Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Educational Attainment By Race and Ethnicity for Ages 25 years and Above in 2021 (ACS-5Yrs)

Updated on August 30, 2025.

Based on the US Census ACS-5Yrs estimates, in 2021, the Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area population aged 25 years and above was 882,580. See the following sections for the breakdown of the educational attainment of this important demography by race and ethnicity.

Less high school diploma: there were 97,091 people without a high school diploma (ie. 11.00% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 30.46% White Alone, and 54.01% Black Alone.

High School Graduate or Equivalent: there were 257,513 people with a high school diploma or equivalent (ie. 29.18% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 42.05% White Alone, and 53.67% Black Alone.

Some College or Associates Degree: there were 265,235 people with some college courses without a degree or an associates degree (ie. 30.05% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 47.73% White Alone, and 48.15% Black Alone.

Bachelors Degree or higher: there were 262,741 people with a bachelors degree or a higher degree (ie. 29.77% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 61.70% White Alone, and 30.55% Black Alone.

The first and second charts below shows the race and ethnicity composition at each educational level. Also see tables below for the population and percentages per race and per ethnicity for each educational level.

You can see similar information for other metro statistical areas (MSAs) and for the United States.

Educational Attainment of Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) By Race in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Educational Attainment of Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) By Ethnicity in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 29573 30.46
Black Alone 52440 54.01
Asian Alone 2788 2.87
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 396 0.41
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 44 0.05
Some Other Race Alone 7861 8.10
Two or More Races 3989 4.11
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 24430 25.16
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 15957 16.43
All Other Ethnicities 56704 58.40
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 108277 42.05
Black Alone 138213 53.67
Asian Alone 2855 1.11
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 420 0.16
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 94 0.04
Some Other Race Alone 3467 1.35
Two or More Races 4187 1.63
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 104520 40.59
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 9067 3.52
All Other Ethnicities 143926 55.89
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 126584 47.73
Black Alone 127703 48.15
Asian Alone 2465 0.93
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 390 0.15
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 96 0.04
Some Other Race Alone 1993 0.75
Two or More Races 6004 2.26
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 124325 46.87
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 5570 2.10
All Other Ethnicities 135340 51.03
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 162110 61.70
Black Alone 80275 30.55
Asian Alone 12500 4.76
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 316 0.12
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 219 0.08
Some Other Race Alone 1978 0.75
Two or More Races 5343 2.03
Memphis, TN-MS-AR Metro Area Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 158847 60.46
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 6211 2.36
All Other Ethnicities 97683 37.18