Greater San Antonio reached its highest educational attainment level on record in 2025, with more adults holding degrees and credentials that strengthen the region's workforce and economic competitiveness.
According to the latest U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) 1-Year Estimates, 43.1% of adults age 25 and older in the San Antonio MSA hold an associate degree or higher, up from 41.3% in 2024. The increase moves the region closer to its goal of reaching 45% educational attainment by 2030.
The latest figures also show continued growth in the number of adults with postsecondary credentials. In 2025, the estimated number of adults with an associate degree or higher increased by nearly 49,000 from the previous estimate. During the same period, the overall population age 25 and older grew by approximately 40,000 people.
Since 2021, the share of adults age 25 and older with an associate degree or higher has increased 3.4 percentage points, from 39.7% to 43.1%.
Despite reaching a new high, Greater San Antonio continues to rank 10th among the competitive benchmark metros tracked by greater in overall educational attainment and remains below the national average. The latest increase represents meaningful progress, but closing those gaps will require continued focus on expanding educational access and strengthening the region's talent pipeline.
Why Educational Attainment Matters
Educational attainment is an important indicator companies consider when assessing a region's workforce capacity and long-term competitiveness.
For economic development, it provides a high-level measure of workforce depth and can influence whether a region advances through the early stages of corporate site selection. A stronger talent base helps Greater San Antonio compete for high-wage employers and jobs while supporting the growth of existing businesses.
Strengthening that talent base is a central part of MOMENTUM:2030, the region's economic development strategy focused on improving competitiveness and expanding economic opportunity. Earlier this year, greater:SATX convened the presidents of the region's colleges and universities around a shared commitment to reach 45% educational attainment by 2030.
Reaching that goal will take continued collaboration among higher education institutions, employers, workforce development partners and community organizations. Each plays a role in helping more residents earn credentials, develop in-demand skills and connect with career opportunities.
Connecting Talent to Opportunity
Greater San Antonio's future workforce is already taking shape. Nearly 490,000 K-12 students are being educated across the region, with another 170,000-plus enrolled in colleges, universities and trade schools. Helping students complete their programs and earn credentials aligned with in-demand roles in the region will be essential to strengthening the talent pipeline and retaining more of that talent.
But developing talent is only part of the equation. The region also has a responsibility to create and attract the jobs that give graduates and skilled workers a reason to build their careers and lives here.
Connecting education to opportunity, talent to jobs and talent development to economic competitiveness will be essential to attracting investment, supporting business growth and expanding opportunity for residents across Greater San Antonio.