Least educated counties in Michigan
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 Michigan 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 Michigan.
#50. Barry County
- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($31,361 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.7% ($36,166)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.8% ($41,111)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($52,753)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($67,870)
#49. Delta County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($17,321 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.8% ($30,069)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.4% ($29,344)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($45,599)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($63,407)
#48. Calhoun County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($20,980 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($30,429)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($35,735)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($48,023)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($67,371)
#47. Lenawee County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($21,611 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($29,943)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33% ($34,504)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($49,168)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.3% ($62,847)
#46. Saginaw County
- 20.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($20,368 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.3% ($26,534)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.2% ($31,687)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($50,296)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($65,170)
#45. Cheboygan County
- 20.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($19,464 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38% ($26,134)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.4% ($31,167)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($35,233)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($55,197)
#44. Monroe County
- 20.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.6% ($21,325 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.2% ($37,772)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.7% ($41,891)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($60,334)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($65,708)
#43. Manistee County
- 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($20,169 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.6% ($24,732)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.9% ($30,988)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.2% ($45,545)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($66,750)
#42. Muskegon County
- 19.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($22,356 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34% ($29,470)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($33,398)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($49,048)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($65,505)
#41. Oceana County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($22,568 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.3% ($30,718)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.4% ($31,580)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($43,077)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($53,413)
#40. Gogebic County
- 19.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($23,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.3% ($22,351)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($25,894)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($39,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($54,152)
#39. Crawford County
- 19.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10% ($17,981 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33% ($27,273)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($32,271)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($40,777)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($62,667)
#38. Bay County
- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($16,681 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($30,390)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($34,426)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($49,472)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($70,038)
#37. Cass County
- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($29,375 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.2% ($30,813)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.4% ($37,215)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($55,840)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($69,879)
#36. St. Clair County
- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($21,861 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34% ($31,799)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.2% ($37,950)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($51,923)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($68,962)
#35. Iron County
- 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($18,138 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.9% ($27,770)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($30,895)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($43,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($38,365)
#34. Luce County
- 18.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($20,521 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.8% ($21,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($30,813)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($49,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($36,905)
#33. Lapeer County
- 18.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($22,388 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.8% ($30,925)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.8% ($39,686)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($55,802)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($66,048)
#32. Wexford County
- 18.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($25,561 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.4% ($26,994)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.9% ($27,421)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($41,607)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($61,429)
#31. Alpena County
- 18% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($16,567 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($26,046)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.2% ($30,692)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.4% ($45,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($56,987)
#30. Presque Isle County
- 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($20,489 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.2% ($30,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($27,424)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($56,029)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($64,353)
#29. Alger County
- 17.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($11,049 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45.2% ($15,913)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.3% ($28,065)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.6% ($37,313)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($44,097)
#28. Hillsdale County
- 17.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($22,788 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.9% ($31,425)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.9% ($36,696)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.7% ($45,700)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($66,711)
#27. Shiawassee County
- 17% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($24,153 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.3% ($31,342)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.9% ($37,931)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($50,073)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($62,743)
#26. Alcona County
- 16.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($16,705 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($22,463)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($26,755)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($37,813)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($46,563)
#25. Newaygo County
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.9% ($23,407 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($31,004)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.1% ($33,591)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($44,722)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($64,375)
#24. Ontonagon County
- 16.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($16,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.4% ($22,435)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($31,783)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($36,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($36,250)
#23. Ionia County
- 16.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($23,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.1% ($31,943)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35% ($37,753)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($53,260)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($62,647)
#22. Menominee County
- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($19,659 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.5% ($31,806)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($30,493)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($43,045)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($58,378)
#21. St. Joseph County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($30,880 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($31,065)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($32,091)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($48,884)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($59,750)
#20. Huron County
- 16% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($24,470 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.6% ($28,787)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($32,864)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($45,341)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($60,129)
#19. Iosco County
- 15.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($23,234 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.3% ($25,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($28,818)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($38,569)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($45,529)
#18. Baraga County
- 15.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($23,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.6% ($27,656)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($30,941)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.7% ($55,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($62,500)
#17. Schoolcraft County
- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($20,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 44.1% ($25,824)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($22,898)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($43,971)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($44,940)
#16. Roscommon County
- 15.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($11,176 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($26,010)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.1% ($26,006)
- Bachelor's degree: 9% ($46,813)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($59,688)
#15. Gratiot County
- 15.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% ($27,255 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($28,847)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($34,609)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.8% ($45,600)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($57,159)
#14. Branch County
- 14.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($25,388 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.5% ($30,156)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($32,426)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($49,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($71,553)
#13. Osceola County
- 14.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($30,280 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.8% ($29,909)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($30,819)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($40,481)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($57,750)
#12. Sanilac County
- 14.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($26,220 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.2% ($29,167)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33% ($31,994)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($42,581)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($53,364)
#11. Missaukee County
- 14% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($25,341 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.9% ($30,454)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.6% ($30,452)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($46,780)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.6% ($55,341)
#10. Montmorency County
- 13.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($11,938 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.9% ($26,891)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.4% ($26,979)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.6% ($36,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($34,167)
#9. Tuscola County
- 13.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($20,451 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.4% ($30,328)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($33,466)
- Bachelor's degree: 9% ($41,990)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($64,399)
#8. Gladwin County
- 13.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($24,258 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.3% ($27,289)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($32,955)
- Bachelor's degree: 8% ($46,131)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($62,760)
#7. Montcalm County
- 13.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.4% ($30,092 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.4% ($29,827)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.9% ($34,646)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.9% ($46,039)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($62,972)
#6. Arenac County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($24,531 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.9% ($25,374)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34% ($30,580)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($46,923)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($55,000)
#5. Clare County
- 12.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($24,735 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($21,612)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($27,549)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.9% ($41,058)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($57,955)
#4. Ogemaw County
- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.1% ($25,165 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.2% ($24,875)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.5% ($27,925)
- Bachelor's degree: 8% ($43,860)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($53,984)
#3. Kalkaska County
- 11.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.7% ($20,568 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($30,323)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.3% ($28,063)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.5% ($46,694)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($52,778)
#2. Lake County
- 11.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 17.5% ($14,292 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.6% ($23,413)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30% ($24,313)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($36,518)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($59,688)
#1. Oscoda County
- 10.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.6% ($28,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($21,900)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.5% ($27,715)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.7% ($28,482)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($62,500)