The municipality operates elementary schools, secondary schools and organises further education. There is also a university in Karlstad, financed by central government, with 9,000 students. Elementary education lasts for nine years. Children begin school aged six and seven.
Elementary education is compulsory.
The Karlstad University is one of the largest in Sweden outside the traditional university towns. The university has 9,000 students with 15 professors and around 100 research students. The university has contacts with over thirty universities throughout the world.