Feb 25, 2026 - News
Seattle ranks among most educated U.S. metros
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Nearly half of Seattle-area residents age 25 and older now hold a bachelor's degree or higher, according to new Census data.
The big picture: That puts Seattle among the most highly educated large metros in the country.
By the numbers: In the Seattle metro area, the share of adults 25 and older with at least a bachelor's degree rose from 43% in 2015–19 to about 47% in 2020–24.
- Those figures come from the Census Bureau's latest five-year American Community Survey estimates.
- Nationally, the percentage rose from about 34% to 38%.
Among the 100 largest U.S. metros, only 10 had a higher share of college-educated residents than Seattle.
- A metro's share can rise if more residents earn degrees — or if more college-educated adults move in.