Education in Santa Maria, California: official figures
15.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Maria held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 33rd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; California: 37.1%).
How many people in Santa Maria have a graduate degree?
4.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Santa Maria held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 27th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 0.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Santa Maria?
In Santa Maria, 20.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 26.2% 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 Maria?
32,750 residents of Santa Maria aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 31.3% of that age group, 85th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 23,723 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 8,037 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Santa Maria?
7,148 residents of Santa Maria were enrolled as college undergraduates and 806 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 7.6% of residents aged 3 and over, 268th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Santa Maria attend preschool?
1,073 children in Santa Maria were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Santa Maria compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 791 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 788 | Pontiac | 16.1% |
| 789 | West Valley City | 16.1% |
| 790 | Anderson | 15.7% |
| 791 | Santa Maria | 15.7% |
| 792 | Perth Amboy | 15.7% |
| 793 | Hemet | 15.5% |
| 794 | Youngstown | 15.5% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 797 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 794 | Perth Amboy | 4.5% |
| 795 | Lorain | 4.5% |
| 796 | Elizabeth | 4.4% |
| 797 | Santa Maria | 4.2% |
| 798 | Taylor | 4.2% |
| 799 | Hammond | 4.2% |
| 800 | National City | 4.1% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 6 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 3 | Lynwood | 40.2% |
| 4 | Delano | 39.2% |
| 5 | Salinas | 37.8% |
| 6 | Santa Maria | 37.5% |
| 7 | Madera | 37.3% |
| 8 | El Monte | 35.4% |
| 9 | Compton | 34.8% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Santa Maria ranks 268 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 265 | Dearborn Heights | 7.6% |
| 266 | Wichita Falls | 7.6% |
| 267 | Clifton | 7.6% |
| 268 | Santa Maria | 7.6% |
| 269 | Miramar | 7.6% |
| 270 | Pembroke Pines | 7.6% |
| 271 | Vacaville | 7.5% |
More on Santa Maria: 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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