Counties with the most college graduates in Virginia

Written by:
July 2, 2022
Southerngs // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most college graduates in Virginia

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 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.

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Alma mater // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Harrisonburg city

- 35.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.7% ($25,585 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.9% ($26,574)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.2% ($29,228)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.0% ($40,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.2% ($58,136)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#29. King George County

- 35.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($11,788 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.9% ($38,854)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($47,632)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.8% ($66,013)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.6% ($86,887)

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Ealanghorne // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Fluvanna County

- 35.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($21,373 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.8% ($39,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.0% ($45,119)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.4% ($49,961)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.2% ($63,512)

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Acroterion // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Lynchburg city

- 36.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($25,541 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.3% ($26,038)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($32,393)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.0% ($37,861)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.0% ($48,513)

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Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Roanoke County

- 36.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.7% ($25,176 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($35,465)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($42,419)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.7% ($53,961)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.3% ($65,412)

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Cecouchman // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Fauquier County

- 36.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($30,671 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.3% ($43,300)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($54,046)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.8% ($74,573)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.9% ($74,332)

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gargola87 // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Virginia Beach city

- 37.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% ($24,112 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.8% ($34,916)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.0% ($41,496)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.5% ($53,779)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.7% ($70,457)

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James Shelton32 // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Chesterfield County

- 40.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($30,139 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.1% ($35,148)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($45,328)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.9% ($58,761)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.2% ($71,215)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Hanover County

- 40.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($30,185 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.6% ($41,276)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($45,895)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.8% ($62,769)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.5% ($73,397)

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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Radford city

- 40.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($13,678 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.8% ($40,799)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($39,086)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.5% ($45,556)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.2% ($57,698)

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Will Weaver // Wikicommons

#20. Richmond city

- 41.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 13.1% ($22,317 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.3% ($25,532)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.5% ($30,484)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.9% ($47,903)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.3% ($59,747)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Stafford County

- 41.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.0% ($27,194 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.3% ($40,854)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($51,050)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.6% ($73,499)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.7% ($108,925)

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Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Prince William County

- 41.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($31,295 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.9% ($39,283)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($48,088)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.9% ($70,191)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.0% ($94,541)

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Ken Lund from Las Vegas, Nevada, USA // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Fredericksburg city

- 42.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($26,585 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.3% ($33,172)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.4% ($35,961)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.4% ($60,265)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.0% ($96,579)

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Yangiskan // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Poquoson city

- 42.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.0% ($51,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.4% ($46,582)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.7% ($48,036)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.7% ($63,774)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.2% ($86,898)

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Jscott // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Goochland County

- 43.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.9% ($25,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.2% ($33,218)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($34,792)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.7% ($63,596)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.1% ($75,313)

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Rifleman 82 // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Henrico County

- 44.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($24,733 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.7% ($32,340)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($39,339)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.8% ($56,609)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.4% ($74,832)

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Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Montgomery County

- 46.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($25,904 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.1% ($33,482)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($35,476)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.5% ($46,016)
- Graduate or professional degree: 24.5% ($60,586)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#12. York County

- 49.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.8% ($24,420 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.4% ($40,114)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($42,179)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.7% ($56,190)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.8% ($90,536)

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Zeete // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Lexington city

- 50.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($61,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.6% ($16,071)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 18.1% ($40,000)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.8% ($37,617)
- Graduate or professional degree: 24.2% ($74,848)

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SKM2000 // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Williamsburg city

- 50.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($34,282 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.5% ($21,678)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.1% ($33,977)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.7% ($33,933)
- Graduate or professional degree: 24.9% ($51,875)

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Mojo Hand // Wikimedia Commons

#9. James City County

- 51.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.6% ($27,459 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.8% ($30,386)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($36,828)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.8% ($52,474)
- Graduate or professional degree: 24.2% ($75,888)

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Moofpocket // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Charlottesville city

- 55.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($21,415 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 16.6% ($25,931)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 18.6% ($31,663)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.1% ($50,328)
- Graduate or professional degree: 28.6% ($62,691)

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Mark Lagola and Ben Lunsford // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Albemarle County

- 58.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($22,947 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 14.5% ($33,484)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.4% ($40,436)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.5% ($54,221)
- Graduate or professional degree: 28.3% ($73,308)

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Idawriter // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Fairfax city

- 60.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($19,971 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 13.4% ($35,078)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 18.9% ($40,524)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.0% ($77,595)
- Graduate or professional degree: 31.2% ($101,019)

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Nicole Glass Photography // Shutterstock

#5. Loudoun County

- 61.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($31,566 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 12.4% ($40,704)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.9% ($53,534)
- Bachelor's degree: 35.2% ($90,476)
- Graduate or professional degree: 26.4% ($109,811)

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Munich // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Fairfax County

- 62.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($27,274 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 12.6% ($32,661)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.9% ($44,841)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.0% ($77,628)
- Graduate or professional degree: 31.1% ($108,229)

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ALXCHO // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Alexandria city

- 65.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.0% ($28,526 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 10.3% ($26,850)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.7% ($43,182)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.2% ($73,094)
- Graduate or professional degree: 33.8% ($101,787)

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Pics2018 // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Arlington County

- 75.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.1% ($23,240 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 7.9% ($31,907)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 11.2% ($43,921)
- Bachelor's degree: 35.3% ($82,163)
- Graduate or professional degree: 40.5% ($104,700)

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Southerngs // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Falls Church city

- 79.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 3.2% ($24,475 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 6.5% ($29,695)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 11.2% ($50,931)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.5% ($87,674)
- Graduate or professional degree: 47.6% ($117,003)

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