Education in San Mateo, California: official figures
57.8% of adults aged 25 and over in San Mateo held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 100th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in San Mateo have a graduate degree?
26.5% of adults aged 25 and over in San Mateo held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 77th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 4.5% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in San Mateo?
In San Mateo, 12.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 20.4% 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 Mateo?
22,457 residents of San Mateo aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 22.7% of that age group, 151st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 14,261 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 4,682 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in San Mateo?
5,247 residents of San Mateo were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,546 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.9% of residents aged 3 and over, 347th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in San Mateo attend preschool?
1,403 children in San Mateo were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow San Mateo compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 100 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 97 | Charleston | 58.3% |
| 98 | Downers Grove | 58.2% |
| 99 | Milpitas | 58.2% |
| 100 | San Mateo | 57.8% |
| 101 | Lenexa | 57.8% |
| 102 | Santa Cruz | 57.6% |
| 103 | Farmington Hills | 57.6% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 77 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 74 | Milpitas | 26.8% |
| 75 | Columbia | 26.7% |
| 76 | Alameda | 26.7% |
| 77 | San Mateo | 26.5% |
| 78 | Arlington Heights | 26.3% |
| 79 | Bozeman | 26.2% |
| 80 | Hoover | 26.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 422 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 419 | Lebanon | 9.3% |
| 420 | Nashville | 9.2% |
| 421 | Jersey City | 9.2% |
| 422 | San Mateo | 9.2% |
| 423 | Jonesboro | 9.2% |
| 424 | Simi Valley | 9.2% |
| 425 | St. Louis | 9.2% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
San Mateo ranks 347 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 344 | Cupertino | 6.9% |
| 345 | Redding | 6.9% |
| 346 | Warner Robins | 6.9% |
| 347 | San Mateo | 6.9% |
| 348 | Yucaipa | 6.9% |
| 349 | Tracy | 6.9% |
| 350 | Allentown | 6.9% |
More on San Mateo: 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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