Least educated counties in New Jersey
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 New Jersey 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 New Jersey.
#21. Somerset County
- 54.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($28,607 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.3% ($35,754)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 19.5% ($47,628)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.6% ($76,864)
- Graduate or professional degree: 25% ($108,683)
#20. Morris County
- 54.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($28,716 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 20.1% ($40,386)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.3% ($49,648)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.5% ($79,679)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.6% ($104,822)
#19. Hunterdon County
- 52.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5% ($28,616 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21% ($43,162)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($49,728)
- Bachelor's degree: 31.4% ($77,807)
- Graduate or professional degree: 21.3% ($100,356)
#18. Bergen County
- 49.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($29,307 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.7% ($38,051)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 20.5% ($49,308)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.5% ($71,300)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.8% ($94,949)
#17. Monmouth County
- 46% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.6% ($25,021 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 23.4% ($36,973)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24% ($46,699)
- Bachelor's degree: 27.9% ($71,345)
- Graduate or professional degree: 18.2% ($93,104)
#16. Middlesex County
- 43.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($27,066 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.3% ($37,031)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21% ($45,468)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.8% ($65,451)
- Graduate or professional degree: 17.8% ($91,266)
#15. Mercer County
- 42.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.5% ($22,132 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.6% ($31,571)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.3% ($43,264)
- Bachelor's degree: 22% ($66,298)
- Graduate or professional degree: 20.6% ($94,309)
#14. Hudson County
- 42.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 15.2% ($22,335 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.1% ($30,012)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 17.4% ($37,195)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.1% ($67,281)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.2% ($91,413)
#13. Burlington County
- 38% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.3% ($26,880 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($39,102)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($44,522)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.3% ($66,438)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.7% ($90,284)
#12. Sussex County
- 36.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.2% ($33,893 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($43,081)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28.2% ($48,101)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.3% ($68,738)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($89,644)
#11. Union County
- 36% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.7% ($25,323 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.6% ($33,693)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21.8% ($41,666)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.6% ($65,281)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($91,573)
#10. Essex County
- 35.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.9% ($23,040 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28% ($30,709)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 22.6% ($39,099)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.1% ($62,046)
- Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% ($91,211)
#9. Gloucester County
- 33% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.1% ($26,386 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($39,016)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($46,076)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.5% ($66,291)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% ($83,316)
#8. Warren County
- 33% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($24,306 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.6% ($39,297)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.9% ($47,335)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.1% ($63,700)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.9% ($75,053)
#7. Cape May County
- 32.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.5% ($18,117 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($32,264)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.7% ($38,038)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.1% ($53,788)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% ($77,454)
#6. Camden County
- 32.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.3% ($22,453 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($34,672)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($41,675)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.3% ($59,703)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.2% ($81,549)
#5. Ocean County
- 30% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8% ($30,190 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34% ($36,465)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 28% ($43,867)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.9% ($58,310)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10% ($70,788)
#4. Passaic County
- 28.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 16.2% ($23,618 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.5% ($32,033)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 21% ($43,511)
- Bachelor's degree: 19% ($59,372)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% ($80,925)
#3. Atlantic County
- 28.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13% ($23,968 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32% ($31,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.9% ($36,672)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.6% ($54,851)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% ($78,906)
#2. Salem County
- 21% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.2% ($27,029 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.4% ($35,279)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.4% ($45,131)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.1% ($60,097)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7% ($69,025)
#1. Cumberland County
- 15.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 20.6% ($21,281 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 39.4% ($30,253)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 24.4% ($31,987)
- Bachelor's degree: 10.8% ($55,166)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.8% ($63,913)
