Higher Education in the State of West Virginia

In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that in the State of West Virginia, the largest educational attainment category for men is the High School Diploma category, with 42.8 percent reaching this education level. The female population in the West Virginia on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than men -- 17.6 percent (Men) versus 16.4 percent (Women). A high proportion of the female population in the area has reached the High School Diploma category, with 41 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

West Virginia may to understood as having a less-educated population, with 17 percent of the population over 25 years old having received at least a Bachelors Degree, according to the American Community Survey of 2005. The State of West Virginia is reported having a lower percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than the national average of 27.2 percent.

In the State of West Virginia as reported in the 2005 American Community Survey, 16.8 percent of the White Alone, 14.4 percent of Black or African American, 68.2 percent of the Asian alone and 23.4 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population (over 25) has obtained a Bachelors Degree or Higher.

From the years 2000 to 2005, the proportion of the male population that could be considered highly educated has increased by 1.6 percent. In the year 2005, 17.6 percent of area's male population, over the age 25, achieved a Bachelors Degree or Higher. At the same time, the percent of women, over the age 25, holding at least a Bachelors Degree has increased by a total of 2.4 percent. By 2005, a total of 16.4 percent of the female population having received at least a Bachelors Degree.

Since the year 2000, the State of West Virginia has increased in the percent of the population that is over the age of 25 with a BA or Higher. This population cohort has grown by 2.2 percent to a total of 17 percent in 2005, according to the American Community Survey. The 2005 proportion of highly educated population is less than the US percent of 27.2.

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of West Virginia range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 32.4 percent in Monongalia County to a low of 5.6 percent in McDowell County.

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

1. Monongalia County (32.4 percent)
2. Ohio County (23 percent)
3. Jefferson County (21.6 percent)
4. Cabell County (21 percent)
5. Kanawha County (20.6 percent)
6. Putnam County (19.6 percent)
7. Gilmer County (17 percent)
8. Harrison County (16.2 percent)
9. Marion County (16 percent)
10. Wood County (15.2 percent)


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