8% |
| 45 | Madison | 18.3% |
| 46 | Chico | 18.2% |
| 47 | Albany | 18.1% |
| 48 | Syracuse | 17.4% |
More on Madison: 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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