Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

Counties with the most college graduates in Mississippi

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 Mississippi 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.

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

Skye Marthaler // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Alcorn County

– 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 18.6% ($22,087 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 32.2% ($27,456)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 32% ($31,326)
– Bachelor’s degree: 10.8% ($38,628)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($60,781)

Z28scrambler // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Adams County

– 17.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 22.1% ($25,134 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 33% ($20,895)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 27.5% ($26,966)
– Bachelor’s degree: 10% ($34,075)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($40,441)

Calvin Beale // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Lawrence County

– 17.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 18.3% ($30,050 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 33.6% ($33,253)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 30.5% ($37,036)
– Bachelor’s degree: 8.9% ($43,125)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($45,833)

Nicholas Brown // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Washington County

– 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 21.1% ($20,594 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 32.3% ($25,701)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 28.5% ($27,426)
– Bachelor’s degree: 10.7% ($38,886)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($52,122)

Michaelswikiusername // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Pontotoc County

– 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 23.5% ($27,646 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 29.1% ($32,622)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.3% ($29,367)
– Bachelor’s degree: 11.3% ($38,371)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($51,458)

NatalieMaynor // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Webster County

– 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 15.1% ($35,230 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 36.6% ($30,239)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.7% ($31,891)
– Bachelor’s degree: 11.9% ($41,761)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($46,477)

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Leflore County

– 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 18.4% ($23,448 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 38.2% ($22,925)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 24.9% ($26,990)
– Bachelor’s degree: 11.1% ($34,880)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($49,099)

Nick Shields // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Choctaw County

– 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 19.5% ($32,083 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 35.9% ($28,937)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 25.5% ($24,375)
– Bachelor’s degree: 11.6% ($32,159)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($39,063)

Qqqqqq // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Montgomery County

– 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 22% ($26,526 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 33.3% ($32,163)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 25.2% ($22,449)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.3% ($35,542)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($49,732)

Natalie Maynor // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Sharkey County

– 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 22.6% ($26,250 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 27.9% ($21,563)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 30.1% ($27,132)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.3% ($37,230)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($41,667)

Dudemanfellabra // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Lauderdale County

– 19.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($16,094 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 27.5% ($25,529)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 37.3% ($30,889)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.1% ($48,120)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($54,805)

Carlcath // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Clay County

– 20.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 18.3% ($22,103 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 34.3% ($24,857)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 27% ($31,728)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.8% ($46,016)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($47,470)

Librarylady2726 // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Jones County

– 20.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 15.9% ($21,844 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 29.9% ($30,065)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 33.5% ($30,523)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.1% ($41,151)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($50,350)

Quentin Melson // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Jackson County

– 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($26,852 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 31.2% ($26,856)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 36.4% ($36,750)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.3% ($44,049)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($65,759)

Matthew Nichols // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Grenada County

– 21.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 19.2% ($18,865 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 27.8% ($23,856)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 31.6% ($32,682)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.8% ($36,169)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($56,431)

Infrogmation of New Orleans // Wikimedia Commons

#15. Hancock County

– 22% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($18,924 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 28.1% ($28,436)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 37.3% ($32,009)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.6% ($40,901)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($59,033)

Renelibrary // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Warren County

– 22.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($18,355 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 30.5% ($25,427)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.2% ($29,581)
– Bachelor’s degree: 14.3% ($47,238)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($62,131)

Woodlot // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Harrison County

– 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($20,831 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 29.1% ($26,822)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 36.1% ($31,713)
– Bachelor’s degree: 14.6% ($44,378)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($59,941)

Leigh T. Harrell // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Lowndes County

– 23.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 14% ($28,995 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 32% ($31,444)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 30.7% ($32,307)
– Bachelor’s degree: 14.8% ($45,648)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($61,699)

Hamhari Brown // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Bolivar County

– 23.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 22.1% ($16,757 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 24.9% ($23,333)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.4% ($23,740)
– Bachelor’s degree: 14.6% ($36,100)
– Graduate or professional degree: 9% ($60,818)

Infrogmation of New Orleans // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Claiborne County

– 24% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 19.6% ($52,637 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 28% ($19,306)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 28.4% ($21,133)
– Bachelor’s degree: 10% ($26,528)
– Graduate or professional degree: 14% ($39,460)

Cohee // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Lee County

– 24.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 16.4% ($21,501 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 25.9% ($27,314)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 33.4% ($32,583)
– Bachelor’s degree: 15.5% ($46,250)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($61,940)

Thomas R Machnitzki // Wikimedia Commons

#8. DeSoto County

– 25% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($28,427 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 29.2% ($33,534)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 36.1% ($40,569)
– Bachelor’s degree: 16.6% ($53,743)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($61,370)

Sturmgewehr88 // Wikimedia

#7. Forrest County

– 27.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($15,648 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 27.2% ($23,622)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 32.4% ($27,764)
– Bachelor’s degree: 16.5% ($34,616)
– Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($49,488)

NatalieMaynor // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Rankin County

– 29% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($26,351 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 26.7% ($33,543)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 33.8% ($37,572)
– Bachelor’s degree: 18.7% ($50,434)
– Graduate or professional degree: 10.4% ($60,413)

Michlaovic // Wikimedia

#5. Hinds County

– 29% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($19,496 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 25% ($25,511)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 33.5% ($29,905)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17% ($40,779)
– Graduate or professional degree: 12% ($52,766)

The diva777 // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Lamar County

– 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($12,649 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 24.2% ($26,041)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 31.1% ($33,849)
– Bachelor’s degree: 21.3% ($49,473)
– Graduate or professional degree: 12.8% ($63,494)

Mthunter58 // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Oktibbeha County

– 42.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($20,387 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 21.7% ($22,391)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 26.3% ($26,975)
– Bachelor’s degree: 20.5% ($35,134)
– Graduate or professional degree: 22.2% ($54,018)

Jerrye & Roy Klotz, MD // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Lafayette County

– 45.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($22,042 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 18.7% ($24,719)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 26.1% ($28,603)
– Bachelor’s degree: 25.6% ($37,614)
– Graduate or professional degree: 20% ($62,639)

Scoutandboo // Wikimedia Commons

#1. Madison County

– 48.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 8.3% ($21,800 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 17% ($28,715)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 26.3% ($35,396)
– Bachelor’s degree: 28.8% ($54,204)
– Graduate or professional degree: 19.6% ($68,678)