The American philosopher and psychologist John Dewey once said, “Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself.” Dewey advocated for an educational paradigm called pragmatism, which stresses the importance of learning academic concepts by experiencing them firsthand, instead of through lecture and repetition in a classroom.

While the philosophy is used by many educators (especially those working in fields where the value of work experience exceeds the value placed on an academic background), many people take great pride in their formal educational credentials because of the valuable skills such educations provided and because of the immense amount of work that goes into earning a degree.

Stacker compiled a list of counties with the most college graduates in Oregon using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties are ranked by the highest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor’s degree or higher using 2020 5-year estimates.

Keep reading to see which counties in your state have the most college graduates.

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English: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Douglas County

– 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($26,061 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 32.5% ($31,416)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 39.5% ($32,058)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.0% ($46,416)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($63,858)

Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Crook County

– 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($30,601 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 32.5% ($27,373)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 37.9% ($34,024)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.4% ($58,804)
– Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($57,292)

Tomas Nevesely // Shutterstock

#28. Wheeler County

– 18.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 6.7% (earnings not available)
– High school graduate: 32.8% ($25,208)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 41.6% ($30,114)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.6% ($30,000)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($51,875)

Ken Lund // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Lake County

– 19.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($13,387 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 34.1% ($28,942)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.4% ($31,953)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.2% ($50,781)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($76,729)

Jmabel // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Linn County

– 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($30,188 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 29.2% ($31,767)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 41.1% ($39,662)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.9% ($47,218)
– Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($51,815)

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Debbie Tegtmeier // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Coos County

– 19.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.0% ($25,690 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 30.7% ($28,401)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 39.4% ($30,606)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.5% ($56,103)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($56,875)

Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Sherman County

– 20.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.6% (earnings not available)
– High school graduate: 28.6% ($30,000)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 40.8% ($40,573)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.4% ($50,855)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% (earnings not available)

Cacophony // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Wasco County

– 20.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($26,113 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 28.5% ($31,624)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 38.7% ($35,782)
– Bachelor’s degree: 12.7% ($52,667)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($59,476)

Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Grant County

– 20.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($20,882 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 35.0% ($35,134)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 33.4% ($29,209)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.5% ($39,107)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($50,000)

Bobjgalindo // Wikimedia Commons

#21. Klamath County

– 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($16,845 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 31.6% ($31,419)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.9% ($31,968)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.6% ($44,712)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($56,017)

USFWS Headquarters’ photostream // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Tillamook County

– 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($28,393 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 28.6% ($31,652)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 40.3% ($31,778)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.1% ($44,712)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($53,454)

Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Jefferson County

– 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($30,000 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 30.3% ($29,145)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 36.5% ($33,161)
– Bachelor’s degree: 14.4% ($41,612)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($62,006)

Tedder // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Gilliam County

– 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($50,625 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 33.2% ($35,972)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 38.6% ($33,882)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17.7% ($48,125)
– Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($60,750)

Manuela Durson // Shutterstock

#17. Curry County

– 23.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($18,056 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 28.1% ($33,519)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 40.4% ($36,126)
– Bachelor’s degree: 13.6% ($40,920)
– Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($50,518)

English: Gary Halvorson, Oregon State Archives // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Clatsop County

– 24.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($19,795 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 27.5% ($31,935)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 40.9% ($33,859)
– Bachelor’s degree: 15.4% ($43,866)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($63,640)

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Edmund Garman // Flickr

#15. Marion County

– 24.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 14.8% ($26,658 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 25.9% ($30,679)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 35.2% ($36,080)
– Bachelor’s degree: 15.8% ($52,997)
– Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($64,441)

Williamborg // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Union County

– 24.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($31,458 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 32.9% ($32,760)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 35.8% ($34,833)
– Bachelor’s degree: 16.7% ($45,386)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($62,599)

Finetooth // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Baker County

– 25.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($20,000 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 29.4% ($30,652)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 36.8% ($31,651)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17.6% ($48,340)
– Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($60,417)

Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Wallowa County

– 26.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 5.7% ($28,333 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 30.2% ($25,701)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 37.2% ($28,208)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17.7% ($34,375)
– Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($60,811)

M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Yamhill County

– 27.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($29,449 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 24.3% ($31,368)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 38.0% ($41,084)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17.7% ($51,514)
– Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($64,711)

EncMstr // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Lincoln County

– 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($25,170 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 24.9% ($25,362)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 39.6% ($30,247)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17.2% ($38,262)
– Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($55,026)

Little Mountain 5 // Wikicommons

#9. Jackson County

– 28.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($24,879 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 25.2% ($31,381)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 36.4% ($32,859)
– Bachelor’s degree: 17.6% ($48,504)
– Graduate or professional degree: 11.2% ($62,995)

Bruce Fingerhood from Springfield, Oregon, US // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Polk County

– 30.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($26,783 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 24.1% ($32,329)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 37.0% ($41,841)
– Bachelor’s degree: 18.2% ($50,732)
– Graduate or professional degree: 12.3% ($72,035)

Lauram12345 // Wikicommons

#7. Lane County

– 31.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($24,544 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 23.1% ($30,606)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 37.5% ($32,480)
– Bachelor’s degree: 19.0% ($42,135)
– Graduate or professional degree: 12.9% ($54,322)

Sam Beebe // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Hood River County

– 34.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 17.5% ($27,917 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 20.7% ($33,651)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 27.0% ($34,698)
– Bachelor’s degree: 18.4% ($51,396)
– Graduate or professional degree: 16.3% ($65,236)

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Ian Poellet // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Deschutes County

– 37.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($27,120 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 21.6% ($30,210)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 35.0% ($36,030)
– Bachelor’s degree: 22.8% ($45,866)
– Graduate or professional degree: 14.3% ($65,853)

Mrgadget51 // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Clackamas County

– 38.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($30,589 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 21.4% ($37,800)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 34.4% ($44,475)
– Bachelor’s degree: 24.6% ($62,262)
– Graduate or professional degree: 13.4% ($78,247)

M.O. Stevens // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Washington County

– 44.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($27,200 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 17.5% ($33,107)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 30.2% ($42,339)
– Bachelor’s degree: 27.8% ($63,115)
– Graduate or professional degree: 17.1% ($90,601)

Stuart Seeger // Wikicommons

#2. Multnomah County

– 46.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 8.0% ($25,150 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 17.2% ($31,513)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 28.3% ($36,711)
– Bachelor’s degree: 28.2% ($53,070)
– Graduate or professional degree: 18.4% ($72,076)

cpaulfell // Shutterstock

#1. Benton County

– 53.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor’s degree or higher

– Less than high school diploma: 3.8% ($27,656 median earnings)
– High school graduate: 13.7% ($33,772)
– Some college or Associate’s degree: 29.2% ($31,427)
– Bachelor’s degree: 29.2% ($42,320)
– Graduate or professional degree: 24.0% ($65,144)

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Stacker

Stacker is a news organization that produces and distributes data journalism to the world’s news organizations. Founded in 2017, Stacker combines data analysis with rich editorial context, drawing on authoritative sources and subject matter experts to drive storytelling. This article has been republished pursuant to a CC BY-NC 4.0 License.