Education in Memphis, Tennessee: official figures
28.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Memphis held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 245th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Tennessee: 31.1%).
How many people in Memphis have a graduate degree?
11.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Memphis held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 331st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Memphis?
In Memphis, 30.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 28.8% 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 Memphis?
149,083 residents of Memphis aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 25.1% of that age group, 365th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 108,336 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 32,930 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Memphis?
21,988 residents of Memphis were enrolled as college undergraduates and 10,547 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 5.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 213th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Memphis attend preschool?
8,212 children in Memphis were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Memphis compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Memphis ranks 579 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 576 | Jeffersonville | 28.2% |
| 577 | El Paso | 28.1% |
| 578 | Port St. Lucie | 28.1% |
| 579 | Memphis | 28.0% |
| 580 | Vacaville | 28.0% |
| 581 | Lafayette | 27.9% |
| 582 | Great Falls | 27.8% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Memphis ranks 493 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 490 | Blaine | 11.3% |
| 491 | Mishawaka | 11.3% |
| 492 | Concord | 11.3% |
| 493 | Memphis | 11.3% |
| 494 | Santee | 11.3% |
| 495 | Surprise | 11.3% |
| 496 | Beaumont | 11.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Memphis ranks 250 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 247 | West Palm Beach | 12.8% |
| 248 | Beaumont | 12.8% |
| 249 | Chicago | 12.8% |
| 250 | Memphis | 12.8% |
| 251 | Rocky Mount | 12.7% |
| 252 | High Point | 12.7% |
| 253 | Vallejo | 12.7% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Memphis ranks 611 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 608 | Bismarck | 5.5% |
| 609 | Dallas | 5.5% |
| 610 | Sanford | 5.5% |
| 611 | Memphis | 5.5% |
| 612 | Goodyear | 5.5% |
| 613 | Lawton | 5.5% |
| 614 | Bayonne | 5.5% |
More on Memphis: 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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