Higher Education in the State of Idaho

Since the year 2000, the State of Idaho has increased in the total percent of the over 25 population having a Bachelors Degree or Higher. This population group has grown by 1.8 percent to a total of 23.4 percent in 2005. According to the American Community Survey, the proportion of the population in 2005 with a BA or Higher is less than the average US percent of 27.2.

According to the 2000 Census Decennial, the counties in the State of Idaho range, in terms of percent of population (over 25) with a Bachelors Degree or Higher, from a high of 43.2 percent in Blaine County to a low of 10 percent in Minidoka County.

The ten most highly-educated counties in Idaho
Percent of the population (over 25) holding a bachelors degree or higher

1. Blaine County (43.2 percent)
2. Latah County (41 percent)
3. Ada County (31.2 percent)
4. Teton County (28 percent)
5. Valley County (26.4 percent)
6. Bonneville County (26.2 percent)
7. Bannock County (25 percent)
8. Madison County (24.4 percent)
9. Camas County (22.2 percent)
10. Boise County (20 percent)


In 2005, the American Community Survey reported that in the State of Idaho, many men in the area have reached the Some College or Associates Degree category, with 32.2 percent receiving this level of education. The women in the Idaho on average have achieved a lower level of higher education (Bachelors or Higher) than the men in the area: 25 percent (Men) versus 21.6 percent (Women). Many of the women in the area achieving a Some College or Associates Degree category, with 35.2 percent of the areas female population attaining this level of education.

From 2000 to 2005, the percent of male population that is highly educated has increased by 1.0 percent. In the year 2005, 25 percent of total male population (over 25), in this area, held at least a Bachelors Degree. At the same time, the percent of women (over 25) holding a BA or higher has increased by a total of 2.2 percent. By the year 2005, a total of 21.6 percent of the female population had achieved this level of education.

In the State of Idaho according to the American Community Survey of 2005, 24 percent of the White Alone, . percent of Black or African American, 39 percent of the Asian alone and 7.6 percent of the Hispanic or Latino population, over the age 25, has achieved at least a Bachelors Degree.

Idaho can be considered to have a moderately-educated 2005 population, with 23.4 percent of the population (+25) having received a BA or higher, as reported in American Community Survey of 2005. The State of Idaho is reported having a lower percent of population with a BA or Higher percent than the US proportion of 27.2 percent.

Datasource: U.S. Bureau of the Census. 2000 Decennial Census. 2005 American Community Survey.