Data / Rankings / Graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over / Counties in Kentucky

Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over

Fayette County had the highest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over of 120 counties in 2023, at 20.8%. Lee County had the lowest, at 1.7%. The median was 7.1% and the figure for Kentucky was 11.1%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest20.8Fayette County
Lowest1.7Lee County
Median7.1120 counties
Kentucky11.1History

Map of counties, 2023

Adair County: 8.9 %Allen County: 7.1 %Anderson County: 8.3 %Ballard County: 5.7 %Barren County: 6.8 %Bath County: 5.8 %Bell County: 5.1 %Boone County: 12.9 %Bourbon County: 10.4 %Boyd County: 9 %Boyle County: 11.7 %Bracken County: 7.7 %Breathitt County: 8.2 %Breckinridge County: 5.4 %Bullitt County: 6.6 %Butler County: 4.4 %Caldwell County: 7.3 %Calloway County: 14.7 %Campbell County: 15.1 %Carlisle County: 6 %Carroll County: 3.2 %Carter County: 6.8 %Casey County: 5.1 %Christian County: 6.2 %Clark County: 8.3 %Clay County: 9.1 %Clinton County: 7.6 %Crittenden County: 5.7 %Cumberland County: 8.2 %Daviess County: 10.2 %Edmonson County: 4.7 %Elliott County: 2.7 %Estill County: 3.3 %Fayette County: 20.8 %Fleming County: 6.5 %Floyd County: 6.5 %Franklin County: 13.4 %Fulton County: 3.4 %Gallatin County: 4.2 %Garrard County: 9.1 %Grant County: 5.7 %Graves County: 7.5 %Grayson County: 7.1 %Green County: 8.1 %Greenup County: 8.4 %Hancock County: 5.9 %Hardin County: 9.4 %Harlan County: 6.5 %Harrison County: 8.1 %Hart County: 4.7 %Henderson County: 6.5 %Henry County: 4.8 %Hickman County: 5.5 %Hopkins County: 7.5 %Jackson County: 3.8 %Jefferson County: 15 %Jessamine County: 15 %Johnson County: 7.5 %Kenton County: 13.5 %Knott County: 9.6 %Knox County: 6.6 %Larue County: 8.1 %Laurel County: 7.5 %Lawrence County: 5.8 %Lee County: 1.7 %Leslie County: 3.8 %Letcher County: 6.8 %Lewis County: 5 %Lincoln County: 5.9 %Livingston County: 6.2 %Logan County: 6.3 %Lyon County: 7.1 %McCracken County: 11.2 %McCreary County: 3.8 %McLean County: 7.8 %Madison County: 13.9 %Magoffin County: 8.7 %Marion County: 6.2 %Marshall County: 8.5 %Martin County: 4.1 %Mason County: 9.7 %Meade County: 6.6 %Menifee County: 3.6 %Mercer County: 8.9 %Metcalfe County: 6 %Monroe County: 9.1 %Montgomery County: 9.2 %Morgan County: 8.7 %Muhlenberg County: 5.9 %Nelson County: 8.6 %Nicholas County: 3.9 %Ohio County: 6.4 %Oldham County: 19.4 %Owen County: 4.5 %Owsley County: 4.6 %Pendleton County: 5.5 %Perry County: 8 %Pike County: 7.2 %Powell County: 6.9 %Pulaski County: 8.2 %Robertson County: 4 %Rockcastle County: 7.8 %Rowan County: 14.5 %Russell County: 7.6 %Scott County: 12.1 %Shelby County: 11.4 %Simpson County: 6.3 %Spencer County: 8.4 %Taylor County: 8.2 %Todd County: 6.3 %Trigg County: 9 %Trimble County: 5.9 %Union County: 4.1 %Warren County: 12.7 %Washington County: 7.4 %Wayne County: 6 %Webster County: 4.5 %Whitley County: 10.3 %Wolfe County: 4.4 %Woodford County: 18 %
  • Under 4.7
  • 4.7 to 6.1
  • 6.1 to 7.1
  • 7.1 to 8.2
  • 8.2 to 9.7
  • 9.7 and over
%, 2023. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2023

Fayette County: 20.8 %Fayette County20.8Oldham County: 19.4 %Oldham County19.4Woodford County: 18 %Woodford County18Campbell County: 15.1 %Campbell County15.1Jefferson County: 15 %Jefferson County15Jessamine County: 15 %Jessamine County15Calloway County: 14.7 %Calloway County14.7Rowan County: 14.5 %Rowan County14.5Madison County: 13.9 %Madison County13.9Kenton County: 13.5 %Kenton County13.5Franklin County: 13.4 %Franklin County13.4Boone County: 12.9 %Boone County12.9Warren County: 12.7 %Warren County12.7Scott County: 12.1 %Scott County12.1Boyle County: 11.7 %Boyle County11.7Shelby County: 11.4 %Shelby County11.4McCracken County: 11.2 %McCracken County11.2Bourbon County: 10.4 %Bourbon County10.4Whitley County: 10.3 %Whitley County10.3Daviess County: 10.2 %Daviess County10.2Mason County: 9.7 %Mason County9.7Knott County: 9.6 %Knott County9.6Hardin County: 9.4 %Hardin County9.4Montgomery County: 9.2 %Montgomery County9.2Garrard County: 9.1 %Garrard County9.1Clay County: 9.1 %Clay County9.1Monroe County: 9.1 %Monroe County9.1Trigg County: 9 %Trigg County9Boyd County: 9 %Boyd County9Adair County: 8.9 %Adair County8.9Mercer County: 8.9 %Mercer County8.9Magoffin County: 8.7 %Magoffin County8.7Morgan County: 8.7 %Morgan County8.7Nelson County: 8.6 %Nelson County8.6Marshall County: 8.5 %Marshall County8.5Spencer County: 8.4 %Spencer County8.4Greenup County: 8.4 %Greenup County8.4Anderson County: 8.3 %Anderson County8.3Clark County: 8.3 %Clark County8.3Breathitt County: 8.2 %Breathitt County8.2Fayette County: 20.8 %Fayette County20.8Oldham County: 19.4 %Oldham County19.4Woodford County: 18 %Woodford County18Campbell County: 15.1 %Campbell County15.1Jefferson County: 15 %Jefferson County15Jessamine County: 15 %Jessamine County15Calloway County: 14.7 %Calloway County14.7Rowan County: 14.5 %Rowan County14.5Madison County: 13.9 %Madison County13.9Kenton County: 13.5 %Kenton County13.5Franklin County: 13.4 %Franklin County13.4Boone County: 12.9 %Boone County12.9Warren County: 12.7 %Warren County12.7Scott County: 12.1 %Scott County12.1Boyle County: 11.7 %Boyle County11.7Shelby County: 11.4 %Shelby County11.4McCracken County: 11.2 %McCracken County11.2Bourbon County: 10.4 %Bourbon County10.4Whitley County: 10.3 %Whitley County10.3Daviess County: 10.2 %Daviess County10.2Mason County: 9.7 %Mason County9.7Knott County: 9.6 %Knott County9.6Hardin County: 9.4 %Hardin County9.4Montgomery County: 9.2 %Montgomery County9.2Garrard County: 9.1 %Garrard County9.1Clay County: 9.1 %Clay County9.1Monroe County: 9.1 %Monroe County9.1Trigg County: 9 %Trigg County9Boyd County: 9 %Boyd County9Adair County: 8.9 %Adair County8.9Mercer County: 8.9 %Mercer County8.9Magoffin County: 8.7 %Magoffin County8.7Morgan County: 8.7 %Morgan County8.7Nelson County: 8.6 %Nelson County8.6Marshall County: 8.5 %Marshall County8.5Spencer County: 8.4 %Spencer County8.4Greenup County: 8.4 %Greenup County8.4Anderson County: 8.3 %Anderson County8.3Clark County: 8.3 %Clark County8.3Breathitt County: 8.2 %Breathitt County8.2
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2023 (%)Change on 2022
1Fayette County20.8+0.3 pts
2Oldham County19.4-0.1 pts
3Woodford County18+1.9 pts
4Campbell County15.1+0.2 pts
5Jefferson County15+0.3 pts
6Jessamine County15+2 pts
7Calloway County14.7+0.8 pts
8Rowan County14.5+0.2 pts
9Madison County13.9+0.5 pts
10Kenton County13.5+0.5 pts
11Franklin County13.4+0.3 pts
12Boone County12.90 pts
13Warren County12.7-0 pts
14Scott County12.1-0.3 pts
15Boyle County11.7+0.1 pts
16Shelby County11.4-0.2 pts
17McCracken County11.2-0.4 pts
18Bourbon County10.40 pts
19Whitley County10.3+1 pts
20Daviess County10.2+0.4 pts
21Mason County9.7-0.9 pts
22Knott County9.6+0.8 pts
23Hardin County9.4-0.2 pts
24Montgomery County9.2+1.7 pts
25Garrard County9.1-0.9 pts
26Clay County9.1+2 pts
27Monroe County9.1-1.1 pts
28Trigg County9+0.4 pts
29Boyd County9-0.6 pts
30Adair County8.9-0.8 pts
31Mercer County8.9+0.3 pts
32Magoffin County8.7+1.4 pts
32Morgan County8.7-0 pts
34Nelson County8.6-0.3 pts
35Marshall County8.5-0.9 pts
36Spencer County8.4+0.6 pts
37Greenup County8.4-0.1 pts
38Anderson County8.3-0.5 pts
39Clark County8.3+1 pts
40Breathitt County8.2-0.6 pts
41Cumberland County8.2+2.6 pts
41Pulaski County8.2+0.3 pts
41Taylor County8.2-0.6 pts
44Larue County8.1-1.2 pts
45Green County8.1+1.4 pts
46Harrison County8.1-0.4 pts
47Perry County8+0.6 pts
48McLean County7.8+1 pts
49Rockcastle County7.8+1.4 pts
50Bracken County7.7+1.3 pts
51Clinton County7.6+1.8 pts
52Russell County7.6+0.2 pts
53Hopkins County7.5+0.5 pts
54Johnson County7.5+1 pts
55Graves County7.5-0.5 pts
55Laurel County7.5-0.2 pts
57Washington County7.4-1.4 pts
58Caldwell County7.3+0.2 pts
59Pike County7.2-0.2 pts
60Grayson County7.1+1.4 pts
61Lyon County7.1-0.1 pts
62Allen County7.1-0.3 pts
63Powell County6.9+1.2 pts
64Carter County6.8+0.8 pts
64Letcher County6.8+1.1 pts
66Barren County6.8-0 pts
67Meade County6.6-0.9 pts
68Knox County6.6-1.2 pts
69Bullitt County6.6+0.3 pts
70Floyd County6.5+1 pts
70Henderson County6.5-0.3 pts
72Harlan County6.5+1.2 pts
73Fleming County6.5+0.4 pts
74Ohio County6.4+0.1 pts
75Todd County6.3-0.6 pts
76Simpson County6.3+0.1 pts
77Logan County6.3-0.3 pts
78Marion County6.2-0.3 pts
79Christian County6.2+0.2 pts
80Livingston County6.2+0.5 pts
81Carlisle County6+1.3 pts
82Metcalfe County6-0.4 pts
83Wayne County6-0.2 pts
84Hancock County5.9+0.3 pts
85Lincoln County5.9-0.2 pts
85Muhlenberg County5.9+0.1 pts
87Trimble County5.9+1.5 pts
88Lawrence County5.8+0.8 pts
89Bath County5.8-0.6 pts
90Ballard County5.7+0.1 pts
91Crittenden County5.7+0.7 pts
92Grant County5.70 pts
93Pendleton County5.5-0.2 pts
94Hickman County5.5+0.7 pts
95Breckinridge County5.4-0.8 pts
96Bell County5.1+0.6 pts
97Casey County5.1-0.7 pts
98Lewis County5+0.7 pts
99Henry County4.8-0.2 pts
100Hart County4.7+0.5 pts
101Edmonson County4.7-1.5 pts
102Owsley County4.6+1 pts
103Owen County4.5+0.3 pts
104Webster County4.5+0.2 pts
105Butler County4.4-1.5 pts
106Wolfe County4.4-0.4 pts
107Gallatin County4.2+0.9 pts
108Martin County4.1+0.1 pts
109Union County4.1+0.4 pts
110Robertson County4+1.6 pts
111Nicholas County3.9+0.1 pts
112McCreary County3.8+0.8 pts
113Leslie County3.8-0.6 pts
114Jackson County3.8-0.5 pts
115Menifee County3.6+0.3 pts
116Fulton County3.4+0.9 pts
117Estill County3.3-0.1 pts
118Carroll County3.2+0.5 pts
119Elliott County2.7-0.5 pts
120Lee County1.7-0.5 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over whose highest degree is a master's, professional school or doctorate degree, as a percentage of all people aged 25 and over. United States: American Community Survey five-year estimate, where the period shown is the last year of the five-year span.

A subset of bachelors_degree_share, which also counts people whose highest degree is a bachelor's.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the counties are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2026). American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2023) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2023. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/kentucky-counties?period=2023. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2026. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2023. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/kentucky-counties?period=2023.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2023 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/kentucky-counties?period=2023 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_kentucky_by_2023,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2023}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/kentucky-counties?period=2023. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in Kentucky by graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over, 2023
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/kentucky-counties?period=2023
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/graduate-or-professional-degree/kentucky-counties?period=2023.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2023/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2023-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which county has the highest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over?

Fayette County, with 20.8% in 2023, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over?

Lee County, with 1.7% in 2023.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a master's, professional school or doctorate degree as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Graduate or professional degree, population 25 and over: other rankings

Counties in Kentucky: more rankings