Least educated counties in Kansas

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May 14, 2022
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Least educated counties in Kansas

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 Kansas 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 Kansas.

#50. Sherman County

- 21.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($37,939 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($25,285)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.3% ($33,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($31,151)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($58,824)

#49. Cowley County

- 21.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($26,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.9% ($29,735)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.9% ($34,177)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($42,175)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($52,500)

#48. Bourbon County

- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($18,967 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.5% ($29,826)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.2% ($31,156)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($43,289)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($50,350)

#47. Morris County

- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($20,069 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.1% ($28,780)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($39,688)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.4% ($40,809)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($51,667)

#46. Brown County

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

- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($24,688 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($24,521)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($30,625)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($42,258)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($54,091)

#45. Doniphan County

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

- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($26,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($30,162)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($32,153)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($43,482)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($46,944)

#44. Barton County

- 20.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($30,769 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($27,450)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($33,071)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($43,879)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($56,971)

#43. Reno County

- 20.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($20,517 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.7% ($28,509)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.9% ($30,381)
- Bachelor's degree: 14% ($43,757)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($54,904)

#42. Barber County

- 20.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($42,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($30,118)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($31,190)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($26,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($62,321)

#41. Wichita County

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

- Less than high school diploma: 13.4% ($29,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.5% ($31,607)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.5% ($45,000)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($44,938)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($55,000)

#40. Franklin County

- 20.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($19,825 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.6% ($33,125)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($39,211)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($46,673)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($58,077)

#39. Allen County

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

- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($26,645 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.1% ($27,123)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.5% ($32,074)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.8% ($42,269)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($49,957)

#38. Washington County

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

- Less than high school diploma: 8.4% ($22,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.7% ($35,645)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.5% ($31,533)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.9% ($41,985)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($52,679)

#37. Meade County

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

- Less than high school diploma: 19.3% ($39,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.4% ($33,583)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.1% ($37,115)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.5% ($52,132)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($58,542)

#36. Jackson County

- 20.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($19,707 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39% ($33,937)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($38,063)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($44,212)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($52,781)

#35. Gray County

- 20.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 22.6% ($31,610 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.5% ($36,181)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.6% ($41,250)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.7% ($48,793)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($56,731)

#34. Greenwood County

- 19.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($18,462 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.3% ($29,844)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($29,473)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.7% ($42,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($38,750)

#33. Gove County

- 19.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8% ($15,909 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.3% ($31,403)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.1% ($35,556)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($39,688)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($48,750)

#32. Pawnee County

- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($14,712 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.1% ($25,276)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38% ($25,625)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.7% ($45,781)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($49,896)

#31. Cherokee County

- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($17,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($27,900)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.6% ($30,074)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($41,358)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($51,849)

#30. Ellsworth County

- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.4% ($13,800 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($25,784)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($34,603)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($40,036)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($49,844)

#29. Montgomery County

- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($20,161 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.2% ($29,086)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.1% ($28,618)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($44,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($46,000)

#28. Ness County

- 19.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.1%
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($30,221)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.4% ($28,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.9% ($42,353)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($64,792)

#27. Jewell County

- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.9% ($21,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.5% ($23,403)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($29,861)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.8% ($34,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($25,625)

#26. Osage County

- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($17,385 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.1% ($28,636)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($34,718)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($46,111)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($48,828)

#25. Stanton County

- 19% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.5% ($26,875 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($31,648)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($41,339)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.4% ($42,426)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6% ($45,536)

#24. Marshall County

- 18.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($30,952 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.2% ($31,179)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.1% ($35,322)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($39,212)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($42,083)

#23. Norton County

- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11% ($22,361 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($21,031)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.5% ($33,395)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.3% ($37,639)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($37,044)

#22. Labette County

- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($28,813 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.8% ($27,265)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.3% ($29,583)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($43,808)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($52,533)

#21. Hamilton County

- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 19.2% ($39,833 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.9% ($35,848)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.2% ($36,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($41,450)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($61,667)

#20. Anderson County

- 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9%
- High school graduate: 42% ($30,702)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($31,268)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($37,014)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($43,819)

#19. Neosho County

- 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($22,550 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.5% ($28,990)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.1% ($30,052)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($45,565)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($56,779)

#18. Edwards County

- 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 14.6% ($32,361 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.2% ($29,509)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.1% ($35,000)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($33,036)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($48,125)

#17. Wyandotte County

- 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.1% ($24,707 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($30,400)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($34,809)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($44,311)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($55,697)

#16. Ford County

- 17.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 26.5% ($30,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.3% ($30,822)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($36,291)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($45,025)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($56,250)

#15. Morton County

- 17.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16% ($45,301 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28% ($29,545)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.7% ($31,510)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($55,900)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($55,761)

#14. Woodson County

- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.3%
- High school graduate: 35.2% ($21,742)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.3% ($26,066)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($45,469)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($33,500)

#13. Haskell County

- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 27.6% ($30,852 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.3% ($33,000)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36% ($30,260)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.8% ($43,274)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($52,083)

#12. Finney County

- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 29% ($31,439 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($34,004)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($37,854)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($50,806)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($54,271)

#11. Logan County

- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($35,054 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($30,852)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 46.3% ($30,044)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($33,375)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($135,855)

#10. Wilson County

- 16.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($25,302 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.9% ($28,929)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.1% ($33,538)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($43,015)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($49,375)

#9. Linn County

- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($26,662 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($40,118)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($34,830)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($47,443)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($49,013)

#8. Harper County

- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.3% ($26,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.1% ($30,278)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($30,365)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.5% ($41,771)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($46,875)

#7. Comanche County

- 16% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($21,818 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.9% ($36,034)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43% ($37,125)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($52,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($40,875)

#6. Chautauqua County

- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 13.4% ($18,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.8% ($23,583)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($30,864)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.1% ($31,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($43,333)

#5. Elk County

- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($20,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($23,897)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.3% ($23,542)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($25,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($49,375)

#4. Grant County

- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 23% ($45,417 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.9% ($33,494)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($43,021)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($39,194)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($55,281)

#3. Kearny County

- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 24.1% ($37,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($38,214)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.8%
- Bachelor's degree: 8% ($35,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($63,162)

#2. Stevens County

- 13.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.8% ($27,128 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($31,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.8% ($35,486)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.1% ($42,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($32,031)

#1. Seward County

- 11% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 33.7% ($26,585 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($30,644)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.6% ($31,953)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.4% ($45,608)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($67,250)

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