Education in Santa Barbara, California: official figures
51.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Barbara held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 160th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Santa Barbara have a graduate degree?
22.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Barbara held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 135th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 3.5% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Santa Barbara?
In Santa Barbara, 12.2% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 25.0% 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 Santa Barbara?
20,122 residents of Santa Barbara aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 23.6% of that age group, 226th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 11,334 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 4,281 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Santa Barbara?
6,038 residents of Santa Barbara were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,587 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 9.0% of residents aged 3 and over, 154th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Santa Barbara attend preschool?
1,163 children in Santa Barbara were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Santa Barbara compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Santa Barbara ranks 160 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 157 | Flagstaff | 52.3% |
| 158 | Ankeny | 52.1% |
| 159 | Mission Viejo | 52.1% |
| 160 | Santa Barbara | 51.9% |
| 161 | Draper | 51.9% |
| 162 | Olympia | 51.8% |
| 163 | Saratoga Springs | 51.7% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Santa Barbara ranks 135 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 132 | Salt Lake City | 22.4% |
| 133 | Rochester | 22.3% |
| 134 | Denver | 22.3% |
| 135 | Santa Barbara | 22.2% |
| 136 | Greenville | 22.2% |
| 137 | Stamford | 22.2% |
| 138 | Minneapolis | 22.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Santa Barbara ranks 339 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 336 | Fort Wayne | 10.9% |
| 337 | Lawrence | 10.9% |
| 338 | Smyrna | 10.9% |
| 339 | Santa Barbara | 10.8% |
| 340 | White Plains | 10.8% |
| 341 | Montgomery | 10.8% |
| 342 | Buckeye | 10.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Santa Barbara ranks 154 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 151 | Eastvale | 9.1% |
| 152 | Boise City | 9.0% |
| 153 | New Rochelle | 9.0% |
| 154 | Santa Barbara | 9.0% |
| 155 | Daly City | 8.9% |
| 156 | Albany | 8.9% |
| 157 | Long Beach | 8.9% |
More on Santa Barbara: 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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