Least educated counties in California
The value of traditional education can vary widely across the country. While a college degree has long been viewed as a critical step toward the American dream, growing costs have led many students to reconsider the return-on-investment of higher education. Meanwhile, local economies and individual circumstances can push others toward learning a trade or entering the workforce early.
These considerations aside, national statistics show a clear difference in earnings as they relate to educational attainment, as college graduates than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, compiled a list of the least educated counties in California using data from the . Counties are ranked by the lowest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor's degree or higher. Ties are broken by the highest percent with less than high school diploma.
Keep read on for a look at the least-educated counties in California.
#50. Orange County
- 40.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.5% ($24,638 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.2% ($31,824)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.6% ($42,420)
- Bachelor's degree: 26% ($64,948)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.5% ($91,962)
#49. Placer County
- 39.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($27,107 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18% ($38,016)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.8% ($46,217)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.4% ($74,676)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.3% ($91,924)
#48. San Diego County
- 38.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($23,608 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18.2% ($31,615)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($38,816)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.8% ($61,990)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15% ($85,114)
#47. Nevada County
- 37.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.7% ($25,436 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18.4% ($33,148)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.8% ($34,876)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.2% ($47,185)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13% ($70,566)
#46. Napa County
- 35.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.5% ($26,691 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.8% ($34,418)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32% ($44,616)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.2% ($64,997)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.5% ($83,228)
#45. Sonoma County
- 35.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($27,020 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18.7% ($34,010)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.6% ($42,390)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.2% ($57,266)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.3% ($71,176)
#44. San Luis Obispo County
- 35.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($26,267 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.9% ($32,376)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36% ($40,697)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.9% ($55,690)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.4% ($72,271)
#43. Alpine County
- 34.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8%
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($36,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($24,091)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.2% ($26,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.4% ($41,607)
#42. El Dorado County
- 34.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($26,359 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.3% ($35,614)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.9% ($43,874)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.6% ($67,004)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($86,003)
#41. Santa Barbara County
- 34.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.1% ($23,766 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.8% ($31,386)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29% ($39,455)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.2% ($59,895)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14% ($79,017)
#40. Ventura County
- 33.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15% ($23,475 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.2% ($32,179)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.1% ($42,848)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.3% ($63,967)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.5% ($87,565)
#39. Los Angeles County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.9% ($22,765 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.6% ($30,414)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26% ($37,642)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.2% ($57,016)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($81,014)
#38. Sacramento County
- 30.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($24,334 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.4% ($31,634)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($39,206)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.4% ($59,404)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.4% ($80,370)
#37. Humboldt County
- 30.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($24,053 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($27,711)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.9% ($30,551)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($37,894)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.1% ($57,386)
#36. Mono County
- 28.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($21,236 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.2% ($31,400)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.5% ($36,907)
- Bachelor's degree: 21% ($44,546)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($50,714)
#35. Butte County
- 27.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($25,128 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.5% ($29,274)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.6% ($31,245)
- Bachelor's degree: 18% ($52,405)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($68,784)
#34. Inyo County
- 27.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($26,563 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($31,589)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($34,743)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($52,803)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($71,682)
#33. Solano County
- 26.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.6% ($27,130 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.8% ($38,251)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.7% ($45,586)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($62,573)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($80,063)
#32. Monterey County
- 24.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 28.5% ($22,311 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.3% ($31,107)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($37,640)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($57,550)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($81,640)
#31. Mariposa County
- 24.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($26,842 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.4% ($28,152)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.6% ($28,787)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($43,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($47,791)
#30. Mendocino County
- 24.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($22,044 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25% ($30,638)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37% ($30,906)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($35,429)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($50,820)
#29. Plumas County
- 23.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.9% ($17,639 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.1% ($31,694)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 45.4% ($40,082)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($45,795)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($58,594)
#28. Siskiyou County
- 23.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($19,384 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.5% ($28,646)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.6% ($28,491)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.3% ($39,399)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($54,320)
#27. Riverside County
- 22.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.9% ($25,027 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.9% ($32,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($39,294)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.2% ($54,710)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($80,929)
#26. Shasta County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($25,108 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.4% ($31,070)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.5% ($32,588)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($49,795)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($64,519)
#25. Fresno County
- 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24% ($20,197 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.7% ($28,743)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.1% ($34,388)
- Bachelor's degree: 14% ($53,798)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($78,501)
#24. San Bernardino County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.1% ($24,816 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.3% ($31,587)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.7% ($37,961)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($54,341)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($75,361)
#23. Tuolumne County
- 20.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($21,261 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.3% ($31,311)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.9% ($37,240)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($54,034)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($76,901)
#22. San Benito County
- 19.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.5% ($26,340 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.8% ($36,580)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36% ($43,796)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($64,555)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($85,484)
#21. Trinity County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($15,987 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.8% ($25,668)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38% ($31,173)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.3% ($36,111)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($26,563)
#20. Amador County
- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10% ($25,893 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.5% ($36,402)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.3% ($41,289)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($41,010)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($80,794)
#19. San Joaquin County
- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.7% ($26,030 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.3% ($33,788)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($42,267)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($57,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($79,262)
#18. Calaveras County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($31,784 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28% ($29,484)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.8% ($40,736)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($62,581)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($70,706)
#17. Sutter County
- 18.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.8% ($20,687 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.3% ($30,854)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($37,319)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.9% ($53,344)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($72,292)
#16. Sierra County
- 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($18,636 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($21,705)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 42.8% ($32,950)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($44,700)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($44,405)
#15. Yuba County
- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.7% ($24,301 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.6% ($35,894)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.7% ($38,216)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($49,502)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($71,103)
#14. Stanislaus County
- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.1% ($26,090 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.3% ($32,874)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($39,203)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($62,524)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($84,366)
#13. Kern County
- 16.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26% ($21,727 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.8% ($30,312)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($37,109)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($61,227)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($82,063)
#12. Tehama County
- 15.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($25,099 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.1% ($30,434)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.8% ($29,459)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($46,196)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($64,219)
#11. Lake County
- 15.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.2% ($22,483 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.5% ($26,312)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.8% ($30,727)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($54,861)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($52,500)
#10. Modoc County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.2% ($25,806 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33% ($27,168)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($31,786)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.5% ($46,944)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7%
#9. Imperial County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 30.3% ($17,025 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.3% ($26,626)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.2% ($31,468)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($43,476)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($72,366)
#8. Colusa County
- 15% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 28.8% ($26,989 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.2% ($33,563)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($35,378)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($51,335)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($53,214)
#7. Del Norte County
- 14.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20% ($19,977 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31% ($24,694)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($31,822)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($47,813)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($72,672)
#6. Kings County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26.6% ($22,391 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.3% ($31,838)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($37,542)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($56,425)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($76,636)
#5. Madera County
- 14.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 28.1% ($20,699 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.9% ($30,326)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($32,311)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($57,130)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($64,677)
#4. Tulare County
- 14.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 29.2% ($19,465 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.5% ($29,455)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($33,501)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($54,785)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($78,869)
#3. Glenn County
- 14.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.2% ($26,102 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($26,932)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($27,166)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($54,487)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($62,396)
#2. Merced County
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 30.9% ($25,806 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.3% ($30,403)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($34,530)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.1% ($53,728)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($66,366)
#1. Lassen County
- 12.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.9% ($30,448 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.5% ($40,233)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($42,236)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($49,327)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($62,500)