Education in New Bedford, Massachusetts: official figures
17.0% of adults aged 25 and over in New Bedford held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 49th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Massachusetts: 47.3%).
How many people in New Bedford have a graduate degree?
5.2% of adults aged 25 and over in New Bedford held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 48th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.8% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in New Bedford?
In New Bedford, 34.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 25.0% 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 New Bedford?
22,683 residents of New Bedford aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 23.5% of that age group, 211th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 17,440 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 6,118 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in New Bedford?
2,980 residents of New Bedford were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,172 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 4.3% of residents aged 3 and over, 45th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in New Bedford attend preschool?
1,091 children in New Bedford were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow New Bedford compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
New Bedford ranks 775 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 772 | Hammond | 17.4% |
| 773 | Waterbury | 17.3% |
| 774 | Palmdale | 17.1% |
| 775 | New Bedford | 17.0% |
| 776 | Lawrence | 16.8% |
| 777 | Springfield | 16.7% |
| 778 | Passaic | 16.7% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
New Bedford ranks 776 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 773 | Fall River | 5.5% |
| 774 | Palmdale | 5.4% |
| 775 | Middletown | 5.3% |
| 776 | New Bedford | 5.2% |
| 777 | Caldwell | 5.2% |
| 778 | Canton | 5.2% |
| 779 | Lawrence | 5.1% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
New Bedford ranks 50 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 47 | Fall River | 23.5% |
| 48 | Fort Pierce | 23.5% |
| 49 | Pasco | 23.3% |
| 50 | New Bedford | 23.3% |
| 51 | Hialeah | 23.2% |
| 52 | Merced | 23.1% |
| 53 | Homestead | 23.0% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
New Bedford ranks 779 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 776 | St. Peters | 4.3% |
| 777 | Racine | 4.3% |
| 778 | Roanoke | 4.3% |
| 779 | New Bedford | 4.3% |
| 780 | Billings | 4.3% |
| 781 | Fort Lauderdale | 4.3% |
| 782 | Trenton | 4.3% |
More on New Bedford: 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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