Education in Tacoma, Washington: official figures
34.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Tacoma held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 401st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Washington: 39.6%).
How many people in Tacoma have a graduate degree?
13.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Tacoma held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 394th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.5% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Tacoma?
In Tacoma, 24.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 31.7% 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 Tacoma?
48,082 residents of Tacoma aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 22.3% of that age group, 135th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 30,902 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 9,615 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Tacoma?
11,267 residents of Tacoma were enrolled as college undergraduates and 2,798 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 6.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 407th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Tacoma attend preschool?
3,115 children in Tacoma were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Tacoma compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Tacoma ranks 423 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 420 | Dearborn | 34.6% |
| 421 | Knoxville | 34.6% |
| 422 | Providence | 34.6% |
| 423 | Tacoma | 34.5% |
| 424 | West Sacramento | 34.5% |
| 425 | Bellevue | 34.4% |
| 426 | Rogers | 34.4% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Tacoma ranks 394 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 391 | Costa Mesa | 13.4% |
| 392 | Miramar | 13.3% |
| 393 | Stonecrest | 13.2% |
| 394 | Tacoma | 13.2% |
| 395 | Lewisville | 13.2% |
| 396 | Bowling Green | 13.2% |
| 397 | Goodyear | 13.2% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Tacoma ranks 434 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 431 | Owensboro | 9.1% |
| 432 | Lynchburg | 9.0% |
| 433 | Mobile | 9.0% |
| 434 | Tacoma | 9.0% |
| 435 | Joplin | 9.0% |
| 436 | Palm Bay | 9.0% |
| 437 | Ocala | 9.0% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Tacoma ranks 417 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 414 | Salinas | 6.5% |
| 415 | Davenport | 6.5% |
| 416 | Bellevue | 6.5% |
| 417 | Tacoma | 6.5% |
| 418 | Pharr | 6.5% |
| 419 | Sunrise | 6.5% |
| 420 | Smyrna | 6.5% |
More on Tacoma: 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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