Least educated counties in Michigan

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May 14, 2022
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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)

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