Counties with the most college graduates in Minnesota

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July 2, 2022
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Counties with the most college graduates in Minnesota

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 Minnesota 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.

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SH5544 // Wikimedia Commons

#30. Otter Tail County

- 25.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($25,272 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.2% ($31,206)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 39.0% ($38,811)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.0% ($47,958)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.9% ($65,130)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#29. Crow Wing County

- 26.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.7% ($27,667 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.6% ($30,364)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.6% ($38,579)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.8% ($48,665)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($70,548)

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#28. Goodhue County

- 26.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($30,132 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.2% ($37,431)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($40,515)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.2% ($57,452)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($66,928)

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#27. Kittson County

- 26.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 3.2% ($28,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.7% ($37,256)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.8% ($40,991)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.0% ($44,881)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.3% ($47,829)

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Tony Webster // Wikimedia Commons

#26. Lyon County

- 26.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.0% ($28,191 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.0% ($31,688)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.6% ($37,050)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.4% ($47,185)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.0% ($53,214)

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#25. Steele County

- 26.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($36,953 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.8% ($36,619)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.0% ($43,210)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($54,904)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($71,402)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#24. Douglas County

- 27.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($27,151 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($31,945)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.8% ($40,275)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($51,928)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.0% ($61,898)

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#23. Polk County

- 27.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($26,600 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.5% ($32,286)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.4% ($40,318)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($51,054)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.2% ($60,797)

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#22. Dodge County

- 27.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.8% ($37,261 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($39,949)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.5% ($47,420)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.7% ($63,613)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($66,519)

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McGhiever // Wikicommons

#21. Stearns County

- 27.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($25,360 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.2% ($34,754)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($40,688)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.9% ($51,944)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% ($66,408)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#20. Lake County

- 28.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($37,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.3% ($32,267)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($43,021)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.7% ($53,929)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($70,139)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#19. Hubbard County

- 28.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($19,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($30,109)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($34,855)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($46,571)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($53,300)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#18. Rice County

- 28.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($28,042 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.6% ($36,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 31.3% ($42,642)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.7% ($53,972)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($66,821)

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Gobonobo // Wikimedia Commons

#17. Stevens County

- 29.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($18,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($36,109)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.9% ($40,115)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.5% ($40,927)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% ($59,375)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#16. Beltrami County

- 29.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($20,919 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.8% ($26,796)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($33,760)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.5% ($46,796)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% ($64,534)

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#15. St. Louis County

- 30.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($19,571 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.9% ($31,399)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.4% ($37,555)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.6% ($50,057)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% ($69,189)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#14. Anoka County

- 30.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.8% ($31,962 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($38,948)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.9% ($45,455)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.6% ($64,044)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($81,684)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#13. Wright County

- 31.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.0% ($45,981 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($41,755)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.3% ($47,260)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.5% ($64,808)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.5% ($74,965)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#12. Winona County

- 31.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($30,508 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.9% ($32,207)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.4% ($37,856)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.5% ($50,869)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.7% ($55,816)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#11. Clay County

- 34.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.7% ($29,427 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.0% ($36,273)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.0% ($42,946)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.2% ($53,566)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.0% ($62,944)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#10. Nicollet County

- 34.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($26,779 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.6% ($31,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.8% ($40,622)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.9% ($45,960)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% ($72,283)

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Bobak Ha'Eri // Wikimedia Commons

#9. Blue Earth County

- 34.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($28,869 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($35,662)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.8% ($39,185)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.0% ($46,295)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.6% ($64,803)

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Appraiser // Wikimedia Commons

#8. Scott County

- 40.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.9% ($32,598 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.1% ($41,234)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($47,367)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.0% ($75,308)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% ($81,852)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#7. Dakota County

- 42.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.0% ($29,612 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.8% ($38,395)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.5% ($46,943)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.3% ($65,860)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.3% ($82,868)

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Mulad // Wikimedia Commons

#6. Ramsey County

- 43.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($25,403 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.1% ($31,581)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($38,603)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.0% ($53,104)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.0% ($72,668)

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McGhiever // Wikimedia Commons

#5. Cook County

- 45.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 3.0% ($40,313 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.3% ($30,726)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.5% ($36,132)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.2% ($39,931)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.0% ($47,426)

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Iulus Ascanius // Wikimedia Commons

#4. Washington County

- 45.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 4.0% ($32,451 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.4% ($37,144)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.0% ($47,556)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.3% ($70,056)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.3% ($86,360)

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Jonathunder // Wikimedia Commons

#3. Olmsted County

- 46.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($23,054 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.2% ($32,587)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.6% ($41,984)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.7% ($61,227)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.0% ($77,685)

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Myotus // Wikimedia Commons

#2. Carver County

- 49.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 3.6% ($34,185 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.4% ($41,002)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.9% ($47,720)
- Bachelor's degree: 33.7% ($72,745)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.4% ($91,615)

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Checubus // Shutterstock

#1. Hennepin County

- 51.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher

- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($26,209 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 15.9% ($33,149)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($42,057)
- Bachelor's degree: 32.4% ($63,324)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.6% ($81,330)

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