Least educated counties in New York
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 New York 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 a high school diploma.
Keep reading for a look at the least-educated counties in New York.
#50. Onondaga County
- 35.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($25,056 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.4% ($33,756)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.7% ($39,563)
- Bachelor's degree: 20% ($55,485)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.9% ($68,099)
#49. Dutchess County
- 35% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($25,302 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($35,457)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($43,347)
- Bachelor's degree: 19% ($61,644)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16% ($86,078)
#48. Erie County
- 34.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($22,494 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.6% ($31,779)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($37,770)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.4% ($53,103)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.9% ($64,190)
#47. Staten Island
- 33.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($26,164 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.4% ($41,285)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.5% ($49,408)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.2% ($65,981)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.7% ($78,147)
#46. Columbia County
- 32.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($26,774 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30% ($31,995)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.6% ($38,625)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($49,022)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.5% ($64,000)
#45. Ulster County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($23,887 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.7% ($32,616)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($37,570)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.4% ($50,192)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.1% ($67,823)
#44. Queens County
- 32.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 18% ($24,406 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.5% ($31,762)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.3% ($41,124)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.2% ($55,483)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($73,134)
#43. Schenectady County
- 32.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($23,485 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($31,126)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($39,960)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.5% ($54,007)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.6% ($73,106)
#42. Rensselaer County
- 32% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($25,023 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29% ($36,384)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($44,039)
- Bachelor's degree: 18% ($57,901)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14% ($69,880)
#41. Warren County
- 31.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($26,661 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($31,930)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30% ($38,927)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($48,193)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.7% ($64,896)
#40. Otsego County
- 31.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($22,986 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($31,124)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($32,363)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($36,809)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% ($56,901)
#39. Orange County
- 30.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.3% ($26,389 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.3% ($36,995)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($44,865)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.4% ($65,832)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.9% ($83,962)
#38. Broome County
- 28.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($22,407 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.5% ($29,476)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($35,126)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.4% ($50,784)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.9% ($61,278)
#37. Cortland County
- 28% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($27,031 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($31,197)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($38,174)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($48,817)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.3% ($56,090)
#36. Essex County
- 26.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($24,355 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($30,079)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.2% ($32,585)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($40,770)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($56,840)
#35. Livingston County
- 26.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($28,086 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($36,985)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($40,122)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($52,571)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.1% ($61,159)
#34. Madison County
- 26.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($31,324 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.8% ($33,132)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31% ($39,069)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($50,922)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.2% ($65,059)
#33. Tioga County
- 26% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($22,051 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($32,823)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($37,913)
- Bachelor's degree: 16% ($63,232)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10% ($61,743)
#32. Oneida County
- 25.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($21,453 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($31,381)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($37,318)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($50,844)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($64,355)
#31. Yates County
- 25.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.6% ($36,227 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.6% ($30,286)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($33,829)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.2% ($38,597)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11% ($56,736)
#30. Sullivan County
- 24.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.3% ($23,792 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.8% ($31,558)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.1% ($39,568)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($46,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.2% ($62,348)
#29. Niagara County
- 24.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($22,643 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.2% ($32,276)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($38,916)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.2% ($53,630)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.4% ($63,387)
#28. St. Lawrence County
- 23.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($19,547 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($28,332)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.1% ($37,188)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.9% ($49,897)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($59,050)
#27. Steuben County
- 23.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($20,993 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($30,551)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($34,240)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.1% ($49,232)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% ($64,094)
#26. Schuyler County
- 23.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($22,371 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.5% ($30,944)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($38,156)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($37,083)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.2% ($53,438)
#25. Chemung County
- 23.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($23,051 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($31,331)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.7% ($34,938)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($49,464)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($65,857)
#24. Clinton County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($26,026 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.7% ($32,150)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.1% ($37,525)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($52,056)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($61,986)
#23. Wayne County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($27,596 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($31,397)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($36,886)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($51,001)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($58,513)
#22. Delaware County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($23,883 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.6% ($29,134)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($33,827)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($39,965)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10% ($57,109)
#21. Cayuga County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($27,266 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.3% ($32,997)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($38,722)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($51,351)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($65,960)
#20. Schoharie County
- 22.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.3% ($22,601 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($35,981)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($38,505)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($41,173)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($61,897)
#19. Genesee County
- 22.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($25,769 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36% ($31,640)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34% ($38,348)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($47,128)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9% ($61,733)
#18. Jefferson County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($21,417 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($29,273)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34% ($35,064)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.4% ($47,478)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($63,214)
#17. Chautauqua County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($21,403 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($30,262)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31% ($32,494)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($41,510)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($59,536)
#16. Greene County
- 22.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.3% ($21,852 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.7% ($32,922)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.9% ($38,471)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($44,271)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($63,819)
#15. Herkimer County
- 21.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($29,095 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($31,171)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($33,443)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($48,840)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($56,433)
#14. Seneca County
- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.2% ($23,387 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.2% ($30,721)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($36,250)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($44,790)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($57,972)
#13. Allegany County
- 20.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($24,635 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($30,040)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($31,945)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($36,503)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.3% ($54,193)
#12. Washington County
- 20.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($24,212 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.7% ($31,830)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($36,838)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($45,946)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($57,554)
#11. Bronx County
- 20.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 27.2% ($21,163 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($27,650)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($33,694)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($46,809)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($64,845)
#10. Cattaraugus County
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($24,717 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.2% ($30,252)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($33,413)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($46,617)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($55,192)
#9. Franklin County
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($26,385 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.7% ($33,859)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($35,616)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($48,706)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($61,237)
#8. Oswego County
- 19% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($24,224 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.5% ($32,342)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($38,035)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($46,244)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($66,760)
#7. Chenango County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12% ($25,147 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39% ($30,407)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.5% ($37,671)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($42,805)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($56,258)
#6. Lewis County
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($26,599 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.7% ($30,909)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.1% ($38,471)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($45,870)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($59,688)
#5. Fulton County
- 18.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($23,482 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($31,070)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($35,022)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($44,264)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($60,644)
#4. Montgomery County
- 17.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($21,726 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($32,296)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($34,917)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($51,399)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($63,262)
#3. Wyoming County
- 17.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($24,688 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40% ($33,031)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($39,181)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($44,288)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($54,738)
#2. Hamilton County
- 16.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.5%
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($30,491)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($35,380)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.1% ($34,278)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($32,344)
#1. Orleans County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($25,133 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.3% ($31,787)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($37,186)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($51,897)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($55,536)