Counties with the most college graduates in Michigan
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 Michigan 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.
You may also like: Highest-earning counties in Michigan
#30. Chippewa County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($11,378 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.2% ($23,878)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($31,793)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.0% ($50,309)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($64,615)
#29. Mecosta County
- 22.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($26,722 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.5% ($28,614)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.0% ($28,137)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.9% ($41,111)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.0% ($64,196)
#28. Barry County
- 23.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($34,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.3% ($33,925)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.0% ($41,874)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.9% ($54,751)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.1% ($69,797)
#27. Allegan County
- 23.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($32,788 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.9% ($32,764)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($40,311)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($53,859)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($62,829)
#26. Mackinac County
- 24.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($14,982 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($22,289)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($28,802)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($41,803)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($61,518)
You may also like: Counties in Michigan where people spend most of their paycheck on housing
#25. Dickinson County
- 24.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.3% ($18,685 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.2% ($31,752)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.1% ($36,226)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.3% ($47,413)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($69,968)
#24. Wayne County
- 25.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.8% ($22,069 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.2% ($29,836)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.7% ($35,162)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.3% ($54,669)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($71,741)
#23. Otsego County
- 25.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($20,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.0% ($27,471)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.7% ($32,013)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($47,862)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.7% ($52,162)
#22. Macomb County
- 25.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($24,824 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($32,374)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($40,396)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.8% ($56,754)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% ($76,025)
#21. Berrien County
- 27.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.5% ($19,419 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.5% ($26,537)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.4% ($36,155)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.6% ($51,774)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($65,826)
You may also like: Counties with the oldest homes in Michigan
#20. Eaton County
- 29.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($21,908 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($32,423)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.7% ($40,522)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.3% ($55,371)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($65,898)
#19. Isabella County
- 29.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($19,392 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.3% ($26,952)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($30,358)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.1% ($41,273)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.4% ($62,351)
#18. Antrim County
- 29.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.0% ($21,602 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.9% ($29,571)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.6% ($29,885)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.7% ($37,358)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($53,889)
#17. Clinton County
- 32.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.8% ($20,918 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($32,434)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($40,690)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($62,315)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($75,089)
#16. Charlevoix County
- 32.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($31,684 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($27,844)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.4% ($34,491)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.3% ($44,769)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.1% ($61,806)
You may also like: Highest-rated football recruits from Michigan over the last 20 years
#15. Benzie County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($21,492 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.2% ($25,259)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.1% ($35,663)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($38,591)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.6% ($47,645)
#14. Houghton County
- 33.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.2% ($15,859 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($24,619)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($31,107)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.9% ($40,714)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.7% ($66,696)
#13. Marquette County
- 34.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($25,568 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.4% ($28,338)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($33,254)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.0% ($40,617)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.0% ($60,232)
#12. Emmet County
- 34.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($19,511 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.2% ($25,817)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.9% ($32,716)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.5% ($40,591)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% ($64,549)
#11. Midland County
- 34.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.6% ($21,343 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.1% ($30,255)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($36,356)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($59,205)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($82,188)
You may also like: Best places to retire in Michigan
#10. Ottawa County
- 35.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($31,517 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($33,865)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.2% ($37,306)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.3% ($57,925)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($71,745)
#9. Keweenaw County
- 36.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 2.9% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 30.9% ($32,875)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.0% ($40,368)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($26,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.9% ($37,778)
#8. Livingston County
- 36.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($24,722 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.1% ($37,206)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($43,278)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.7% ($67,642)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($80,734)
#7. Kent County
- 36.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.6% ($23,181 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.2% ($31,454)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.3% ($36,315)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.0% ($51,392)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.9% ($64,938)
#6. Grand Traverse County
- 38.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.6% ($24,457 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.4% ($29,713)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($35,407)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.7% ($50,314)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.7% ($64,382)
You may also like: Most diverse counties in Michigan
#5. Ingham County
- 39.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($20,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.0% ($27,734)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.2% ($33,541)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.0% ($48,190)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.3% ($67,389)
#4. Kalamazoo County
- 39.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.9% ($21,820 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.8% ($32,044)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.5% ($34,283)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.1% ($53,430)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.7% ($70,333)
#3. Leelanau County
- 46.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% ($28,214 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.6% ($29,167)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($34,611)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.8% ($40,282)
- Graduate or professional degree: 19.9% ($38,317)
#2. Oakland County
- 48.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.6% ($23,929 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18.4% ($32,191)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.0% ($40,106)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.3% ($66,155)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.7% ($87,347)
#1. Washtenaw County
- 56.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.3% ($17,346 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 14.7% ($31,210)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.3% ($36,024)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.7% ($53,354)
- Graduate or professional degree: 30.0% ($75,431)
You may also like: Counties with the most veterans in Michigan
