Education in San Diego, California: official figures
51.0% of adults aged 25 and over in San Diego held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 172nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in San Diego have a graduate degree?
21.7% of adults aged 25 and over in San Diego held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 146th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 4.1% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in San Diego?
In San Diego, 14.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 24.4% 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 San Diego?
345,010 residents of San Diego aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 25.6% of that age group, 408th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 184,685 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 57,895 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in San Diego?
112,715 residents of San Diego were enrolled as college undergraduates and 29,637 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 10.6% of residents aged 3 and over, 105th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in San Diego attend preschool?
17,973 children in San Diego were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow San Diego compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
San Diego ranks 172 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 169 | Thousand Oaks | 51.4% |
| 170 | Tallahassee | 51.3% |
| 171 | Palatine | 51.1% |
| 172 | San Diego | 51.0% |
| 173 | Tigard | 51.0% |
| 174 | Rochester | 50.9% |
| 175 | Lake Forest | 50.8% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
San Diego ranks 146 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 143 | Redlands | 21.8% |
| 144 | San Rafael | 21.8% |
| 145 | Portland | 21.8% |
| 146 | San Diego | 21.7% |
| 147 | Flagstaff | 21.7% |
| 148 | Leander | 21.6% |
| 149 | Woodbury | 21.6% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
San Diego ranks 390 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 387 | Marietta | 9.9% |
| 388 | Lansing | 9.9% |
| 389 | Waxahachie | 9.8% |
| 390 | San Diego | 9.8% |
| 391 | Lakewood | 9.8% |
| 392 | Richmond | 9.8% |
| 393 | Tampa | 9.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
San Diego ranks 105 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 102 | Tucson | 11.0% |
| 103 | Richmond | 10.9% |
| 104 | Durham | 10.9% |
| 105 | San Diego | 10.6% |
| 106 | Edinburg | 10.6% |
| 107 | Murfreesboro | 10.5% |
| 108 | Fullerton | 10.5% |
More on San Diego: 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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