Launceston · Sub-region (SA3)

Education & Qualifications in Launceston

How far people went at school, the qualifications they hold and what they studied.

A steady rise in schooling and degrees has transformed Launceston since 2011. The proportion of people finishing Year 12 climbed by 9.7 percentage points, while those with a bachelor degree or higher rose by 7.4 percentage points. This shift shows a growing trend toward higher qualifications across the city.

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📍 Launceston, Sub-region (SA3)

Where Launceston sits — Adults with a bachelor degree or higher

22.1% ▲ +50.8%
  • 0.0%–2.1%: 0 areas
  • 2.1%–4.3%: 1 area
  • 4.3%–6.4%: 0 areas
  • 6.4%–8.6%: 6 areas
  • 8.6%–10.7%: 29 areas
  • 10.7%–12.9%: 49 areas
  • 12.9%–15.0%: 34 areas
  • 15.0%–17.1%: 26 areas
  • 17.1%–19.3%: 31 areas
  • 19.3%–21.4%: 23 areas
  • 21.4%–23.6%: 18 areas
  • 23.6%–25.7%: 13 areas
  • 25.7%–27.9%: 11 areas
  • 27.9%–30.0%: 10 areas
  • 30.0%–32.1%: 11 areas
  • 32.1%–34.3%: 16 areas
  • 34.3%–36.4%: 5 areas
  • 36.4%–38.6%: 7 areas
  • 38.6%–40.7%: 8 areas
  • 40.7%–42.9%: 7 areas
  • 42.9%–45.0%: 10 areas
  • 45.0%–47.1%: 8 areas
  • 47.1%–49.3%: 6 areas
  • 49.3%–51.4%: 4 areas
  • 51.4%–53.6%: 8 areas
  • 53.6%–55.7%: 6 areas
  • 55.7%–57.9%: 3 areas
  • 57.9%–60.0%: 0 areas

All sub-region (sa3) areas, 2021. The marker is Launceston — higher than 58% of areas.

Adults with a bachelor degree or higher compared with the state and national average
Launceston22.1%
Rest of Tas. 16.2%
Tasmania 21.9%
Australia 26.3%

Schooling

Highest year of school completed.

While 47.7% of residents finished Year 12, this is far below the national figure of 58.8%. This result is about the same as the Tasmanian average, though it is lower than most similar areas.

47.7% ▲ +25.6%

Lower than 61% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 37.9%
  • 2016: 41.0%
  • 2021: 47.7%

Share of people whose highest year of school is Year 12 or equivalent.

Highest year of school

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In Launceston, Year 12 is the majority at 51%; Year 10 is next at 30%.

Qualifications

Post-school qualifications and degrees.

About 22.1% of adults hold a bachelor degree or higher, which is well below the Australian figure of 26.3%. Certificate III or IV qualifications are the most common, held by 30.6% of the population.

22.1% ▲ +50.8%

Higher than 58% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

  • 2011: 14.7%
  • 2016: 16.4%
  • 2021: 22.1%

Share of people aged 15+ whose highest qualification is a bachelor degree or above (incl. graduate and postgraduate).

Highest qualification level

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In Launceston, the largest group is Certificate III / IV at 36%, followed by Bachelor degree (29%) and Advanced diploma / diploma (16%).

Field of study

What people studied.

Degrees in management and commerce are the most frequent at 17.7%. Health and engineering follow closely, with each accounting for 12.8% of qualifications.

Schools

Schools in the area and how many children they serve (ACARA).

Launceston is home to 39 schools with 16,586 enrolments, which is larger than about 76% of similar areas. There are 2.62 schools for every 1,000 children, a rate higher than most areas.

1,003

Lower than 57% of sub-region (sa3) areas.

Enrolment-weighted average ICSEA — an index of socio-educational advantage, centred near 1000 (context, not a quality ranking).

Schools in and around Launceston — hover a marker for details. Open the full map →

Schools serving Launceston

39 schools — 16,586 students, average ICSEA 1,003.

By sector: Government 25 · Independent 8 · Catholic 6

By type: Primary 23 · Secondary 10 · Combined 6

Schools serving Launceston, sortable by name, sector, type, distance and student count
St Patrick's College, Prospect Vale Catholic Secondary — 1,522 1,020
Launceston College, Launceston Government Secondary — 1,368 986
Scotch Oakburn College, Newstead Independent Combined — 1,164 1,119
Launceston Christian School, Riverside Independent Combined — 742 1,070
Launceston Church Grammar School, Mowbray Independent Secondary — 723 1,094
Riverside Primary School, Riverside Government Primary — 673 1,018
Riverside High School, Riverside Government Secondary — 624 1,009
Queechy High School, Norwood Government Secondary — 575 949
Prospect High School, Prospect Government Secondary — 572 958
Kings Meadows High School, Kings Meadows Government Secondary — 567 963
Summerdale Primary School, Summerhill Government Primary — 555 969
East Launceston Primary School, East Launceston Government Primary — 501 1,046
Mowbray Heights Primary School, Mowbray Government Primary — 494 925
Brooks High School, Rocherlea Government Secondary — 451 886
Newstead College, Newstead Government Secondary — 422 947
Norwood Primary School, Norwood Government Primary — 415 1,002
Trevallyn Primary School, Trevallyn Government Primary — 392 1,045
Sacred Heart Catholic School, Launceston Catholic Primary — 390 1,038
West Launceston Primary School, West Launceston Government Primary — 375 1,036
Glen Dhu Primary School, South Launceston Government Primary — 341 1,007
East Tamar Primary School, Mayfield Government Primary — 336 863
Youngtown Primary School, Youngtown Government Primary — 328 958
Punchbowl Primary School, Newstead Government Primary — 317 1,029
St Thomas More's Catholic School, Newstead Catholic Primary — 315 1,033
Invermay Primary School, Invermay Government Primary — 295 925
St Finn Barr's Catholic Primary School, Invermay Catholic Primary — 282 984
Ravenswood Heights Primary School, Ravenswood Government Primary — 264 829
Larmenier Catholic School, St Leonards Catholic Primary — 198 1,004
St Leonards Primary School, St Leonards Government Primary — 198 927
St Anthony's Catholic School, Riverside Catholic Primary — 180 1,026
Legana Primary School, Legana Government Primary — 144 1,002
Australian Christian College - Launceston, Newnham Independent Combined — 129 1,011
Waverley Primary School, Waverley Government Primary — 122 870
John Calvin School, Launceston Independent Combined — 112 1,051
The Launceston Preparatory School, Launceston Independent Primary — 112 1,143
Northern Support School, Ravenswood Government Combined — 107 931
Launceston Big Picture School, Invermay Government Secondary — 95 1,000
Newstead Christian School, Newstead Independent Combined — 93 1,080
Tamar Valley Steiner School, Launceston Independent Primary — 93 1,054

Sources

  • Census of Population and Housing — Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2021 (CC BY 4.0).
  • Australian Schools List — Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority (ACARA), 2025 (CC BY 4.0).

More for Launceston

Cite this page

Australian Bureau of Statistics. (2021). Education & Qualifications in Launceston [Census of Population and Housing]. CensusAtlas, used under CC BY 4.0. https://censusatlas.au/region/sa3/60201/launceston/topic/education