CensusEasy
CensusEasy
RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Fewest graduate degrees, US states

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2024 ACS). Arkansas leads at 9.5%. 51 states qualify in total. The median across all 51 is 13.0%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Alaska, AK, up 6 places to #17.

Flip the list · Most graduate degrees, US states →
All statesAll rankings
RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000
USUnited States334,922,49914.0%–
01▲2Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3919.5%+3.8 pts
02▼1West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3739.7%+3.8 pts
03▼1North Dakota, NDND784,8419.7%+4.2 pts
04Nevada, NVNV3,184,6129.8%+3.7 pts
05Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7799.9%+4.0 pts
06▲1Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6349.9%+3.1 pts
07▲1South Dakota, SDSD907,42810.0%+4.0 pts
08▼2Louisiana, LALA4,611,96110.1%+3.6 pts
09Idaho, IDID1,934,26210.5%+3.7 pts
10Iowa, IAIA3,210,50710.5%+4.0 pts
11▲1Indiana, ININ6,851,07310.8%+3.6 pts
12▼1Alabama, ALAL5,086,76811.1%+4.2 pts
13Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82411.3%+4.5 pts
14▲2Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87211.4%+4.2 pts
15Wyoming, WYWY582,39711.5%+4.5 pts
16▼2Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38311.7%+4.9 pts
17▲6Alaska, AKAK735,70611.8%+3.2 pts
18▲1Montana, MTMT1,116,87512.0%+4.8 pts
19▲1Ohio, OHOH11,810,29312.2%+4.8 pts
20▲1Nebraska, NENE1,978,70712.3%+5.0 pts
21▼3South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22512.3%+5.5 pts
22▼5Texas, TXTX30,188,42412.3%+4.7 pts
23▲1Missouri, MOMO6,191,81412.6%+5.0 pts
24▲5Michigan, MIMI10,077,76112.7%+4.7 pts
25▼3Florida, FLFL22,416,07712.9%+4.8 pts
26▼1Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83813.0%+4.6 pts
27▲1Utah, UTUT3,392,33113.0%+4.8 pts
28▼2Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23513.3%+4.9 pts
29▲3Kansas, KSKS2,947,19713.4%+4.7 pts
30▼3North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40413.5%+6.3 pts
31▼1Maine, MEME1,387,81713.7%+5.8 pts
32▲2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44513.8%+5.5 pts
33Georgia, GAGA10,940,40713.9%+5.6 pts
34▼3New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24613.9%+4.1 pts
35▲2Oregon, OROR4,254,29314.1%+5.5 pts
36▼1Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63914.3%+5.9 pts
37▼1California, CACA39,287,37714.4%+4.9 pts
38▲2Illinois, ILIL12,694,79815.3%+5.7 pts
39▼1Delaware, DEDE1,021,19115.3%+5.9 pts
40▲1Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80115.4%+5.6 pts
41▼2Washington, WAWA7,816,11615.6%+6.3 pts
42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86816.1%+6.2 pts
43▲1New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80917.6%+6.6 pts
44▼1Colorado, COCO5,862,18917.6%+6.5 pts
45▲1New York, NYNY19,852,36617.9%+6.1 pts
46▲1Virginia, VAVA8,705,17018.5%+6.9 pts
47▼2Vermont, VTVT647,10618.6%+7.5 pts
48Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50819.2%+5.9 pts
49Maryland, MDMD6,206,01120.8%+7.3 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05621.8%+8.1 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29438.0%+17.0 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest graduate degree?

Arkansas ranks #1 with 9.5% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by graduate degree?

Arkansas, West Virginia, North Dakota, Nevada, Mississippi.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is graduate degree measured?

Share of adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).