Education in Waterloo, Iowa: official figures
21.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Waterloo held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 107th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Iowa: 31.4%).
How many people in Waterloo have a graduate degree?
7.0% of adults aged 25 and over in Waterloo held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 99th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 1.0% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Waterloo?
In Waterloo, 34.5% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 33.3% 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 Waterloo?
14,134 residents of Waterloo aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 22.0% of that age group, 121st lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 11,304 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 3,277 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Waterloo?
1,686 residents of Waterloo were enrolled as college undergraduates and 386 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 3.2% of residents aged 3 and over, 8th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Waterloo attend preschool?
758 children in Waterloo were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Waterloo compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Waterloo ranks 717 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 714 | Toledo | 21.9% |
| 715 | Killeen | 21.9% |
| 716 | Battle Creek | 21.9% |
| 717 | Waterloo | 21.8% |
| 718 | Casa Grande | 21.7% |
| 719 | Manteca | 21.7% |
| 720 | Decatur | 21.6% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Waterloo ranks 725 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 722 | East Orange | 7.1% |
| 723 | Warren | 7.1% |
| 724 | Lake Havasu City | 7.0% |
| 725 | Waterloo | 7.0% |
| 726 | Waterbury | 7.0% |
| 727 | Modesto | 6.9% |
| 728 | Merced | 6.9% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Waterloo ranks 366 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 363 | Clifton | 10.4% |
| 364 | New Orleans | 10.4% |
| 365 | Doral | 10.4% |
| 366 | Waterloo | 10.4% |
| 367 | Roanoke | 10.3% |
| 368 | Sanford | 10.3% |
| 369 | Fort Lauderdale | 10.3% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Waterloo ranks 816 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 813 | Enid | 3.5% |
| 814 | Palm Beach Gardens | 3.4% |
| 815 | Edina | 3.3% |
| 816 | Waterloo | 3.2% |
| 817 | Grand Island | 3.2% |
| 818 | Columbia | 3.2% |
| 819 | Port Arthur | 3.0% |
More on Waterloo: 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.