Least educated counties in Minnesota
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 Minnesota 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 Minnesota.
#50. Kandiyohi County
- 23.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11% ($25,257 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.9% ($30,462)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.9% ($37,300)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.1% ($45,199)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($66,065)
#49. Cass County
- 23.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($25,665 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.3% ($29,194)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($31,850)
- Bachelor's degree: 16% ($44,628)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($56,700)
#48. Itasca County
- 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6% ($21,399 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30% ($30,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.9% ($34,913)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($47,791)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($67,917)
#47. Le Sueur County
- 23% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($31,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.8% ($36,488)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($42,244)
- Bachelor's degree: 17% ($52,656)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6% ($62,368)
#46. Pope County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($34,219 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.4% ($30,653)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.7% ($39,483)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($50,927)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($54,038)
#45. Jackson County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($29,318 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($33,867)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.4% ($34,057)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.1% ($51,238)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($63,194)
#44. Brown County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($25,216 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.1% ($34,490)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.2% ($37,668)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($44,915)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($60,417)
#43. Fillmore County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9% ($25,904 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.1% ($34,886)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($40,174)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.7% ($49,401)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($55,718)
#42. Mower County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($27,241 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($32,180)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($39,398)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.7% ($48,425)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($59,830)
#41. Carlton County
- 22.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6% ($18,882 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($29,965)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.7% ($40,841)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.1% ($49,776)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($62,500)
#40. Chisago County
- 21.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($31,078 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.8% ($39,796)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.4% ($48,164)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.3% ($59,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($73,448)
#39. Waseca County
- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7% ($25,461 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.4% ($31,621)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($37,673)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($50,752)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($59,297)
#38. Pipestone County
- 21.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($20,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($30,720)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($33,419)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($48,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($76,477)
#37. Murray County
- 20.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($28,385 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.3% ($31,715)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($39,280)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.9% ($42,407)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($63,317)
#36. Martin County
- 20.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($25,978 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.9% ($32,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($36,880)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($47,649)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($78,561)
#35. Roseau County
- 20.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($26,080 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.1% ($35,602)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($39,765)
- Bachelor's degree: 16% ($49,899)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($61,630)
#34. Cottonwood County
- 20% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($31,326 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36% ($30,644)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($32,217)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.2% ($44,730)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($59,808)
#33. Swift County
- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($22,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($31,108)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.3% ($35,508)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.7% ($50,543)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.9% ($62,344)
#32. Meeker County
- 19.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($27,714 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.3% ($34,897)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($39,101)
- Bachelor's degree: 14% ($49,837)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($64,315)
#31. Pennington County
- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($26,658 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.1% ($31,960)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.7% ($42,179)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($49,792)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($63,043)
#30. Lincoln County
- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($31,932 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.3% ($30,840)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($37,865)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($48,015)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($52,426)
#29. Norman County
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($27,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($31,531)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36% ($38,640)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.9% ($44,954)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($46,250)
#28. Redwood County
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($23,833 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($30,009)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.4% ($35,822)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.7% ($47,431)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($54,545)
#27. Marshall County
- 19.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10% ($30,380 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($35,856)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34% ($37,265)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($49,583)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($55,313)
#26. Chippewa County
- 19% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($23,125 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.1% ($29,110)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($38,612)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($51,895)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($58,594)
#25. Lac qui Parle County
- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($19,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37% ($31,168)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($34,113)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.8% ($45,625)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($63,598)
#24. Grant County
- 18.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($31,313 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.3% ($29,934)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.9% ($36,545)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($42,269)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($48,438)
#23. Faribault County
- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($23,073 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.7% ($32,275)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($35,866)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($48,301)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($59,244)
#22. Isanti County
- 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($31,109 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($41,308)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.4% ($44,779)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($54,257)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($70,086)
#21. Aitkin County
- 18.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($26,081 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($27,033)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.4% ($32,480)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.7% ($43,594)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($56,563)
#20. McLeod County
- 17.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.9% ($20,728 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36% ($35,890)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.5% ($39,300)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($55,280)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($62,063)
#19. Traverse County
- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($40,357 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($26,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.4% ($32,713)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.2% ($48,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($58,750)
#18. Morrison County
- 17.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($29,038 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.3% ($31,482)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($36,635)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($45,466)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($61,444)
#17. Yellow Medicine County
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($30,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.4% ($32,053)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.6% ($35,445)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($42,188)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($55,096)
#16. Freeborn County
- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($25,955 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35% ($31,725)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($37,679)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.3% ($48,809)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($60,709)
#15. Clearwater County
- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($31,989 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.9% ($31,100)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.1% ($35,417)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($42,986)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($61,458)
#14. Lake of the Woods County
- 16.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7% ($20,938 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($28,917)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.7% ($27,044)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($44,837)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.3% ($73,456)
#13. Sibley County
- 16.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.3% ($23,836 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.2% ($36,687)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($43,092)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($51,276)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($54,792)
#12. Red Lake County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($28,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.5% ($34,906)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.9% ($39,911)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($52,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.2% ($47,500)
#11. Koochiching County
- 15.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($15,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($31,894)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.6% ($34,869)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($55,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($87,866)
#10. Watonwan County
- 15.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.6% ($33,981 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.3% ($30,638)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.8% ($36,593)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($45,817)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.7% ($57,750)
#9. Big Stone County
- 15.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($21,563 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 45% ($30,742)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($35,952)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.9% ($44,444)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($65,250)
#8. Nobles County
- 15.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.8% ($31,295 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($31,046)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.6% ($37,316)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($42,037)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($52,792)
#7. Renville County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($28,814 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($33,853)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.7% ($38,320)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($48,258)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.5% ($58,929)
#6. Todd County
- 15.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.9% ($32,340 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($31,694)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($35,870)
- Bachelor's degree: 11% ($46,853)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($50,313)
#5. Pine County
- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($23,382 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.7% ($29,724)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.9% ($32,719)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($44,650)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($59,331)
#4. Kanabec County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% ($26,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($32,743)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.1% ($35,752)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.3% ($50,190)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($62,650)
#3. Mille Lacs County
- 14.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($24,243 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.6% ($31,740)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.5% ($38,899)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($51,285)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($53,988)
#2. Wadena County
- 13.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($25,288 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.1% ($29,808)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.7% ($32,531)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($39,722)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.4% ($42,500)
#1. Mahnomen County
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.1% ($18,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.7% ($30,680)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($33,320)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($43,693)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.6% ($61,250)