Counties with the most college graduates in Michigan

Written by:
July 2, 2022
Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock

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

1 / 30
P199 // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

2 / 30
Doug Coldwell // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

3 / 30
Ryano913~commonswiki // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

4 / 30
Adam Buzzo // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

5 / 30
Jeffness // Wikimedia Commons

#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

6 / 30
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

7 / 30
PhotosByMahin // Pixabay

#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)

8 / 30
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

9 / 30
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

10 / 30
Russell Sekeet (amtrak_russ) // Wikimedia Commons

#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

11 / 30
SBarnes // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

12 / 30
rossograph // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

13 / 30
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

14 / 30
kennethaw88 // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

15 / 30
User:My name // Wikimedia Commons

#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

16 / 30
US Army Corps of Engineer // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

17 / 30
Jcvertin // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

18 / 30
Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

19 / 30
Notorious4life // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

20 / 30
O. David Redwine // Wikimedia Commons

#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

21 / 30
Gpwitteveen // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

22 / 30
Phoenix-Five // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

23 / 30
Joshuay04 // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

24 / 30
Grguy2011 // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

25 / 30
stanthejeep // Wikimedia Commons

#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

26 / 30
Bryan Robb // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

27 / 30
Mxobe // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

28 / 30
Alexey Stiop // Shutterstock

#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)

29 / 30
Andrew Jameson // Wikimedia Commons

#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)

30 / 30
Agnieszka Gaul // Shutterstock

#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

Trending Now