Counties with the most college graduates in Nebraska
Counties with the most college graduates in Nebraska
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 counties with the most college graduates in Nebraska using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties 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 counties in your state have the most college graduates.
#30. Thomas County
- 24.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.3% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 22.7% ($24,934)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 50.3% ($40,250)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($45,833)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% (earnings not available)
#29. Custer County
- 24.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($26,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($29,514)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.7% ($35,366)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.2% ($40,833)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($58,333)
#28. Hooker County
- 24.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($32,734)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% (earnings not available)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.9% ($46,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.9% (earnings not available)
#27. Wheeler County
- 25.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.4% ($20,313 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.6% ($50,208)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.9% ($33,056)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.2% ($40,179)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($65,859)
#26. Otoe County
- 25.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($21,071 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.1% ($32,054)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($37,284)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($54,356)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($64,872)
#25. Cheyenne County
- 25.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($23,526 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($31,638)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($33,998)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.3% ($54,763)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($57,083)
#24. Keya Paha County
- 25.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.3% ($20,893 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.8% ($25,577)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.5% ($24,844)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.8% ($47,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($86,563)
#23. Phelps County
- 25.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($36,228)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.6% ($40,524)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.1% ($45,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($62,135)
#22. Adams County
- 25.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($26,633 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.0% ($31,452)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.3% ($36,332)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($43,831)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($64,223)
#21. Kearney County
- 26.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($31,681)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.5% ($38,333)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($39,688)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($57,232)
#20. Perkins County
- 26.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($30,893 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.5% ($30,375)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.4% ($40,217)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.9% ($46,892)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($52,344)
#19. Banner County
- 26.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.8% ($36,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.9% ($31,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 46.7% ($31,111)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.3% ($46,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($68,333)
#18. Sioux County
- 26.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.8% ($13,333 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($30,972)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.2% ($24,722)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($43,393)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($69,063)
#17. York County
- 27.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.7% ($22,738 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($32,170)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.1% ($37,158)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.6% ($46,127)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($57,799)
#16. Valley County
- 27.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($13,203 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.0% ($30,105)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.2% ($32,850)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.4% ($42,742)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.0% ($71,000)
#15. Saunders County
- 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% ($30,842 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($37,906)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($45,793)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.5% ($52,823)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($57,168)
#14. Nemaha County
- 28.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($31,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.0% ($30,341)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($31,894)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.3% ($49,375)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($63,995)
#13. Dundy County
- 28.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($27,708 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.8% ($33,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.0% ($33,542)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($47,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($51,806)
#12. Gosper County
- 29.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($34,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.8% ($40,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.0% ($34,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.8% ($46,417)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($71,250)
#11. Garfield County
- 29.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 28.2% ($18,828)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.4% ($33,667)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.0% ($34,231)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($50,341)
#10. Cass County
- 29.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($26,754 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.8% ($32,516)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.4% ($41,999)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.7% ($56,153)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($65,323)
#9. Rock County
- 29.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.4% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 31.0% ($24,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($33,235)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.7% ($26,806)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% (earnings not available)
#8. Seward County
- 30.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.3% ($24,875 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.3% ($41,472)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.7% ($41,884)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.6% ($49,296)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($64,570)
#7. Wayne County
- 31.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.0% ($14,225 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($31,336)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.6% ($34,876)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.7% ($42,533)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.2% ($61,280)
#6. Washington County
- 32.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($48,309 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.9% ($40,197)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($43,936)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.7% ($62,946)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($66,968)
#5. Buffalo County
- 33.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.0% ($31,075 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.0% ($32,579)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.3% ($40,737)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.2% ($46,685)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.6% ($68,161)
#4. Dawes County
- 38.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% ($24,198 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.9% ($30,100)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.9% ($30,000)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.5% ($36,528)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.7% ($54,011)
#3. Lancaster County
- 39.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($28,699 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.1% ($31,779)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($37,927)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.8% ($47,865)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.9% ($60,062)
#2. Douglas County
- 40.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($26,356 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.2% ($31,427)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($40,416)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.0% ($54,696)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% ($68,321)
#1. Sarpy County
- 40.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($31,090 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.4% ($36,891)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.6% ($42,633)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.2% ($56,191)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.3% ($75,280)
