Data: U.S. Census Bureau; Chart: Jacque Schrag/Axios
The share of San Diego County residents 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher rose from about 39% to 43% between the 2015-2019 and 2020-2024 periods, new census data shows.
The big picture: That growth is part of a national trend, as more Americans earn college degrees.
San Diego's college grad population is bigger than the national average (38%), ranking sixth overall among the largest U.S. metros.
The biggest gains among the 100 largest metro areas: Durham, North Carolina (53%, up from 45%), New Haven, Connecticut (42%, up from 35%) and Austin, Texas (51%, up from 45%).
Springfield, Massachusetts, was the only metro with a decrease, dropping from about 33% to 29%.
How it works: The figures are based on the Census Bureau's latest five-year American Community Survey estimates.
A given metro's share can increase if more residents get their degrees or if more people with degrees move into town.
Follow the money: Recent income data shows college graduates in San Diego make nearly twice as much as high school graduates.