Education in Santa Cruz, California: official figures
57.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Cruz held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 102nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Santa Cruz have a graduate degree?
29.1% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Cruz held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 52nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 6.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Santa Cruz?
In Santa Cruz, 9.9% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 27.6% 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 Cruz?
24,417 residents of Santa Cruz aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 40.2% of that age group, 27th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 5,274 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 1,879 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Santa Cruz?
16,595 residents of Santa Cruz were enrolled as college undergraduates and 2,126 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 30.8% of residents aged 3 and over, 19th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Santa Cruz attend preschool?
422 children in Santa Cruz were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Santa Cruz compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Santa Cruz ranks 102 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 99 | Milpitas | 58.2% |
| 100 | San Mateo | 57.8% |
| 101 | Lenexa | 57.8% |
| 102 | Santa Cruz | 57.6% |
| 103 | Farmington Hills | 57.6% |
| 104 | Edmond | 57.6% |
| 105 | Huntersville | 57.5% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Santa Cruz ranks 52 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 49 | Iowa City | 29.8% |
| 50 | Sandy Springs | 29.6% |
| 51 | Madison | 29.1% |
| 52 | Santa Cruz | 29.1% |
| 53 | White Plains | 29.0% |
| 54 | Encinitas | 28.6% |
| 55 | Frisco | 28.5% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Santa Cruz ranks 673 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 670 | Smyrna | 4.9% |
| 671 | Hendersonville | 4.9% |
| 672 | Roswell | 4.8% |
| 673 | Santa Cruz | 4.8% |
| 674 | Rio Rancho | 4.8% |
| 675 | Bellingham | 4.8% |
| 676 | League City | 4.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Santa Cruz ranks 19 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 16 | Auburn | 31.6% |
| 17 | Champaign | 31.1% |
| 18 | Boulder | 31.1% |
| 19 | Santa Cruz | 30.8% |
| 20 | Harrisonburg | 30.4% |
| 21 | Logan | 30.4% |
| 22 | Flagstaff | 28.9% |
More on Santa Cruz: 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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