RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 58 SHOWN OF 58

Least educated, California counties · 2020

California counties with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). This list covers the 58 counties in California that qualify, ranked against each other statewide.

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SAME RANKING BYCities States Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000

01Lassen County, CACA28,11712.7%+18%

02Merced County, CACA297,26014.1%+28%

03Glenn County, CACA28,14114.4%+35%

04Tulare County, CACA485,14614.5%+26%

05Colusa County, CACA21,83614.9%+40%

06Kings County, CACA154,32715.0%+45%

07Madera County, CACA167,92715.2%+27%

08Imperial County, CACA181,41115.4%+49%

09Del Norte County, CACA26,41015.4%+40%

10Lake County, CACA67,77216.7%+39%

11Kern County, CACA927,06817.1%+27%

12Tehama County, CACA64,66517.4%+54%

13Stanislaus County, CACA557,71917.7%+26%

14Yuba County, CACA88,69118.0%+74%

15Amador County, CACA41,87618.1%+9%

16Modoc County, CACA8,42618.2%+47%

17San Joaquin County, CACA823,81519.2%+32%

18Trinity County, CACA15,72019.2%+24%

19Sierra County, CACA3,09819.4%+13%

20Calaveras County, CACA46,60519.8%+16%

21Sutter County, CACA98,78720.0%+31%

22San Benito County, CACA70,08220.1%+18%

23San Bernardino County, CACA2,224,09121.4%+34%

24Fresno County, CACA1,035,45622.0%+26%

25Siskiyou County, CACA42,01322.1%+25%

26Shasta County, CACA181,64822.1%+33%

27Tuolumne County, CACA53,16022.3%+39%

28Riverside County, CACA2,544,91623.2%+40%

29Mendocino County, CACA88,12224.0%+19%

30Plumas County, CACA18,58324.5%+40%

31Monterey County, CACA433,72926.2%+17%

32Inyo County, CACA18,15826.4%+54%

33Mariposa County, CACA16,91826.9%+33%

34Solano County, CACA455,37627.1%+27%

35Butte County, CACA209,21128.3%+30%

36Humboldt County, CACA131,64730.9%+34%

37Sacramento County, CACA1,618,46031.4%+27%

38Mono County, CACA12,50532.1%+11%

39Los Angeles County, CACA9,694,93433.5%+35%

40Ventura County, CACA830,85133.9%+26%

41Santa Barbara County, CACA442,06535.0%+19%

42El Dorado County, CACA192,32335.2%+33%

43San Luis Obispo County, CACA282,36736.1%+35%

44Sonoma County, CACA486,44436.4%+28%

45Napa County, CACA132,94937.2%+41%

46Nevada County, CACA101,91137.6%+44%

47Alpine County, CACA1,04338.4%+36%

48San Diego County, CACA3,282,24839.5%+34%

49Placer County, CACA442,08140.8%+35%

50Orange County, CACA3,149,50741.2%+34%

51Santa Cruz County, CACA258,85241.8%+22%

52Yolo County, CACA224,41042.6%+25%

53Contra Costa County, CACA1,170,07043.3%+24%

54Alameda County, CACA1,636,63048.7%+39%

55San Mateo County, CACA743,56852.1%+33%

56Santa Clara County, CACA1,914,39153.5%+32%

57San Francisco County, CACA826,07958.8%+31%

58Marin County, CACA253,69460.2%+17%

SHOWING 1–58 OF 58

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES