Counties with the most college graduates in Colorado
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 counties with the most college graduates in Colorado using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Counties 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 counties in your state have the most college graduates.
#30. Garfield County
- 32.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.0% ($37,737 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.2% ($36,785)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($35,999)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.1% ($50,085)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($56,626)
#29. Park County
- 32.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.3% ($29,203 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($41,099)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.5% ($43,423)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.8% ($61,058)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% ($90,823)
#28. San Juan County
- 33.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.2% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 30.9% ($51,607)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($40,726)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.0% ($39,342)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% ($54,750)
#27. Custer County
- 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.6% ($31,607 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.2% ($60,191)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.1% ($36,890)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.3% ($53,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($40,096)
#26. Elbert County
- 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.6% ($37,500 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.8% ($50,378)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($53,384)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.7% ($75,609)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($69,313)
#25. Teller County
- 35.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.3% ($45,417 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.5% ($32,755)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.7% ($40,309)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.5% ($42,397)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.0% ($53,043)
#24. Chaffee County
- 35.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($16,595 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.6% ($31,395)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.0% ($30,881)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.3% ($34,602)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% ($48,965)
#23. El Paso County
- 38.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($24,987 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.0% ($32,927)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($37,093)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.4% ($52,496)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.3% ($72,613)
#22. Archuleta County
- 39.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($38,077 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.2% ($25,581)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($23,944)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.6% ($32,740)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.1% ($45,625)
#21. Grand County
- 40.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.0% ($75,052 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.9% ($40,305)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.0% ($39,122)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.7% ($48,507)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($36,884)
#20. Lake County
- 40.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($31,304 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.0% ($36,422)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($32,204)
- Bachelor's degree: 28.5% ($40,268)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($51,151)
#19. Arapahoe County
- 43.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($29,910 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.4% ($35,568)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($41,782)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.3% ($59,351)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.1% ($72,557)
#18. Hinsdale County
- 43.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% ($58,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 16.4% ($31,071)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.8% ($22,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.1% ($31,071)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.6% ($39,583)
#17. La Plata County
- 44.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.0% ($25,871 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.0% ($31,921)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.9% ($36,399)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.9% ($46,055)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.2% ($55,684)
#16. Gilpin County
- 44.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.7% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 15.2% ($36,042)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($48,184)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.6% ($63,561)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.7% ($86,551)
#15. Jefferson County
- 46.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($31,181 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.9% ($38,361)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.5% ($43,598)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.6% ($61,339)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.8% ($76,235)
#14. Larimer County
- 47.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.8% ($28,980 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18.6% ($35,225)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($38,945)
- Bachelor's degree: 28.1% ($48,878)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.6% ($67,574)
#13. Ouray County
- 49.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 1.5% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 13.5% ($50,543)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($27,007)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.1% ($41,486)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.9% ($48,750)
#12. Routt County
- 49.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.6% ($16,159 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.4% ($38,539)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.7% ($42,141)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.8% ($44,658)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.5% ($59,773)
#11. Denver County
- 50.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($27,385 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.2% ($31,987)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.7% ($39,972)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.0% ($59,251)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.3% ($73,564)
#10. Eagle County
- 50.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.1% ($26,157 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 14.3% ($33,899)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.1% ($41,598)
- Bachelor's degree: 34.6% ($50,561)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.9% ($62,987)
#9. Clear Creek County
- 50.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.5% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 20.3% ($33,690)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.3% ($32,857)
- Bachelor's degree: 28.3% ($48,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.5% ($60,665)
#8. Summit County
- 53.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($26,636 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 15.0% ($42,934)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.7% ($39,814)
- Bachelor's degree: 38.0% ($42,342)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.6% ($49,681)
#7. Mineral County
- 54.1% 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: 16.9% ($31,875)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.0% ($22,083)
- Bachelor's degree: 36.0% ($16,875)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.1% (earnings not available)
#6. Broomfield County
- 56.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.2% ($37,659 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 13.9% ($42,200)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($43,271)
- Bachelor's degree: 34.9% ($70,651)
- Graduate or professional degree: 21.2% ($86,710)
#5. San Miguel County
- 56.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.1% ($35,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.3% ($35,769)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.0% ($33,564)
- Bachelor's degree: 41.5% ($39,976)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.1% ($55,750)
#4. Gunnison County
- 57.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.4% ($34,602 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.7% ($30,474)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.5% ($37,853)
- Bachelor's degree: 41.1% ($36,563)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.4% ($50,125)
#3. Douglas County
- 58.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.0% ($31,975 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 12.3% ($42,214)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.0% ($50,350)
- Bachelor's degree: 37.9% ($77,317)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.7% ($92,435)
#2. Pitkin County
- 61.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.6% ($23,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 14.0% ($44,100)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.2% ($47,845)
- Bachelor's degree: 43.0% ($48,931)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.2% ($75,405)
#1. Boulder County
- 63.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($30,119 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 11.3% ($35,172)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.2% ($38,306)
- Bachelor's degree: 34.6% ($55,991)
- Graduate or professional degree: 28.4% ($75,210)
