Education in Salinas, California: official figures
16.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Salinas held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 43rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Salinas have a graduate degree?
4.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Salinas held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 31st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.5% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Salinas?
In Salinas, 23.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 21.9% 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 Salinas?
47,066 residents of Salinas aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 30.3% of that age group, 120th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 35,050 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 11,510 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Salinas?
8,858 residents of Salinas were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,300 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 410th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Salinas attend preschool?
1,858 children in Salinas were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Salinas compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Salinas ranks 781 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 778 | Passaic | 16.7% |
| 779 | Colton | 16.6% |
| 780 | Hamilton | 16.5% |
| 781 | Salinas | 16.5% |
| 782 | Fall River | 16.4% |
| 783 | Taylor | 16.4% |
| 784 | Canton | 16.4% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Salinas ranks 793 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 790 | Hemet | 4.8% |
| 791 | Porterville | 4.8% |
| 792 | San Jacinto | 4.6% |
| 793 | Salinas | 4.6% |
| 794 | Perth Amboy | 4.5% |
| 795 | Lorain | 4.5% |
| 796 | Elizabeth | 4.4% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Salinas ranks 5 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 2 | South Gate | 40.3% |
| 3 | Lynwood | 40.2% |
| 4 | Delano | 39.2% |
| 5 | Salinas | 37.8% |
| 6 | Santa Maria | 37.5% |
| 7 | Madera | 37.3% |
| 8 | El Monte | 35.4% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Salinas ranks 414 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 411 | Manchester | 6.6% |
| 412 | Newport Beach | 6.5% |
| 413 | East Orange | 6.5% |
| 414 | Salinas | 6.5% |
| 415 | Davenport | 6.5% |
| 416 | Bellevue | 6.5% |
| 417 | Tacoma | 6.5% |
More on Salinas: 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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