Education in Santa Clara, California: official figures
65.9% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Clara held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 49th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Santa Clara have a graduate degree?
35.3% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Clara held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 19th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 6.0% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Santa Clara?
In Santa Clara, 10.3% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 17.3% 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 Clara?
31,410 residents of Santa Clara aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 24.9% of that age group, 339th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 15,096 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 4,629 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Santa Clara?
9,864 residents of Santa Clara were enrolled as college undergraduates and 4,244 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 11.2% of residents aged 3 and over, 98th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Santa Clara attend preschool?
2,206 children in Santa Clara were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Santa Clara compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Santa Clara ranks 49 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 46 | Alexandria | 66.2% |
| 47 | Roswell | 66.0% |
| 48 | Plymouth | 65.9% |
| 49 | Santa Clara | 65.9% |
| 50 | Ames | 65.8% |
| 51 | Rockville | 65.6% |
| 52 | Flower Mound | 65.5% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Santa Clara ranks 19 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Washington | 38.0% |
| 17 | Sammamish | 37.3% |
| 18 | Bellevue | 36.0% |
| 19 | Santa Clara | 35.3% |
| 20 | Alexandria | 34.8% |
| 21 | Bloomington | 34.1% |
| 22 | Cary | 33.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Santa Clara ranks 579 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 576 | Palm Desert | 6.4% |
| 577 | Henderson | 6.4% |
| 578 | Jacksonville | 6.4% |
| 579 | Santa Clara | 6.4% |
| 580 | Pocatello | 6.4% |
| 581 | Medford | 6.4% |
| 582 | Dubuque | 6.3% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Santa Clara ranks 98 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 95 | Newton | 11.4% |
| 96 | Bryan | 11.3% |
| 97 | Missoula | 11.3% |
| 98 | Santa Clara | 11.2% |
| 99 | Wheaton | 11.1% |
| 100 | Huntsville | 11.1% |
| 101 | Cincinnati | 11.1% |
More on Santa Clara: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.