Least educated counties in Idaho
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 typically earn 65% more than those with only a high school degree.
To help understand areas with the lowest educational attainment, Stacker compiled a list of the least educated counties in Idaho using data from the U.S. Census Bureau. 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 Idaho.
#44. Latah County
- 45.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.2% ($27,245 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.7% ($31,442)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.7% ($32,758)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.6% ($37,114)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.8% ($49,148)
#43. Teton County
- 41% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($26,042 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 16.6% ($35,132)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($32,463)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.6% ($43,175)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($64,800)
#42. Ada County
- 38.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.8% ($22,819 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.4% ($31,783)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($36,450)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.5% ($51,074)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13% ($68,577)
#41. Madison County
- 36.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% ($21,628 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 15.2% ($26,736)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 44.3% ($20,780)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.1% ($21,243)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($78,871)
#40. Blaine County
- 35.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($25,569 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.6% ($31,381)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($36,028)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.6% ($50,947)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% ($46,910)
#39. Bonneville County
- 31.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8% ($26,167 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.4% ($27,219)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.2% ($31,220)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.5% ($47,120)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($83,151)
#38. Valley County
- 30.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($21,661 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($26,377)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.5% ($28,786)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.8% ($30,114)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($47,596)
#37. Bannock County
- 27.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($23,794 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.4% ($28,181)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.2% ($30,968)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($38,595)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($60,691)
#36. Boise County
- 27.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.6% ($14,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($30,156)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($31,673)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($48,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($93,542)
#35. Kootenai County
- 25.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.9% ($25,543 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($30,663)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.8% ($30,939)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($49,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($63,525)
#34. Jefferson County
- 24.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($31,488 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.5% ($30,362)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40% ($37,679)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.8% ($40,698)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($64,583)
#33. Custer County
- 24.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.6% ($18,676 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($20,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.4% ($31,818)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.8% ($33,994)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.6%
#32. Bonner County
- 23.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.2% ($24,821 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($28,392)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($30,455)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.5% ($30,442)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($43,004)
#31. Lemhi County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.9%
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($23,224)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39% ($30,125)
- Bachelor's degree: 15% ($30,486)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($56,058)
#30. Nez Perce County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8% ($26,867 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($31,562)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37% ($39,635)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($45,885)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($59,517)
#29. Fremont County
- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.4% ($21,457 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.2% ($34,811)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($26,028)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.8% ($42,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($58,750)
#28. Adams County
- 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($27,222 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.9% ($31,115)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($30,667)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.4% ($31,976)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($29,327)
#27. Bingham County
- 21.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.9% ($30,292 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($27,433)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.6% ($32,602)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.9% ($44,450)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.3% ($57,530)
#26. Twin Falls County
- 20.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.9% ($26,173 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($31,367)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.3% ($31,622)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.9% ($41,708)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.7% ($56,513)
#25. Boundary County
- 19.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($31,587 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 42.7% ($30,984)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.3% ($30,239)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.3% ($42,279)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.5% ($46,000)
#24. Idaho County
- 19.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($18,603 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.1% ($20,632)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($29,167)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.4% ($42,303)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.4% ($52,933)
#23. Caribou County
- 19% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($22,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.4% ($24,670)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.8% ($35,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.9% ($41,548)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.1% ($58,897)
#22. Bear Lake County
- 18.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($24,643 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($32,070)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($32,734)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($32,321)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($32,656)
#21. Elmore County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10% ($25,482 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($27,320)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 44.5% ($35,971)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.8% ($41,758)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($58,125)
#20. Canyon County
- 18.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.9% ($25,118 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($30,560)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.4% ($30,689)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.4% ($40,972)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($49,197)
#19. Cassia County
- 18.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.4% ($25,481 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($28,727)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.2% ($31,936)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.7% ($41,525)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($60,000)
#18. Clearwater County
- 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($21,900 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.5% ($24,494)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.1% ($31,548)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.1% ($37,361)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($44,167)
#17. Lewis County
- 17.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5%
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($25,900)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41% ($26,285)
- Bachelor's degree: 13% ($36,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.9% ($57,292)
#16. Franklin County
- 17.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6%
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($37,009)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($36,420)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($52,396)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.2% ($95,221)
#15. Gem County
- 17.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.2% ($27,150 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37% ($22,364)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($31,107)
- Bachelor's degree: 12.5% ($37,308)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($57,730)
#14. Gooding County
- 17.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.9% ($23,207 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35% ($29,107)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($36,133)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.1% ($46,705)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.1% ($40,255)
#13. Oneida County
- 17.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.8% ($29,697 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.9% ($30,847)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.2% ($32,083)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.4% ($46,210)
- Graduate or professional degree: 1.8% ($59,375)
#12. Camas County
- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.7% ($16,618 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 43.2% ($30,227)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.9% ($32,396)
- Bachelor's degree: 9%
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.2% ($72,188)
#11. Washington County
- 16.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15% ($16,092 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.8% ($22,633)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.9% ($26,875)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($31,198)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.2% ($47,446)
#10. Butte County
- 16.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.2%
- High school graduate: 36% ($25,706)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.6% ($35,536)
- Bachelor's degree: 11.9% ($48,000)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.2% ($63,958)
#9. Jerome County
- 16.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 22.8% ($27,188 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($29,230)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.5% ($29,851)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.4% ($38,233)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($51,689)
#8. Payette County
- 15.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 14.4% ($31,983 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.7% ($32,255)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.3% ($31,923)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.7% ($42,917)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($52,083)
#7. Benewah County
- 15.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.4% ($18,605 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($34,630)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.9% ($30,926)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.7% ($40,385)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($54,821)
#6. Power County
- 15.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.8% ($33,924 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($30,156)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.4% ($20,404)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.1% ($42,109)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5% ($63,889)
#5. Minidoka County
- 14.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.8% ($25,785 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($30,014)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33% ($31,976)
- Bachelor's degree: 9.4% ($43,488)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($56,815)
#4. Clark County
- 12.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 40.2% ($23,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28% ($19,432)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.6% ($34,500)
- Bachelor's degree: 6.9% ($43,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($51,875)
#3. Owyhee County
- 12% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.8% ($22,546 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.4% ($26,011)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($28,824)
- Bachelor's degree: 9% ($39,955)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3% ($34,583)
#2. Shoshone County
- 11.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.8% ($13,894 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37% ($25,597)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.6% ($33,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.1% ($42,028)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($46,000)
#1. Lincoln County
- 10.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 23.4% ($32,966 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.3% ($33,319)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($35,743)
- Bachelor's degree: 7.5% ($38,750)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.7% ($41,875)