Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024

Santa Clara County had the highest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over of 58 counties in 2024, at 28.3%. Glenn County had the lowest, at 3%. The median was 9.1% and the figure for California was 14.4%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Median9.158 counties
California14.4History

Map of counties, 2024

Alameda County: 23.4 %Alpine County: 12 %Amador County: 7.2 %Butte County: 11.4 %Calaveras County: 7.7 %Colusa County: 4.4 %Contra Costa County: 17.7 %Del Norte County: 8 %El Dorado County: 13.9 %Fresno County: 8.4 %Glenn County: 3 %Humboldt County: 11.9 %Imperial County: 4.5 %Inyo County: 12.5 %Kern County: 6.5 %Kings County: 4.3 %Lake County: 5.8 %Lassen County: 3 %Los Angeles County: 13 %Madera County: 6.2 %Marin County: 27.6 %Mariposa County: 13.2 %Mendocino County: 10.1 %Merced County: 4.7 %Modoc County: 6.9 %Mono County: 12.8 %Monterey County: 11.6 %Napa County: 14 %Nevada County: 14.7 %Orange County: 16.4 %Placer County: 15.2 %Plumas County: 8.2 %Riverside County: 9.2 %Sacramento County: 12.4 %San Benito County: 6.8 %San Bernardino County: 8.4 %San Diego County: 17.2 %San Francisco County: 25.4 %San Joaquin County: 7.3 %San Luis Obispo County: 15.7 %San Mateo County: 24.1 %Santa Barbara County: 14.8 %Santa Clara County: 28.3 %Santa Cruz County: 18.6 %Shasta County: 7.6 %Sierra County: 9.1 %Siskiyou County: 7.9 %Solano County: 9.1 %Sonoma County: 14.6 %Stanislaus County: 6.3 %Sutter County: 6.6 %Tehama County: 5.3 %Trinity County: 8.3 %Tulare County: 5.8 %Tuolumne County: 8.5 %Ventura County: 13.8 %Yolo County: 21.7 %Yuba County: 5.9 %
  • Under 6
  • 6 to 7.7
  • 7.7 to 9.1
  • 9.1 to 13
  • 13 to 16
  • 16 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2024

Santa Clara County: 28.3 %Santa Clara County28.3Marin County: 27.6 %Marin County27.6San Francisco County: 25.4 %San Francisco County25.4San Mateo County: 24.1 %San Mateo County24.1Alameda County: 23.4 %Alameda County23.4Yolo County: 21.7 %Yolo County21.7Santa Cruz County: 18.6 %Santa Cruz County18.6Contra Costa County: 17.7 %Contra Costa County17.7San Diego County: 17.2 %San Diego County17.2Orange County: 16.4 %Orange County16.4San Luis Obispo County: 15.7 %San Luis Obispo County15.7Placer County: 15.2 %Placer County15.2Santa Barbara County: 14.8 %Santa Barbara County14.8Nevada County: 14.7 %Nevada County14.7Sonoma County: 14.6 %Sonoma County14.6Napa County: 14 %Napa County14El Dorado County: 13.9 %El Dorado County13.9Ventura County: 13.8 %Ventura County13.8Mariposa County: 13.2 %Mariposa County13.2Los Angeles County: 13 %Los Angeles County13Mono County: 12.8 %Mono County12.8Inyo County: 12.5 %Inyo County12.5Sacramento County: 12.4 %Sacramento County12.4Alpine County: 12 %Alpine County12Humboldt County: 11.9 %Humboldt County11.9Monterey County: 11.6 %Monterey County11.6Butte County: 11.4 %Butte County11.4Mendocino County: 10.1 %Mendocino County10.1Riverside County: 9.2 %Riverside County9.2Sierra County: 9.1 %Sierra County9.1Solano County: 9.1 %Solano County9.1Tuolumne County: 8.5 %Tuolumne County8.5Fresno County: 8.4 %Fresno County8.4San Bernardino County: 8.4 %San Bernardino County8.4Trinity County: 8.3 %Trinity County8.3Plumas County: 8.2 %Plumas County8.2Del Norte County: 8 %Del Norte County8Siskiyou County: 7.9 %Siskiyou County7.9Calaveras County: 7.7 %Calaveras County7.7Shasta County: 7.6 %Shasta County7.6San Joaquin County: 7.3 %San Joaquin County7.3Amador County: 7.2 %Amador County7.2Modoc County: 6.9 %Modoc County6.9San Benito County: 6.8 %San Benito County6.8Sutter County: 6.6 %Sutter County6.6Kern County: 6.5 %Kern County6.5Stanislaus County: 6.3 %Stanislaus County6.3Madera County: 6.2 %Madera County6.2Yuba County: 5.9 %Yuba County5.9Lake County: 5.8 %Lake County5.8Tulare County: 5.8 %Tulare County5.8Tehama County: 5.3 %Tehama County5.3Merced County: 4.7 %Merced County4.7Imperial County: 4.5 %Imperial County4.5Colusa County: 4.4 %Colusa County4.4Kings County: 4.3 %Kings County4.3Lassen County: 3 %Lassen County3Glenn County: 3 %Glenn County3Santa Clara County: 28.3 %Santa Clara County28.3Marin County: 27.6 %Marin County27.6San Francisco County: 25.4 %San Francisco County25.4San Mateo County: 24.1 %San Mateo County24.1Alameda County: 23.4 %Alameda County23.4Yolo County: 21.7 %Yolo County21.7Santa Cruz County: 18.6 %Santa Cruz County18.6Contra Costa County: 17.7 %Contra Costa County17.7San Diego County: 17.2 %San Diego County17.2Orange County: 16.4 %Orange County16.4San Luis Obispo County: 15.7 %San Luis Obispo County15.7Placer County: 15.2 %Placer County15.2Santa Barbara County: 14.8 %Santa Barbara County14.8Nevada County: 14.7 %Nevada County14.7Sonoma County: 14.6 %Sonoma County14.6Napa County: 14 %Napa County14El Dorado County: 13.9 %El Dorado County13.9Ventura County: 13.8 %Ventura County13.8Mariposa County: 13.2 %Mariposa County13.2Los Angeles County: 13 %Los Angeles County13Mono County: 12.8 %Mono County12.8Inyo County: 12.5 %Inyo County12.5Sacramento County: 12.4 %Sacramento County12.4Alpine County: 12 %Alpine County12Humboldt County: 11.9 %Humboldt County11.9Monterey County: 11.6 %Monterey County11.6Butte County: 11.4 %Butte County11.4Mendocino County: 10.1 %Mendocino County10.1Riverside County: 9.2 %Riverside County9.2Sierra County: 9.1 %Sierra County9.1Solano County: 9.1 %Solano County9.1Tuolumne County: 8.5 %Tuolumne County8.5Fresno County: 8.4 %Fresno County8.4San Bernardino County: 8.4 %San Bernardino County8.4Trinity County: 8.3 %Trinity County8.3Plumas County: 8.2 %Plumas County8.2Del Norte County: 8 %Del Norte County8Siskiyou County: 7.9 %Siskiyou County7.9Calaveras County: 7.7 %Calaveras County7.7Shasta County: 7.6 %Shasta County7.6San Joaquin County: 7.3 %San Joaquin County7.3Amador County: 7.2 %Amador County7.2Modoc County: 6.9 %Modoc County6.9San Benito County: 6.8 %San Benito County6.8Sutter County: 6.6 %Sutter County6.6Kern County: 6.5 %Kern County6.5Stanislaus County: 6.3 %Stanislaus County6.3Madera County: 6.2 %Madera County6.2Yuba County: 5.9 %Yuba County5.9Lake County: 5.8 %Lake County5.8Tulare County: 5.8 %Tulare County5.8Tehama County: 5.3 %Tehama County5.3Merced County: 4.7 %Merced County4.7Imperial County: 4.5 %Imperial County4.5Colusa County: 4.4 %Colusa County4.4Kings County: 4.3 %Kings County4.3Lassen County: 3 %Lassen County3Glenn County: 3 %Glenn County3
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Santa Clara County28.3+0.6 pts
2Marin County27.6+0.3 pts
3San Francisco County25.4+0.3 pts
4San Mateo County24.1+0.2 pts
5Alameda County23.4+0.7 pts
6Yolo County21.7+0.4 pts
7Santa Cruz County18.6+0.3 pts
8Contra Costa County17.7+0.2 pts
9San Diego County17.2+0.6 pts
10Orange County16.4+0.2 pts
11San Luis Obispo County15.7+0.7 pts
12Placer County15.20 pts
13Santa Barbara County14.8+0.6 pts
14Nevada County14.7+0.2 pts
15Sonoma County14.6+0.2 pts
16Napa County14-0.1 pts
17El Dorado County13.9+0.8 pts
18Ventura County13.8+0.3 pts
19Mariposa County13.2+1.6 pts
20Los Angeles County13+0.3 pts
21Mono County12.8-2.7 pts
22Inyo County12.5+0.5 pts
23Sacramento County12.4+0.5 pts
24Alpine County12-7.7 pts
25Humboldt County11.9+0.7 pts
26Monterey County11.6+0.2 pts
27Butte County11.4+0.4 pts
28Mendocino County10.1+0.4 pts
29Riverside County9.2+0.2 pts
30Sierra County9.1-0.5 pts
31Solano County9.1+0.1 pts
32Tuolumne County8.5+0.5 pts
33Fresno County8.4+0.2 pts
34San Bernardino County8.4+0.2 pts
35Trinity County8.3-0.3 pts
36Plumas County8.2+1.1 pts
37Del Norte County8-0.2 pts
38Siskiyou County7.9+0.6 pts
39Calaveras County7.7+0.2 pts
40Shasta County7.6+0.2 pts
41San Joaquin County7.3+0.3 pts
42Amador County7.2+0.2 pts
43Modoc County6.9-0.1 pts
44San Benito County6.8+0.5 pts
45Sutter County6.6-0 pts
46Kern County6.5+0.2 pts
47Stanislaus County6.3+0.3 pts
48Madera County6.2+0.7 pts
49Yuba County5.9-0.1 pts
50Lake County5.8-0.2 pts
50Tulare County5.8+0.1 pts
52Tehama County5.3-0.3 pts
53Merced County4.7+0.3 pts
54Imperial County4.5-0.1 pts
55Colusa County4.4+1.1 pts
56Kings County4.3-0.2 pts
57Lassen County3-0.3 pts
58Glenn County3-1 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over whose highest degree is a master's, professional school or doctorate degree, as a percentage of all people aged 25 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

A subset of bachelors_degree_share, which also counts people whose highest degree is a bachelor's.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/california-counties. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/california-counties.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/california-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/california-counties. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/california-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/california-counties.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in California by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over?

Santa Clara County, with 28.3% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over?

Glenn County, with 3% in 2024.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over: other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings