RANKING · 2024 ACS · 175 SHOWN OF 175

Fewest graduate degrees, North Carolina cities

North Carolina cities with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2024 ACS). This list covers the 175 cities in North Carolina that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 175 is 11.7%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Nashville, NC, up 62 places to #19.

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SAME RANKING BYCounties States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01▲3Long View, NCNC5,3871.3%−1.9 pts

02▲1Dallas, NCNC6,3922.8%+1.4 pts

03▲4Roxboro, NCNC8,3803.1%+0.3 pts

04▲35Selma, NCNC7,4063.6%+1.4 pts

05▲37Eden, NCNC15,5003.7%+0.2 pts

06▲4Marion, NCNC7,4403.9%−0.4 pts

07▲30Lexington, NCNC20,2383.9%−0.3 pts

08▲4Sawmills, NCNC5,1054.0%+1.0 pts

09▲17Midway, NCNC5,1044.0%–

10▼8Hamlet, NCNC5,8704.1%+0.8 pts

11▲7Henderson, NCNC15,0134.5%−0.5 pts

12▲39Williamston, NCNC5,0864.6%−1.0 pts

13▲7Thomasville, NCNC27,7334.7%+1.8 pts

14▲1Northchase, NCNC5,8964.8%–

15▲6Albemarle, NCNC17,7695.0%−0.1 pts

16▼15Wadesboro, NCNC5,0355.0%+0.4 pts

17▲11Cherryville, NCNC6,5235.1%+2.1 pts

18▲5Newton, NCNC13,8225.2%+1.3 pts

19▲62Nashville, NCNC5,9115.2%−0.6 pts

20▼3Bessemer City, NCNC5,8345.3%+2.9 pts

21▲13Kings Mountain, NCNC12,1175.3%+2.5 pts

22▼13Lenoir, NCNC18,3725.5%+1.5 pts

23▲25Piney Green, NCNC14,0785.7%+1.3 pts

24▲14Oxford, NCNC8,9855.9%+0.3 pts

25▲11Reidsville, NCNC14,6925.9%+1.1 pts

26▲4Siler City, NCNC8,1555.9%+3.9 pts

27▲8Butner, NCNC8,1125.9%+2.7 pts

28▼14Unionville, NCNC7,3226.0%+2.4 pts

29▼16St. Stephens, NCNC9,4576.0%+2.9 pts

30▼1Asheboro, NCNC27,9906.1%+1.0 pts

31▲10Conover, NCNC8,9386.2%+0.8 pts

32▲50Pleasant Garden, NCNC5,1656.2%+0.4 pts

33▲16Forest City, NCNC7,4106.4%+3.1 pts

34▼23Havelock, NCNC17,4306.6%+3.2 pts

35▲34Spring Lake, NCNC11,2526.6%+4.4 pts

36▼12Locust, NCNC6,1206.8%+3.1 pts

37▲16King, NCNC7,9776.8%+1.7 pts

38▼11Graham, NCNC20,1316.8%+3.1 pts

39▲8Archer Lodge, NCNC5,6496.8%–

40▲30Archdale, NCNC12,2546.8%+4.2 pts

41▼9Kinston, NCNC19,7056.9%+1.7 pts

42▲2Sanford, NCNC34,1387.0%+0.3 pts

43▼38Lillington, NCNC5,0407.0%+3.1 pts

44▼19Wrightsboro, NCNC6,2877.0%+3.8 pts

45▲35Shallotte, NCNC5,3357.1%−0.3 pts

46▲18Washington, NCNC9,9107.2%+0.8 pts

47▲19Roanoke Rapids, NCNC14,3867.3%+2.9 pts

48▲37East Flat Rock, NCNC6,3237.4%+5.9 pts

49▼41Boiling Spring Lakes, NCNC6,8757.4%+4.0 pts

50▲6Hope Mills, NCNC18,3247.5%+4.0 pts

51▼32Rockingham, NCNC8,8157.6%+2.8 pts

52▼6Trinity, NCNC7,2747.6%+4.8 pts

53▼1Goldsboro, NCNC35,0127.7%+1.3 pts

54▼21Swannanoa, NCNC6,9017.7%+4.9 pts

55▲5Ayden, NCNC5,2637.8%+3.3 pts

56▲21Lumberton, NCNC18,9557.8%0.0 pts

57▼14Mocksville, NCNC6,2827.8%+4.1 pts

58▼18Dunn, NCNC8,8147.8%+3.7 pts

59▲3Laurinburg, NCNC14,5827.9%+0.1 pts

60▼38Monroe, NCNC42,6447.9%+3.0 pts

61▲13Kings Grant, NCNC9,0038.1%+3.3 pts

62▲17Mount Airy, NCNC10,6828.1%+3.0 pts

63▼4Rocky Mount, NCNC55,1208.2%+2.1 pts

64▲20Elizabeth City, NCNC19,6228.5%+3.3 pts

65Statesville, NCNC32,1818.7%+3.4 pts

66▲5Gastonia, NCNC87,0678.8%+3.1 pts

67▼10Smithfield, NCNC13,1148.9%+3.0 pts

68▼37Lincolnton, NCNC12,4659.0%+4.0 pts

69▼11Wilson, NCNC49,5729.1%+4.0 pts

70▲2Clinton, NCNC8,4669.2%+3.5 pts

71▼16Burlington, NCNC61,4969.4%+3.4 pts

72▲1Jacksonville, NCNC72,7329.5%+4.0 pts

73▼19Walkertown, NCNC6,1209.9%+6.6 pts

74▼24Zebulon, NCNC11,93310.0%+6.2 pts

75▲31Midland, NCNC5,15110.0%–

76▼31Fletcher, NCNC8,37310.1%+3.0 pts

77▼14Tarboro, NCNC10,97910.2%+5.4 pts

78Fayetteville, NCNC209,12010.3%+2.1 pts

79▼4Morganton, NCNC17,84910.4%+3.1 pts

80▼12Kannapolis, NCNC61,70810.6%+7.8 pts

81▼75Half Moon, NCNC7,37810.6%+5.6 pts

82▲8Carolina Shores, NCNC5,54010.7%+3.1 pts

83▼7Shelby, NCNC23,30910.8%+4.7 pts

84▲11Morehead City, NCNC10,43411.1%+5.8 pts

85▲46Hampstead, NCNC9,29211.3%–

86▲13Creedmoor, NCNC5,04611.4%+5.5 pts

87▲53Westport, NCNC5,91511.6%−1.3 pts

88Barbecue, NCNC5,91011.7%–

89▲7Mount Holly, NCNC19,03311.8%+9.1 pts

90▼23Salisbury, NCNC36,87912.1%+5.7 pts

91▲1Lake Norman of Catawba, NCNC9,90612.5%–

92▼4High Point, NCNC120,57112.6%+6.1 pts

93▲14Hickory, NCNC45,97513.2%+4.5 pts

94▼5Aberdeen, NCNC10,06613.2%+6.5 pts

95▼34Angier, NCNC9,41013.3%+10.7 pts

96▲13Clayton, NCNC32,63313.4%+7.5 pts

97▲1Pineville, NCNC11,85113.5%+7.2 pts

98▲17Indian Trail, NCNC44,30313.5%+8.2 pts

99▲49Spout Springs, NCNC11,24213.6%–

100▼3Murraysville, NCNC16,33913.7%+9.7 pts

101▲36Gibsonville, NCNC9,87613.7%+5.9 pts

102▲3Mebane, NCNC21,95213.7%+6.6 pts

103▼1New Bern, NCNC34,72413.8%+6.5 pts

104▼18Kernersville, NCNC29,12813.8%+6.5 pts

105▼1Waynesville, NCNC11,00613.9%+7.9 pts

106▼12Stokesdale, NCNC6,13314.1%+5.9 pts

107▼7Anderson Creek, NCNC13,92714.1%–

108▲3Leland, NCNC35,73114.3%+11.8 pts

109▼16Moyock, NCNC5,68414.4%–

110▼94Silver Lake, NCNC6,56314.5%+8.1 pts

111▼20Kill Devil Hills, NCNC7,73114.7%+7.3 pts

112▲4Mooresville, NCNC55,84214.7%+8.6 pts

113▼12Mint Hill, NCNC29,47614.9%+8.8 pts

114Brevard, NCNC8,09815.2%+4.8 pts

115▼7Lewisville, NCNC14,42115.3%+2.5 pts

116▼13Wendell, NCNC19,68715.3%+11.2 pts

117▲22Carolina Beach, NCNC6,87015.7%+9.3 pts

118▲5Hendersonville, NCNC15,86715.9%+4.2 pts

119▲2Concord, NCNC114,59816.0%+10.1 pts

120Oak Island, NCNC9,33716.2%+9.5 pts

121▼11Cramerton, NCNC5,71316.2%+8.5 pts

122▲2Greensboro, NCNC308,66716.3%+5.6 pts

123▲7Wilmington, NCNC126,80916.4%+7.9 pts

124▼5Winston-Salem, NCNC257,27116.7%+5.7 pts

125▼42Etowah, NCNC7,96816.9%+10.5 pts

126▼14Fuquay-Varina, NCNC48,53617.2%+9.8 pts

127▲7Myrtle Grove, NCNC12,63717.2%+8.1 pts

128Stallings, NCNC17,76017.3%+14.8 pts

129▲4Charlotte, NCNC964,78417.3%+6.8 pts

130▼5Greenville, NCNC96,44317.8%+3.4 pts

131▲7Garner, NCNC41,56217.9%+11.2 pts

132▲9Clemmons, NCNC22,80818.0%+3.6 pts

133▼6Matthews, NCNC32,76918.2%+5.7 pts

134▲23Cullowhee, NCNC7,97318.3%−10.4 pts

135▲7Winterville, NCNC10,97318.3%+14.2 pts

136▼23Woodfin, NCNC8,22918.4%+15.1 pts

137▼19Mills River, NCNC7,50418.6%–

138▲7Pittsboro, NCNC5,05419.0%+10.3 pts

139▼17Belmont, NCNC16,41519.2%+12.9 pts

140▼23Holly Ridge, NCNC5,90819.2%+17.8 pts

141▼54Wesley Chapel, NCNC9,56620.4%+10.2 pts

142▲8Waxhaw, NCNC23,14020.5%+16.2 pts

143▼11Surf City, NCNC5,14220.5%+11.7 pts

144▼15Knightdale, NCNC23,14420.6%+12.6 pts

145▼10Harrisburg, NCNC20,74221.0%+15.8 pts

146▼2Raleigh, NCNC506,30621.1%+6.7 pts

147▼4Huntersville, NCNC68,53521.1%+9.0 pts

148▲8Black Mountain, NCNC8,49121.8%+11.4 pts

149▼13Cornelius, NCNC35,09422.1%+8.3 pts

150▲2Asheville, NCNC93,52322.7%+11.9 pts

151▲7Southern Pines, NCNC17,35723.5%+11.2 pts

152▼6Wake Forest, NCNC58,14723.7%+13.0 pts

153▼27Ogden, NCNC8,24923.9%+12.2 pts

154▼3Summerfield, NCNC11,32724.3%+11.7 pts

155▼8Lake Norman of Iredell, NCNC12,49424.6%+18.9 pts

156▼1Weddington, NCNC14,51725.2%+13.1 pts

157▼8Oak Ridge, NCNC7,89625.3%+12.5 pts

158▼4Holly Springs, NCNC50,28826.9%+14.7 pts

159▲6Rolesville, NCNC12,83926.9%+22.0 pts

160▲1Durham, NCNC305,56127.1%+8.8 pts

161▼1Pinehurst, NCNC18,67028.0%+10.6 pts

162▼3Elon, NCNC11,36628.0%–

163▲6Porters Neck, NCNC7,65429.1%–

164▼11Whispering Pines, NCNC5,50529.8%+12.5 pts

165▼2Boone, NCNC19,92930.3%+7.0 pts

166▼2Apex, NCNC80,41930.5%+13.5 pts

167▼1St. James, NCNC7,31830.9%+8.7 pts

168▼6Hillsborough, NCNC9,77831.2%+19.3 pts

169▲1Cary, NCNC183,58233.7%+10.8 pts

170▼2Morrisville, NCNC32,46634.6%+15.2 pts

171▼4Davidson, NCNC16,66239.0%+13.5 pts

172Carrboro, NCNC20,96243.5%+12.9 pts

173Briar Chapel, NCNC6,04943.6%–

174▼3Marvin, NCNC7,04044.8%+20.7 pts

175▼1Chapel Hill, NCNC63,56545.2%+4.7 pts

SHOWING 1–175 OF 175

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES