Least educated parishes in Louisiana
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 parishes in Louisiana using data from the . Parishes 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 parishes in Louisiana.
#50. Rapides Parish
- 20.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.5% ($19,923 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($27,770)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($31,873)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($51,167)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($63,947)
#49. Tangipahoa Parish
- 20% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.3% ($20,254 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.2% ($30,268)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($34,724)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($52,234)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($50,914)
#48. Livingston Parish
- 19.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.8% ($22,497 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.1% ($38,822)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($48,150)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.2% ($53,568)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($55,998)
#47. Plaquemines Parish
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.3% ($23,926 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($36,952)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($37,022)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.8% ($53,284)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($65,313)
#46. Natchitoches Parish
- 19% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.6% ($19,444 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.1% ($24,001)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($26,306)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($42,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($56,130)
#45. Beauregard Parish
- 17.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.7% ($25,288 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.1% ($31,889)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($39,187)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($44,089)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($58,729)
#44. Vernon Parish
- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($23,661 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.2% ($34,239)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29% ($35,546)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($47,514)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($64,951)
#43. Union Parish
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($21,176 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.8% ($31,458)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.6% ($33,686)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($43,477)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($56,696)
#42. Jefferson Davis Parish
- 16.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.7% ($20,617 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($34,028)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24% ($31,499)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($44,809)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($50,102)
#41. Lafourche Parish
- 16.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.8% ($26,240 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.5% ($37,952)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.8% ($39,899)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.6% ($50,662)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($62,216)
#40. St. Helena Parish
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.4%
- High school graduate: 38.5% ($30,028)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.4% ($42,759)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($43,143)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($67,500)
#39. St. James Parish
- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.6% ($16,366 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.1% ($30,276)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($41,944)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($51,569)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($53,586)
#38. St. John the Baptist Parish
- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($29,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.8% ($30,516)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($42,876)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($50,578)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($51,670)
#37. Terrebonne Parish
- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21% ($30,762 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($32,060)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($35,204)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($48,025)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($59,525)
#36. Webster Parish
- 15.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.1% ($19,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42% ($18,906)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($25,619)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($28,904)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($48,158)
#35. Pointe Coupee Parish
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.1% ($31,030 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($29,817)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($34,411)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($55,938)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($49,338)
#34. De Soto Parish
- 14.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.4% ($20,505 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($30,740)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.2% ($32,870)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($47,586)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($71,250)
#33. St. Landry Parish
- 14.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.3% ($19,124 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($27,884)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.8% ($31,529)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($41,646)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($53,691)
#32. St. Martin Parish
- 14.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($25,646 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($31,944)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($33,098)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($48,274)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($53,500)
#31. Vermilion Parish
- 14.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.1% ($22,481 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.3% ($34,887)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.4% ($42,587)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($46,321)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($77,105)
#30. Concordia Parish
- 14.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.8% ($21,894 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.8% ($25,305)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.3% ($26,282)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($42,981)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($30,492)
#29. Jackson Parish
- 14% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.3% ($17,306 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($26,023)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.1% ($34,688)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($50,129)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($47,500)
#28. Winn Parish
- 13.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.2% ($23,393 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.8% ($31,757)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.1% ($27,938)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($41,923)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($68,333)
#27. Red River Parish
- 13.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.3% ($16,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.2% ($26,101)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.7% ($36,280)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($31,719)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4%
#26. Iberville Parish
- 13.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.4% ($26,162 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.3% ($32,800)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($38,933)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($43,066)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($60,625)
#25. Caldwell Parish
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.3% ($23,227 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.5% ($30,511)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.4% ($29,906)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($44,054)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($41,875)
#24. Catahoula Parish
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.7% ($15,978 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($28,967)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.1% ($45,688)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($44,010)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($64,917)
#23. Iberia Parish
- 13.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.1% ($26,448 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.7% ($30,744)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.7% ($31,994)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($46,982)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($55,827)
#22. LaSalle Parish
- 13.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.4% ($26,154 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.5% ($31,069)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.5% ($37,679)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($48,203)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($54,667)
#21. Sabine Parish
- 13.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($17,328 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.6% ($31,817)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.8% ($27,437)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($44,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($53,266)
#20. Acadia Parish
- 13.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21% ($24,635 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.3% ($30,849)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($32,287)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($50,903)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3% ($47,188)
#19. Richland Parish
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.7% ($20,093 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.9% ($25,023)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.2% ($31,114)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.2% ($43,438)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($64,750)
#18. Morehouse Parish
- 13% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.5% ($19,018 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.9% ($26,179)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.7% ($28,585)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($46,602)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.3% ($49,358)
#17. Bienville Parish
- 12.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.9% ($13,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.5% ($27,339)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.8% ($32,039)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.1% ($43,964)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($60,804)
#16. Claiborne Parish
- 12.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.5% ($12,031 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.5% ($17,899)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.2% ($19,406)
- Bachelor's degree: 8% ($29,482)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($33,250)
#15. Madison Parish
- 12.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26.1% ($16,709 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($19,647)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.1% ($26,645)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.2% ($48,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($55,511)
#14. Cameron Parish
- 12.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.3% ($18,962 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($38,566)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.7% ($34,348)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($55,256)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4% ($109,583)
#13. East Feliciana Parish
- 12.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20% ($24,515 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.5% ($32,802)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.8% ($39,243)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($49,716)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($44,659)
#12. Avoyelles Parish
- 12.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.2% ($24,688 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($33,818)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($30,854)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.9% ($41,268)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($45,060)
#11. Franklin Parish
- 12% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.1% ($15,530 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($30,508)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.9% ($29,620)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($45,793)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($51,583)
#10. West Carroll Parish
- 11.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.2% ($31,909 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.7% ($30,547)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.4% ($36,114)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.2% ($43,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($61,563)
#9. St. Bernard Parish
- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.8% ($20,864 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.6% ($30,732)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36% ($35,040)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($44,605)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($52,303)
#8. Washington Parish
- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.6% ($23,323 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.7% ($26,731)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.2% ($27,068)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($41,924)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($46,768)
#7. Evangeline Parish
- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.3% ($17,832 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.5% ($24,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.6% ($30,000)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($41,439)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.9% ($52,555)
#6. Tensas Parish
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.5% ($17,455 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.1% ($21,150)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20% ($17,244)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($43,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($88,333)
#5. Allen Parish
- 11.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.3% ($25,403 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.3% ($32,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.1% ($26,881)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.9% ($43,929)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($45,444)
#4. St. Mary Parish
- 10.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.2% ($25,169 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 51% ($38,953)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.5% ($32,337)
- Bachelor's degree: 7% ($43,103)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($46,191)
#3. Assumption Parish
- 9.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.7% ($35,139 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.1% ($38,732)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.7% ($41,903)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.4% ($50,167)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($57,679)
#2. East Carroll Parish
- 8.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 29.5% ($19,375 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.5% ($20,286)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.2% ($25,491)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($41,094)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.2%
#1. Grant Parish
- 8.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.5% ($20,799 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.8% ($25,990)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.1% ($26,351)
- Bachelor's degree: 6% ($50,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.5% ($46,974)