Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024

Alpine County had the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over of 58 counties in 2024, at 96.3%. Imperial County had the lowest, at 71.5%. The median was 88.4% and the figure for California was 84.7%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

Keep it in a collection in your library.
Highest96.3Alpine County
Lowest71.5Imperial County
Median88.458 counties
California84.7History

Map of counties, 2024

Alameda County: 88.8 %Alpine County: 96.3 %Amador County: 90.7 %Butte County: 90.6 %Calaveras County: 92.4 %Colusa County: 74.2 %Contra Costa County: 89.6 %Del Norte County: 85.9 %El Dorado County: 95.2 %Fresno County: 79.1 %Glenn County: 78.2 %Humboldt County: 91.9 %Imperial County: 71.5 %Inyo County: 93 %Kern County: 77 %Kings County: 75.8 %Lake County: 87.6 %Lassen County: 77 %Los Angeles County: 80.9 %Madera County: 73.1 %Marin County: 92.8 %Mariposa County: 90.3 %Mendocino County: 87.3 %Merced County: 72.3 %Modoc County: 86.7 %Mono County: 88.8 %Monterey County: 73.3 %Napa County: 85.1 %Nevada County: 94.8 %Orange County: 87.1 %Placer County: 95.1 %Plumas County: 93.7 %Riverside County: 83.5 %Sacramento County: 88.3 %San Benito County: 83.4 %San Bernardino County: 82.5 %San Diego County: 89.1 %San Francisco County: 89 %San Joaquin County: 80.9 %San Luis Obispo County: 92.2 %San Mateo County: 90.3 %Santa Barbara County: 81.9 %Santa Clara County: 89.3 %Santa Cruz County: 88.6 %Shasta County: 92.1 %Sierra County: 92.5 %Siskiyou County: 91.7 %Solano County: 88.6 %Sonoma County: 88.7 %Stanislaus County: 79.9 %Sutter County: 80.2 %Tehama County: 87.2 %Trinity County: 92.2 %Tulare County: 74.8 %Tuolumne County: 93.3 %Ventura County: 85.2 %Yolo County: 88.6 %Yuba County: 85.7 %
  • Under 79
  • 79 to 85
  • 85 to 88
  • 88 to 90
  • 90 to 92
  • 92 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All counties, 2024

Alpine County: 96.3 %Alpine County96.3El Dorado County: 95.2 %El Dorado County95.2Placer County: 95.1 %Placer County95.1Nevada County: 94.8 %Nevada County94.8Plumas County: 93.7 %Plumas County93.7Tuolumne County: 93.3 %Tuolumne County93.3Inyo County: 93 %Inyo County93Marin County: 92.8 %Marin County92.8Sierra County: 92.5 %Sierra County92.5Calaveras County: 92.4 %Calaveras County92.4San Luis Obispo County: 92.2 %San Luis Obispo County92.2Trinity County: 92.2 %Trinity County92.2Shasta County: 92.1 %Shasta County92.1Humboldt County: 91.9 %Humboldt County91.9Siskiyou County: 91.7 %Siskiyou County91.7Amador County: 90.7 %Amador County90.7Butte County: 90.6 %Butte County90.6Mariposa County: 90.3 %Mariposa County90.3San Mateo County: 90.3 %San Mateo County90.3Contra Costa County: 89.6 %Contra Costa County89.6Santa Clara County: 89.3 %Santa Clara County89.3San Diego County: 89.1 %San Diego County89.1San Francisco County: 89 %San Francisco County89Alameda County: 88.8 %Alameda County88.8Mono County: 88.8 %Mono County88.8Sonoma County: 88.7 %Sonoma County88.7Yolo County: 88.6 %Yolo County88.6Santa Cruz County: 88.6 %Santa Cruz County88.6Solano County: 88.6 %Solano County88.6Sacramento County: 88.3 %Sacramento County88.3Lake County: 87.6 %Lake County87.6Mendocino County: 87.3 %Mendocino County87.3Tehama County: 87.2 %Tehama County87.2Orange County: 87.1 %Orange County87.1Modoc County: 86.7 %Modoc County86.7Del Norte County: 85.9 %Del Norte County85.9Yuba County: 85.7 %Yuba County85.7Ventura County: 85.2 %Ventura County85.2Napa County: 85.1 %Napa County85.1Riverside County: 83.5 %Riverside County83.5San Benito County: 83.4 %San Benito County83.4San Bernardino County: 82.5 %San Bernardino County82.5Santa Barbara County: 81.9 %Santa Barbara County81.9San Joaquin County: 80.9 %San Joaquin County80.9Los Angeles County: 80.9 %Los Angeles County80.9Sutter County: 80.2 %Sutter County80.2Stanislaus County: 79.9 %Stanislaus County79.9Fresno County: 79.1 %Fresno County79.1Glenn County: 78.2 %Glenn County78.2Lassen County: 77 %Lassen County77Kern County: 77 %Kern County77Kings County: 75.8 %Kings County75.8Tulare County: 74.8 %Tulare County74.8Colusa County: 74.2 %Colusa County74.2Monterey County: 73.3 %Monterey County73.3Madera County: 73.1 %Madera County73.1Merced County: 72.3 %Merced County72.3Imperial County: 71.5 %Imperial County71.5Alpine County: 96.3 %Alpine County96.3El Dorado County: 95.2 %El Dorado County95.2Placer County: 95.1 %Placer County95.1Nevada County: 94.8 %Nevada County94.8Plumas County: 93.7 %Plumas County93.7Tuolumne County: 93.3 %Tuolumne County93.3Inyo County: 93 %Inyo County93Marin County: 92.8 %Marin County92.8Sierra County: 92.5 %Sierra County92.5Calaveras County: 92.4 %Calaveras County92.4San Luis Obispo County: 92.2 %San Luis Obispo County92.2Trinity County: 92.2 %Trinity County92.2Shasta County: 92.1 %Shasta County92.1Humboldt County: 91.9 %Humboldt County91.9Siskiyou County: 91.7 %Siskiyou County91.7Amador County: 90.7 %Amador County90.7Butte County: 90.6 %Butte County90.6Mariposa County: 90.3 %Mariposa County90.3San Mateo County: 90.3 %San Mateo County90.3Contra Costa County: 89.6 %Contra Costa County89.6Santa Clara County: 89.3 %Santa Clara County89.3San Diego County: 89.1 %San Diego County89.1San Francisco County: 89 %San Francisco County89Alameda County: 88.8 %Alameda County88.8Mono County: 88.8 %Mono County88.8Sonoma County: 88.7 %Sonoma County88.7Yolo County: 88.6 %Yolo County88.6Santa Cruz County: 88.6 %Santa Cruz County88.6Solano County: 88.6 %Solano County88.6Sacramento County: 88.3 %Sacramento County88.3Lake County: 87.6 %Lake County87.6Mendocino County: 87.3 %Mendocino County87.3Tehama County: 87.2 %Tehama County87.2Orange County: 87.1 %Orange County87.1Modoc County: 86.7 %Modoc County86.7Del Norte County: 85.9 %Del Norte County85.9Yuba County: 85.7 %Yuba County85.7Ventura County: 85.2 %Ventura County85.2Napa County: 85.1 %Napa County85.1Riverside County: 83.5 %Riverside County83.5San Benito County: 83.4 %San Benito County83.4San Bernardino County: 82.5 %San Bernardino County82.5Santa Barbara County: 81.9 %Santa Barbara County81.9San Joaquin County: 80.9 %San Joaquin County80.9Los Angeles County: 80.9 %Los Angeles County80.9Sutter County: 80.2 %Sutter County80.2Stanislaus County: 79.9 %Stanislaus County79.9Fresno County: 79.1 %Fresno County79.1Glenn County: 78.2 %Glenn County78.2Lassen County: 77 %Lassen County77Kern County: 77 %Kern County77Kings County: 75.8 %Kings County75.8Tulare County: 74.8 %Tulare County74.8Colusa County: 74.2 %Colusa County74.2Monterey County: 73.3 %Monterey County73.3Madera County: 73.1 %Madera County73.1Merced County: 72.3 %Merced County72.3Imperial County: 71.5 %Imperial County71.5
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Alpine County96.30 pts
2El Dorado County95.2+0.2 pts
3Placer County95.1+0.1 pts
4Nevada County94.8-0.3 pts
5Plumas County93.7-0.3 pts
6Tuolumne County93.3-0.2 pts
7Inyo County93+0.2 pts
8Marin County92.80 pts
9Sierra County92.5+1.1 pts
10Calaveras County92.4-0.9 pts
11San Luis Obispo County92.2+0.4 pts
12Trinity County92.2-2.6 pts
13Shasta County92.10 pts
14Humboldt County91.9+0.4 pts
15Siskiyou County91.7+0.6 pts
16Amador County90.7-0.3 pts
17Butte County90.6+0.3 pts
18Mariposa County90.3-0.2 pts
18San Mateo County90.3-0 pts
20Contra Costa County89.6-0 pts
21Santa Clara County89.3-0.1 pts
22San Diego County89.1+0.1 pts
23San Francisco County89+0.2 pts
24Alameda County88.8-0.1 pts
25Mono County88.8-0.8 pts
26Sonoma County88.7-0.1 pts
27Yolo County88.6+0.2 pts
28Santa Cruz County88.6+0.1 pts
29Solano County88.6-0.3 pts
30Sacramento County88.3-0.1 pts
31Lake County87.6+0.5 pts
32Mendocino County87.3+1.2 pts
33Tehama County87.2+0.9 pts
34Orange County87.1+0.1 pts
35Modoc County86.7-1.3 pts
36Del Norte County85.9+0.3 pts
37Yuba County85.7+1 pts
38Ventura County85.2-0.1 pts
39Napa County85.1+0.4 pts
40Riverside County83.5+0.2 pts
41San Benito County83.4+0.2 pts
42San Bernardino County82.5+0.4 pts
43Santa Barbara County81.9-0.3 pts
44San Joaquin County80.9+0.4 pts
45Los Angeles County80.9+0.2 pts
46Sutter County80.2+1.4 pts
47Stanislaus County79.9-0.3 pts
48Fresno County79.1+0.5 pts
49Glenn County78.2-2.1 pts
50Lassen County77-2.1 pts
51Kern County77-0.1 pts
52Kings County75.8+1.6 pts
53Tulare County74.8+0.4 pts
54Colusa County74.2+1 pts
55Monterey County73.3-0.1 pts
56Madera County73.1+0.1 pts
57Merced County72.3+0.4 pts
58Imperial County71.5-0.3 pts

Other periods

About this ranking

People aged 25 and over who hold a regular high school diploma, a GED or alternative credential, or any higher level of education, 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.

Measures the adult population, not students: it is not the high school graduation rate of a class. Not comparable with the EU share below upper secondary education, which covers ages 25 to 64.

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 high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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 high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs (Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat

MLA 9

American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Jan. 2026, https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/california-counties. 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 high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/california-counties.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2026) American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs, Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/california-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_california_by_2024,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024}},
  year = {2026},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/california-counties. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary\_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-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 high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs: Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over, 2024
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/01/29
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/california-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/california-counties.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. American Community Survey 5-year estimates, table B15003: population 25 years and over with a high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. https://www2.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/summary_file/2024/table-based-SF/data/5YRData/acsdt5y2024-b15003.dat. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  - 
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Rank Counties in California by high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over using official data, and cite the source.
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Questions

Which county has the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Alpine County, with 96.3% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which county has the lowest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over?

Imperial County, with 71.5% in 2024.

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 high school diploma, GED or higher as a percentage of the population 25 years and over, calculated with stored inputs. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over: other rankings

Counties in California: more rankings