Education in Merced, California: official figures
20.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Merced held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 81st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Merced have a graduate degree?
6.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Merced held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 96th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.1% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Merced?
In Merced, 26.2% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 30.5% 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 Merced?
29,257 residents of Merced aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 33.2% of that age group, 54th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 20,186 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 6,741 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Merced?
6,556 residents of Merced were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,115 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 8.7% of residents aged 3 and over, 169th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Merced attend preschool?
1,400 children in Merced were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Merced compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Merced ranks 743 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 740 | Yuba City | 20.4% |
| 741 | Victoria | 20.3% |
| 742 | Pomona | 20.3% |
| 743 | Merced | 20.2% |
| 744 | Texas City | 20.0% |
| 745 | Stockton | 20.0% |
| 746 | Lancaster | 20.0% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Merced ranks 728 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 725 | Waterloo | 7.0% |
| 726 | Waterbury | 7.0% |
| 727 | Modesto | 6.9% |
| 728 | Merced | 6.9% |
| 729 | Florissant | 6.9% |
| 730 | Nampa | 6.8% |
| 731 | Avondale | 6.8% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Merced ranks 52 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Pasco | 23.3% |
| 50 | New Bedford | 23.3% |
| 51 | Hialeah | 23.2% |
| 52 | Merced | 23.1% |
| 53 | Homestead | 23.0% |
| 54 | Union City | 22.9% |
| 55 | Norwalk | 22.9% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Merced ranks 169 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 166 | Garden Grove | 8.8% |
| 167 | Buffalo | 8.8% |
| 168 | Baltimore | 8.8% |
| 169 | Merced | 8.7% |
| 170 | Chula Vista | 8.7% |
| 171 | Bloomington | 8.6% |
| 172 | St. Paul | 8.6% |
More on Merced: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.