Least educated counties in Colorado
The value of traditional education can vary widely across the country. While a college degree has long been viewed as a critical step toward the American dream, growing costs have led many students to reconsider the return-on-investment of higher education. Meanwhile, local economies and individual circumstances can push others toward learning a trade or entering the workforce early.
These considerations aside, national statistics show a clear difference in earnings as they relate to educational attainment, as college graduates than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, compiled a list of the least educated counties in Colorado using data from the . Counties are ranked by the lowest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor's degree or higher. Ties are broken by the highest percent with less than high school diploma.
Keep read on for a look at the least-educated counties in Colorado.
#50. Hinsdale County
- 45.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($44,107 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.8% ($31,417)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.3% ($30,556)
- Bachelor's degree: 31% ($30,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.7% ($41,667)
#49. Jefferson County
- 45.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($29,957 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.3% ($38,468)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29% ($42,541)
- Bachelor's degree: 28.7% ($60,951)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.4% ($73,402)
#48. La Plata County
- 44.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.4% ($26,618 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20% ($34,109)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($34,931)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.7% ($44,505)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.5% ($57,177)
#47. Arapahoe County
- 42.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($27,398 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.8% ($34,220)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29% ($40,954)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.2% ($56,885)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.6% ($73,022)
#46. Gilpin County
- 39.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 1.6% ($40,833 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.4% ($34,963)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($46,392)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.1% ($53,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.5% ($60,263)
#45. El Paso County
- 38.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.8% ($25,339 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.4% ($31,241)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($36,493)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.6% ($51,047)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15% ($70,507)
#44. Grand County
- 38% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4%
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($32,917)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($39,863)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.9% ($38,492)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.1% ($43,229)
#43. Teller County
- 37.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.8% ($31,908 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.2% ($32,278)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($39,257)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.9% ($45,442)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.8% ($52,872)
#42. Archuleta County
- 37.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($32,364 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21% ($20,792)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.1% ($26,807)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.8% ($30,960)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($50,692)
#41. Elbert County
- 35.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.3% ($29,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.1% ($39,846)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($54,430)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.4% ($76,901)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($69,926)
#40. San Juan County
- 35.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1%
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($35,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($40,952)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.2% ($39,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($75,625)
#39. Chaffee County
- 33.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($25,288 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27% ($31,331)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.7% ($31,399)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.6% ($35,799)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% ($49,074)
#38. Custer County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($21,513 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.8% ($39,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.3% ($35,486)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.8% ($30,938)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($55,033)
#37. Lake County
- 32.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.3% ($30,283 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($29,800)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.7% ($26,534)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.6% ($39,927)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($54,837)
#36. Garfield County
- 31% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($37,653 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27% ($40,090)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30% ($37,606)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.7% ($45,184)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.3% ($54,527)
#35. Park County
- 29.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.3% ($28,384 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.9% ($30,511)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37% ($41,280)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.4% ($57,829)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($70,524)
#34. Montezuma County
- 29.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10% ($26,367 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.3% ($29,107)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.2% ($30,600)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.8% ($36,303)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($46,194)
#33. Mesa County
- 28.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($26,838 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.6% ($31,877)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($32,138)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.4% ($43,457)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($55,337)
#32. Weld County
- 27.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($30,821 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($38,531)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($41,514)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($53,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9% ($63,537)
#31. Montrose County
- 25.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11% ($25,295 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.4% ($34,147)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($31,335)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.8% ($39,877)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($52,039)
#30. Alamosa County
- 25% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.2% ($25,132 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.5% ($28,936)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.3% ($27,818)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($34,680)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($57,072)
#29. Rio Grande County
- 24.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.9% ($24,360 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($26,527)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($31,694)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.4% ($41,948)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($55,556)
#28. Adams County
- 24.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.2% ($29,584 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($36,185)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($41,242)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.5% ($54,333)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($64,842)
#27. Dolores County
- 24.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($23,036 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($35,139)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($30,357)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.5% ($34,286)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($55,417)
#26. Phillips County
- 23.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($30,982 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.1% ($40,852)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($39,492)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.6% ($39,188)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($54,167)
#25. Rio Blanco County
- 22.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2%
- High school graduate: 31.5% ($43,614)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.6% ($36,763)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.5% ($31,544)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($53,981)
#24. Saguache County
- 22.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17% ($24,563 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.5% ($27,247)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($25,186)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($37,083)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($26,289)
#23. Pueblo County
- 21.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.3% ($21,670 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.1% ($30,243)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.8% ($32,376)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.3% ($47,158)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($56,202)
#22. Yuma County
- 21.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($27,566 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($32,144)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($37,274)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($44,432)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($42,467)
#21. Delta County
- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($23,827 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.3% ($28,958)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($28,866)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($37,604)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($47,255)
#20. Kiowa County
- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.3% ($42,813 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.6% ($31,625)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.7% ($30,313)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($52,679)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($38,125)
#19. Baca County
- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($21,298 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28% ($24,904)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($26,157)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($36,094)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($41,167)
#18. Huerfano County
- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.6% ($23,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($30,445)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.6% ($27,025)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($40,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($42,222)
#17. Conejos County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12% ($20,741 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.9% ($25,110)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($26,713)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($42,463)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($45,385)
#16. Logan County
- 20.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($21,476 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($30,210)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.6% ($38,259)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($44,301)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($43,818)
#15. Jackson County
- 20% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($22,431 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($30,966)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.2% ($25,875)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($53,007)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.8% ($36,250)
#14. Las Animas County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.1% ($20,966 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($26,422)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.9% ($31,780)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($38,059)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($53,611)
#13. Sedgwick County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.1% ($20,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.1% ($21,181)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.4% ($28,281)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($39,643)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($54,167)
#12. Costilla County
- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.1% ($20,093 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.5% ($25,104)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($25,510)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($45,714)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($55,625)
#11. Cheyenne County
- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.4% ($28,594 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($44,408)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.7% ($35,250)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($46,563)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.5% ($44,091)
#10. Kit Carson County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($37,525 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.6% ($30,677)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($32,221)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($40,479)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($36,544)
#9. Otero County
- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($19,948 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.9% ($30,579)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($27,110)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($38,861)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($54,306)
#8. Fremont County
- 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($24,067 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($27,281)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($34,216)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($35,462)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($47,876)
#7. Prowers County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 19.5% ($28,177 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.1% ($26,138)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.1% ($30,789)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($42,734)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($46,029)
#6. Moffat County
- 17.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($28,664 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.8% ($35,313)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($38,380)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($45,213)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($53,050)
#5. Morgan County
- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.1% ($33,258 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($32,062)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.2% ($34,963)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($42,452)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($42,935)
#4. Washington County
- 15.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($29,306 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.5% ($31,538)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 42% ($31,845)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($41,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($42,679)
#3. Lincoln County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1%
- High school graduate: 54.5% ($21,324)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.8% ($31,585)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($44,265)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($62,560)
#2. Bent County
- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.3%
- High school graduate: 48.7% ($26,114)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($27,105)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($42,986)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($37,266)
#1. Crowley County
- 9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($30,762 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.6% ($21,620)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($24,734)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.2%
- Graduate or professional degree: 1.9% ($110,536)