There are eight school districts within the County providing K12 education.  Private institutions are also available.  The Albert Lea School District serves approximately 5000 students and includes a new state of the art high school facility constructed in 2000. The Glenville-Emmons School District serves the southern and southwestern area of Freeborn County. Lyle Public Schools, Austin Public Schools and Blooming Prairie Public Schools provide education to the residents along the eastern border, with NRHEG School District (Hartland, Geneva) and USC School District (Freeborn) on the northern border. The western part of the county is Alden-Conger Public School territory.

Riverland Community College is a regional comprehensive community college offering 50 career programs and 32 transfer programs.