Education in Palm Desert, California: official figures
40.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Palm Desert held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 311th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Palm Desert have a graduate degree?
16.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Palm Desert held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 275th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Palm Desert?
In Palm Desert, 18.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 34.3% 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 Palm Desert?
8,536 residents of Palm Desert aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 16.8% of that age group, 4th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 5,236 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 1,578 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Palm Desert?
2,351 residents of Palm Desert were enrolled as college undergraduates and 741 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 316th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Palm Desert attend preschool?
208 children in Palm Desert were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Palm Desert compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Palm Desert ranks 311 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 308 | South San Francisco | 40.8% |
| 309 | Fort Lauderdale | 40.8% |
| 310 | Lewisville | 40.7% |
| 311 | Palm Desert | 40.7% |
| 312 | Southfield | 40.7% |
| 313 | La Mesa | 40.6% |
| 314 | Logan | 40.3% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Palm Desert ranks 275 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 272 | Little Elm | 16.3% |
| 273 | Orlando | 16.3% |
| 274 | Queen Creek | 16.3% |
| 275 | Palm Desert | 16.3% |
| 276 | San Buenaventura (Ventura) | 16.2% |
| 277 | Fort Lauderdale | 16.2% |
| 278 | Nashua | 16.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Palm Desert ranks 576 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 573 | Redding | 6.5% |
| 574 | Fayetteville | 6.5% |
| 575 | Round Rock | 6.5% |
| 576 | Palm Desert | 6.4% |
| 577 | Henderson | 6.4% |
| 578 | Jacksonville | 6.4% |
| 579 | Santa Clara | 6.4% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Palm Desert ranks 508 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 505 | Dublin | 6.1% |
| 506 | Midwest City | 6.1% |
| 507 | Hollywood | 6.1% |
| 508 | Palm Desert | 6.1% |
| 509 | Oklahoma City | 6.1% |
| 510 | Columbus | 6.1% |
| 511 | Tulsa | 6.1% |
More on Palm Desert: 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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