Least educated counties in Ohio
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 Ohio 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 Ohio.
#50. Pickaway County
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($21,908 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($36,534)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.2% ($43,346)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.1% ($56,768)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($68,514)
#49. Mercer County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($22,917 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.3% ($37,168)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($37,092)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($51,368)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($56,920)
#48. Richland County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($23,761 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($29,646)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($32,880)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($45,556)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($60,523)
#47. Defiance County
- 18% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($30,135 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($34,410)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31% ($38,281)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($45,781)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($70,442)
#46. Fulton County
- 17.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($22,393 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.7% ($35,834)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($37,377)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($48,004)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($63,006)
#45. Madison County
- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($26,444 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.6% ($35,411)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($39,238)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($62,813)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($59,531)
#44. Tuscarawas County
- 17.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.1% ($31,948 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.7% ($31,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.9% ($32,518)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($48,494)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($63,482)
#43. Henry County
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($24,261 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.5% ($32,437)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($39,787)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($49,776)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($54,081)
#42. Wyandot County
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($29,257 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.7% ($32,830)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29% ($38,905)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($52,514)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($57,953)
#41. Seneca County
- 16.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($18,804 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.2% ($32,439)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.7% ($33,997)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($42,288)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($55,148)
#40. Belmont County
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($15,313 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.4% ($25,890)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.1% ($34,131)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($42,830)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($54,661)
#39. Van Wert County
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($23,239 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.3% ($32,880)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($38,045)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($43,790)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($56,902)
#38. Logan County
- 16.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($30,310 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48.4% ($36,499)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($40,074)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($47,367)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($54,177)
#37. Preble County
- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($27,447 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.9% ($33,538)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.3% ($38,876)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($50,521)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($60,225)
#36. Fayette County
- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($23,634 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.9% ($31,919)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($38,689)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($45,196)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($55,792)
#35. Hardin County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($26,742 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48% ($33,206)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.3% ($36,064)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($42,214)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($61,406)
#34. Champaign County
- 16.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($22,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.2% ($35,024)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.9% ($38,844)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($52,563)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($59,321)
#33. Sandusky County
- 16.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($20,784 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.4% ($32,471)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($37,460)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($49,134)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($58,333)
#32. Muskingum County
- 16.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($24,410 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.6% ($30,132)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.1% ($31,737)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($50,611)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($55,153)
#31. Gallia County
- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16% ($18,952 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($30,330)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($33,410)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($41,221)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($62,373)
#30. Jefferson County
- 15.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($20,203 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.8% ($29,496)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($34,689)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($44,572)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($51,696)
#29. Darke County
- 15.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($25,294 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.9% ($34,545)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.1% ($34,032)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($47,239)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($63,931)
#28. Ross County
- 15.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($21,261 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($31,580)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.8% ($35,573)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($49,225)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($63,046)
#27. Scioto County
- 15.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.1% ($19,938 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($30,186)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($35,314)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($48,765)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($60,281)
#26. Paulding County
- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($22,574 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.9% ($34,580)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($34,009)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($46,453)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($58,250)
#25. Williams County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($14,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.4% ($31,693)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($35,058)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($46,481)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($60,729)
#24. Columbiana County
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($22,870 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.7% ($30,668)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29% ($31,420)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($44,937)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($56,449)
#23. Brown County
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($33,839 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.6% ($35,666)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($38,442)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($63,209)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($57,016)
#22. Lawrence County
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($27,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.9% ($30,122)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.8% ($32,066)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($51,644)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($57,964)
#21. Guernsey County
- 14.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.4% ($24,531 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.7% ($29,672)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.3% ($32,696)
- Bachelor's degree: 9% ($43,696)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($53,766)
#20. Jackson County
- 14.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.5% ($26,044 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($28,765)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($33,848)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($47,466)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($63,589)
#19. Crawford County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($25,813 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.8% ($30,790)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.9% ($33,020)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($42,679)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($51,677)
#18. Hocking County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($19,411 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.6% ($32,728)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($32,475)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($43,961)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($64,410)
#17. Huron County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($23,142 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.2% ($31,963)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($36,179)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($47,815)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($56,845)
#16. Ashtabula County
- 14.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14% ($24,025 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.6% ($28,591)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.2% ($33,780)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($42,785)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($62,860)
#15. Morrow County
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($24,960 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.9% ($36,095)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($38,293)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.5% ($47,410)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($64,063)
#14. Highland County
- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.9% ($21,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.4% ($28,708)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($31,366)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($50,976)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($61,626)
#13. Carroll County
- 13.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($22,179 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49.7% ($32,467)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.5% ($39,464)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.1% ($45,975)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($57,757)
#12. Coshocton County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.5% ($27,480 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.3% ($27,419)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25% ($30,684)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($45,891)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($59,659)
#11. Adams County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.8% ($24,672 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.5% ($25,984)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.5% ($30,453)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($39,347)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($69,003)
#10. Meigs County
- 13.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.4% ($25,046 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.8% ($28,120)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($34,790)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($52,549)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($61,250)
#9. Vinton County
- 12.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.3% ($21,866 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.7% ($31,262)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.2% ($34,640)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($43,856)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($52,788)
#8. Pike County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.8% ($22,434 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.2% ($32,133)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($35,297)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.3% ($50,219)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($58,137)
#7. Monroe County
- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($18,287 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 51.8% ($26,721)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($32,660)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($52,361)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($47,857)
#6. Marion County
- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($19,417 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.5% ($30,608)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($36,932)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($46,856)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($56,458)
#5. Perry County
- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($17,056 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.5% ($31,054)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($37,897)
- Bachelor's degree: 8% ($44,189)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($60,354)
#4. Harrison County
- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($32,946 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.9% ($30,625)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.4% ($36,007)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.5% ($46,447)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4% ($53,879)
#3. Morgan County
- 10.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.6% ($24,271 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.9% ($26,337)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.2% ($30,093)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.4% ($40,184)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($54,000)
#2. Noble County
- 9.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.3% ($7,860 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.9% ($22,758)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($31,078)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.7% ($30,924)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($60,893)
#1. Holmes County
- 9.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 43% ($39,379 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.9% ($31,407)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 14.4% ($29,721)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($44,862)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($57,500)