Data / Rankings / High school graduate or higher, population 25 and over / Counties in North Carolina

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

Dare County had the highest high school graduate or higher, population 25 and over of 100 counties in 2024, at 94.7%. Greene County had the lowest, at 79%. The median was 88.7% and the figure for North Carolina was 90.2%. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest94.7Dare County
Lowest79Greene County
Median88.7100 counties
North Carolina90.2History

Map of counties, 2024

Alamance County: 89 %Alexander County: 85.8 %Alleghany County: 83.2 %Anson County: 83.1 %Ashe County: 88.8 %Avery County: 87.8 %Beaufort County: 89.3 %Bertie County: 81.8 %Bladen County: 88.6 %Brunswick County: 93.5 %Buncombe County: 92.6 %Burke County: 86 %Cabarrus County: 92.1 %Caldwell County: 84.9 %Camden County: 93.1 %Carteret County: 93.8 %Caswell County: 84.3 %Catawba County: 88.2 %Chatham County: 90.9 %Cherokee County: 92.2 %Chowan County: 90.2 %Clay County: 92.5 %Cleveland County: 88.4 %Columbus County: 86.8 %Craven County: 92.3 %Cumberland County: 92.9 %Currituck County: 93.2 %Dare County: 94.7 %Davidson County: 88.5 %Davie County: 91.4 %Duplin County: 82.4 %Durham County: 91.5 %Edgecombe County: 85.1 %Forsyth County: 90.4 %Franklin County: 88.4 %Gaston County: 88.3 %Gates County: 90.1 %Graham County: 85.7 %Granville County: 88.3 %Greene County: 79 %Guilford County: 90.8 %Halifax County: 82.2 %Harnett County: 88.6 %Haywood County: 91.3 %Henderson County: 91.6 %Hertford County: 84.1 %Hoke County: 88.7 %Hyde County: 88.5 %Iredell County: 91.6 %Jackson County: 90.6 %Johnston County: 90.5 %Jones County: 89.1 %Lee County: 84.9 %Lenoir County: 82.9 %Lincoln County: 89.6 %McDowell County: 85.3 %Macon County: 89.8 %Madison County: 90.5 %Martin County: 84.4 %Mecklenburg County: 90.8 %Mitchell County: 90.7 %Montgomery County: 83.5 %Moore County: 93.7 %Nash County: 87.1 %New Hanover County: 94 %Northampton County: 85.1 %Onslow County: 93.3 %Orange County: 93.4 %Pamlico County: 90.1 %Pasquotank County: 89.4 %Pender County: 90.8 %Perquimans County: 88.2 %Person County: 88.9 %Pitt County: 90.8 %Polk County: 93.4 %Randolph County: 84.4 %Richmond County: 83.5 %Robeson County: 80 %Rockingham County: 85.5 %Rowan County: 88.9 %Rutherford County: 87.2 %Sampson County: 84.1 %Scotland County: 83.2 %Stanly County: 88.6 %Stokes County: 91.4 %Surry County: 83.8 %Swain County: 86.7 %Transylvania County: 93.9 %Tyrrell County: 83.5 %Union County: 90.9 %Vance County: 85.2 %Wake County: 94 %Warren County: 84.3 %Washington County: 86.1 %Watauga County: 92.6 %Wayne County: 86.4 %Wilkes County: 81.7 %Wilson County: 85.3 %Yadkin County: 86.6 %Yancey County: 90.7 %
  • Under 84
  • 84 to 87
  • 87 to 89
  • 89 to 91
  • 91 to 92
  • 92 and over
%, 2024. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

Top 40 counties, 2024

Dare County: 94.7 %Dare County94.7New Hanover County: 94 %New Hanover County94Wake County: 94 %Wake County94Transylvania County: 93.9 %Transylvania County93.9Carteret County: 93.8 %Carteret County93.8Moore County: 93.7 %Moore County93.7Brunswick County: 93.5 %Brunswick County93.5Polk County: 93.4 %Polk County93.4Orange County: 93.4 %Orange County93.4Onslow County: 93.3 %Onslow County93.3Currituck County: 93.2 %Currituck County93.2Camden County: 93.1 %Camden County93.1Cumberland County: 92.9 %Cumberland County92.9Watauga County: 92.6 %Watauga County92.6Buncombe County: 92.6 %Buncombe County92.6Clay County: 92.5 %Clay County92.5Craven County: 92.3 %Craven County92.3Cherokee County: 92.2 %Cherokee County92.2Cabarrus County: 92.1 %Cabarrus County92.1Henderson County: 91.6 %Henderson County91.6Iredell County: 91.6 %Iredell County91.6Durham County: 91.5 %Durham County91.5Stokes County: 91.4 %Stokes County91.4Davie County: 91.4 %Davie County91.4Haywood County: 91.3 %Haywood County91.3Chatham County: 90.9 %Chatham County90.9Union County: 90.9 %Union County90.9Pender County: 90.8 %Pender County90.8Pitt County: 90.8 %Pitt County90.8Guilford County: 90.8 %Guilford County90.8Mecklenburg County: 90.8 %Mecklenburg County90.8Mitchell County: 90.7 %Mitchell County90.7Yancey County: 90.7 %Yancey County90.7Jackson County: 90.6 %Jackson County90.6Madison County: 90.5 %Madison County90.5Johnston County: 90.5 %Johnston County90.5Forsyth County: 90.4 %Forsyth County90.4Chowan County: 90.2 %Chowan County90.2Gates County: 90.1 %Gates County90.1Pamlico County: 90.1 %Pamlico County90.1Dare County: 94.7 %Dare County94.7New Hanover County: 94 %New Hanover County94Wake County: 94 %Wake County94Transylvania County: 93.9 %Transylvania County93.9Carteret County: 93.8 %Carteret County93.8Moore County: 93.7 %Moore County93.7Brunswick County: 93.5 %Brunswick County93.5Polk County: 93.4 %Polk County93.4Orange County: 93.4 %Orange County93.4Onslow County: 93.3 %Onslow County93.3Currituck County: 93.2 %Currituck County93.2Camden County: 93.1 %Camden County93.1Cumberland County: 92.9 %Cumberland County92.9Watauga County: 92.6 %Watauga County92.6Buncombe County: 92.6 %Buncombe County92.6Clay County: 92.5 %Clay County92.5Craven County: 92.3 %Craven County92.3Cherokee County: 92.2 %Cherokee County92.2Cabarrus County: 92.1 %Cabarrus County92.1Henderson County: 91.6 %Henderson County91.6Iredell County: 91.6 %Iredell County91.6Durham County: 91.5 %Durham County91.5Stokes County: 91.4 %Stokes County91.4Davie County: 91.4 %Davie County91.4Haywood County: 91.3 %Haywood County91.3Chatham County: 90.9 %Chatham County90.9Union County: 90.9 %Union County90.9Pender County: 90.8 %Pender County90.8Pitt County: 90.8 %Pitt County90.8Guilford County: 90.8 %Guilford County90.8Mecklenburg County: 90.8 %Mecklenburg County90.8Mitchell County: 90.7 %Mitchell County90.7Yancey County: 90.7 %Yancey County90.7Jackson County: 90.6 %Jackson County90.6Madison County: 90.5 %Madison County90.5Johnston County: 90.5 %Johnston County90.5Forsyth County: 90.4 %Forsyth County90.4Chowan County: 90.2 %Chowan County90.2Gates County: 90.1 %Gates County90.1Pamlico County: 90.1 %Pamlico County90.1
%. Source: Invokely calculation with data from U.S. Census Bureau. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankCounties2024 (%)Change on 2023
1Dare County94.7-0.5 pts
2New Hanover County94+0.5 pts
2Wake County94+0.1 pts
4Transylvania County93.9+0.1 pts
5Carteret County93.8+1 pts
6Moore County93.7+1 pts
7Brunswick County93.5+0.1 pts
8Polk County93.4+1.6 pts
9Orange County93.4+0.1 pts
10Onslow County93.30 pts
11Currituck County93.2-0.7 pts
12Camden County93.1+0.1 pts
13Cumberland County92.9+0.3 pts
14Watauga County92.6+0.2 pts
15Buncombe County92.6+0.3 pts
16Clay County92.5+2.5 pts
17Craven County92.3+0.6 pts
18Cherokee County92.2+0.8 pts
19Cabarrus County92.1+0.3 pts
20Henderson County91.6+0.5 pts
21Iredell County91.6+0.3 pts
22Durham County91.5+0.8 pts
23Stokes County91.4+1.5 pts
24Davie County91.4+0.6 pts
25Haywood County91.3-0.3 pts
26Chatham County90.9+0.5 pts
27Union County90.9+0.5 pts
28Pender County90.8+0.3 pts
29Pitt County90.8-0.1 pts
30Guilford County90.8+0.5 pts
31Mecklenburg County90.8-0 pts
32Mitchell County90.7+1 pts
33Yancey County90.7+2.6 pts
34Jackson County90.6+0.8 pts
35Madison County90.5-0.3 pts
36Johnston County90.5+1 pts
37Forsyth County90.4+0.5 pts
38Chowan County90.2+2.8 pts
39Gates County90.1+0.5 pts
40Pamlico County90.10 pts
41Macon County89.8-0.2 pts
42Lincoln County89.6-0.4 pts
43Pasquotank County89.4-0.6 pts
44Beaufort County89.3+1.2 pts
45Jones County89.1+2.6 pts
46Alamance County89+0.4 pts
47Rowan County88.9+0.8 pts
48Person County88.9-0.2 pts
49Ashe County88.8+1.3 pts
50Hoke County88.7-0.2 pts
51Harnett County88.6-0 pts
52Bladen County88.60 pts
53Stanly County88.6+1.4 pts
54Davidson County88.5+0.8 pts
55Hyde County88.5+1.6 pts
56Cleveland County88.4+1 pts
57Franklin County88.4+0.8 pts
58Granville County88.3+1.7 pts
59Gaston County88.3+0.2 pts
60Perquimans County88.2+1.5 pts
61Catawba County88.2+0.7 pts
62Avery County87.8+1.4 pts
63Rutherford County87.2+0.6 pts
64Nash County87.1+0.7 pts
65Columbus County86.8+0.3 pts
66Swain County86.7-0.5 pts
67Yadkin County86.6+0.1 pts
68Wayne County86.4-0 pts
69Washington County86.1+0.5 pts
70Burke County86+0.8 pts
71Alexander County85.8+0.2 pts
72Graham County85.7+0.9 pts
73Rockingham County85.5+1.1 pts
74Wilson County85.3+0.9 pts
75McDowell County85.3-0.8 pts
76Vance County85.2-0.3 pts
77Northampton County85.1+0.5 pts
78Edgecombe County85.1+0.7 pts
79Lee County84.9-0.2 pts
80Caldwell County84.9+2.1 pts
81Randolph County84.4+0.5 pts
82Martin County84.4+1 pts
83Caswell County84.3+0.7 pts
84Warren County84.3-2.5 pts
85Sampson County84.1-0.2 pts
86Hertford County84.1-0.7 pts
87Surry County83.8+1.1 pts
88Tyrrell County83.5+3 pts
89Richmond County83.5-0.7 pts
90Montgomery County83.5-0.5 pts
91Alleghany County83.2+0.1 pts
92Scotland County83.2+0.8 pts
93Anson County83.1+0.7 pts
94Lenoir County82.9+0.4 pts
95Duplin County82.4+0.5 pts
96Halifax County82.2+1.3 pts
97Bertie County81.8-0.1 pts
98Wilkes County81.7-0.2 pts
99Robeson County80+1.1 pts
100Greene County79+1.2 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 North Carolina 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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-counties (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_counties_in_north_carolina_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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-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 North Carolina 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/north-carolina-counties
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/high-school-graduate-or-higher/north-carolina-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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Questions

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

Dare County, with 94.7% in 2024, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Greene County, with 79% 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 North Carolina: more rankings