The Florida Department of Health released a list of the most educated counties in the Sunshine State, including areas of Central Florida.
The ranking uses 2021 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey, taking a look at the number of college graduates in each county.
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It’s important to note that “most educated” does not necessarily mean the smartest or the wisest — the list refers to the population within each county aged over 25 with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
As such, the results of the study are as follows:
| Ranking | County | Percent of population with at least bachelor’s |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Leon | 47.05% |
| 2 | St. Johns | 45.98% |
| 3 | Alachua | 45.18% |
| 4 | Seminole | 41.94% |
| 5 | Palm Beach | 37.98% |
| 6 | Collier | 37.88% |
| 7 | Sarasota | 37.32% |
| 8 | Orange | 35.70% |
| 9 | Monroe | 35.69% |
| 10 | Hillsborough | 35.53% |
Meanwhile, the study also shows the 10 least educated counties in Florida, meaning the areas with the fewest number of people holding a bachelor’s degree.
| Ranking | County | Percent of population with at least bachelor’s |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Lafayette | 7.31% |
| 2 | Hendry | 8.48% |
| 3 | Hamilton | 9.05% |
| 4 | Holmes | 9.54% |
| 5 | Calhoun | 10.02% |
| 6 | Hardee | 10.24% |
| 7 | Dixie | 10.85% |
| 8 | Union | 10.98% |
| 9 | Taylor | 11.93% |
| 10 | Gilchrist | 12.53% |
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