Education in Rapid City, South Dakota: official figures
37.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Rapid City held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 378th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; South Dakota: 31.9%).
How many people in Rapid City have a graduate degree?
14.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Rapid City held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 347th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Rapid City?
In Rapid City, 25.3% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 32.2% 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 Rapid City?
17,540 residents of Rapid City aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 23.4% of that age group, 201st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 12,394 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 3,906 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Rapid City?
3,529 residents of Rapid City were enrolled as college undergraduates and 614 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 5.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 221st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Rapid City attend preschool?
1,003 children in Rapid City were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Rapid City compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Rapid City ranks 378 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 375 | Upland | 37.3% |
| 376 | Sacramento | 37.1% |
| 377 | Tinley Park | 37.0% |
| 378 | Rapid City | 37.0% |
| 379 | Chesapeake | 36.9% |
| 380 | Billings | 36.9% |
| 381 | Blaine | 36.9% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Rapid City ranks 347 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 344 | Chesapeake | 14.4% |
| 345 | Fargo | 14.4% |
| 346 | Grand Rapids | 14.3% |
| 347 | Rapid City | 14.3% |
| 348 | Wylie | 14.3% |
| 349 | Westminster | 14.3% |
| 350 | Orange | 14.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Rapid City ranks 638 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 635 | Lincoln | 5.5% |
| 636 | Grapevine | 5.5% |
| 637 | La Mesa | 5.5% |
| 638 | Rapid City | 5.5% |
| 639 | Camarillo | 5.5% |
| 640 | Bismarck | 5.5% |
| 641 | Eugene | 5.4% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Rapid City ranks 603 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 600 | Broken Arrow | 5.5% |
| 601 | Kissimmee | 5.5% |
| 602 | Kannapolis | 5.5% |
| 603 | Rapid City | 5.5% |
| 604 | Gresham | 5.5% |
| 605 | St. Joseph | 5.5% |
| 606 | Novato | 5.5% |
More on Rapid City: 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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