The American philosopher and psychologist John Dewey once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” Dewey advocated for an educational paradigm called pragmatism, which stresses the importance of learning academic concepts by experiencing them firsthand, instead of through lecture and repetition in a classroom.
While the philosophy is used by many educators (especially those working in fields where the value of work experience exceeds the value placed on an academic background), many people take great pride in their formal educational credentials because of the valuable skills such educations provided and because of the immense amount of work that goes into earning a degree.
Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most college graduates in Kentucky using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor’s degree or higher using 2020 5-year estimates.
The counties in Kentucky that have the most college graduates:
#30. Garrard County
• 20.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 16.1% ($23,848 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.5% ($31,687)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 27.3% ($35,435)
- Bachelor’s degree: 9.9% ($38,883)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.2% ($49,850)
#29. Clark County
• 20.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($20,927 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($32,360)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 31.3% ($32,870)
- Bachelor’s degree: 12.3% ($57,773)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($61,020)
#28. Boyd County
• 20.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 12.0% ($21,504 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.4% ($29,620)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.4% ($31,672)
- Bachelor’s degree: 11.0% ($43,736)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($50,147)
#27. Washington County
• 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($21,689 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($33,271)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 24.7% ($39,286)
- Bachelor’s degree: 10.6% ($50,076)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($47,610)
#26. Marshall County
• 20.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($26,429 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($36,343)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.1% ($36,646)
- Bachelor’s degree: 11.7% ($62,897)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($56,362)
#25. Mason County
• 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 13.1% ($26,021 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.9% ($31,017)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 31.6% ($32,443)
- Bachelor’s degree: 11.9% ($67,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($59,365)
#24. Spencer County
• 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($28,348 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($36,865)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.3% ($49,426)
- Bachelor’s degree: 13.1% ($57,658)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($61,705)
#23. Hardin County
• 22.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($24,978 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($29,738)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 39.8% ($40,278)
- Bachelor’s degree: 12.8% ($53,760)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($59,027)
#22. Anderson County
• 22.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($22,721 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($31,969)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 31.9% ($36,313)
- Bachelor’s degree: 14.3% ($45,933)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($57,181)
#21. Hickman County
• 22.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 15.2% ($23,162 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($28,735)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 24.3% ($24,438)
- Bachelor’s degree: 16.9% ($42,295)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% (earnings not available)
#20. Bourbon County
• 23.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 14.4% ($23,366 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($26,146)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 25.7% ($36,515)
- Bachelor’s degree: 13.5% ($44,669)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($61,188)
#19. Taylor County
• 23.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($22,457 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.3% ($30,686)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 26.9% ($32,868)
- Bachelor’s degree: 14.2% ($34,527)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($51,621)
#18. Daviess County
• 24.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($25,447 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.4% ($34,111)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 32.7% ($35,453)
- Bachelor’s degree: 14.7% ($47,424)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($57,007)
#17. McCracken County
• 25.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($25,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($27,182)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.4% ($30,891)
- Bachelor’s degree: 16.1% ($52,696)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($56,983)
#16. Boyle County
• 25.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($26,964 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($27,660)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 28.5% ($31,949)
- Bachelor’s degree: 13.9% ($49,211)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($57,675)
#15. Rowan County
• 25.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 13.8% ($20,655 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.3% ($27,053)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 27.1% ($25,895)
- Bachelor’s degree: 11.3% ($45,421)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.5% ($60,465)
#14. Shelby County
• 28.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 13.0% ($17,100 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($32,941)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 30.4% ($40,023)
- Bachelor’s degree: 16.8% ($55,101)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.1% ($55,645)
#13. Jessamine County
• 29.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($26,646 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.9% ($32,415)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 28.1% ($36,184)
- Bachelor’s degree: 17.5% ($49,604)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($66,304)
#12. Scott County
• 30.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($24,432 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($35,057)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 32.8% ($43,354)
- Bachelor’s degree: 18.3% ($57,254)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.1% ($59,683)
#11. Franklin County
• 30.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($21,484 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($30,407)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.9% ($36,782)
- Bachelor’s degree: 18.3% ($48,094)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.5% ($52,900)
#10. Calloway County
Boone County
• 32.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($31,038 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($27,252)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 27.7% ($27,430)
- Bachelor’s degree: 17.3% ($39,598)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.7% ($55,888)
#9. Madison County
• 32.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($21,618 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.5% ($31,021)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.5% ($31,712)
- Bachelor’s degree: 19.1% ($46,179)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.0% ($56,584)
#8. Boone County
• 32.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($26,300 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.1% ($36,030)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 32.4% ($42,332)
- Bachelor’s degree: 20.7% ($67,412)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% ($71,413)
Kenton County
#7. Warren County
• 32.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($24,481 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($30,344)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.3% ($32,789)
- Bachelor’s degree: 19.1% ($48,757)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.2% ($53,702)
#6. Kenton County
– 33.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
– Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($26,157 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($32,059)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.3% ($41,150)
- Bachelor’s degree: 21.5% ($53,743)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.3% ($62,065)
#5. Jefferson County
– 33.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
– Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($23,036 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.2% ($31,271)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 30.7% ($36,559)
- Bachelor’s degree: 20.4% ($52,069)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.5% ($65,881)
#4. Woodford County
– 36.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
– Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($25,541 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.8% ($32,434)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 26.4% ($32,123)
- Bachelor’s degree: 22.7% ($52,586)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.1% ($67,145)
Campbell County (Wikimedia Commons photos)
#3. Campbell County
• 37.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($26,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($32,054)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 26.5% ($40,905)
- Bachelor’s degree: 24.2% ($55,269)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.2% ($64,433)
#2. Oldham County
• 43.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 5.8% ($23,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.6% ($37,087)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 31.6% ($44,456)
- Bachelor’s degree: 25.5% ($66,244)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.5% ($87,750)
#1. Fayette County
• 45.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher
• Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($20,613 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.0% ($29,087)
- Some college or Associate’s degree: 28.0% ($32,732)
- Bachelor’s degree: 25.3% ($49,319)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.6% ($62,974)
Stacker is a national newswire that specializes in data- and research-driven features that are easily digestible and pertinent to targeted communities at the local, regional, and national level. It aims to engage off-platform audiences and increase onsite engagement, strengthening readership with stories that add context to current events and make sense of the world around us. Stacker delivers timely and relevant content that paves the way for new sustainable models for journalism. The NKyTribune is pleased to share Stacker’s stories with our readers.
