How educated is Chicago?

The share of adults in Chicago, IL with a bachelor's degree or higher, how that has shifted since 2015, and how it compares with the county, the state and the United States.

U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003.

This story was assembled using AI and public data sources.

How far did Chicago go in school?

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher: 43.3% — U.S.: 35.0%

Highest degree held, adults 25+ (2023)

• Bachelor's: 476526
• Graduate or professional: 352932
• No bachelor's degree: 1085158

Share with a bachelor's degree or higher

• Chicago: 43.3
• Cook County: 41.9
• IL: 37.2
• U.S.: 35

Bachelor's degree or higher, 2015 to 2023

• 2015: 35.6
• 2023: 43.3

What it means

Chicago's college-degree share is notably higher than the national figure — 43.3% here versus 35.0% nationally.

Since 2015 the share has risen by about 7.8 percentage points.

Educational attainment tracks adults 25 and older who live here now — it does not say where they went to school.