The 8 Most Educated Places in Minnesota

32 of 50 states of the United States with a name, nickname, and date admitted to the Union, Detailed Vector Minnesota Map for printing posters, postcards and t-shirts
Maxger/iStock via Getty Images

Written by Patrick MacFarland

Published: March 12, 2024

Share on:

Advertisement


As time has passed by, education has become more important. We go to schools and universities to enhance our education and become more competent in the career we would like to work in. After all, education is important to further global advancements. Currently, however, about 35% of people 25 or older have bachelor’s degrees in the United States. As people pursue higher degrees, the numbers go down drastically. For example, only 13% of those aged 25 and above have master’s degrees and only 2% of the population have doctorate degrees.

When it comes to Minnesota, what are the statistics there? Let’s take a look at the eight most educated places in Minnesota. We will look at the counties that have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

8. Scott County

Aerial View of the Twin Cities far Outer Suburb of Shakopee, Minnesota

A total of 27.3% of residents in Scott County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

With a population of 150,000, Scott County is part of the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Scott County has approximately 466,000 people who have bachelor’s degrees or higher. The county also has 123,000 people with master’s degrees and only 991 people with doctorates. In terms of higher education institutions, Scott County has several in the surrounding areas.

7. Dakota County

Atop Bluffs at Spring Lake Park

A total of 29.7% of residents in Dakota County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Dakota County has approximately 132,000 people who have bachelor’s degrees or higher. Those numbers decrease drastically when it comes to higher degrees. The county has about 30,000 people with master’s degrees and only 4,000 people with doctorates. Minnesota’s largest school districts are located in Dakota County. It is also home to several colleges, including Dakota County Technical College and Inver Hills Community College. Lastly, Dakota County has a population of 439,000, making it one of the most populous counties in the state.

6. Ramsey County

St. Paul, Minnesota night skyline along the Mississippi River

A total of 30.6% of residents in Ramsey County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Ramsey County is where St. Paul is located, which is the second-most populous city in the state. The county has a population of 552,000 people, making it the second-most populous county in Minnesota. When it comes to those with bachelor’s degrees, there are 165,000 people. Furthermore, the county has about 43,000 people with master’s degrees and only around 10,000 people with doctorate degrees. There are various public school systems, as well as community colleges and institutions of higher education in Ramsey County.

5. Washington County

Aerial view of the Twin Cities Suburb of Stillwater, Minnesota

A total of 31.6% of residents in Washington County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

The fifth most populous county in Minnesota is Washington County with approximately 267,000 people. When it comes to how many people have bachelor’s degrees or higher, that figure comes out to 87,000. The county also has about 22,000 people with master’s degrees and only around 8,000 people with doctorate degrees. Washington County has several community colleges and higher education institutions that serve the students in the county and surrounding areas.

4. Olmsted County

Skyline of Rochester, Minnesota

A total of 31.9% of residents in Olmsted County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Olmsted County has approximately 52,000 people who have bachelor’s degrees or higher. Those numbers decrease drastically when it comes to higher degrees. The county has 13,700 people with master’s degrees and only 3,500 people with doctorates. Olmsted County is part of the Rochester metropolitan area and it has several community colleges that serve thousands of students in the county and surrounding areas.

3. Carver County

Wooden bridge over the reflective clean lake Carver surrounded by dense trees in Minnesota

About 32% of residents in Carver County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Dubbed one of the happiest places in America in 2018, Carver County has a population of 106,000. Of those residents, approximately 35,000 people have bachelor’s degrees or higher. The county also has about 8,000 people with master’s degrees and only around 1,000 people with doctorates. The employer with the largest number of employees is the independent school district which serves the educational needs of students in Carver County. The musician Prince was a resident of the county.

2. Cook County

Grand Marias

A total of 36.6% of residents in Cook County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Cook County has approximately 2,000 people who have bachelor’s degrees or higher. The county also has 628 people with master’s degrees and only 146 people with doctorates. The low number is because Cook County only has a population of 5,600, which makes Cook County one of the smallest counties in Minnesota. It’s also one of the coldest counties in the state.

1. Hennepin County

Nearly 37% of residents in Hennepin County have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Hennepin County has approximately 466,000 people who have bachelor’s degrees or higher. They are the top county with the most educated people in terms of people and percentage. The county also has 123,000 people with master’s degrees and only 18,000 people with doctorates. Minneapolis is the county seat, and it’s the biggest city in the state. There are numerous colleges and universities located in Hennepin County such as St. Cloud State University, University of Minnesota, and University of St. Thomas.


Share this post on:
About the Author

Patrick MacFarland

Patrick Macfarland is a writer at A-Z Animals primarily covering travel, geography, and history. Patrick has been writing for more than 10 years. In the past, he has been a teacher and a political candidate. He holds a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science from SDSU and a Master's Degree in European Union Studies from CIFE. From San Diego, California, Patrick loves to travel and try new recipes to cook.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?