Education in Modesto, California: official figures
21.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Modesto held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 93rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Modesto have a graduate degree?
6.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Modesto held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 97th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.6% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Modesto?
In Modesto, 27.6% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 34.0% 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 Modesto?
60,142 residents of Modesto aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 28.4% of that age group, 196th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 43,318 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 14,133 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Modesto?
12,138 residents of Modesto were enrolled as college undergraduates and 2,042 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.7% of residents aged 3 and over, 379th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Modesto attend preschool?
2,644 children in Modesto were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Modesto compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Modesto ranks 731 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 728 | Albany | 21.4% |
| 729 | Avondale | 21.3% |
| 730 | Norwalk | 21.3% |
| 731 | Modesto | 21.2% |
| 732 | Warren | 21.0% |
| 733 | Waukegan | 20.9% |
| 734 | Grand Island | 20.9% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Modesto ranks 727 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 724 | Lake Havasu City | 7.0% |
| 725 | Waterloo | 7.0% |
| 726 | Waterbury | 7.0% |
| 727 | Modesto | 6.9% |
| 728 | Merced | 6.9% |
| 729 | Florissant | 6.9% |
| 730 | Nampa | 6.8% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Modesto ranks 124 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 121 | Long Beach | 17.6% |
| 122 | Pawtucket | 17.6% |
| 123 | Lodi | 17.4% |
| 124 | Modesto | 17.2% |
| 125 | Hanford | 17.2% |
| 126 | Vista | 17.2% |
| 127 | North Las Vegas | 17.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Modesto ranks 379 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 376 | Murray | 6.7% |
| 377 | Rio Rancho | 6.7% |
| 378 | West Palm Beach | 6.7% |
| 379 | Modesto | 6.7% |
| 380 | Temple | 6.7% |
| 381 | Charlotte | 6.7% |
| 382 | Miami | 6.7% |
More on Modesto: 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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