CensusEasy
RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Fewest graduate degrees, US states · 2000

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2000 ACS). North Dakota leads at 5.5%. 51 states qualify in total.

Flip the list · Most graduate degrees, US states →
All statesAll rankings
RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 1990
USUnited States281,421,9068.8%–
01North Dakota, NDND784,8415.5%+0.9 pts
02Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3915.7%+1.2 pts
03Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7795.8%+0.8 pts
04West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3735.9%+1.1 pts
05South Dakota, SDSD907,4286.0%+1.1 pts
06Nevada, NVNV3,184,6126.1%+0.9 pts
07Louisiana, LALA4,611,9616.5%+0.9 pts
08Iowa, IAIA3,210,5076.5%+1.3 pts
09Tennessee, TNTN7,066,3836.8%+1.4 pts
10Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6346.8%+0.8 pts
11Idaho, IDID1,934,2626.8%+1.6 pts
12Alabama, ALAL5,086,7686.9%+1.3 pts
13South Carolina, SCSC5,296,2256.9%+1.4 pts
14Kentucky, KYKY4,534,8246.9%+1.4 pts
15Wyoming, WYWY582,3977.0%+1.3 pts
16Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,8727.2%+1.6 pts
17North Carolina, NCNC10,730,4047.2%+1.8 pts
18Montana, MTMT1,116,8757.2%+1.5 pts
19Indiana, ININ6,851,0737.2%+0.8 pts
20Nebraska, NENE1,978,7077.3%+1.4 pts
21Ohio, OHOH11,810,2937.4%+1.5 pts
22Missouri, MOMO6,191,8147.6%+1.5 pts
23Texas, TXTX30,188,4247.6%+1.2 pts
24Maine, MEME1,387,8177.9%+1.8 pts
25Florida, FLFL22,416,0778.1%+1.7 pts
26Michigan, MIMI10,077,7618.1%+1.6 pts
27Utah, UTUT3,392,3318.3%+1.4 pts
28Georgia, GAGA10,940,4078.3%+1.9 pts
29Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4458.3%+2.1 pts
30Arizona, AZAZ7,378,8388.4%+1.4 pts
31Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6398.4%+1.8 pts
32Hawaii, HIHI1,445,2358.4%+1.3 pts
33Alaska, AKAK735,7068.6%+0.6 pts
34Oregon, OROR4,254,2938.7%+1.7 pts
35Kansas, KSKS2,947,1978.7%+1.8 pts
36Washington, WAWA7,816,1169.3%+2.3 pts
37Delaware, DEDE1,021,1919.4%+1.7 pts
38California, CACA39,287,3779.5%+1.5 pts
39Illinois, ILIL12,694,7989.5%+2.1 pts
40Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,8019.7%+1.9 pts
41New Mexico, NMNM2,120,2469.8%+1.6 pts
42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86810.0%+2.0 pts
43New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80911.0%+2.1 pts
44Vermont, VTVT647,10611.1%+2.2 pts
45Colorado, COCO5,862,18911.1%+2.1 pts
46Virginia, VAVA8,705,17011.6%+2.5 pts
47New York, NYNY19,852,36611.8%+1.9 pts
48Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50813.3%+2.3 pts
49Maryland, MDMD6,206,01113.4%+2.6 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05613.7%+3.0 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29421.0%+3.8 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest graduate degree?

North Dakota ranks #1 with 5.5% (2000 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by graduate degree?

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 Decennial Census data.

How is graduate degree measured?

Share of adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree. Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census.