Least educated counties in Pennsylvania
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 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania.
#50. Lancaster County
- 27.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.9% ($31,048 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($34,671)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.5% ($37,773)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.3% ($50,115)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10% ($67,080)
#49. Pike County
- 26.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7% ($25,050 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($33,687)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.8% ($35,474)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.2% ($54,653)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($66,687)
#48. Union County
- 26% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($29,681 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39% ($26,900)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.8% ($31,281)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($51,564)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.1% ($65,603)
#47. York County
- 24.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($24,379 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.6% ($35,523)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.5% ($41,459)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.3% ($55,744)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($72,150)
#46. Berks County
- 24.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.3% ($27,549 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($35,486)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.1% ($39,213)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.1% ($53,858)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($70,936)
#45. Beaver County
- 24.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.9% ($22,306 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($32,018)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($39,204)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.6% ($53,383)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($64,118)
#44. Monroe County
- 24.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($30,885 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.1% ($32,169)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($37,574)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($50,720)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($69,185)
#43. Lycoming County
- 23.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10% ($24,940 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($30,520)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.8% ($33,763)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($46,687)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($63,515)
#42. Indiana County
- 23% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($26,392 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.2% ($30,681)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.8% ($34,076)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($43,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($57,917)
#41. Columbia County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($26,146 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($30,475)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($36,778)
- Bachelor's degree: 14% ($47,823)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($66,152)
#40. Luzerne County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($25,218 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39% ($30,134)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($36,687)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($50,540)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($67,309)
#39. Mercer County
- 22.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($25,160 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($30,547)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.1% ($31,848)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($47,599)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($60,924)
#38. Adams County
- 22.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($30,187 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.9% ($35,355)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.6% ($39,213)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($50,438)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($72,981)
#37. Lawrence County
- 22.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($22,926 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.3% ($29,799)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($35,206)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($50,439)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($64,399)
#36. Clarion County
- 22.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($24,958 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.5% ($30,978)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.5% ($31,945)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($38,356)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($58,712)
#35. Franklin County
- 21.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($31,388 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.1% ($34,058)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($41,196)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.8% ($51,371)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($64,054)
#34. Blair County
- 21.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.6% ($24,432 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45% ($30,423)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.1% ($35,906)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($48,120)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($62,138)
#33. Cambria County
- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($22,906 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.4% ($28,912)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.5% ($32,600)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.5% ($45,541)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($60,700)
#32. Crawford County
- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11% ($29,974 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.8% ($29,534)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.1% ($34,541)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($43,248)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($60,180)
#31. Lebanon County
- 20.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.9% ($30,088 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44% ($33,350)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.5% ($36,828)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($51,732)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($63,782)
#30. Wayne County
- 20.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($26,809 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.9% ($30,604)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($31,928)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($42,284)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($63,339)
#29. Snyder County
- 19.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.4% ($28,871 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.6% ($32,918)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($36,273)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($51,762)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($69,414)
#28. Elk County
- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($23,258 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48% ($36,100)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($36,191)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($48,996)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($57,992)
#27. Wyoming County
- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($27,607 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.4% ($30,748)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($37,618)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($49,470)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($59,000)
#26. Warren County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($23,088 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.4% ($30,349)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($32,451)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.8% ($45,281)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($60,568)
#25. Clinton County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($23,693 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.5% ($31,219)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.3% ($37,848)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($45,326)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($63,625)
#24. Tioga County
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($22,984 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.3% ($29,940)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26% ($33,331)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.9% ($45,854)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($57,074)
#23. McKean County
- 18.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($21,897 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.5% ($29,597)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($35,492)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.1% ($46,003)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($61,741)
#22. Venango County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($24,650 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48% ($29,190)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.4% ($32,868)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($42,994)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($61,028)
#21. Bradford County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($28,073 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47% ($31,571)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.3% ($36,441)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.1% ($46,395)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($64,732)
#20. Susquehanna County
- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($29,677 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45% ($31,353)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($33,525)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($46,183)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($62,109)
#19. Carbon County
- 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($27,342 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.3% ($33,993)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.2% ($37,201)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($50,091)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($62,107)
#18. Greene County
- 17.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($23,906 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46% ($33,302)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.9% ($35,846)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($45,300)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($69,750)
#17. Huntingdon County
- 17.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($24,362 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48.8% ($30,380)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.2% ($34,531)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.6% ($44,788)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($56,935)
#16. Fayette County
- 17.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($19,789 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48% ($30,858)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.2% ($37,492)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($47,702)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($66,915)
#15. Sullivan County
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($26,615 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.7% ($31,662)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($33,972)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($44,375)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($56,750)
#14. Armstrong County
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($24,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49% ($31,467)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.6% ($37,035)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($46,496)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($63,846)
#13. Perry County
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($32,616 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.4% ($36,661)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.4% ($42,713)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($53,551)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($63,636)
#12. Schuylkill County
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($27,516 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.6% ($34,583)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($37,490)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($50,985)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($61,630)
#11. Northumberland County
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12% ($24,392 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49.8% ($31,239)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.6% ($37,019)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($49,418)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($61,934)
#10. Jefferson County
- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($30,612 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 51.1% ($30,205)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.4% ($35,565)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($43,104)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($58,854)
#9. Somerset County
- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($23,529 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49.8% ($29,914)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.6% ($32,368)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($48,999)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($54,909)
#8. Potter County
- 15.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12% ($22,045 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47% ($29,775)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($33,005)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($41,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($53,487)
#7. Clearfield County
- 15.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($21,536 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 49.5% ($29,711)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.7% ($35,344)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($42,977)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($60,548)
#6. Bedford County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12% ($22,594 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 51.3% ($30,194)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.9% ($35,704)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.9% ($45,781)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($53,816)
#5. Juniata County
- 14.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.7% ($30,972 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48.8% ($32,417)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20% ($37,274)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($48,363)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($53,950)
#4. Cameron County
- 13.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($16,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48.3% ($23,558)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($31,607)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.3% ($44,212)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($52,250)
#3. Fulton County
- 13.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($27,596 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 52.2% ($33,828)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22% ($40,591)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.8% ($44,844)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($57,000)
#2. Mifflin County
- 11.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15% ($32,075 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 51.8% ($30,722)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($36,282)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($46,317)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($56,585)
#1. Forest County
- 8.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17% ($14,308 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 57.4% ($18,264)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.5% ($22,279)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.1% ($24,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.9%