Parishes with the most college graduates in Louisiana
The American philosopher and psychologist John Dewey once said, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." Dewey advocated for an educational paradigm called pragmatism, which stresses the importance of learning academic concepts by experiencing them firsthand, instead of through lecture and repetition in a classroom.
While the philosophy is used by many educators (especially those working in fields where the value of work experience exceeds the value placed on an academic background), many people take great pride in their formal educational credentials because of the valuable skills such educations provided and because of the immense amount of work that goes into earning a degree.
Stacker compiled a list of parishes with the most college graduates in Louisiana using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Parishes are ranked by the highest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor's degree or higher using 2020 5-year estimates.
Keep reading to see which parishes in your state have the most college graduates.
#30. St. Helena Parish
- 16.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.9% ($26,173 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($27,139)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.3% ($36,281)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($48,707)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($61,985)
#29. Cameron Parish
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($19,659 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.7% ($48,449)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($29,345)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($44,438)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% (earnings not available)
#28. Winn Parish
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.3% ($38,429 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.3% ($34,754)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.7% ($37,872)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($45,043)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($69,375)
#27. St. James Parish
- 16.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.4% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 40.5% ($30,562)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.4% ($46,069)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($57,016)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($53,869)
#26. Lafourche Parish
- 16.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.9% ($25,710 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.7% ($38,129)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.5% ($36,474)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($50,871)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($62,583)
#25. Union Parish
- 17.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.0% ($21,191 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.5% ($31,495)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($41,290)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($52,699)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($40,625)
#24. St. John the Baptist Parish
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.4% ($21,827 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($31,383)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($43,148)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($52,272)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($53,275)
#23. Vernon Parish
- 17.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($25,820 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($36,202)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($34,728)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.0% ($45,511)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($64,375)
#22. Plaquemines Parish
- 18.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.0% ($29,762 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.0% ($42,608)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($34,706)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($55,676)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($67,078)
#21. Beauregard Parish
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.0% ($22,214 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($35,464)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($41,685)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.1% ($41,190)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($56,503)
#20. Jefferson Davis Parish
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($25,367 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.1% ($33,254)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.4% ($32,320)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($44,230)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($47,784)
#19. Tensas Parish
- 18.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.1% ($30,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.8% ($23,833)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.1% ($22,091)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.0% ($28,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.0% ($90,714)
#18. Livingston Parish
- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.9% ($26,280 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.6% ($41,061)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($49,530)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($55,383)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.0% ($57,390)
#17. Natchitoches Parish
- 19.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($22,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.0% ($25,083)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.0% ($25,713)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.0% ($48,542)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($55,562)
#16. Rapides Parish
- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($19,442 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.3% ($30,410)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($32,399)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($51,328)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($62,193)
#15. Calcasieu Parish
- 21.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($24,060 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.6% ($32,979)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($39,992)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($50,193)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($56,134)
#14. Tangipahoa Parish
- 22.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.9% ($24,557 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.0% ($31,939)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.1% ($35,811)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($47,705)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($51,406)
#13. West Baton Rouge Parish
- 22.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($25,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.4% ($38,474)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.8% ($42,199)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($53,576)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($53,791)
#12. West Feliciana Parish
- 23.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.0% ($13,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($36,028)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.9% ($26,925)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.3% ($60,208)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($60,000)
#11. Caddo Parish
- 24.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($20,831 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.4% ($26,238)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.0% ($30,391)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($46,896)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.1% ($60,335)
#10. Ouachita Parish
- 25.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($19,989 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.5% ($29,122)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.2% ($35,746)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($53,014)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($49,427)
#9. Bossier Parish
- 25.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($23,852 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($30,768)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($40,251)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.3% ($51,809)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($57,658)
#8. Jefferson Parish
- 27.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.6% ($23,216 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.2% ($31,930)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($36,245)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.1% ($51,642)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($59,443)
#7. Ascension Parish
- 27.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($26,883 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($43,264)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($48,626)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.4% ($73,183)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($65,843)
#6. St. Charles Parish
- 28.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($25,838 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($41,258)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($44,879)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.3% ($59,113)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.0% ($49,167)
#5. Lafayette Parish
- 33.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($21,560 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($29,492)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.2% ($39,657)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.1% ($51,497)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.0% ($61,859)
#4. St. Tammany Parish
- 34.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($29,572 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.2% ($32,088)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.0% ($40,763)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.2% ($54,305)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.0% ($76,084)
#3. Lincoln Parish
- 35.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($20,066 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.7% ($30,236)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.9% ($30,534)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($32,424)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.3% ($53,014)
#2. East Baton Rouge Parish
- 36.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($22,322 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.3% ($31,448)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($35,224)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.8% ($53,101)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.8% ($62,988)
#1. Orleans Parish
- 38.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($20,708 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.7% ($24,329)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($30,028)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.0% ($46,064)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.0% ($63,013)
