Residents with advanced degrees: 9.9% of population
Residents with some college education: 63%
Minnesota is packed with workers who hold advanced degrees -- a lure it uses to attract businesses looking for a home.
"We do have a very highly educated workforce here, and we actually use that as a recruiting tool," said Monte Hanson, spokesman for the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development.
It's working. Minnesota is home to 21 Fortune 500 companies, including medical technology maker Medtronics, Best Buy, Target, General Mills and innovator 3M.
"It is sort of part of the tradition here that education is heavily emphasized," Hanson says. "Even from a legislative standpoint, historically, they have put a lot of money into education -- this includes high school and higher education."
Like many states right now, Minnesota is trying to balance that commitment to schooling against the spending cuts needed to get its budget in line.
NEXT: Washington
From mega tax breaks to innovative business incubators, these places offer compelling incentives. More
From an event planner in Puerto Vallarta to a surfing school in Costa Rica, these businesses launched in dream spots. More
These states are innovating up a storm, generating the most independent inventor patents per capita. More
