Feb 20, 2026 - News
Charted: More college graduates
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An increasing number of Des Moines residents have a bachelor's degree or higher — following a national uptick in Americans living in metropolitan areas acquiring a higher education, per new census data.
By the numbers: Des Moines metro residents 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree rose from 37% to 40% between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 periods.
- The U.S. overall rose at a similar rate from 34% to 38%.
🚚 Between the lines: A metro's share can increase if more residents get their degrees, or if more people with degrees move into town.
The intrigue: There is a growing gender divide amongst high school graduates in Iowa seeking any postsecondary education, including an associate's degree.
- For women, 78% of the 2024 high school graduating class said they planned to get more education. For men, that was 64%, per Iowa Department of Education data.