Least educated counties in Mississippi
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 Mississippi 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 Mississippi.
#50. Monroe County
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19% ($17,341 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36% ($31,516)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($33,861)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($41,655)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($62,500)
#49. Pike County
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.8% ($18,075 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($24,860)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($28,162)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($40,561)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($50,452)
#48. Coahoma County
- 16.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.5% ($21,799 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.2% ($17,220)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($23,030)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($34,769)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($41,512)
#47. Newton County
- 16.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.8% ($28,548 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.9% ($27,438)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.9% ($30,804)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($45,795)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($56,360)
#46. Lincoln County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.6% ($21,806 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.6% ($29,701)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($33,725)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($51,446)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($52,260)
#45. Simpson County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.3% ($18,599 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.1% ($32,722)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($28,576)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($41,984)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($56,738)
#44. Jefferson County
- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22% ($22,900 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.9% ($17,266)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.2% ($19,798)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($45,455)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($46,204)
#43. Tate County
- 15.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17% ($28,248 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($26,727)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($34,333)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.7% ($57,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($62,639)
#42. Stone County
- 15.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.8% ($30,829 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($31,825)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($31,474)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($26,421)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($67,404)
#41. Noxubee County
- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 29.1% ($25,045 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($23,141)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.7% ($27,283)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($49,444)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($46,228)
#40. Sunflower County
- 15.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.1% ($17,366 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($18,600)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($25,934)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($33,649)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($50,075)
#39. Wayne County
- 15.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.8%
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($28,838)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($33,857)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.2% ($39,479)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($48,000)
#38. Tippah County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.1% ($30,630 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($27,495)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($30,925)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($50,156)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($53,008)
#37. Jasper County
- 15.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.8%
- High school graduate: 38.5% ($31,868)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($30,035)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($38,973)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($47,988)
#36. Panola County
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.4% ($20,693 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($27,938)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($30,608)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.5% ($39,325)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($48,711)
#35. Covington County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.8% ($20,946 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($21,603)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($29,969)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($35,188)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($44,231)
#34. Kemper County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.9% ($13,462 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.3% ($17,942)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($26,786)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.1% ($39,635)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($95,476)
#33. Winston County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.3% ($20,550 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($23,843)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.2% ($27,737)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($40,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($53,650)
#32. Copiah County
- 14.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.8% ($23,068 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($25,544)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($31,262)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($39,432)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($52,083)
#31. Walthall County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.3% ($25,114 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.8% ($27,442)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($33,893)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($39,375)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($46,235)
#30. Leake County
- 14.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.4% ($21,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($26,989)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($31,334)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($40,640)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($40,069)
#29. Jefferson Davis County
- 14.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.6% ($21,813 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($22,740)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.7% ($30,338)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.6% ($37,337)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($52,594)
#28. Attala County
- 13.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.4% ($22,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($25,278)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.2% ($26,143)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($32,778)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($52,000)
#27. George County
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.7% ($31,875 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($31,782)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34% ($31,098)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.6% ($34,120)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($50,675)
#26. Yalobusha County
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.7% ($16,342 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.2% ($29,409)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($27,446)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($34,390)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($43,929)
#25. Marshall County
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18% ($23,205 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.8% ($31,450)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($32,264)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($39,203)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($51,684)
#24. Wilkinson County
- 13.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 25.2% ($13,169 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.6% ($30,848)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.5% ($26,289)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($26,406)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($42,875)
#23. Yazoo County
- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.1% ($20,116 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($20,582)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($28,168)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.5% ($31,159)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($54,079)
#22. Union County
- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.9% ($26,347 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($30,361)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.1% ($30,551)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($39,173)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($52,526)
#21. Itawamba County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21% ($26,047 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($24,736)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($33,229)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($49,038)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($48,971)
#20. Humphreys County
- 12.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 30.2% ($17,458 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.8% ($20,714)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.3% ($30,519)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.3% ($33,173)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($39,213)
#19. Amite County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($20,060 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($31,869)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30% ($30,898)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($28,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($42,143)
#18. Clarke County
- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.1% ($30,355 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($29,588)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31% ($32,976)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.1% ($38,201)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($50,476)
#17. Prentiss County
- 12.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.9% ($26,833 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.5% ($27,316)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($27,779)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.1% ($39,357)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($46,615)
#16. Chickasaw County
- 12.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 24.6% ($36,227 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($29,458)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.6% ($28,803)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($38,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6% ($53,393)
#15. Marion County
- 12.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18.5% ($20,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($25,706)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($31,843)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.9% ($36,107)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($41,507)
#14. Carroll County
- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.8% ($24,514 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($33,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($37,973)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($40,313)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($66,023)
#13. Smith County
- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.8% ($33,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.2% ($31,359)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($30,633)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($41,607)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($47,738)
#12. Franklin County
- 12% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.4% ($32,188 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($36,533)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($31,657)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($36,167)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($48,125)
#11. Calhoun County
- 11.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.5% ($24,758 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.3% ($30,883)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.4% ($31,820)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.4% ($52,667)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($41,850)
#10. Neshoba County
- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.7% ($18,653 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.6% ($26,812)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($32,073)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.5% ($40,867)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($51,585)
#9. Benton County
- 11.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 27.4% ($37,479 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.4% ($31,261)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.6% ($30,666)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.9% ($31,700)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($46,250)
#8. Tishomingo County
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.6% ($20,701 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($26,646)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($32,414)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.4% ($42,279)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4% ($46,908)
#7. Scott County
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26% ($19,575 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.5% ($26,781)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.2% ($34,267)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.9% ($51,217)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($53,373)
#6. Perry County
- 10.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.1% ($25,417 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($30,277)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($27,712)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($55,405)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($40,852)
#5. Quitman County
- 10.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 28.7% ($17,014 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($21,330)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($27,287)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.6% ($27,857)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($37,083)
#4. Tallahatchie County
- 10.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 30.5% ($25,179 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.8% ($26,509)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($36,250)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.8% ($41,964)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($38,897)
#3. Holmes County
- 10.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.2% ($16,864 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41% ($20,746)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.7% ($25,224)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.8% ($29,865)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($44,722)
#2. Greene County
- 9.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.8% ($15,040 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($27,721)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($31,919)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.2% ($62,863)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($41,856)
#1. Issaquena County
- 3.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 39.4% ($19,453 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($35,107)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.5% ($22,604)
- Bachelor's degree: 0.7%
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.4%
