Counties with the most college graduates in Oklahoma
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 Oklahoma 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.
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#30. Ellis County
- 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($17,105 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($21,379)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($38,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($41,979)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($38,365)
#29. Washita County
- 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($31,741 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.5% ($35,295)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($36,842)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($44,840)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($65,543)
#28. Dewey County
- 20.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($26,333 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.3% ($33,598)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.4% ($34,803)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($40,268)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($41,625)
#27. Grady County
- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.0% ($22,445 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.6% ($36,429)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.0% ($40,964)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.1% ($52,074)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($57,155)
#26. Noble County
- 21.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($23,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.0% ($34,542)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($41,204)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($58,958)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($51,384)
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#25. Grant County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($36,176 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($33,860)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($32,778)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.7% ($44,219)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($61,875)
#24. Jackson County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($19,689 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.0% ($26,124)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($35,683)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($42,162)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($70,148)
#23. Alfalfa County
- 22.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($24,145 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($25,265)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($31,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($55,581)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($46,917)
#22. Bryan County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($25,917 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.1% ($29,185)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.5% ($31,744)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($40,685)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($55,217)
#21. Johnston County
- 22.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.0% ($19,404 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($29,979)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($31,929)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($32,292)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($45,714)
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#20. Kingfisher County
- 23.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($35,025 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.5% ($40,106)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($45,082)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.0% ($42,697)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($60,571)
#19. Comanche County
- 23.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($19,624 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.9% ($30,207)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.6% ($32,654)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($39,671)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($53,164)
#18. Beaver County
- 23.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.9% ($35,972 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.4% ($30,192)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($27,404)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.3% ($43,170)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.0% ($50,833)
#17. Garfield County
- 23.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($22,631 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($32,026)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.0% ($35,622)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.3% ($41,361)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($52,253)
#16. Wagoner County
- 23.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($29,171 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.0% ($34,507)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.9% ($40,306)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.4% ($50,569)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($61,106)
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#15. Rogers County
- 24.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($28,516 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.8% ($36,625)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($41,460)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.3% ($49,480)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($65,801)
#14. McClain County
- 25.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($33,403 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.2% ($40,693)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($45,457)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($53,504)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($58,224)
#13. Custer County
- 26.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($34,119 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($26,514)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($40,018)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.0% ($49,074)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($52,289)
#12. Texas County
- 26.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.6% ($26,596 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.5% ($30,971)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.6% ($35,224)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.7% ($39,295)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($42,934)
#11. Cimarron County
- 26.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.7% ($30,446 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.1% ($26,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.6% ($36,992)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.7% ($52,083)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.0% ($49,034)
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#10. Cherokee County
- 27.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($23,078 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($26,795)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($30,346)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.3% ($40,767)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.2% ($51,602)
#9. Canadian County
- 28.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($22,867 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($34,495)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.3% ($42,204)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.9% ($53,242)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($54,708)
#8. Pontotoc County
- 28.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($28,041 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($31,284)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($34,647)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.0% ($46,186)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($53,925)
#7. Washington County
- 28.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($25,508 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($26,776)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($32,419)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.0% ($55,081)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($71,872)
#6. Logan County
- 29.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($20,307 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($33,740)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.1% ($39,156)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($62,482)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($80,269)
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#5. Woods County
- 29.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($22,391 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.1% ($26,918)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($25,855)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.9% ($41,266)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($57,401)
#4. Tulsa County
- 32.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($25,328 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.7% ($31,369)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($36,359)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.3% ($51,475)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($66,411)
#3. Oklahoma County
- 33.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.0% ($24,790 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.9% ($29,886)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.0% ($35,972)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($51,349)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.2% ($66,023)
#2. Cleveland County
- 34.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($28,444 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.4% ($32,122)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.6% ($39,429)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.2% ($46,188)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.1% ($61,524)
#1. Payne County
- 37.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.0% ($17,543 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($31,258)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($32,876)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.7% ($43,152)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.1% ($56,280)
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