Higher Education in the State of Arkansas

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of Arkansas range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 28.2 percent in Pulaski County to a low of 6.4 percent in Poinsett County.

The ten most highly-educated counties in Arkansas
Percent of the population (over 25) holding a bachelors degree or higher

1. Pulaski County (28.2 percent)
2. Faulkner County (25.2 percent)
3. Washington County (24.6 percent)
4. Craighead County (21 percent)
5. Benton County (20.4 percent)
6. Clark County (19.8 percent)
7. Pope County (19 percent)
8. Garland County (18 percent)
9. Drew County (17.2 percent)
10. Columbia County (16.8 percent)


Since the year 2000, the State of Arkansas has increased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has grown by 2.2 percent to a total of 18.8 percent in 2005, as reported by the American Community Survey. The proportion of the 2005 population having received at least a BA is less than the average US percent of 27.2.

Reported by the 2005 American Community Survey in the State of Arkansas, the most common level of education achieved in the area for the male population is the High School Diploma category, with 35.4 percent achieving this level. The female population in the Arkansas have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors Degree or Higher) than the male population-- 19.4 percent (Men) versus 18.4 percent (Women). Many of the women in the area achieving a High School Diploma category, with 35.6 percent of the female population achieving this education level.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of the male population that can be considered highly educated has increased by 2.4 percent. In the year 2005, 19.4 percent of total male population (over 25), in this area, held at least a Bachelors Degree. At the same time, the percent of women (over 25) holding a BA or higher has increased by a total of 2.4 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 18.4 percent of the total female population achieved this high level of education.

In the State of Arkansas as reported in the American Community Survey of the year 2005, 20 percent of the White Alone, 13 percent of Black or African American, 45 percent of the Asian alone and 8 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

Arkansas can be considered to have a less-educated population of the working age, with 18.8 percent of the over 25 years old population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher, according to the 2005 American Community Survey. The State of Arkansas was reported to have a lower percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.