RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Fewest graduate degrees, US states · 1990

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 ACS). Arkansas leads at 4.5%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3914.5%−21%

02North Dakota, NDND784,8414.5%−17%

03West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3734.8%−19%

04South Dakota, SDSD907,4284.9%−18%

05Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7795.1%−14%

06Iowa, IAIA3,210,5075.2%−21%

07Nevada, NVNV3,184,6125.2%−15%

08Idaho, IDID1,934,2625.3%−23%

09North Carolina, NCNC10,730,4045.4%−25%

10Tennessee, TNTN7,066,3835.4%−20%

11South Carolina, SCSC5,296,2255.4%−21%

12Kentucky, KYKY4,534,8245.5%−20%

13Alabama, ALAL5,086,7685.5%−19%

14Louisiana, LALA4,611,9615.6%−14%

15Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,8725.6%−22%

16Montana, MTMT1,116,8755.7%−21%

17Wyoming, WYWY582,3975.7%−19%

18Nebraska, NENE1,978,7075.9%−19%

19Ohio, OHOH11,810,2935.9%−20%

20Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6346.0%−12%

21Maine, MEME1,387,8176.1%−23%

22Missouri, MOMO6,191,8146.1%−19%

23Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4456.3%−25%

24Florida, FLFL22,416,0776.3%−22%

25Indiana, ININ6,851,0736.4%−12%

26Georgia, GAGA10,940,4076.4%−23%

27Michigan, MIMI10,077,7616.4%−20%

28Texas, TXTX30,188,4246.5%−15%

29Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6396.6%−21%

30Utah, UTUT3,392,3316.8%−17%

31Arizona, AZAZ7,378,8387.0%−17%

32Oregon, OROR4,254,2937.0%−20%

33Kansas, KSKS2,947,1977.0%−20%

34Washington, WAWA7,816,1167.0%−24%

35Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2357.1%−15%

36Illinois, ILIL12,694,7987.5%−22%

37Delaware, DEDE1,021,1917.7%−18%

38Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,8017.8%−20%

39New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,8687.9%−20%

40Alaska, AKAK735,7068.0%−7%

41California, CACA39,287,3778.1%−15%

42New Mexico, NMNM2,120,2468.3%−16%

43New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8098.8%−19%

44Vermont, VTVT647,1068.9%−20%

45Colorado, COCO5,862,1899.0%−19%

46Virginia, VAVA8,705,1709.1%−22%

47New York, NYNY19,852,3669.9%−16%

48Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05610.6%−22%

49Maryland, MDMD6,206,01110.9%−19%

50Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50811.0%−17%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29417.2%−18%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest graduate degree?

Arkansas ranks #1 with 4.5% (1990 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by graduate degree?

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 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 (1990).