Only in Your State | New Mexico
When considering New Mexico as a whole, 85.6% of our population graduated from high school, while 27.3% have achieved a bachelor’s degree, which is only trailing slightly behind the U.S. average. High school graduates nationally averages 88% and the bachelor’s degree average is 32.1% (U.S. Census). Based on Census information, the following are the most educated counties in New Mexico.
10. Harding County
Harding County is where Logan, Mosquero, Roy and Mills, NM are located. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree in Harding County is 21.7%. Surprising?
9. Roosevelt County
Roosevelt County is home to Eastern New Mexico University in Portales, as well as 3 smaller communities. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree in Roosevelt County is 23.9%
8. Lincoln County
Lincoln County is home to a lot of history, and apparently quite a few college degrees! Lincoln County is where Corona, Carrizozo, Capitan, and Ruidoso are located. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree is 25.8%.
7. Doña Ana County
The most popular city in Doña Ana County is Las Cruces, which is home to New Mexico State University. It’s also the county where Hatch, NM and White Sands is located. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree in Doña Ana county is 27.1%.
6. Taos County
Taos County is one of the most popular counties in the state. It’s home to Taos and Red River, among other mountain towns. As it’s name, it’s also home to the Taos Ski Valley and the Taos Pueblo. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree in Taos County is 28.7%.
5. Grant County
Grant County is located in the southwestern portion of the state. It’s cities include Mimbes, Mule Creek, Cobre, Hachita and Silver City, NM. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree in Grant County is 28.8%. Silver City is home to Western New Mexico University.
4. Sandoval County
Rio Rancho and the Zia Pueblo are located in Sandoval County. It is just north of Albuquerque and the percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree there is 30.5%.
3. Bernalillo County
Bernalillo County is where New Mexico’s biggest city, Albuquerque, is located, and home to the University of New Mexico, which is the largest 4-year university in the state. The percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree in Bernalillo County is 34.4%.
2. Santa Fe County
Santa Fe is home to St. John’s College and the Institute of American Indian Arts. With the county being home to many of the state’s legislators, including Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, it ranks #2 on our list with 41% of people with a bachelor’s degree,
1. Los Alamos County
This one probably comes as no surprise. Los Alamos National Laboratory employs a large number of highly educated scientists, rocket scientists in fact, which probably explains the percentage of college graduates in this county. It trumps every other county by more than doubling most, at 67.4% of people holding bachelor’s degrees.
