RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 58 SHOWN OF 58

Least educated, California counties · 1990

California counties with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). This list covers the 58 counties in California that qualify, ranked against each other statewide. The median across all 58 is 16.8%.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

01Kings County, CACA154,3279.0%–

02Glenn County, CACA28,1419.4%–

03Yuba County, CACA88,6919.5%–

04Imperial County, CACA181,4119.7%–

05Del Norte County, CACA26,41010.0%–

06Tehama County, CACA64,66510.2%–

07Lake County, CACA67,77210.7%–

08Colusa County, CACA21,83611.1%–

09Modoc County, CACA8,42611.2%–

10Lassen County, CACA28,11711.7%–

11Madera County, CACA167,92711.7%–

12Tulare County, CACA485,14611.8%–

13Merced County, CACA297,26012.0%–

14Trinity County, CACA15,72012.9%–

15Stanislaus County, CACA557,71913.0%–

16San Joaquin County, CACA823,81513.2%–

17Kern County, CACA927,06813.3%–

18Inyo County, CACA18,15813.5%–

19Shasta County, CACA181,64813.7%–

20Amador County, CACA41,87614.0%–

21Siskiyou County, CACA42,01314.2%–

22San Benito County, CACA70,08214.4%–

23Calaveras County, CACA46,60514.4%–

24Riverside County, CACA2,544,91614.6%–

25Tuolumne County, CACA53,16014.7%–

26San Bernardino County, CACA2,224,09114.9%–

27Plumas County, CACA18,58315.1%–

28Sutter County, CACA98,78715.4%–

29Sierra County, CACA3,09815.9%–

30Mariposa County, CACA16,91816.8%–

31Fresno County, CACA1,035,45616.9%–

32Mendocino County, CACA88,12217.8%–

33Solano County, CACA455,37618.7%–

34Butte County, CACA209,21119.5%–

35Humboldt County, CACA131,64720.0%–

36El Dorado County, CACA192,32320.8%–

37Monterey County, CACA433,72921.5%–

38Mono County, CACA12,50521.9%–

39Nevada County, CACA101,91122.1%–

40Napa County, CACA132,94922.3%–

41Los Angeles County, CACA9,694,93422.3%–

42Placer County, CACA442,08122.7%–

43San Luis Obispo County, CACA282,36722.9%–

44Sacramento County, CACA1,618,46023.0%–

45Ventura County, CACA830,85123.0%–

46Alpine County, CACA1,04324.0%–

47Sonoma County, CACA486,44424.5%–

48San Diego County, CACA3,282,24825.3%–

49Santa Barbara County, CACA442,06526.6%–

50Orange County, CACA3,149,50727.8%–

51Alameda County, CACA1,636,63028.8%–

52Santa Cruz County, CACA258,85229.7%–

53Yolo County, CACA224,41030.3%–

54San Mateo County, CACA743,56831.3%–

55Contra Costa County, CACA1,170,07031.6%–

56Santa Clara County, CACA1,914,39132.6%–

57San Francisco County, CACA826,07935.0%–

58Marin County, CACA253,69444.0%–

SHOWING 1–58 OF 58

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS