Education in Washington, District of Columbia: official figures
64.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Washington held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 61st highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; District of Columbia: 64.2%).
How many people in Washington have a graduate degree?
38.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Washington held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 16th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 4.8% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Washington?
In Washington, 14.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 13.9% 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 Washington?
161,200 residents of Washington aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 24.5% of that age group, 306th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 86,251 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 24,080 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Washington?
37,789 residents of Washington were enrolled as college undergraduates and 22,757 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 9.2% of residents aged 3 and over, 143rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Washington attend preschool?
14,403 children in Washington were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Washington compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 61 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 58 | Wheaton | 64.5% |
| 59 | Franklin | 64.5% |
| 60 | Celina | 64.3% |
| 61 | Washington | 64.2% |
| 62 | St. Louis Park | 64.2% |
| 63 | Auburn | 64.1% |
| 64 | Royal Oak | 64.1% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 16 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 13 | Oak Park | 38.7% |
| 14 | Redmond | 38.6% |
| 15 | Rockville | 38.1% |
| 16 | Washington | 38.0% |
| 17 | Sammamish | 37.3% |
| 18 | Bellevue | 36.0% |
| 19 | Santa Clara | 35.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 529 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 526 | Davenport | 7.4% |
| 527 | Little Rock | 7.4% |
| 528 | Santee | 7.4% |
| 529 | Washington | 7.3% |
| 530 | Palm Coast | 7.3% |
| 531 | Rockville | 7.3% |
| 532 | Springfield | 7.2% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Washington ranks 143 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 140 | Birmingham | 9.3% |
| 141 | Clarksville | 9.3% |
| 142 | Upland | 9.2% |
| 143 | Washington | 9.2% |
| 144 | Buena Park | 9.2% |
| 145 | Fountain Valley | 9.2% |
| 146 | Jackson | 9.2% |
More on Washington: 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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