West Virginia Educational Attainment By Race and Ethnicity for Ages 25 years and Above in 2021 (ACS-5Yrs)

Updated on August 19, 2025.

Based on the US Census ACS-5Yrs estimates, in 2021, the West Virginia population aged 25 years and above was 1,277,914. See the following sections for the breakdown of the educational attainment of this important demography by race and ethnicity.

Less high school diploma: there were 152,581 people without a high school diploma (ie. 11.94% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 93.94% White Alone, and 2.74% Black Alone.

High School Graduate or Equivalent: there were 512,232 people with a high school diploma or equivalent (ie. 40.08% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 94.35% White Alone, and 3.14% Black Alone.

Some College or Associates Degree: there were 334,820 people with some college courses without a degree or an associates degree (ie. 26.20% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 92.34% White Alone, and 4.45% Black Alone.

Bachelors Degree or higher: there were 278,281 people with a bachelors degree or a higher degree (ie. 21.78% of people aged 25yrs+). The race composition of this group includes, 92.76% White Alone, and 2.49% Black Alone.

The first and second charts below shows the race and ethnicity composition at each educational level. Also see tables below for the population and percentages per race and per ethnicity for each educational level.

You can see similar information for other states and for the United States.

Educational Attainment of West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) By Race in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
Educational Attainment of West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) By Ethnicity in 2021
Less HS Dipl.
HS Grad. or Equiv.
Some Coll. or AA
Bachelors+
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 143337 93.94
Black Alone 4173 2.74
Asian Alone 963 0.63
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 287 0.19
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 102 0.07
Some Other Race Alone 672 0.44
Two or More Races 3047 2.00
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with Less than High School Diploma Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 142119 93.14
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 2309 1.51
All Other Ethnicities 8153 5.34
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 483290 94.35
Black Alone 16107 3.14
Asian Alone 1449 0.28
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 585 0.11
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 302 0.06
Some Other Race Alone 1216 0.24
Two or More Races 9283 1.81
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with High School Diploma or Equivalent Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 480763 93.86
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 4742 0.93
All Other Ethnicities 26727 5.22
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 309165 92.34
Black Alone 14882 4.45
Asian Alone 1587 0.47
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 361 0.11
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 33 0.01
Some Other Race Alone 1496 0.45
Two or More Races 7296 2.18
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with Some College Courses or an Associates Degree Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 306253 91.47
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 4930 1.47
All Other Ethnicities 23637 7.06
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Race in 2021
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Race Population Percent (%)
White Alone 258123 92.76
Black Alone 6921 2.49
Asian Alone 6119 2.20
American Indian & Alaska Native Alone 182 0.07
Native Hawaiian & Pac. Islander Alone 40 0.01
Some Other Race Alone 1415 0.51
Two or More Races 5481 1.97
West Virginia Population (aged 25yrs+) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher Per Ethnicity in 2021
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Ethnicity Population Percent (%)
Non-Hispanic White Alone 256041 92.01
Hispanic or Latino of All Races 4417 1.59
All Other Ethnicities 17823 6.41