Education in Portsmouth, Virginia: official figures
24.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Portsmouth held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 173rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Virginia: 42.2%).
How many people in Portsmouth have a graduate degree?
8.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Portsmouth held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 206th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Portsmouth?
In Portsmouth, 30.9% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 33.8% 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 Portsmouth?
21,914 residents of Portsmouth aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 23.5% of that age group, 205th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 15,698 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 4,629 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Portsmouth?
4,139 residents of Portsmouth were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,173 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 5.7% of residents aged 3 and over, 252nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Portsmouth attend preschool?
904 children in Portsmouth were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Portsmouth compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Portsmouth ranks 651 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 648 | Parma | 24.4% |
| 649 | Corpus Christi | 24.4% |
| 650 | Prescott Valley | 24.4% |
| 651 | Portsmouth | 24.3% |
| 652 | Marysville | 24.3% |
| 653 | Taylorsville | 24.3% |
| 654 | Lake Elsinore | 24.3% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Portsmouth ranks 618 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 615 | Lafayette | 9.0% |
| 616 | Kennewick | 9.0% |
| 617 | Rockford | 9.0% |
| 618 | Portsmouth | 8.9% |
| 619 | Chicopee | 8.9% |
| 620 | Everett | 8.9% |
| 621 | Oshkosh | 8.9% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Portsmouth ranks 331 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 328 | Norwalk | 11.0% |
| 329 | Federal Way | 11.0% |
| 330 | Novato | 11.0% |
| 331 | Portsmouth | 11.0% |
| 332 | Birmingham | 11.0% |
| 333 | Frederick | 10.9% |
| 334 | Winston-Salem | 10.9% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Portsmouth ranks 572 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 569 | Georgetown | 5.7% |
| 570 | Warwick | 5.7% |
| 571 | Cathedral City | 5.7% |
| 572 | Portsmouth | 5.7% |
| 573 | San Clemente | 5.7% |
| 574 | Woodbury | 5.7% |
| 575 | Tulare | 5.7% |
More on Portsmouth: 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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