Least educated counties in Texas

Written by:
May 14, 2022
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Least educated counties in Texas

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 Texas 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 high school diploma.

Keep read on for a look at the least-educated counties in Texas.

#50. Jack County

- 13.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 17.9% ($22,254 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40% ($31,416)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($44,297)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($61,818)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($68,958)

#49. Tyler County

- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18% ($31,075 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43% ($26,203)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($36,656)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($50,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($48,621)

#48. Jim Hogg County

- 13.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 25.4% ($12,047 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.6% ($18,764)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.4% ($36,806)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($47,406)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8%

#47. Crosby County

- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 24% ($19,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($25,185)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27% ($31,173)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($44,107)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3% ($59,375)

#46. Polk County

- 13.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18.3% ($23,071 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.5% ($32,370)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($31,685)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($47,867)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($50,328)

#45. Gonzales County

- 13.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 23.3% ($26,377 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.1% ($33,064)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($35,954)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.5% ($50,478)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($54,531)

#44. Concho County

- 13% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 32.1%
- High school graduate: 30.8% ($22,727)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24% ($26,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($48,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3% ($57,813)

#43. Jasper County

- 12.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15% ($9,488 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.7% ($31,434)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($40,136)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.2% ($42,465)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($54,038)

#42. Trinity County

- 12.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.9% ($23,490 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($31,305)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($31,277)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($43,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($64,432)

#41. Yoakum County

- 12.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 36.5% ($36,614 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.2% ($54,400)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.6% ($48,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($49,564)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($58,064)

#40. Maverick County

- 12.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 40.5% ($17,289 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.6% ($26,192)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.2% ($29,843)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($46,523)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($51,375)

#39. DeWitt County

- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 19.2% ($26,643 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.1% ($31,313)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($36,630)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($52,853)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($54,107)

#38. Howard County

- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 20% ($26,115 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($25,738)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($33,731)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($50,321)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($57,467)

#37. Red River County

- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 14.7% ($16,492 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($26,776)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($28,882)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($43,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.9% ($51,389)

#36. Ward County

- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.4% ($30,521 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($40,621)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($45,795)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($50,071)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3% ($51,034)

#35. Falls County

- 12.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 23.1% ($22,165 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($25,733)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26% ($33,910)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($45,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6% ($59,167)

#34. Reeves County

- 12.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 30.3% ($17,318 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($31,505)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.8% ($40,387)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($45,893)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($51,716)

#33. Live Oak County

- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 23.1% ($21,495 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.1% ($37,792)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($43,513)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($53,710)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($55,245)

#32. Jim Wells County

- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 25.1% ($20,506 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($31,865)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($28,062)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($49,813)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($56,303)

#31. Andrews County

- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 27.8% ($44,454 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.9% ($40,089)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.1% ($52,716)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($60,833)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($62,351)

#30. Kinney County

- 12.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.5% ($11,069 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($41,068)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.7% ($40,457)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.6%
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($81,239)

#29. Deaf Smith County

- 12% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 26.2% ($27,872 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($37,845)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.3% ($36,838)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($43,425)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($64,630)

#28. Haskell County

- 11.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 29.7% ($23,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.1% ($29,479)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.4% ($23,438)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($49,483)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($37,321)

#27. Jones County

- 11.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.6% ($16,771 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($26,505)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($31,837)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.1% ($45,675)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6% ($51,723)

#26. Zapata County

- 11.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 38.1% ($11,732 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.8% ($31,581)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($31,860)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($58,908)
- Graduate or professional degree: 1.2%

#25. Refugio County

- 11.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 19.7% ($20,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($26,196)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.3% ($37,321)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.1% ($54,728)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($47,083)

#24. Terry County

- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 31.6% ($21,065 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($27,683)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.3% ($39,891)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($53,589)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($28,844)

#23. Gaines County

- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 38.2% ($33,379 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($31,813)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.5% ($35,388)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.2% ($51,004)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($47,961)

#22. Mitchell County

- 11.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.3% ($22,159 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.3% ($39,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.1% ($37,990)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($38,152)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($45,865)

#21. San Jacinto County

- 11.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($26,426 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48% ($30,449)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.3% ($36,592)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.5% ($44,063)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($82,993)

#20. Zavala County

- 10.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 33.1% ($12,863 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($25,639)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.3% ($28,098)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($34,375)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2%

#19. Hudspeth County

- 10.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 44.5% ($11,641 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($14,956)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 14.2% ($30,774)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($36,607)
- Graduate or professional degree: 0.7%

#18. Anderson County

- 10.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18.6% ($25,242 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($28,013)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($30,628)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.8% ($37,385)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($48,891)

#17. Reagan County

- 10.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 17.8% ($41,705 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.9% ($42,870)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($56,042)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.4% ($42,150)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($102,778)

#16. Culberson County

- 10.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 33.7% ($18,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35% ($19,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.1% ($27,241)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($21,496)
- Graduate or professional degree: 1.8%

#15. Starr County

- 9.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 46.7% ($15,077 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.3% ($19,357)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.1% ($22,400)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.1% ($38,788)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($71,042)

#14. Pecos County

- 9.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 30.9% ($25,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.9% ($35,417)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.4% ($33,115)
- Bachelor's degree: 6% ($50,795)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($33,036)

#13. Newton County

- 9.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.6% ($8,612 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.9% ($26,068)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($35,221)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($54,614)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.1% ($53,462)

#12. Liberty County

- 9.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 22.6% ($30,077 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($39,796)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($39,695)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.8% ($53,114)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.9% ($59,806)

#11. Upton County

- 9.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 24.4% ($28,214 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($26,641)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($42,292)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.2% ($62,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($48,875)

#10. Sterling County

- 9.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($37,917 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 52% ($49,318)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($52,031)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.3% ($48,654)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3%

#9. Duval County

- 9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 31.5% ($23,193 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($31,090)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.9% ($25,276)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.6% ($39,597)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($48,750)

#8. Bee County

- 8.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 24.6% ($16,612 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.2% ($29,375)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($30,380)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.1% ($53,700)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($84,063)

#7. Willacy County

- 8.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 34.2% ($17,663 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($23,217)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.2% ($23,932)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.5% ($43,842)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.3% ($51,076)

#6. Winkler County

- 8.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 30.9% ($40,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($40,496)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($42,383)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.8% ($58,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.5% ($41,250)

#5. Cochran County

- 8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 32.4% ($23,482 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($33,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.9% ($34,511)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.7% ($50,208)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.3% ($52,500)

#4. La Salle County

- 7.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 36.5% ($16,359 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($34,418)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.5% ($33,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.2% ($55,992)
- Graduate or professional degree: 1.2%

#3. Frio County

- 7.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 33.8% ($18,118 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.2% ($22,393)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($31,894)
- Bachelor's degree: 3.9% ($39,297)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($62,981)

#2. Kenedy County

- 1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 73.5% ($30,662 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.2% ($32,875)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 5.2% ($54,167)
- Bachelor's degree: 0.3%
- Graduate or professional degree: 0.8%

#1. Loving County

- 0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 19.7%
- High school graduate: 19.7%
- Some college or Associate's degree: 60.5%
- Bachelor's degree: 0%
- Graduate or professional degree: 0%

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