Education in Worcester, Massachusetts: official figures
35.2% of adults aged 25 and over in Worcester held a bachelor's degree or higher in 2020-2024, 409th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 35.7%; Massachusetts: 47.3%).
How many people in Worcester have a graduate degree?
14.8% of adults aged 25 and over in Worcester held a master's, professional or doctoral degree, 323rd highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 14.1%); 2.4% held a doctorate.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyWhat is the education level of adults in Worcester?
In Worcester, 27.4% of adults aged 25 and over had a high school diploma or equivalent as their highest qualification and 23.2% 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 Worcester?
59,992 residents of Worcester aged 3 and over were enrolled in school or college in 2020-2024, 30.0% of that age group, 124th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 24.7%); 28,897 were in kindergarten to grade 12, including 9,237 in grades 9 to 12.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many college students live in Worcester?
21,453 residents of Worcester were enrolled as college undergraduates and 7,668 in graduate or professional school in 2020-2024, together 14.5% of residents aged 3 and over, 68th highest of 823 US cities of 50,000 or more (US: 6.6%).
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow many children in Worcester attend preschool?
1,974 children in Worcester were enrolled in nursery school or preschool in 2020-2024.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau · saved copyHow Worcester compares with other cities in the United States
Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (2020-2024)
Worcester ranks 409 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher |
|---|---|---|
| 406 | Clifton | 35.5% |
| 407 | Goodyear | 35.5% |
| 408 | Philadelphia | 35.4% |
| 409 | Worcester | 35.2% |
| 410 | Rock Hill | 35.1% |
| 411 | Santa Rosa | 35.1% |
| 412 | Lubbock | 35.1% |
Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (2020-2024)
Worcester ranks 323 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree |
|---|---|---|
| 320 | Aurora | 14.8% |
| 321 | Meridian | 14.8% |
| 322 | Bethlehem | 14.8% |
| 323 | Worcester | 14.8% |
| 324 | Omaha | 14.8% |
| 325 | Spring Hill | 14.7% |
| 326 | West Palm Beach | 14.7% |
Adults 25+ without a high school diploma (2020-2024)
Worcester ranks 191 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Adults 25+ without a high school diploma |
|---|---|---|
| 188 | Sioux City | 14.4% |
| 189 | Corpus Christi | 14.4% |
| 190 | Chino | 14.3% |
| 191 | Worcester | 14.3% |
| 192 | Pompano Beach | 14.3% |
| 193 | Schenectady | 14.3% |
| 194 | Manteca | 14.3% |
Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school (2020-2024)
Worcester ranks 68 of 823, highest first.
| Rank | City | Residents aged 3+ enrolled in college or graduate school |
|---|---|---|
| 65 | Orem | 14.8% |
| 66 | Valdosta | 14.8% |
| 67 | Knoxville | 14.8% |
| 68 | Worcester | 14.5% |
| 69 | Daytona Beach | 14.3% |
| 70 | Johnson City | 14.3% |
| 71 | St. Cloud | 14.2% |
More on Worcester: 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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