Least educated counties in Kentucky
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 Kentucky 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 Kentucky.
#50. Fulton County
- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.9% ($18,615 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($21,432)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($29,375)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($40,417)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($41,346)
#49. Cumberland County
- 13.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.2% ($18,009 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($21,786)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($26,219)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.6% ($32,031)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($80,379)
#48. Bracken County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($49,850 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.4% ($40,795)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($30,168)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($47,823)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($51,544)
#47. Pendleton County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.1% ($32,823 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.8% ($31,737)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.8% ($36,782)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($53,649)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($46,946)
#46. Todd County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.5% ($30,538 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.5% ($30,174)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.7% ($32,398)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($52,037)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($55,548)
#45. Green County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.5% ($21,709 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($29,554)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.6% ($30,833)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($41,897)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($29,028)
#44. Henry County
- 13.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.9% ($27,871 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($27,649)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($31,663)
- Bachelor's degree: 8% ($43,958)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($43,571)
#43. Crittenden County
- 13.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.2% ($23,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42% ($31,347)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($32,220)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($46,071)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($60,667)
#42. Lincoln County
- 13% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.2% ($27,578 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.7% ($29,772)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.2% ($32,321)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($41,063)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($51,949)
#41. Pike County
- 13% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23% ($24,464 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($28,692)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.5% ($31,281)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($41,563)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($59,611)
#40. Metcalfe County
- 13% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.4% ($25,371 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($30,494)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.1% ($32,560)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($35,063)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($64,022)
#39. Grant County
- 12.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.4% ($24,306 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.4% ($38,234)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($39,975)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.6% ($39,745)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($53,713)
#38. Fleming County
- 12.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.4% ($21,875 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($24,889)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($31,761)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.4% ($39,877)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($60,625)
#37. Casey County
- 12.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.9% ($18,649 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.6% ($26,289)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.7% ($27,220)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($31,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($57,240)
#36. Muhlenberg County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.8% ($23,778 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.8% ($25,670)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($28,569)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.9% ($41,667)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($48,859)
#35. Marion County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.5% ($15,953 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.3% ($32,871)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($32,694)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.8% ($36,425)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($54,214)
#34. Carter County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.9% ($12,926 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($24,755)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($31,068)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.3% ($44,375)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($42,182)
#33. Morgan County
- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.7% ($31,406 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.4% ($27,149)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.3% ($30,953)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.5% ($36,307)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($51,390)
#32. Larue County
- 12.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16% ($26,279 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.2% ($28,396)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($35,489)
- Bachelor's degree: 5% ($39,663)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($48,547)
#31. Wayne County
- 12.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.4% ($19,018 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.7% ($26,335)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($23,256)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.2% ($42,399)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($52,908)
#30. Letcher County
- 12.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.3% ($21,786 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37% ($32,083)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($30,211)
- Bachelor's degree: 6% ($40,167)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($58,519)
#29. Breckinridge County
- 11.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16% ($16,270 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.9% ($31,359)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.2% ($36,426)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($38,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($58,964)
#28. Livingston County
- 11.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.2% ($17,229 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.6% ($31,591)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($26,106)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($38,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($68,203)
#27. Martin County
- 11.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.7% ($21,781 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39% ($24,026)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.7% ($33,194)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($32,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($40,991)
#26. Gallatin County
- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.9% ($17,100 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.2% ($34,777)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($32,488)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($50,625)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.4% ($52,250)
#25. Hancock County
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.6% ($33,056 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.4% ($40,677)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($40,511)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.4% ($65,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($58,750)
#24. Rockcastle County
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.5% ($18,958 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.4% ($31,799)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.7% ($28,320)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.6% ($41,536)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($47,523)
#23. Hart County
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.8% ($27,880 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($30,844)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.5% ($30,637)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($42,143)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($55,380)
#22. Floyd County
- 11.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.8% ($17,337 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($27,531)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($32,705)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.4% ($42,699)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($46,447)
#21. Menifee County
- 11.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.6% ($28,542 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.7% ($31,703)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.5% ($31,105)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($32,131)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($52,969)
#20. Union County
- 11.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10%
- High school graduate: 47.8% ($29,907)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.2% ($37,870)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.3% ($50,995)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($48,917)
#19. Owen County
- 10.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.6% ($19,771 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.4% ($35,477)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22% ($41,442)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($52,269)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($56,935)
#18. Harlan County
- 10.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 27.2% ($14,701 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($27,329)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($26,032)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.7% ($32,019)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($46,538)
#17. Grayson County
- 10.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.6% ($21,285 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($29,464)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($32,174)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.4% ($41,211)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($47,725)
#16. Edmonson County
- 10.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.9% ($26,400 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($27,188)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($31,605)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.6% ($50,625)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($53,659)
#15. Clinton County
- 10.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26.8% ($30,938 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.8% ($23,690)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.2% ($26,233)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.8% ($36,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($55,804)
#14. Webster County
- 10% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.5% ($25,765 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47% ($33,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($32,821)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.9% ($42,237)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($73,421)
#13. Estill County
- 9.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.4% ($15,982 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.8% ($26,198)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.9% ($29,592)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.4% ($38,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($56,650)
#12. Lawrence County
- 9.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.9% ($27,604 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.5% ($26,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.8% ($30,363)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.6% ($43,464)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($45,670)
#11. Clay County
- 9.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 35.3% ($18,312 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($23,489)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($25,276)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.3% ($42,935)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($55,489)
#10. Elliott County
- 9.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25% ($28,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.4% ($21,917)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.9% ($33,237)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.1% ($62,841)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($44,875)
#9. Magoffin County
- 9.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 30.2% ($22,708 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.4% ($24,128)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.8% ($31,250)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.7% ($38,844)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($36,154)
#8. Bell County
- 9.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 30.4% ($17,520 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.5% ($19,696)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22% ($23,703)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.2% ($34,423)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($53,423)
#7. Lewis County
- 9.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.1% ($22,292 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.8% ($26,941)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.9% ($29,398)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.1% ($37,083)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($56,523)
#6. Nicholas County
- 8.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.2% ($25,591 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($30,379)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($32,248)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.7% ($44,022)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($65,000)
#5. Wolfe County
- 8.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 28.2%
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($24,167)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.7% ($21,200)
- Bachelor's degree: 2.7% ($13,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($85,112)
#4. Leslie County
- 8.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 28.7% ($21,788 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.9% ($28,374)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.8% ($27,449)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.4% ($40,521)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3% ($50,694)
#3. Lee County
- 8.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 31.9% ($25,182 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.3% ($27,991)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($27,188)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.3% ($45,625)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4% ($50,439)
#2. Carroll County
- 8.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.7% ($16,957 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($33,448)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($36,667)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.4% ($53,403)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($62,768)
#1. McCreary County
- 7.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.4% ($10,922 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.9% ($27,488)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.4% ($21,158)
- Bachelor's degree: 4.7% ($47,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.5%