Education in Thornton, Colorado: official figures
32.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Thornton held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 362nd lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Colorado: 45.7%).
How many people in Thornton have a graduate degree?
10.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Thornton held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 299th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.1% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Thornton?
In Thornton, 25.7% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 29.4% 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 Thornton?
36,398 residents of Thornton aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 26.2% of that age group, 356th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 26,963 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 8,045 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Thornton?
5,785 residents of Thornton were enrolled as college undergraduates and 2,023 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 5.6% of residents aged 3 and over, 236th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Thornton attend preschool?
1,627 children in Thornton were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Thornton compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Thornton ranks 462 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 459 | Wilmington | 33.1% |
| 460 | Buena Park | 33.0% |
| 461 | Richmond | 33.0% |
| 462 | Thornton | 32.8% |
| 463 | Brooklyn Park | 32.7% |
| 464 | Lakewood | 32.7% |
| 465 | Pocatello | 32.6% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Thornton ranks 525 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 522 | Topeka | 10.8% |
| 523 | Eagle Mountain | 10.8% |
| 524 | Bradenton | 10.7% |
| 525 | Thornton | 10.7% |
| 526 | Oak Lawn | 10.7% |
| 527 | Tamarac | 10.7% |
| 528 | Jacksonville | 10.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Thornton ranks 276 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 273 | South Bend | 12.2% |
| 274 | Philadelphia | 12.2% |
| 275 | West Haven | 12.2% |
| 276 | Thornton | 12.1% |
| 277 | Augusta | 12.1% |
| 278 | Temple | 12.1% |
| 279 | Indianapolis | 12.1% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Thornton ranks 588 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 585 | Redwood City | 5.6% |
| 586 | Lawrence | 5.6% |
| 587 | Barnstable Town | 5.6% |
| 588 | Thornton | 5.6% |
| 589 | Celina | 5.6% |
| 590 | Waukegan | 5.6% |
| 591 | Anchorage | 5.6% |
More on Thornton: 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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