An educated population makes a more attractive workforce. Well-educated workers likely have access to more economic opportunities than workers with less education. High educational attainment represents a region's investment in human capital and preparation for long-term growth.

In 2013-17, 86% of adults had at least a high school degree, up 3 percentage points from 2008-12 and 11 points from 2000. This makes Arkansas 44th in the nation on this indicator, including the 50 states and Washington, D.C., but similar to the U.S as a whole. Rates were fairly similar across the major racial and ethnic groups: 87% for white, 88% for Hispanic, 82% for black or African American, and 86% for Asian adults. Rates also were similar for men (85%) and women (87%).

There was some variation in rates across the state, with the lowest rates in Lee and Sevier counties (70% and 72%), and the highest rates in Grant, Pulaski, Saline and Faulkner counties (all at 90% or 91%).

Adults are people 25 and older. The multi-year figures are from the Census Bureau's American Community Survey. The bureau combined five years of responses to the survey to provide estimates for smaller geographic areas and increase the precision of its estimates. The survey provides data on characteristics of the population that used to be collected only during the decennial census. Data for this indicator is expected to be released annually in December.