Education in San Marcos, California: official figures
43.8% of adults aged 25 and over in San Marcos held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 256th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in San Marcos have a graduate degree?
15.5% of adults aged 25 and over in San Marcos held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 303rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.6% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in San Marcos?
In San Marcos, 16.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 28.0% 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 Marcos?
28,524 residents of San Marcos aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 31.2% of that age group, 88th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 17,590 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 5,392 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in San Marcos?
7,573 residents of San Marcos were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,668 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 10.1% of residents aged 3 and over, 114th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in San Marcos attend preschool?
1,693 children in San Marcos were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow San Marcos compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
San Marcos ranks 256 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 253 | Meridian | 44.2% |
| 254 | Duluth | 44.0% |
| 255 | Hendersonville | 43.9% |
| 256 | San Marcos | 43.8% |
| 257 | Petaluma | 43.8% |
| 258 | St. Paul | 43.8% |
| 259 | Delray Beach | 43.7% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
San Marcos ranks 303 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 300 | Virginia Beach | 15.5% |
| 301 | Lynchburg | 15.5% |
| 302 | Petaluma | 15.5% |
| 303 | San Marcos | 15.5% |
| 304 | Denton | 15.4% |
| 305 | Weymouth Town | 15.4% |
| 306 | Lincoln | 15.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
San Marcos ranks 292 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 289 | Wyoming | 11.8% |
| 290 | Tucson | 11.8% |
| 291 | Dayton | 11.8% |
| 292 | San Marcos | 11.8% |
| 293 | Galveston | 11.8% |
| 294 | Akron | 11.7% |
| 295 | Salem | 11.7% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
San Marcos ranks 114 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 111 | Raleigh | 10.4% |
| 112 | Orange | 10.3% |
| 113 | Norfolk | 10.2% |
| 114 | San Marcos | 10.1% |
| 115 | Lowell | 10.1% |
| 116 | Schenectady | 10.0% |
| 117 | Davie | 10.0% |
More on San Marcos: 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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