The value of a traditional education can vary widely across the country. While a college degree has long been viewed as a critical step towards the American dream, burgeoning costs have led many to reconsider the return-on-investment of higher education. Meanwhile, local economies and individual circumstances can push some towards learning a trade or entering the workforce early.
These considerations aside, the national statistics show a clear difference in earnings as they relate to educational attainment, as college graduates typically earn 65% more than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, Stacker used data from the 2012-2016 American Community Survey to construct a weighted index which measures the relative education level for every county in the United States. This index evaluates each county's over-25 population across seven educational tiers, ranging from individuals not educated past 8th grade to those with graduate or professional degrees. For each segment of these tiers, a points-based indexing system was applied in direct proportion to the estimated years of schooling for each level of educational attainment. Lastly, the full range of index scores was normalized to a 0 to 100 scale, with 100 representing the most educated county in the United States.
For each county, we've included supporting educational attainment data as well as how it ranks nationally. Read on to explore the least educated county in every state.
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Education index (out of 100): 74.1
Less than 9th grade: 7.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 25.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.1%
Some college, no degree: 18.3%
Associate's degree: 3.9%
Bachelor's degree: 4.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.4%
Rank (of all counties): 3,067/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 73.4
Less than 9th grade: 8.1%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 13.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 52.2%
Some college, no degree: 19.3%
Associate's degree: 2.1%
Bachelor's degree: 2.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
Rank (of all counties): 3,094/3,141
Note: Kusilvak Census Area is known as a county equivalent, representing a county-sized subdivision of the state's Unorganized Borough.
Education index (out of 100): 75.0
Less than 9th grade: 9.9%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 36.4%
Some college, no degree: 22.1%
Associate's degree: 6.1%
Bachelor's degree: 6.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.8%
Rank (of all counties): 2,977/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 73.4
Less than 9th grade: 15.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 15.4%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.6%
Some college, no degree: 20.7%
Associate's degree: 5.0%
Bachelor's degree: 5.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.6%
Rank (of all counties): 3,098/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 74.1
Less than 9th grade: 18.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.2%
High school graduate/equivalent: 22.5%
Some college, no degree: 24.1%
Associate's degree: 6.5%
Bachelor's degree: 9.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.1%
Rank (of all counties): 3,066/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 76.6
Less than 9th grade: 6.9%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 45.5%
Some college, no degree: 19.0%
Associate's degree: 10.2%
Bachelor's degree: 6.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%
Rank (of all counties): 2,663/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 81.9
Less than 9th grade: 4.2%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 33.3%
Some college, no degree: 21.7%
Associate's degree: 9.2%
Bachelor's degree: 14.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.4%
Rank (of all counties): 918/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 81.3
Less than 9th grade: 4.4%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.7%
High school graduate/equivalent: 33.6%
Some college, no degree: 21.6%
Associate's degree: 8.6%
Bachelor's degree: 14.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.7%
Rank (of all counties): 1,098/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 71.3
Less than 9th grade: 22.4%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.7%
High school graduate/equivalent: 31.7%
Some college, no degree: 16.0%
Associate's degree: 6.1%
Bachelor's degree: 5.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
Rank (of all counties): 3,128/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 71.4
Less than 9th grade: 18.3%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 19.6%
High school graduate/equivalent: 35.3%
Some college, no degree: 12.1%
Associate's degree: 4.3%
Bachelor's degree: 8.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
Rank (of all counties): 3,126/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 83.0
Less than 9th grade: 3.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.6%
High school graduate/equivalent: 31.5%
Some college, no degree: 24.6%
Associate's degree: 10.1%
Bachelor's degree: 17.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 8.2%
Rank (of all counties): 625/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 73.3
Less than 9th grade: 24.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 31.7%
Some college, no degree: 20.0%
Associate's degree: 2.6%
Bachelor's degree: 11.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.2%
Rank (of all counties): 3,101/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 75.1
Less than 9th grade: 7.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 17.2%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.2%
Some college, no degree: 25.2%
Associate's degree: 6.6%
Bachelor's degree: 6.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.3%
Rank (of all counties): 2,962/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 71.3
Less than 9th grade: 28.1%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.6%
High school graduate/equivalent: 32.0%
Some college, no degree: 14.0%
Associate's degree: 7.1%
Bachelor's degree: 7.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Rank (of all counties): 3,127/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 75.6
Less than 9th grade: 13.1%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.4%
High school graduate/equivalent: 37.7%
Some college, no degree: 19.5%
Associate's degree: 9.7%
Bachelor's degree: 9.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.5%
Rank (of all counties): 2,872/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 73.0
Less than 9th grade: 20.2%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 25.3%
Some college, no degree: 20.2%
Associate's degree: 8.3%
Bachelor's degree: 8.6%
Graduate or professional degree: 3%
Rank (of all counties): 3,107/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 71.8
Less than 9th grade: 18.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 18.3%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.6%
Some college, no degree: 16.1%
Associate's degree: 3.3%
Bachelor's degree: 6.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Rank (of all counties): 3,122/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 74.1
Less than 9th grade: 13.7%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 15.0%
High school graduate/equivalent: 36.6%
Some college, no degree: 17.4%
Associate's degree: 5.4%
Bachelor's degree: 8.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.4%
Rank (of all counties): 3,064/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 79.5
Less than 9th grade: 3.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 41.8%
Some college, no degree: 19.2%
Associate's degree: 11.2%
Bachelor's degree: 10.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.9%
Rank (of all counties): 1,793/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 77.0
Less than 9th grade: 5.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 15.3%
High school graduate/equivalent: 41.7%
Some college, no degree: 19.1%
Associate's degree: 4.4%
Bachelor's degree: 8.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 6%
Rank (of all counties): 2,564/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 81.2
Less than 9th grade: 8.4%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 30.0%
Some college, no degree: 18.1%
Associate's degree: 9.1%
Bachelor's degree: 16.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 9.7%
Rank (of all counties): 1,124/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 76.4
Less than 9th grade: 4.9%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 13.0%
High school graduate/equivalent: 42.6%
Some college, no degree: 22.9%
Associate's degree: 7.6%
Bachelor's degree: 5.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
Rank (of all counties): 2,701/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 76.0
Less than 9th grade: 14.3%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 33.2%
Some college, no degree: 20.8%
Associate's degree: 9.7%
Bachelor's degree: 9.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 4%
Rank (of all counties): 2,813/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 72.7
Less than 9th grade: 13.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 19.7%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.4%
Some college, no degree: 20.3%
Associate's degree: 2.8%
Bachelor's degree: 4.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.3%
Rank (of all counties): 3,112/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 74.2
Less than 9th grade: 11.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 16.1%
High school graduate/equivalent: 39.1%
Some college, no degree: 19.6%
Associate's degree: 2.7%
Bachelor's degree: 8.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
Rank (of all counties): 3,055/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 75.9
Less than 9th grade: 18.2%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 33.1%
Some college, no degree: 21.0%
Associate's degree: 2.8%
Bachelor's degree: 15.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 4%
Rank (of all counties): 2,820/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 74.7
Less than 9th grade: 17.3%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.4%
High school graduate/equivalent: 35.9%
Some college, no degree: 19.5%
Associate's degree: 6.0%
Bachelor's degree: 8.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.1%
Rank (of all counties): 3,016/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 76.1
Less than 9th grade: 9.3%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 12.4%
High school graduate/equivalent: 35.1%
Some college, no degree: 24.0%
Associate's degree: 8.1%
Bachelor's degree: 6.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.6%
Rank (of all counties): 2,777/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 79.9
Less than 9th grade: 3.3%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 39.2%
Some college, no degree: 20.4%
Associate's degree: 10.5%
Bachelor's degree: 11.7%
Graduate or professional degree: 6%
Rank (of all counties): 1,603/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 76.2
Less than 9th grade: 9.4%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 13.3%
High school graduate/equivalent: 39.3%
Some college, no degree: 17.1%
Associate's degree: 6.7%
Bachelor's degree: 10.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.1%
Rank (of all counties): 2,762/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 73.9
Less than 9th grade: 17.2%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 13.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 32.8%
Some college, no degree: 17.9%
Associate's degree: 6.1%
Bachelor's degree: 7.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.3%
Rank (of all counties): 3,077/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 76.3
Less than 9th grade: 14.7%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.2%
High school graduate/equivalent: 27.4%
Some college, no degree: 17.7%
Associate's degree: 6.9%
Bachelor's degree: 12.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 6.6%
Rank (of all counties): 2,723/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 74.3
Less than 9th grade: 7.7%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 19.3%
High school graduate/equivalent: 39.3%
Some college, no degree: 20.5%
Associate's degree: 4.9%
Bachelor's degree: 4.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.9%
Rank (of all counties): 3,053/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 77.0
Less than 9th grade: 10.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 41.6%
Some college, no degree: 19.9%
Associate's degree: 9.1%
Bachelor's degree: 12.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.7%
Rank (of all counties): 2,569/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 68.3
Less than 9th grade: 34.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.0%
High school graduate/equivalent: 36.3%
Some college, no degree: 10.1%
Associate's degree: 4.4%
Bachelor's degree: 5.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.6%
Rank (of all counties): 3,138/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 75.9
Less than 9th grade: 16.4%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 11.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 29.5%
Some college, no degree: 18.4%
Associate's degree: 3.8%
Bachelor's degree: 15.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.6%
Rank (of all counties): 2,824/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 75.1
Less than 9th grade: 10.1%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.6%
Some college, no degree: 22.7%
Associate's degree: 7.9%
Bachelor's degree: 7.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.5%
Rank (of all counties): 2,946/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 75.2
Less than 9th grade: 4.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 15.2%
High school graduate/equivalent: 54.6%
Some college, no degree: 13.8%
Associate's degree: 4.1%
Bachelor's degree: 5.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%
Rank (of all counties): 2,941/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 81.4
Less than 9th grade: 8.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 29.6%
Some college, no degree: 18.4%
Associate's degree: 7.9%
Bachelor's degree: 16.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 10.8%
Rank (of all counties): 1,057/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 74.5
Less than 9th grade: 9.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 16.4%
High school graduate/equivalent: 40.7%
Some college, no degree: 16.4%
Associate's degree: 7.6%
Bachelor's degree: 7.9%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
Rank (of all counties): 3,032/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 75.1
Less than 9th grade: 6.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 16.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 41.4%
Some college, no degree: 20.5%
Associate's degree: 7.6%
Bachelor's degree: 6.1%
Graduate or professional degree: 1.9%
Rank (of all counties): 2,951/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 73.6
Less than 9th grade: 9.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 17.1%
High school graduate/equivalent: 45.6%
Some college, no degree: 14.7%
Associate's degree: 3.6%
Bachelor's degree: 5.8%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.3%
Rank (of all counties): 3,085/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 67.5
Less than 9th grade: 34.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 17.5%
High school graduate/equivalent: 23.9%
Some college, no degree: 12.0%
Associate's degree: 3.3%
Bachelor's degree: 6.5%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.8%
Rank (of all counties): 3,141/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 79.1
Less than 9th grade: 2.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 10.4%
High school graduate/equivalent: 34.7%
Some college, no degree: 29.1%
Associate's degree: 8.0%
Bachelor's degree: 11.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Rank (of all counties): 1,916/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 78.1
Less than 9th grade: 6.9%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 44.1%
Some college, no degree: 14.6%
Associate's degree: 9.7%
Bachelor's degree: 10.2%
Graduate or professional degree: 5.6%
Rank (of all counties): 2,253/3,141
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Education index (out of 100): 73.5
Less than 9th grade: 16.0%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 14.0%
High school graduate/equivalent: 35.2%
Some college, no degree: 18.4%
Associate's degree: 6.5%
Bachelor's degree: 6.3%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.7%
Rank (of all counties): 3,093/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 73.0
Less than 9th grade: 24.6%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 9.3%
High school graduate/equivalent: 26.5%
Some college, no degree: 18.6%
Associate's degree: 7.2%
Bachelor's degree: 9.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.4%
Rank (of all counties): 3,110/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 70.9
Less than 9th grade: 14.3%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 20.8%
High school graduate/equivalent: 44.9%
Some college, no degree: 11.8%
Associate's degree: 3.1%
Bachelor's degree: 3.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 2.2%
Rank (of all counties): 3,133/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 76.0
Less than 9th grade: 11.5%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.9%
High school graduate/equivalent: 42.5%
Some college, no degree: 19.0%
Associate's degree: 8.6%
Bachelor's degree: 8.4%
Graduate or professional degree: 3.1%
Rank (of all counties): 2,799/3,141
Education index (out of 100): 80.1
Less than 9th grade: 2.8%
9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.0%
High school graduate/equivalent: 37.9%
Some college, no degree: 24.0%
Associate's degree: 12.8%
Bachelor's degree: 11.0%
Graduate or professional degree: 4.5%
Rank (of all counties): 1,535/3,141
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