Counties with the most college graduates in North Dakota
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 North Dakota 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. Logan County
- 21.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 12.5% ($11,538 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($40,833)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($34,750)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.7% ($32,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.0% ($70,417)
#29. Richland County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.9% ($26,806 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.8% ($36,073)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 44.1% ($39,988)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.5% ($50,830)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($52,667)
#28. Wells County
- 22.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.7% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 32.9% ($36,190)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($30,948)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($48,047)
- Graduate or professional degree: 2.1% ($56,875)
#27. Eddy County
- 22.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.6% ($17,083 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 30.7% ($33,409)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.4% ($40,074)
- Bachelor's degree: 16.7% ($48,472)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.7% ($49,028)
#26. Renville County
- 22.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.3% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 34.0% ($40,375)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.2% ($39,135)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.3% ($44,542)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($61,250)
#25. Cavalier County
- 22.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.7% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($46,250)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.8% ($40,878)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.4% ($51,625)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.3% ($46,250)
#24. Adams County
- 23.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.2% ($43,571 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 36.2% ($31,935)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.1% ($40,882)
- Bachelor's degree: 13.6% ($38,472)
- Graduate or professional degree: 9.9% ($76,250)
#23. Golden Valley County
- 24.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 27.8% ($38,281)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.7% ($54,167)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.2% ($47,500)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.0% ($53,295)
#22. Stutsman County
- 24.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.5% ($22,095 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 35.2% ($33,536)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 32.1% ($37,004)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.4% ($43,850)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.8% ($64,464)
#21. Stark County
- 24.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($45,440 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 32.7% ($41,396)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.1% ($52,826)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.8% ($49,804)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.7% ($61,851)
#20. Bottineau County
- 25.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.1% ($22,656 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.3% ($33,056)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 40.6% ($42,639)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.4% ($39,007)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.7% ($68,000)
#19. LaMoure County
- 25.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 13.1% ($35,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 28.1% ($30,167)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.7% ($41,452)
- Bachelor's degree: 18.3% ($46,213)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($62,604)
#18. Foster County
- 25.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.1% ($27,583 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 25.4% ($46,458)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 41.2% ($47,722)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.1% ($42,125)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.1% ($49,063)
#17. Williams County
- 25.6% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.4% ($34,286 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.5% ($43,244)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.6% ($60,946)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.2% ($51,203)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.4% ($62,432)
#16. Slope County
- 25.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.8% ($55,750 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.0% ($26,667)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.3% ($40,385)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($51,458)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.0% ($48,125)
#15. Nelson County
- 26.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($9,688 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.4% ($37,083)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.1% ($40,294)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.7% ($44,219)
- Graduate or professional degree: 4.5% ($42,813)
#14. Billings County
- 26.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 38.1% ($31,518)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 27.8% ($41,786)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.8% ($40,208)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.4% (earnings not available)
#13. Ramsey County
- 26.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.4% ($35,389 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.7% ($31,745)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.6% ($33,191)
- Bachelor's degree: 19.5% ($46,716)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($54,974)
#12. McKenzie County
- 26.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 8.6% ($36,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.3% ($46,020)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 33.2% ($46,711)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.0% ($63,845)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.9% ($62,273)
#11. Morton County
- 27.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.8% ($22,578 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.9% ($35,471)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.9% ($45,348)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.7% ($56,019)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.6% ($70,481)
#10. Griggs County
- 27.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 9.0% ($36,250 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 27.3% ($31,707)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 36.2% ($35,388)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.2% ($48,929)
- Graduate or professional degree: 5.3% ($49,688)
#9. Dickey County
- 27.7% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 7.4% ($31,339 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.8% ($38,276)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 38.1% ($37,714)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.9% ($52,604)
- Graduate or professional degree: 6.8% ($55,167)
#8. Pierce County
- 27.9% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% (earnings not available)
- High school graduate: 32.1% ($24,464)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($42,097)
- Bachelor's degree: 17.1% ($36,250)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% ($51,383)
#7. Steele County
- 28.3% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 3.2% ($11,406 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 24.8% ($35,694)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 43.8% ($50,395)
- Bachelor's degree: 25.2% ($55,833)
- Graduate or professional degree: 3.0% ($74,500)
#6. Ward County
- 29.0% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.5% ($28,003 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 31.0% ($37,868)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.5% ($44,931)
- Bachelor's degree: 20.4% ($51,019)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.6% ($69,907)
#5. Traill County
- 30.1% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 6.4% ($40,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 26.2% ($38,750)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.3% ($43,797)
- Bachelor's degree: 21.3% ($51,270)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% ($55,341)
#4. Barnes County
- 30.4% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.8% ($27,000 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 29.8% ($33,202)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 34.0% ($42,726)
- Bachelor's degree: 22.5% ($39,123)
- Graduate or professional degree: 8.0% ($52,788)
#3. Grand Forks County
- 36.2% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.6% ($26,992 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 21.9% ($35,758)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 37.3% ($41,013)
- Bachelor's degree: 24.1% ($50,571)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.1% ($65,118)
#2. Burleigh County
- 36.5% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 5.6% ($39,143 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 22.4% ($36,503)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.5% ($42,815)
- Bachelor's degree: 26.2% ($55,704)
- Graduate or professional degree: 10.3% ($70,955)
#1. Cass County
- 40.8% of population 25 years and over with Bachelor's degree or higher
- Less than high school diploma: 4.9% ($25,412 median earnings)
- High school graduate: 19.0% ($33,022)
- Some college or Associate's degree: 35.4% ($40,015)
- Bachelor's degree: 28.1% ($51,892)
- Graduate or professional degree: 12.6% ($63,831)
