Education in Roanoke, Virginia: official figures
30.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Roanoke held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 301st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Virginia: 42.2%).
How many people in Roanoke have a graduate degree?
11.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Roanoke held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 351st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Roanoke?
In Roanoke, 32.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 27.3% 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 Roanoke?
20,847 residents of Roanoke aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 22.3% of that age group, 129th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 15,661 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 4,546 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Roanoke?
2,899 residents of Roanoke were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,148 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 4.3% of residents aged 3 and over, 46th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Roanoke attend preschool?
1,139 children in Roanoke were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Roanoke compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Roanoke ranks 523 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 520 | Bryan | 30.1% |
| 521 | Medford | 30.1% |
| 522 | DeSoto | 30.1% |
| 523 | Roanoke | 30.0% |
| 524 | Rochester | 30.0% |
| 525 | Grand Prairie | 30.0% |
| 526 | Lowell | 30.0% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Roanoke ranks 473 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 470 | Blue Springs | 11.6% |
| 471 | Jackson | 11.5% |
| 472 | Waco | 11.5% |
| 473 | Roanoke | 11.5% |
| 474 | Murrieta | 11.5% |
| 475 | Warner Robins | 11.5% |
| 476 | Temple | 11.5% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Roanoke ranks 367 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 364 | New Orleans | 10.4% |
| 365 | Doral | 10.4% |
| 366 | Waterloo | 10.4% |
| 367 | Roanoke | 10.3% |
| 368 | Sanford | 10.3% |
| 369 | Fort Lauderdale | 10.3% |
| 370 | Columbus | 10.3% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Roanoke ranks 778 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 775 | Collierville | 4.4% |
| 776 | St. Peters | 4.3% |
| 777 | Racine | 4.3% |
| 778 | Roanoke | 4.3% |
| 779 | New Bedford | 4.3% |
| 780 | Billings | 4.3% |
| 781 | Fort Lauderdale | 4.3% |
More on Roanoke: 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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