Education in Wake Forest, North Carolina: official figures
59.5% of adults aged 25 and over in Wake Forest held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 92nd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; North Carolina: 35.7%).
How many people in Wake Forest have a graduate degree?
23.7% of adults aged 25 and over in Wake Forest held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 118th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.0% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Wake Forest?
In Wake Forest, 12.6% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 24.3% 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 Wake Forest?
15,554 residents of Wake Forest aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 30.5% of that age group, 110th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 10,505 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 3,550 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Wake Forest?
2,278 residents of Wake Forest were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,768 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 7.9% of residents aged 3 and over, 225th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Wake Forest attend preschool?
1,003 children in Wake Forest were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Wake Forest compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Wake Forest ranks 92 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 89 | Bothell | 59.8% |
| 90 | Portland | 59.7% |
| 91 | Austin | 59.6% |
| 92 | Wake Forest | 59.5% |
| 93 | Smyrna | 59.4% |
| 94 | Atlanta | 59.2% |
| 95 | Doral | 59.2% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Wake Forest ranks 118 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 115 | Miami Beach | 24.0% |
| 116 | Roswell | 23.9% |
| 117 | Bothell | 23.8% |
| 118 | Wake Forest | 23.7% |
| 119 | Allen | 23.6% |
| 120 | Richardson | 23.6% |
| 121 | Folsom | 23.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Wake Forest ranks 747 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 744 | Cary | 3.7% |
| 745 | Gilbert | 3.6% |
| 746 | Yorba Linda | 3.6% |
| 747 | Wake Forest | 3.6% |
| 748 | Broomfield | 3.6% |
| 749 | Pleasanton | 3.5% |
| 750 | Milford | 3.5% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Wake Forest ranks 225 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 222 | Simi Valley | 8.0% |
| 223 | Reno | 8.0% |
| 224 | Troy | 8.0% |
| 225 | Wake Forest | 7.9% |
| 226 | Highland | 7.9% |
| 227 | Brownsville | 7.9% |
| 228 | Danbury | 7.9% |
More on Wake Forest: 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…)
Each saved copy is the file exactly as downloaded, kept so the figures can be checked even if the source changes. Report an error.