Higher Education in the State of Washington

Since 2000, the State of Washington has increased in the percent of the total population (+25) with a BA or Higher. The portion of this population has grown by 2.4 percent to a total of 30.2 percent in 2005, as reported by the American Community Survey. The proportion of the 2005 population having received at least a BA is greater than the national percent of 27.2.

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of Washington range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 44 percent in Whitman County to a low of 12.2 percent in Adams County.

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

1. Whitman County (44 percent)
2. San Juan County (40.2 percent)
3. King County (40 percent)
4. Thurston County (29.8 percent)
5. Jefferson County (28.4 percent)
6. Whatcom County (27.2 percent)
7. Island County (27 percent)
8. Benton County (26.2 percent)
9. Kittitas County (26.2 percent)
10. Kitsap County (25.4 percent)


Washington is made up of a highly-educated population of the working age, with 30.2 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The State of Washington has a higher percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than the average across the nation of 27.2 percent.

According to the 2005 American Community Survey in the State of Washington, the most common level of education achieved in the area for the male population is the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 32 percent receiving this level of education. The women in the Washington have on average achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than the men in the area: 32 percent (Men) versus 28.4 percent (Women). The most common level of education for women in the area is Some College or Associates Degree category, with 35.2 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of the male population that can be considered highly educated has increased by 2.0 percent. By the year 2005, 32 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 2.6 percent. By 2005, a total of 28.4 percent of the women in the population had received a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

In the State of Washington according to the American Community Survey of 2005, 30.8 percent of the White Alone, 19.2 percent of Black or African American, 43.6 percent of the Asian alone and 11.4 percent of the Hispanic or Latino (+25) population has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

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