Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most college graduates in Kentucky

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.

Keep reading to see which counties in your state have the most college graduates.

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W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

w:User:Malepheasant // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

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Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Brian Stansberry // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

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W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Nyttend // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Farragutful // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Smallbones // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

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W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

JERRYE & ROY KLOTZ MD // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

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Murray State // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Calloway 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)

FloNight (Sydney Poore) and Russell Poore // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

OPMaster // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Greg5030 // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

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Chris Watson // Wikicommons

#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)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Rdikeman // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

W.marsh // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

Christopher L. Riley // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

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