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 West Virginia 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.
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
1 / 30- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.3% ($28,114 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 51.0% ($30,265)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($32,002)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.0% ($46,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($56,737)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
2 / 30- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 45.6% ($27,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.6% ($36,466)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($41,818)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.0% ($50,625)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
3 / 30- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($24,554 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49.0% ($29,783)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($31,069)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.0% ($52,441)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($51,346)
Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons
4 / 30- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($25,711 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.8% ($26,589)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($34,745)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($37,972)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.0% ($54,934)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
5 / 30- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.9% ($26,900 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.3% ($41,079)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.2% ($21,998)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($30,580)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($65,833)
Bitmapped // Wikimedia Commons
6 / 30- 17.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($23,267 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.3% ($26,944)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.0% ($37,146)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($45,667)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($61,265)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
7 / 30- 17.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.8% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 47.0% ($29,435)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.2% ($24,471)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($26,293)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.0% ($38,828)
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
8 / 30- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.9% ($19,737 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($34,783)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.1% ($31,146)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($49,128)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($62,639)
Generic1139 // Wikimedia Commons
9 / 30- 17.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($29,277 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.3% ($28,080)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.5% ($33,379)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($53,707)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($57,109)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
10 / 30- 17.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($12,149 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48.4% ($29,730)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.2% ($27,919)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($41,660)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($44,576)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
11 / 30- 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.2% ($20,357 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.9% ($29,485)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 14.9% ($29,792)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($41,949)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($51,303)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
12 / 30- 18.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($30,843 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.7% ($34,152)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.0% ($41,622)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.0% ($52,517)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.0% ($61,071)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
13 / 30- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($24,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.6% ($33,059)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($34,798)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($42,080)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($50,111)
Pubdog // Wikimedia Commons
14 / 30- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($27,265 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($34,258)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.5% ($37,650)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($46,560)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.0% ($56,693)
Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons
15 / 30- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($18,631 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.6% ($30,463)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($34,257)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($45,898)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($73,942)
Canva
16 / 30- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($24,855 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.0% ($28,596)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.7% ($26,453)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($32,969)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($43,750)
Tim Kiser // Wikimedia Commons
17 / 30- 19.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($17,790 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.8% ($27,680)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.9% ($29,661)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($45,850)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($50,452)
Taber Andrew Bain // Wikimedia Commons
18 / 30- 20.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($14,793 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.6% ($26,393)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.0% ($27,122)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($36,146)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($60,768)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
19 / 30- 20.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.7% ($20,693 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.7% ($33,843)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.5% ($26,745)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.4% ($39,964)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($48,548)
Jimmy Emerson, DVM // Flickr
20 / 30- 20.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($31,563 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.0% ($29,315)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($34,017)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($45,512)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.0% ($48,657)
Canva
21 / 30- 22.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($19,776 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.9% ($30,113)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($31,947)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($42,272)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($59,097)
Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons
22 / 30- 22.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($24,113 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($36,721)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($39,494)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($51,853)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($59,468)
w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons
23 / 30- 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($19,603 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.5% ($31,457)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($36,180)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($50,287)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($54,803)
Upstateherd // Wikimedia Commons
24 / 30- 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($23,630 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.9% ($30,975)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.8% ($37,313)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.3% ($50,598)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($53,893)
Roger B Wise // Wikimedia Commons
25 / 30- 26.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($19,204 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($34,785)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($40,845)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.0% ($59,586)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.3% ($74,265)
O Palsson // Flickr
26 / 30- 26.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($20,697 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($28,094)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($33,157)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($49,667)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($64,763)
Carol M. Highsmith/Library of Congress // Wikimedia Commons
27 / 30- 27.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($18,063 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($30,017)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($30,550)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.3% ($43,531)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($56,197)
Brandon W. Holmes // Wikicommons
28 / 30- 31.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.2% ($20,638 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($26,601)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.6% ($34,405)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.2% ($42,074)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.4% ($60,810)
Famartin // Wikimedia Commons
29 / 30- 31.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($25,442 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($36,961)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.2% ($42,321)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($63,797)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.5% ($74,301)
Zverzver // Wikimedia Commons
30 / 30- 43.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.2% ($18,079 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($30,083)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.4% ($31,763)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($44,477)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.7% ($63,647)
