Boroughs with the most college graduates in Alaska
The American philosopher and psychologist John Dewey once said, "Education is not preparation for life; education is life itself." Dewey advocated for an educational paradigm called pragmatism, which stresses the importance of learning academic concepts by experiencing them firsthand, instead of through lecture and repetition in a classroom.
While the philosophy is used by many educators (especially those working in fields where the value of work experience exceeds the value placed on an academic background), many people take great pride in their formal educational credentials because of the valuable skills such educations provided and because of the immense amount of work that goes into earning a degree.
Stacker compiled a list of boroughs with the most college graduates in Alaska using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Boroughs are ranked by the highest percent of the population 25 years and over that has a Bachelor's degree or higher using 2020 5-year estimates.
Keep reading to see which boroughs in your state have the most college graduates.
#30. Kusilvak Census Area
- 3.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 21.4% ($7,333 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 54.2% ($20,979)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.1% ($26,860)
- Bachelor's degree: 2.6% ($53,258)
- Graduate or professional degree: 0.6% (earnings not available)
#29. Bethel Census Area
- 11.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.5% ($4,812 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 48.7% ($25,825)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 23.5% ($35,071)
- Bachelor's degree: 5.7% ($62,679)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6% ($92,313)
#28. Yukon-Koyukuk Census Area
- 13.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.0% ($12,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.1% ($20,265)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.7% ($32,443)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.2% ($25,938)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.0% ($66,364)
#27. Northwest Arctic Borough
- 15.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.5% ($14,931 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 46.9% ($30,270)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.6% ($56,544)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.3% ($81,667)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($79,479)
#26. North Slope Borough
- 15.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($33,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 41.0% ($60,417)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($62,470)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.3% ($64,524)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.8% ($86,400)
#25. Aleutians East Borough
- 16.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.4% ($17,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.7% ($31,125)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($38,942)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.5% ($37,171)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($60,407)
#24. Wrangell City and Borough
- 16.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.7% ($26,397 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.6% ($35,000)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.8% ($47,054)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.5% ($44,702)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($54,125)
#23. Nome Census Area
- 17.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.0% ($21,985 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.3% ($25,738)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.8% ($49,223)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.4% ($63,977)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($90,189)
#22. Aleutians West Census Area
- 17.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($31,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.5% ($47,034)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($53,897)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.4% ($68,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6% ($87,188)
#21. Prince of Wales-Hyder Census Area
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.7% ($22,434 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.1% ($29,837)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($31,827)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.8% ($50,760)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($70,833)
#20. Yakutat City and Borough
- 18.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.6% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 41.6% ($26,167)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($31,795)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.4% ($53,095)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.6% (earnings not available)
#19. Dillingham Census Area
- 19.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.5% ($19,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 40.1% ($27,639)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.0% ($44,286)
- Bachelor's degree: 8.5% ($54,559)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% (earnings not available)
#18. Hoonah-Angoon Census Area
- 19.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% ($18,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.4% ($30,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.0% ($43,516)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.6% ($42,241)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.0% (earnings not available)
#17. Southeast Fairbanks Census Area
- 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.9% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 35.2% ($42,798)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.6% ($40,040)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($73,036)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.4% ($64,500)
#16. Matanuska-Susitna Borough
- 21.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($28,676 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.9% ($38,778)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.7% ($45,147)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.3% ($61,525)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($67,369)
#15. Lake and Peninsula Borough
- 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.8% ($17,188 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.7% ($16,597)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($37,266)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.6% ($50,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.5% ($46,500)
#14. Skagway Municipality
- 24.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($75,769 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.4% ($40,000)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.0% ($34,556)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.2% ($61,538)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($77,500)
#13. Ketchikan Gateway Borough
- 25.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($34,792 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($37,192)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.7% ($46,318)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($52,969)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($72,596)
#12. Petersburg Borough
- 25.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.8% ($19,129 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.7% ($22,112)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.0% ($52,222)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.6% ($53,289)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.0% ($73,000)
#11. Kenai Peninsula Borough
- 25.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.0% ($24,940 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($39,020)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($42,031)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.2% ($49,159)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($70,760)
#10. Bristol Bay Borough
- 25.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($48,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.9% ($42,813)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.0% ($51,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($70,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.5% ($62,500)
#9. Haines Borough
- 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.0% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 34.2% ($31,985)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.1% ($36,719)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($49,143)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% (earnings not available)
#8. Chugach Census Area
- 29.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.4% ($16,678 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.0% ($36,705)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 42.6% ($47,361)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.3% ($49,356)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.8% ($92,691)
#7. Kodiak Island Borough
- 29.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.4% ($23,487 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.1% ($25,168)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($46,791)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.9% ($39,003)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($69,500)
#6. Copper River Census Area
- 31.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.6% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 34.6% ($50,577)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($56,550)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.4% ($49,063)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.1% ($79,375)
#5. Fairbanks North Star Borough
- 32.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($31,424 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.1% ($41,348)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.0% ($47,558)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.8% ($50,507)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.5% ($77,694)
#4. Sitka City and Borough
- 34.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.8% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 25.3% ($37,865)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.7% ($44,063)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.0% ($53,846)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.3% ($67,804)
#3. Anchorage Municipality
- 36.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% ($27,773 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.7% ($36,644)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($46,841)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.7% ($62,760)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.9% ($82,240)
#2. Juneau City and Borough
- 38.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.8% ($28,223 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.5% ($35,648)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($48,897)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.3% ($57,283)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.5% ($76,842)
#1. Denali Borough
- 39.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.3% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 30.2% ($30,930)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($29,722)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.6% ($39,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.5% (earnings not available)
