Education in Seattle, Washington: official figures
68.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Seattle held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 37th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Washington: 39.6%).
How many people in Seattle have a graduate degree?
30.6% of adults aged 25 and over in Seattle held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 43rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 4.2% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Seattle?
In Seattle, 9.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 18.1% 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 Seattle?
152,458 residents of Seattle aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 20.8% of that age group, 62nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 70,607 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 20,910 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Seattle?
47,906 residents of Seattle were enrolled as college undergraduates and 22,930 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 9.6% of residents aged 3 and over, 128th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Seattle attend preschool?
11,015 children in Seattle were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Seattle compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Seattle ranks 37 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 34 | Somerville | 69.4% |
| 35 | Sunnyvale | 69.3% |
| 36 | Sandy Springs | 69.2% |
| 37 | Seattle | 68.4% |
| 38 | Mount Pleasant | 68.4% |
| 39 | Encinitas | 67.7% |
| 40 | Weston | 67.6% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Seattle ranks 43 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 40 | Edina | 31.1% |
| 41 | Weston | 30.8% |
| 42 | Corvallis | 30.7% |
| 43 | Seattle | 30.6% |
| 44 | Walnut Creek | 30.6% |
| 45 | Apex | 30.5% |
| 46 | Santa Monica | 30.5% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Seattle ranks 719 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 716 | Arvada | 4.1% |
| 717 | Flagstaff | 4.1% |
| 718 | Stillwater | 4.0% |
| 719 | Seattle | 4.0% |
| 720 | Bothell | 4.0% |
| 721 | Plainfield | 4.0% |
| 722 | Rockwall | 4.0% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Seattle ranks 128 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 125 | Stonecrest | 9.7% |
| 126 | Charleston | 9.7% |
| 127 | Tampa | 9.7% |
| 128 | Seattle | 9.6% |
| 129 | Lakeland | 9.6% |
| 130 | High Point | 9.6% |
| 131 | Grand Junction | 9.6% |
More on Seattle: 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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