Least educated counties in Arizona
Written by:
April 1, 2021
United States Bureau of Land Management // Wikimedia Commons
Least educated counties in Arizona
The value of traditional education can vary widely across the country. While a college degree has long been viewed as a critical step toward the American dream, growing costs have led many students to reconsider the return-on-investment of higher education. Meanwhile, local economies and individual circumstances can push others toward learning a trade or entering the workforce early.
These considerations aside, national statistics show a clear difference in earnings as they relate to educational attainment, as college graduates typically earn 65% more than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, Stacker compiled a list of the least educated counties in Arizona using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the lowest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor’s degree or higher. Ties are broken by the highest percent with less than high school diploma.
Keep read on for a look at the least-educated counties in Arizona.
1 / 15
HildaWeges Photography // Shutterstock
#15. Coconino County
- 36.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($23,467 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22% ($28,175)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($33,240)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.6% ($42,903)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.6% ($56,571)
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($23,467 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22% ($28,175)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($33,240)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.6% ($42,903)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.6% ($56,571)
2 / 15
Sean Pavone // Shutterstock
#14. Maricopa County
- 32.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($24,198 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.4% ($31,328)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($38,904)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.8% ($55,832)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($71,381)
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($24,198 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.4% ($31,328)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($38,904)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.8% ($55,832)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($71,381)
3 / 15
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
#13. Pima County
- 32.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($21,418 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($27,019)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.8% ($32,854)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.7% ($46,158)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.7% ($63,506)
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($21,418 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($27,019)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.8% ($32,854)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.7% ($46,158)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.7% ($63,506)
4 / 15
Martha.baden // Wikimedia
#12. Yavapai County
- 25.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($26,284 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($26,708)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.3% ($30,539)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($39,486)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($50,170)
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($26,284 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($26,708)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.3% ($30,539)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($39,486)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($50,170)
5 / 15
Clay Gilliland // Flickr
#11. Cochise County
- 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($18,943 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.1% ($24,594)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.2% ($31,319)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.2% ($50,035)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($58,962)
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($18,943 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.1% ($24,594)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.2% ($31,319)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.2% ($50,035)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($58,962)
6 / 15
Elnogalense // Wikimedia Commons
#10. Santa Cruz County
- 20.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.4% ($21,156 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($25,990)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.5% ($27,380)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($39,818)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($51,004)
- Less than high school diploma: 23.4% ($21,156 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($25,990)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.5% ($27,380)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($39,818)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($51,004)
7 / 15
zeesstof // Wikimedia Commons
#9. Pinal County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($23,109 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.3% ($32,657)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($37,929)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($47,552)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($52,384)
- Less than high school diploma: 14.3% ($23,109 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.3% ($32,657)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($37,929)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($47,552)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($52,384)
8 / 15
Alan Levine // Wikimedia Commons
#8. Gila County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($25,054 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($27,455)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.8% ($28,734)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($41,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($54,265)
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($25,054 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($27,455)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.8% ($28,734)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($41,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($54,265)
9 / 15
Ixnayonthetimmay // Wikimedia Commons
#7. Navajo County
- 15.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.7% ($22,726 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($22,672)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($28,952)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($44,318)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($54,206)
- Less than high school diploma: 16.7% ($22,726 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($22,672)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($28,952)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.8% ($44,318)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($54,206)
10 / 15
Wars // Wikimedia Commons
#6. Graham County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.8% ($19,764 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($26,208)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.4% ($33,092)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($47,926)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($47,426)
- Less than high school diploma: 14.8% ($19,764 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($26,208)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.4% ($33,092)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.9% ($47,926)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($47,426)
11 / 15
Ken Lund // Flickr
#5. Yuma County
- 15% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 26.7% ($19,268 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.7% ($27,951)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($33,918)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($41,595)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($57,240)
- Less than high school diploma: 26.7% ($19,268 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.7% ($27,951)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($33,918)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($41,595)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($57,240)
12 / 15
Bill Morrow // Wikimedia Commons
#4. Greenlee County
- 13.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($23,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($53,338)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.8% ($48,864)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($48,848)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($41,314)
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($23,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($53,338)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.8% ($48,864)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($48,848)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.1% ($41,314)
13 / 15
InSapphoWeTrust // Wikicommons
#3. Mohave County
- 12.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($21,829 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($26,805)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($31,176)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($42,545)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($61,569)
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($21,829 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($26,805)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($31,176)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($42,545)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($61,569)
14 / 15
Andreas F. Borchert // Wikimedia Commons
#2. Apache County
- 12.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.6% ($17,848 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($29,659)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($34,798)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($46,239)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($54,917)
- Less than high school diploma: 19.6% ($17,848 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($29,659)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($34,798)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($46,239)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($54,917)
15 / 15
United States Bureau of Land Management // Wikimedia Commons
#1. La Paz County
- 12% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.1% ($20,951 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($26,117)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.8% ($28,466)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($38,871)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($36,667)
- Less than high school diploma: 23.1% ($20,951 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($26,117)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.8% ($28,466)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.6% ($38,871)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($36,667)
