Least educated counties in New Mexico

Written by:
May 14, 2022
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Least educated counties in New Mexico

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 Mexico 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 Mexico.

#33. Los Alamos County

- 67.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 2.4% ($85,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 8.8% ($32,040)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.4% ($55,982)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.6% ($76,128)
- Graduate or professional degree: 40.8% ($119,892)

#32. Santa Fe County

- 41% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($26,303 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.3% ($29,711)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26% ($35,013)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.4% ($45,338)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.6% ($62,200)

#31. Bernalillo County

- 34.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($20,788 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.2% ($28,654)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($32,035)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.8% ($46,788)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.6% ($64,501)

#30. Sandoval County

- 30.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.1% ($21,834 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.5% ($30,698)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.9% ($35,138)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.5% ($49,221)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12% ($66,934)

#29. Grant County

- 28.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 12.6% ($23,938 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.5% ($24,854)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($27,858)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.1% ($35,603)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($47,382)

#28. Taos County

- 28.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.9% ($20,255 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.2% ($20,457)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($28,167)
- Bachelor's degree: 17% ($33,402)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($52,500)

#27. Dona Ana County

- 27.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 20.5% ($16,410 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.7% ($22,361)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.6% ($28,753)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.1% ($41,126)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11% ($57,808)

#26. Lincoln County

- 25.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.5% ($17,661 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.9% ($23,061)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.8% ($26,463)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.6% ($39,401)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.1% ($51,306)

#25. Roosevelt County

- 23.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 20% ($19,327 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($32,037)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.1% ($31,475)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($35,650)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($52,658)

#24. Socorro County

- 22% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($18,101 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.4% ($17,159)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.4% ($30,223)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($37,938)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10% ($54,045)

#23. Colfax County

- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($14,802 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.4% ($23,733)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.1% ($24,775)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($41,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($42,569)

#22. Harding County

- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 14.7%
- High school graduate: 26.5% ($25,000)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($19,375)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($30,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($72,500)

#21. San Miguel County

- 21.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.7% ($16,009 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.6% ($22,188)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($26,180)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.7% ($37,269)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($54,296)

#20. Sierra County

- 21.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.1% ($15,401 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($22,500)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($21,161)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1%
- Graduate or professional degree: 8% ($59,063)

#19. Rio Arriba County

- 19.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($20,899 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($29,657)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35% ($39,052)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.6% ($53,387)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($47,891)

#18. Curry County

- 19.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($21,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($28,978)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36% ($32,027)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.8% ($41,095)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($58,913)

#17. Valencia County

- 18.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($21,533 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33% ($30,683)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($31,827)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($44,663)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($55,620)

#16. Chaves County

- 18% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 21.8% ($20,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.7% ($26,801)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($29,627)
- Bachelor's degree: 12% ($46,468)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($54,148)

#15. Otero County

- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 16.6% ($13,823 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($24,530)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.6% ($27,821)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($40,678)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($59,677)

#14. Quay County

- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18.1% ($16,709 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($19,198)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($22,325)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.2% ($40,357)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($57,864)

#13. Eddy County

- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($31,694 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.6% ($41,221)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.6% ($41,173)
- Bachelor's degree: 10% ($53,312)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($61,708)

#12. Catron County

- 15.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.9%
- High school graduate: 47.1% ($22,585)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($31,326)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.2% ($37,857)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5%

#11. San Juan County

- 14.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15.1% ($21,681 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.5% ($29,906)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.5% ($33,837)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($48,396)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($56,348)

#10. Torrance County

- 14.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15.4% ($32,315 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.7% ($31,388)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32% ($25,377)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.2% ($45,655)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($55,357)

#9. Hidalgo County

- 14.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 17.7% ($21,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.1% ($21,630)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($31,894)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.6% ($19,265)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($39,934)

#8. Cibola County

- 14.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 17% ($18,987 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($23,864)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($26,809)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.7% ($45,463)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($69,491)

#7. Lea County

- 13.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 25.8% ($30,622 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.5% ($38,281)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.1% ($41,530)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($56,420)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($65,967)

#6. De Baca County

- 13% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 15.7% ($26,429 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($35,076)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35% ($41,667)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.8% ($25,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($43,750)

#5. Luna County

- 12.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 30.2% ($14,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($21,961)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.8% ($22,822)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.7% ($39,118)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($43,333)

#4. Union County

- 11.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 18.2% ($15,734 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.8% ($31,111)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.3% ($29,704)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.2% ($40,521)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($52,188)

#3. McKinley County

- 11.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 22.8% ($15,706 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.4% ($21,095)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.4% ($26,836)
- Bachelor's degree: 6% ($41,667)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($56,250)

#2. Mora County

- 11% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 10.7% ($39,464 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.1% ($30,614)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 44.2% ($25,426)
- Bachelor's degree: 6%
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($87,500)

#1. Guadalupe County

- 7.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 17.3% ($16,944 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 47.5% ($20,115)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($28,902)
- Bachelor's degree: 3.6% ($35,417)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4% ($47,000)

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