Education in Rochester, New York: official figures
30.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Rochester held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 300th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; New York: 40.2%).
How many people in Rochester have a graduate degree?
12.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Rochester held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 397th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.7% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Rochester?
In Rochester, 28.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 26.3% 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 Rochester?
51,624 residents of Rochester aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 25.6% of that age group, 407th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 30,316 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 10,595 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Rochester?
14,013 residents of Rochester were enrolled as college undergraduates and 4,374 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 9.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 147th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Rochester attend preschool?
2,921 children in Rochester were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Rochester compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Rochester ranks 524 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 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% |
| 527 | Davenport | 29.9% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Rochester ranks 427 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 424 | Cheyenne | 12.8% |
| 425 | Spokane | 12.7% |
| 426 | Savannah | 12.7% |
| 427 | Rochester | 12.7% |
| 428 | South San Francisco | 12.6% |
| 429 | Grand Junction | 12.6% |
| 430 | Tulsa | 12.6% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Rochester ranks 163 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 160 | Carson | 15.5% |
| 161 | San Antonio | 15.4% |
| 162 | Fort Worth | 15.3% |
| 163 | Rochester | 15.3% |
| 164 | Decatur | 15.2% |
| 165 | Oakland | 15.2% |
| 166 | Phoenix | 15.2% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Rochester ranks 147 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 144 | Buena Park | 9.2% |
| 145 | Fountain Valley | 9.2% |
| 146 | Jackson | 9.2% |
| 147 | Rochester | 9.1% |
| 148 | Whittier | 9.1% |
| 149 | Abilene | 9.1% |
| 150 | Columbus | 9.1% |
More on Rochester: 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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