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RANKING · 2024 ACS · 58 SHOWN OF 58

Least educated, California counties

California counties with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2024 ACS). This list covers the 58 counties in California that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 58 is 25.8%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Plumas County, CA, up 12 places to #18.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
01Lassen County, CACA28,11713.1%+2.4 pts
02▲4Kings County, CACA154,32713.6%+3.3 pts
03Glenn County, CACA28,14115.1%+4.4 pts
04▼2Merced County, CACA297,26015.3%+4.3 pts
05▲3Imperial County, CACA181,41116.1%+5.7 pts
06▼1Colusa County, CACA21,83616.4%+5.7 pts
07▼3Tulare County, CACA485,14616.6%+5.1 pts
08▲6Yuba County, CACA88,69117.7%+7.4 pts
09▲1Lake County, CACA67,77217.8%+5.8 pts
10▼3Madera County, CACA167,92717.9%+5.9 pts
11Kern County, CACA927,06818.8%+5.3 pts
12Tehama County, CACA64,66519.3%+8.0 pts
13Stanislaus County, CACA557,71919.6%+5.6 pts
14▲7Sutter County, CACA98,78720.9%+5.6 pts
15▼6Del Norte County, CACA26,41021.4%+10.4 pts
16▲2Trinity County, CACA15,72022.4%+6.9 pts
17▼2Amador County, CACA41,87622.4%+5.8 pts
18▲12Plumas County, CACA18,58322.5%+5.0 pts
19▼2San Joaquin County, CACA823,81522.7%+8.2 pts
20▲3San Bernardino County, CACA2,224,09123.3%+7.4 pts
21▲4Siskiyou County, CACA42,01323.3%+5.6 pts
22▲4Shasta County, CACA181,64823.8%+7.2 pts
23▼3Calaveras County, CACA46,60523.9%+6.8 pts
24▼2San Benito County, CACA70,08224.1%+7.0 pts
25▼1Fresno County, CACA1,035,45624.3%+6.7 pts
26▲1Tuolumne County, CACA53,16024.6%+8.5 pts
27▼11Modoc County, CACA8,42624.8%+12.5 pts
28▲1Mendocino County, CACA88,12225.2%+4.9 pts
29▼1Riverside County, CACA2,544,91625.6%+8.9 pts
30▼11Sierra County, CACA3,09825.8%+8.6 pts
31Monterey County, CACA433,72928.2%+5.7 pts
32▲2Solano County, CACA455,37628.8%+7.4 pts
33▼1Inyo County, CACA18,15831.5%+14.4 pts
34▼1Mariposa County, CACA16,91831.8%+11.6 pts
35Butte County, CACA209,21131.9%+10.1 pts
36▲2Mono County, CACA12,50532.2%+3.2 pts
37▼1Humboldt County, CACA131,64733.1%+10.1 pts
38▼1Sacramento County, CACA1,618,46034.1%+9.3 pts
39Los Angeles County, CACA9,694,93436.0%+11.2 pts
40Ventura County, CACA830,85136.1%+9.2 pts
41Santa Barbara County, CACA442,06536.8%+7.4 pts
42▲2Sonoma County, CACA486,44438.5%+9.9 pts
43▲2Napa County, CACA132,94939.8%+13.4 pts
44▼1San Luis Obispo County, CACA282,36739.8%+13.1 pts
45▼3El Dorado County, CACA192,32340.0%+13.5 pts
46▲1Alpine County, CACA1,04341.1%+12.9 pts
47▼1Nevada County, CACA101,91141.5%+15.4 pts
48San Diego County, CACA3,282,24843.2%+13.6 pts
49Placer County, CACA442,08143.2%+12.9 pts
50▲1Santa Cruz County, CACA258,85243.9%+9.8 pts
51▼1Orange County, CACA3,149,50744.1%+13.3 pts
52Yolo County, CACA224,41044.8%+10.7 pts
53Contra Costa County, CACA1,170,07045.2%+10.2 pts
54Alameda County, CACA1,636,63052.2%+17.3 pts
55San Mateo County, CACA743,56853.7%+14.7 pts
56Santa Clara County, CACA1,914,39156.5%+16.0 pts
57San Francisco County, CACA826,07960.3%+15.4 pts
58Marin County, CACA253,69461.1%+9.8 pts
SHOWING 1–58 OF 58

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES