Counties with the most college graduates in Iowa
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 Iowa 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.
#30. Cherokee County
- 22.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($47,695 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($30,910)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($33,319)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.1% ($43,860)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($59,180)
#29. Cass County
- 23.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 11.1% ($26,239 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.3% ($35,181)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.5% ($36,868)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.2% ($41,298)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($60,000)
#28. Winnebago County
- 23.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($31,827 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($33,427)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.4% ($34,575)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.4% ($49,010)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($54,722)
#27. Cerro Gordo County
- 23.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.8% ($30,313 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.6% ($30,420)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.4% ($39,100)
- Bachelor's degree: 15.6% ($52,572)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.5% ($74,254)
#26. Carroll County
- 23.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.7% ($40,533 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.1% ($31,946)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.8% ($38,964)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.1% ($51,275)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($73,958)
#25. Woodbury County
- 23.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.3% ($33,379 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($31,484)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.4% ($37,538)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.0% ($50,981)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.6% ($67,889)
#24. Clay County
- 23.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($30,407 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.8% ($27,118)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.9% ($39,588)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.9% ($40,708)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.0% ($62,692)
#23. Hamilton County
- 24.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($33,171 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.0% ($37,228)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.6% ($42,225)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.3% ($55,554)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($71,607)
#22. Palo Alto County
- 24.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.3% ($21,484 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($30,614)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.2% ($33,947)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.9% ($47,300)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($59,250)
#21. Madison County
- 25.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($28,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 33.9% ($38,063)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($46,833)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($54,594)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% ($78,250)
#20. Boone County
- 25.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.8% ($26,982 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.5% ($34,828)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($40,804)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.0% ($52,196)
- Graduate or professional degree: 7.4% ($58,578)
#19. Mills County
- 26.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($36,563 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.9% ($33,199)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.7% ($41,897)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.1% ($56,282)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.9% ($77,974)
#18. Decatur County
- 26.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 10.2% ($19,957 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 37.8% ($26,791)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.4% ($34,338)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.5% ($36,814)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.0% ($50,486)
#17. Grundy County
- 27.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.9% ($33,846 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.7% ($37,625)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($39,875)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.8% ($53,425)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% ($70,081)
#16. Poweshiek County
- 28.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.2% ($32,097 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 38.5% ($35,809)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.2% ($37,046)
- Bachelor's degree: 14.8% ($42,716)
- Graduate or professional degree: 13.3% ($63,750)
#15. Black Hawk County
- 29.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($30,294 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.9% ($31,892)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.7% ($36,308)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.4% ($48,213)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.8% ($70,997)
#14. Sioux County
- 29.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.2% ($31,965 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.2% ($32,363)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($38,811)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.0% ($44,013)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.5% ($59,816)
#13. Winneshiek County
- 29.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.9% ($19,464 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 34.3% ($37,025)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.0% ($38,854)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.5% ($42,425)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($67,120)
#12. Marion County
- 30.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($23,553 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.5% ($38,390)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.6% ($38,765)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($51,478)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($73,773)
#11. Warren County
- 31.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% ($25,634 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.5% ($39,030)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($47,345)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.9% ($60,446)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% ($71,790)
#10. Dubuque County
- 31.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.7% ($26,031 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($34,478)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.2% ($37,599)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($49,565)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% ($61,777)
#9. Dickinson County
- 32.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.1% ($9,940 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.3% ($32,238)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.4% ($35,218)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.8% ($41,067)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.4% ($63,026)
#8. Scott County
- 32.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.5% ($27,813 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.7% ($33,601)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($37,281)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.5% ($55,499)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.1% ($74,180)
#7. Bremer County
- 33.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.6% ($30,625 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.1% ($36,869)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.3% ($41,572)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.5% ($51,692)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($69,357)
#6. Linn County
- 34.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.4% ($26,438 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.4% ($33,531)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.2% ($40,372)
- Bachelor's degree: 23.6% ($55,383)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.5% ($78,968)
#5. Jefferson County
- 36.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.7% ($17,596 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($31,529)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 30.0% ($25,703)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.1% ($39,111)
- Graduate or professional degree: 15.4% ($40,962)
#4. Polk County
- 37.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($28,924 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.8% ($33,133)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 29.8% ($41,070)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.0% ($58,494)
- Graduate or professional degree: 11.6% ($74,173)
#3. Dallas County
- 50.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.5% ($30,878 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 18.4% ($37,718)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 26.7% ($46,059)
- Bachelor's degree: 34.4% ($68,403)
- Graduate or professional degree: 16.1% ($82,164)
#2. Story County
- 51.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.2% ($25,938 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 17.1% ($30,162)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.8% ($40,795)
- Bachelor's degree: 30.0% ($46,362)
- Graduate or professional degree: 22.0% ($58,175)
#1. Johnson County
- 54.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.3% ($25,780 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 15.8% ($29,824)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 25.6% ($38,787)
- Bachelor's degree: 29.1% ($47,183)
- Graduate or professional degree: 25.2% ($66,026)
