US States · Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+)

US States by Share of Adults With a Bachelor's Degree (2024)

Data: 2024 ACS 1-year estimates Updated: Source: U.S. Census Bureau CSV

This list ranks states by the share of adults aged 25 and older who hold at least a bachelor's degree, the most common single measure of a workforce's formal education. It correlates strongly with median incomes and with the share of jobs in professional and technical industries.

District of Columbia has the highest share at 65.5%; West Virginia has the lowest at 24.4%. Nationwide, 36.9% of adults 25+ hold a bachelor's degree or higher.

Key facts

Highest

  1. 1District of Columbia65.5%
  2. 2Massachusetts48.3%
  3. 3Colorado47.8%

Lowest

  1. 51West Virginia24.4%
  2. 50Mississippi27.0%
  3. 49Arkansas27.1%
United States
36.9%
Median of 51 states
35.8%
states ranked
51

Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+) by state

Shaded by quintile; darker = higher. Hover a state for its value and rank.

Alabama: 29.9% (rank 44 of 51)Alaska: 32.8% (rank 37 of 51)Arizona: 34.7% (rank 29 of 51)Colorado: 47.8% (rank 3 of 51)Florida: 35.8% (rank 26 of 51)Georgia: 36.3% (rank 23 of 51)Indiana: 30.7% (rank 43 of 51)Kansas: 36.0% (rank 24 of 51)Maine: 37.1% (rank 20 of 51)Massachusetts: 48.3% (rank 2 of 51)Minnesota: 40.0% (rank 12 of 51)New Jersey: 44.5% (rank 6 of 51)North Carolina: 37.1% (rank 19 of 51)North Dakota: 34.0% (rank 32 of 51)Oklahoma: 29.3% (rank 45 of 51)Pennsylvania: 36.4% (rank 21 of 51)South Dakota: 34.2% (rank 31 of 51)Texas: 35.2% (rank 28 of 51)Wyoming: 32.3% (rank 40 of 51)Connecticut: 42.6% (rank 8 of 51)Missouri: 33.5% (rank 33 of 51)West Virginia: 24.4% (rank 51 of 51)Illinois: 39.2% (rank 13 of 51)New Mexico: 31.8% (rank 42 of 51)Arkansas: 27.1% (rank 49 of 51)California: 38.1% (rank 16 of 51)Delaware: 36.0% (rank 25 of 51)Hawaii: 37.8% (rank 18 of 51)Iowa: 32.1% (rank 41 of 51)Kentucky: 27.9% (rank 47 of 51)Maryland: 44.7% (rank 5 of 51)Michigan: 33.3% (rank 35 of 51)Mississippi: 27.0% (rank 50 of 51)Montana: 36.3% (rank 22 of 51)New Hampshire: 41.5% (rank 9 of 51)New York: 41.2% (rank 10 of 51)Ohio: 32.4% (rank 39 of 51)Oregon: 37.8% (rank 17 of 51)Tennessee: 32.4% (rank 38 of 51)Utah: 39.1% (rank 14 of 51)Virginia: 43.3% (rank 7 of 51)Washington: 41.0% (rank 11 of 51)Wisconsin: 34.6% (rank 30 of 51)Nebraska: 35.4% (rank 27 of 51)South Carolina: 33.3% (rank 34 of 51)Idaho: 33.0% (rank 36 of 51)Nevada: 28.5% (rank 46 of 51)Vermont: 45.1% (rank 4 of 51)Louisiana: 27.8% (rank 48 of 51)Rhode Island: 39.0% (rank 15 of 51) District of Columbia: 65.5% (rank 1 of 51)
  • 24.4%–32.1%
  • 32.3%–34.2%
  • 34.6%–36.4%
  • 37.1%–41.0%
  • 41.2%–65.5%
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 1-year estimates. Map: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundaries (via us-atlas), Albers USA projection; Alaska and Hawaii repositioned.

Highest and lowest states

Bachelor's degree or higher (age 25+); dashed line marks the US figure.

Highest 10

  1. 1. District of Columbia 65.5%
  2. 2. Massachusetts 48.3%
  3. 3. Colorado 47.8%
  4. 4. Vermont 45.1%
  5. 5. Maryland 44.7%
  6. 6. New Jersey 44.5%
  7. 7. Virginia 43.3%
  8. 8. Connecticut 42.6%
  9. 9. New Hampshire 41.5%
  10. 10. New York 41.2%

Lowest 10

  1. 42. New Mexico 31.8%
  2. 43. Indiana 30.7%
  3. 44. Alabama 29.9%
  4. 45. Oklahoma 29.3%
  5. 46. Nevada 28.5%
  6. 47. Kentucky 27.9%
  7. 48. Louisiana 27.8%
  8. 49. Arkansas 27.1%
  9. 50. Mississippi 27.0%
  10. 51. West Virginia 24.4%

United States: 36.9%

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 ACS 1-year estimates.

Full ranking

Download CSV 51 rows
Select a column header to sort (press again to reverse).
1 District of Columbia 65.5% South 702,250
2 Massachusetts 48.3% Northeast 7,136,171
3 Colorado 47.8% West 5,957,494
4 Vermont 45.1% Northeast 648,493
5 Maryland 44.7% South 6,263,220
6 New Jersey 44.5% Northeast 9,500,851
7 Virginia 43.3% South 8,811,195
8 Connecticut 42.6% Northeast 3,675,069
9 New Hampshire 41.5% Northeast 1,409,032
10 New York 41.2% Northeast 19,867,248
11 Washington 41.0% West 7,958,180
12 Minnesota 40.0% Midwest 5,793,151
13 Illinois 39.2% Midwest 12,710,158
14 Utah 39.1% West 3,503,613
15 Rhode Island 39.0% Northeast 1,112,308
16 California 38.1% West 39,431,263
17 Oregon 37.8% West 4,272,371
18 Hawaii 37.8% West 1,446,146
19 North Carolina 37.1% South 11,046,024
20 Maine 37.1% Northeast 1,405,012
21 Pennsylvania 36.4% Northeast 13,078,751
22 Montana 36.3% West 1,137,233
23 Georgia 36.3% South 11,180,878
24 Kansas 36.0% Midwest 2,970,606
25 Delaware 36.0% South 1,051,917
26 Florida 35.8% South 23,372,215
27 Nebraska 35.4% Midwest 2,005,466
28 Texas 35.2% South 31,290,831
29 Arizona 34.7% West 7,582,384
30 Wisconsin 34.6% Midwest 5,960,975
31 South Dakota 34.2% Midwest 924,669
32 North Dakota 34.0% Midwest 796,568
33 Missouri 33.5% Midwest 6,245,466
34 South Carolina 33.3% South 5,478,831
35 Michigan 33.3% Midwest 10,140,459
36 Idaho 33.0% West 2,001,619
37 Alaska 32.8% West 740,133
38 Tennessee 32.4% South 7,227,750
39 Ohio 32.4% Midwest 11,883,304
40 Wyoming 32.3% West 587,618
41 Iowa 32.1% Midwest 3,241,488
42 New Mexico 31.8% West 2,130,256
43 Indiana 30.7% Midwest 6,924,275
44 Alabama 29.9% South 5,157,699
45 Oklahoma 29.3% South 4,095,393
46 Nevada 28.5% West 3,267,467
47 Kentucky 27.9% South 4,588,372
48 Louisiana 27.8% South 4,597,740
49 Arkansas 27.1% South 3,088,354
50 Mississippi 27.0% South 2,943,045
51 West Virginia 24.4% South 1,769,979

Methodology

Calculated from Census Bureau table B15003 (Educational Attainment for the Population 25 Years and Over), 1-year estimates: the sum of people whose highest degree is a bachelor's, master's, professional school or doctorate, divided by the total population 25 and older.

Puerto Rico and other US territories are not included. Rankings use competition ranking: tied values share a rank.

Frequently asked questions

What is the most educated state?

By this measure, District of Columbia, where 65.5% of adults 25+ have a bachelor's degree or higher.

Are associate degrees counted?

No. Only bachelor's degrees and above are included.

Sources

Data retrieved October 28, 2026. Values are shown as published, rounded for display; derived percentages are computed by us from published counts as described above. Download the CSV. Spotted an error? Tell us.

Cite this page: SortedLists, “US States by Share of Adults With a Bachelor's Degree”, https://sortedlists.com/states-by-college-education/ (accessed October 28, 2026). Data: U.S. Census Bureau, 2024 American Community Survey 1-Year Estimates, table B15003.