Education in Oakland, California: official figures
48.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Oakland held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 194th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Oakland have a graduate degree?
22.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Oakland held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 141st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 3.2% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Oakland?
In Oakland, 15.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 20.5% 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 Oakland?
92,350 residents of Oakland aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 21.7% of that age group, 96th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 58,370 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 19,825 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Oakland?
19,429 residents of Oakland were enrolled as college undergraduates and 8,683 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.6% of residents aged 3 and over, 396th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Oakland attend preschool?
5,868 children in Oakland were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Oakland compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Oakland ranks 194 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 191 | Fayetteville | 49.0% |
| 192 | Novato | 48.9% |
| 193 | Lee's Summit | 48.8% |
| 194 | Oakland | 48.7% |
| 195 | Bloomington | 48.7% |
| 196 | Framingham | 48.7% |
| 197 | Rockwall | 48.6% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Oakland ranks 141 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 138 | Minneapolis | 22.2% |
| 139 | Westfield | 22.2% |
| 140 | Fayetteville | 22.1% |
| 141 | Oakland | 22.0% |
| 142 | Lenexa | 21.9% |
| 143 | Redlands | 21.8% |
| 144 | San Rafael | 21.8% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Oakland ranks 165 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 162 | Fort Worth | 15.3% |
| 163 | Rochester | 15.3% |
| 164 | Decatur | 15.2% |
| 165 | Oakland | 15.2% |
| 166 | Phoenix | 15.2% |
| 167 | San Rafael | 15.2% |
| 168 | Lorain | 15.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Oakland ranks 396 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 393 | San Ramon | 6.6% |
| 394 | Chino | 6.6% |
| 395 | Huntington Park | 6.6% |
| 396 | Oakland | 6.6% |
| 397 | Cedar Rapids | 6.6% |
| 398 | Menifee | 6.6% |
| 399 | Oak Lawn | 6.6% |
More on Oakland: 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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