Education in Raleigh, North Carolina: official figures
54.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Raleigh held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 137th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; North Carolina: 35.7%).
How many people in Raleigh have a graduate degree?
21.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Raleigh held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 160th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.9% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Raleigh?
In Raleigh, 15.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 22.8% 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 Raleigh?
121,249 residents of Raleigh aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 26.1% of that age group, 367th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 66,015 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 19,894 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Raleigh?
36,535 residents of Raleigh were enrolled as college undergraduates and 11,820 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 10.4% of residents aged 3 and over, 111th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Raleigh attend preschool?
6,879 children in Raleigh were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Raleigh compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 137 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 134 | Millcreek | 54.2% |
| 135 | McKinney | 54.1% |
| 136 | Torrance | 54.0% |
| 137 | Raleigh | 54.0% |
| 138 | White Plains | 53.9% |
| 139 | Skokie | 53.8% |
| 140 | San Clemente | 53.8% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 160 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | Milford | 21.3% |
| 158 | Albany | 21.2% |
| 159 | Huntersville | 21.1% |
| 160 | Raleigh | 21.1% |
| 161 | Norman | 21.1% |
| 162 | Tempe | 21.0% |
| 163 | Arcadia | 21.0% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 525 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 522 | Sarasota | 7.5% |
| 523 | Burbank | 7.5% |
| 524 | Longmont | 7.4% |
| 525 | Raleigh | 7.4% |
| 526 | Davenport | 7.4% |
| 527 | Little Rock | 7.4% |
| 528 | Santee | 7.4% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Raleigh ranks 111 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 108 | Fullerton | 10.5% |
| 109 | Lancaster | 10.4% |
| 110 | Chino Hills | 10.4% |
| 111 | Raleigh | 10.4% |
| 112 | Orange | 10.3% |
| 113 | Norfolk | 10.2% |
| 114 | San Marcos | 10.1% |
More on Raleigh: 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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