Counties with the most college graduates in South Carolina
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 South Carolina 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. Fairfield County
- 17.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.8% ($16,507 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($31,465)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.9% ($34,197)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($46,351)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.0% ($60,700)
#29. Edgefield County
- 18.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.2% ($23,575 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.8% ($34,468)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.0% ($35,546)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($41,487)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($50,593)
#28. Bamberg County
- 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.6% ($28,802 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.0% ($24,773)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($31,381)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.0% ($41,127)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($45,946)
#27. Saluda County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.7% ($21,503 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.2% ($28,183)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.8% ($27,553)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($45,584)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($41,738)
#26. Abbeville County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.1% ($29,464 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($29,017)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($35,141)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.0% ($33,493)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($47,969)
#25. Calhoun County
- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.6% ($27,386 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($26,215)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($32,294)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($43,971)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($58,625)
#24. Newberry County
- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.0% ($17,857 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($31,407)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($32,794)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($39,764)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($54,265)
#23. Orangeburg County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.0% ($18,910 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($25,731)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($26,626)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($38,335)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($47,888)
#22. Sumter County
- 20.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.0% ($22,848 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.5% ($27,724)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($33,431)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($40,886)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($63,412)
#21. McCormick County
- 21.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.3% ($15,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($26,380)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.4% ($37,810)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($36,923)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($84,531)
#20. Kershaw County
- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($21,671 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($30,176)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($37,118)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($53,938)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($49,096)
#19. Jasper County
- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($22,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.2% ($30,761)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($30,409)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($30,357)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($60,441)
#18. Greenwood County
- 24.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.5% ($22,951 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($27,801)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($32,319)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($39,379)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($54,934)
#17. Anderson County
- 24.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.4% ($24,132 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.2% ($30,669)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.4% ($36,010)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($48,279)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.0% ($66,638)
#16. Horry County
- 24.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($19,679 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($26,453)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($30,578)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($41,080)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($53,772)
#15. Florence County
- 24.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.1% ($19,982 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($29,343)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($31,942)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($45,715)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.0% ($54,218)
#14. Spartanburg County
- 24.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.9% ($24,894 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($31,158)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($34,381)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($49,854)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($56,665)
#13. Berkeley County
- 25.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($28,576 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.1% ($34,716)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($38,464)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.8% ($53,351)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($60,764)
#12. Pickens County
- 26.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.8% ($23,729 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($28,963)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($36,823)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($49,253)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.6% ($56,721)
#11. Oconee County
- 27.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($19,211 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($26,770)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.6% ($32,260)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.5% ($47,173)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($71,494)
#10. Aiken County
- 27.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($22,184 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($30,806)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($35,963)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($51,586)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.3% ($59,754)
#9. Dorchester County
- 28.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.0% ($22,042 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.1% ($33,907)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($40,379)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.5% ($51,584)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($62,222)
#8. Lancaster County
- 28.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($30,584 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.5% ($33,512)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.2% ($33,921)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.7% ($54,578)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($65,063)
#7. Georgetown County
- 29.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($17,702 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.1% ($26,609)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($27,413)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.1% ($43,227)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($54,840)
#6. Lexington County
- 30.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($23,532 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.7% ($32,261)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($37,157)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.7% ($53,956)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.0% ($60,324)
#5. York County
- 33.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($25,657 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.0% ($31,412)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($40,228)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.1% ($60,961)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($68,635)
#4. Greenville County
- 36.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($21,912 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.5% ($30,773)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($36,883)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.1% ($52,796)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.3% ($63,797)
#3. Richland County
- 39.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.4% ($18,865 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.0% ($26,956)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.5% ($33,585)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.9% ($48,894)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.2% ($61,660)
#2. Beaufort County
- 42.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($24,694 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.9% ($30,190)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($35,834)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.5% ($50,363)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.6% ($58,827)
#1. Charleston County
- 45.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($21,040 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.7% ($30,072)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.5% ($38,181)
- Bachelor's degree: 28.6% ($54,271)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.7% ($69,038)
