Education in Wilmington, North Carolina: official figures
46.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Wilmington held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 223rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; North Carolina: 35.7%).
How many people in Wilmington have a graduate degree?
16.4% of adults aged 25 and over in Wilmington held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 269th 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 Wilmington?
In Wilmington, 18.8% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 28.4% 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 Wilmington?
30,076 residents of Wilmington aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 25.5% of that age group, 404th lowest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 14,448 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 4,436 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Wilmington?
12,009 residents of Wilmington were enrolled as college undergraduates and 1,991 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 11.9% of residents aged 3 and over, 87th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Wilmington attend preschool?
1,628 children in Wilmington were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Wilmington compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 223 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 220 | Pearland | 47.1% |
| 221 | Burbank | 47.1% |
| 222 | Longmont | 47.0% |
| 223 | Wilmington | 46.8% |
| 224 | Richland | 46.6% |
| 225 | Fountain Valley | 46.4% |
| 226 | Bloomington | 46.2% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 269 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 266 | Lakewood | 16.5% |
| 267 | Missouri City | 16.5% |
| 268 | Baton Rouge | 16.5% |
| 269 | Wilmington | 16.4% |
| 270 | Apple Valley | 16.4% |
| 271 | Greensboro | 16.3% |
| 272 | Little Elm | 16.3% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 607 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 604 | Barnstable Town | 6.0% |
| 605 | Orland Park | 6.0% |
| 606 | Casper | 5.9% |
| 607 | Wilmington | 5.9% |
| 608 | Clarksville | 5.9% |
| 609 | Bowie | 5.9% |
| 610 | Asheville | 5.9% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Wilmington ranks 87 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 84 | Las Cruces | 12.2% |
| 85 | Atlanta | 12.0% |
| 86 | Savannah | 11.9% |
| 87 | Wilmington | 11.9% |
| 88 | Minneapolis | 11.8% |
| 89 | Riverside | 11.8% |
| 90 | Boca Raton | 11.7% |
More on Wilmington: 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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