Least educated counties in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
#21. Somerset County
- 54.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($28,607 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.3% ($35,754)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($47,628)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.6% ($76,864)
- Graduate or professional degree: 25% ($108,683)
#20. Morris County
- 54.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($28,716 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.1% ($40,386)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.3% ($49,648)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.5% ($79,679)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.6% ($104,822)
#19. Hunterdon County
- 52.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5% ($28,616 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21% ($43,162)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($49,728)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.4% ($77,807)
- Graduate or professional degree: 21.3% ($100,356)
#18. Bergen County
- 49.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($29,307 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.7% ($38,051)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.5% ($49,308)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.5% ($71,300)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.8% ($94,949)
#17. Monmouth County
- 46% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($25,021 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.4% ($36,973)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24% ($46,699)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.9% ($71,345)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.2% ($93,104)
#16. Middlesex County
- 43.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($27,066 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.3% ($37,031)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21% ($45,468)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.8% ($65,451)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.8% ($91,266)
#15. Mercer County
- 42.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($22,132 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.6% ($31,571)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($43,264)
- Bachelor's degree: 22% ($66,298)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.6% ($94,309)
#14. Hudson County
- 42.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.2% ($22,335 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.1% ($30,012)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.4% ($37,195)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.1% ($67,281)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.2% ($91,413)
#13. Burlington County
- 38% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($26,880 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($39,102)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($44,522)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.3% ($66,438)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.7% ($90,284)
#12. Sussex County
- 36.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($33,893 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($43,081)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.2% ($48,101)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.3% ($68,738)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($89,644)
#11. Union County
- 36% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($25,323 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($33,693)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.8% ($41,666)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.6% ($65,281)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($91,573)
#10. Essex County
- 35.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($23,040 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28% ($30,709)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.6% ($39,099)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.1% ($62,046)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($91,211)
#9. Gloucester County
- 33% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($26,386 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($39,016)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($46,076)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.5% ($66,291)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% ($83,316)
#8. Warren County
- 33% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($24,306 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($39,297)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($47,335)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.1% ($63,700)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($75,053)
#7. Cape May County
- 32.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($18,117 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($32,264)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($38,038)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.1% ($53,788)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($77,454)
#6. Camden County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($22,453 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($34,672)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($41,675)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($59,703)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.2% ($81,549)
#5. Ocean County
- 30% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8% ($30,190 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34% ($36,465)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($43,867)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.9% ($58,310)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10% ($70,788)
#4. Passaic County
- 28.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.2% ($23,618 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.5% ($32,033)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21% ($43,511)
- Bachelor's degree: 19% ($59,372)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($80,925)
#3. Atlantic County
- 28.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($23,968 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($31,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($36,672)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($54,851)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($78,906)
#2. Salem County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($27,029 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($35,279)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($45,131)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($60,097)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($69,025)
#1. Cumberland County
- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.6% ($21,281 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($30,253)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($31,987)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($55,166)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($63,913)
