Counties With the Most College Graduates in Washington

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Counties with the most college graduates in Washington

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 Washington 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. Pacific County

- 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($24,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.0% ($34,980)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.5% ($30,095)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.5% ($44,688)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($60,833)

#29. Wahkiakum County

- 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($39,609 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.4% ($36,420)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 44.0% ($27,569)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.6% ($55,602)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($51,667)

#28. Stevens County

- 20.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($27,736 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($34,207)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($33,572)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($49,818)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.0% ($52,727)

#27. Douglas County

- 20.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 17.4% ($26,957 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.2% ($32,406)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($37,567)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.8% ($59,358)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($70,633)

#26. Pend Oreille County

- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($40,101 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($34,424)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($35,940)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.4% ($51,581)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($68,826)

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#25. Ferry County

- 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($15,976 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.1% ($23,042)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.6% ($26,099)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.4% ($38,333)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($53,571)

#24. Asotin County

- 23.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($23,630 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.5% ($27,666)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.1% ($34,154)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($48,768)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($60,313)

#23. Columbia County

- 25.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($45,047 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.2% ($30,885)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.6% ($38,864)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($48,173)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.6% ($50,833)

#22. Lincoln County

- 25.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($25,714 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.1% ($33,642)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.4% ($39,293)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($48,036)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($63,598)

#21. Garfield County

- 25.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($33,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.6% ($33,478)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 42.2% ($31,880)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.1% ($46,364)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($58,526)

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#20. Skamania County

- 26.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($22,407 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($36,587)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.6% ($41,242)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($59,135)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.3% ($64,089)

#19. Chelan County

- 26.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.3% ($28,487 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.5% ($31,042)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($36,884)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.6% ($47,241)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($69,886)

#18. Skagit County

- 27.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($30,547 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.6% ($39,501)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.6% ($38,976)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($54,504)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($77,873)

#17. Pierce County

- 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($30,788 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.5% ($39,578)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.6% ($44,601)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.0% ($58,650)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($76,431)

#16. Walla Walla County

- 28.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($26,351 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.7% ($34,576)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.5% ($35,667)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.4% ($46,944)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.2% ($65,917)

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#15. Clallam County

- 28.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($25,214 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.0% ($27,836)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($34,187)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($43,913)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($66,417)

#14. Klickitat County

- 30.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($21,664 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.7% ($26,875)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($35,188)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($41,022)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($64,789)

#13. Clark County

- 31.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.0% ($32,442 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.4% ($38,328)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($42,662)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($60,719)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.0% ($74,159)

#12. Benton County

- 31.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($27,154 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.6% ($33,615)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($41,403)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.3% ($65,962)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.3% ($78,690)

#11. Spokane County

- 31.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($27,578 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.9% ($32,281)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.6% ($35,206)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.2% ($50,496)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($70,552)

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#10. Snohomish County

- 32.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($33,995 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.6% ($42,098)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($47,988)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.1% ($69,073)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.7% ($86,085)

#9. Kittitas County

- 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($42,246 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.8% ($37,021)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($40,514)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.8% ($41,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.2% ($68,415)

#8. Island County

- 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.4% ($31,017 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.0% ($37,627)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.5% ($39,914)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($48,303)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.8% ($66,211)

#7. Kitsap County

- 34.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.1% ($30,488 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.3% ($35,863)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.2% ($43,905)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.5% ($61,113)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($79,038)

#6. Whatcom County

- 35.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($32,701 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($36,278)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.2% ($39,450)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.1% ($46,572)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.1% ($66,691)

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#5. Thurston County

- 35.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($27,305 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.8% ($34,343)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($41,609)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.2% ($52,412)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.6% ($73,693)

#4. Jefferson County

- 42.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 3.7% ($24,070 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.2% ($37,482)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($25,788)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.2% ($33,714)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.3% ($42,941)

#3. Whitman County

- 48.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.4% ($26,875 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 15.8% ($37,625)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($32,560)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.9% ($40,390)
- Graduate or professional degree: 23.3% ($50,876)

#2. San Juan County

- 51.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% ($30,192 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 15.3% ($35,313)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.0% ($35,181)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.9% ($38,698)
- Graduate or professional degree: 21.8% ($49,516)

#1. King County

- 53.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($30,310 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 14.8% ($37,660)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.2% ($45,159)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.7% ($73,823)
- Graduate or professional degree: 21.7% ($97,112)

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