RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 500 SHOWN OF 3,122
Most educated, US counties · 1990
US counties ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). Los Alamos County, New Mexico leads at 53.4%. 3,122 counties qualify in total. Virginia carries 7 of the top 25 entries.
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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –
USUnited States248,709,87320.3%–
UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS
Frequently asked
Which county has the highest bachelor's degree or higher?
Los Alamos County, New Mexico ranks #1 with 53.4% (1990 Decennial Census).
What are the top 5 counties by bachelor's degree or higher?
Los Alamos County, New Mexico, Falls Church, Virginia, Arlington County, Virginia, Montgomery County, Maryland, Pitkin County, Colorado.
How many counties are in this ranking?
3,122 counties qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.
How is bachelor's degree or higher measured?
Share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.