Least educated counties in Maryland
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 Maryland 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 Maryland.
#24. Howard County
- 62.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($31,345 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 13.5% ($39,774)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($48,374)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.1% ($74,244)
- Graduate or professional degree: 31.5% ($102,597)
#23. Montgomery County
- 58.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($26,311 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 13.4% ($31,933)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 18.8% ($41,677)
- Bachelor's degree: 27% ($67,715)
- Graduate or professional degree: 31.8% ($102,639)
#22. Anne Arundel County
- 41.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($31,116 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.7% ($41,168)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27% ($50,618)
- Bachelor's degree: 24% ($71,194)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.7% ($90,835)
#21. Frederick County
- 41.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($30,801 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.1% ($40,062)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27% ($48,694)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.2% ($70,999)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.2% ($89,319)
#20. Talbot County
- 40.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($30,182 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.5% ($30,323)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.2% ($39,502)
- Bachelor's degree: 21% ($53,657)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.5% ($76,519)
#19. Baltimore County
- 39.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($25,628 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($38,041)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($43,335)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.6% ($61,600)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.7% ($77,074)
#18. Harford County
- 36.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($30,446 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26% ($40,027)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30% ($47,966)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.3% ($69,187)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.4% ($85,091)
#17. Queen Anne's County
- 36.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($30,274 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.9% ($40,311)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.8% ($49,121)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.9% ($65,698)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.6% ($80,521)
#16. Carroll County
- 36.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.2% ($27,219 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.4% ($41,905)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($51,462)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.5% ($70,386)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.9% ($81,614)
#15. Kent County
- 35.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($31,719 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($31,767)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.6% ($36,378)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.5% ($52,244)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.6% ($65,203)
#14. Prince George's County
- 33.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.3% ($29,590 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($37,037)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($47,455)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.7% ($63,378)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($83,966)
#13. Calvert County
- 32.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.3% ($33,448 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($49,118)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32% ($57,764)
- Bachelor's degree: 18% ($83,441)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($93,427)
#12. St. Mary's County
- 31.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($32,302 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($42,882)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.6% ($55,290)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.9% ($78,319)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13% ($97,744)
#11. Baltimore
- 31.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.8% ($24,340 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.1% ($30,309)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.2% ($36,229)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.8% ($54,965)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.1% ($68,963)
#10. Worcester County
- 29% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($21,640 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.8% ($30,653)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.5% ($36,806)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($47,219)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($65,166)
#9. Charles County
- 28.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($30,665 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($44,523)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($57,280)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($75,580)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($91,668)
#8. Wicomico County
- 27.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($25,696 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.3% ($30,662)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($34,208)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($53,650)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($63,378)
#7. Cecil County
- 23.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($24,761 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.1% ($40,658)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($48,252)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($60,677)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($73,441)
#6. Washington County
- 21.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($28,912 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.5% ($33,386)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.8% ($40,994)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($51,021)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($78,053)
#5. Dorchester County
- 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($14,949 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.5% ($32,388)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.2% ($33,546)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($47,908)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($59,127)
#4. Garrett County
- 20.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($22,551 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.3% ($30,147)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($37,329)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($47,934)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($58,432)
#3. Allegany County
- 18.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($20,920 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.8% ($28,969)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.6% ($32,069)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($46,527)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($63,576)
#2. Caroline County
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.7% ($23,582 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.9% ($35,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26% ($33,125)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($53,147)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($66,667)
#1. Somerset County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.7% ($18,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.7% ($28,701)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.2% ($32,204)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($32,961)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($50,670)
