RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Fewest graduate degrees, US states · 2020

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2023 ACS). West Virginia leads at 8.6%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3738.6%+44%

02North Dakota, NDND784,8418.6%+57%

03Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3918.6%+52%

04Nevada, NVNV3,184,6128.8%+45%

05Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7798.9%+52%

06Louisiana, LALA4,611,9618.9%+38%

07Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6349.0%+32%

08South Dakota, SDSD907,4289.2%+54%

09Idaho, IDID1,934,2629.4%+37%

10Iowa, IAIA3,210,5079.6%+47%

11Alabama, ALAL5,086,7689.9%+44%

12Indiana, ININ6,851,0739.9%+37%

13Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82410.3%+49%

14Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38310.4%+53%

15Wyoming, WYWY582,39710.5%+50%

16Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87210.5%+47%

17Texas, TXTX30,188,42410.8%+41%

18South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22510.8%+57%

19Montana, MTMT1,116,87510.9%+52%

20Ohio, OHOH11,810,29310.9%+48%

21Nebraska, NENE1,978,70711.1%+53%

22Florida, FLFL22,416,07711.3%+40%

23Alaska, AKAK735,70611.3%+32%

24Missouri, MOMO6,191,81411.5%+51%

25Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83811.5%+37%

26Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23511.6%+38%

27North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40411.6%+62%

28Utah, UTUT3,392,33111.7%+41%

29Michigan, MIMI10,077,76111.7%+45%

30Maine, MEME1,387,81712.2%+53%

31New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24612.3%+25%

32Kansas, KSKS2,947,19712.5%+43%

33Georgia, GAGA10,940,40712.5%+51%

34Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44512.6%+52%

35Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63912.8%+53%

36California, CACA39,287,37713.1%+37%

37Oregon, OROR4,254,29313.1%+51%

38Delaware, DEDE1,021,19113.7%+45%

39Washington, WAWA7,816,11613.9%+49%

40Illinois, ILIL12,694,79813.9%+46%

41Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80114.0%+44%

42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86814.5%+45%

43Colorado, COCO5,862,18915.6%+40%

44New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80915.9%+45%

45Vermont, VTVT647,10616.1%+45%

46New York, NYNY19,852,36616.5%+40%

47Virginia, VAVA8,705,17017.2%+48%

48Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50817.9%+35%

49Maryland, MDMD6,206,01119.1%+42%

50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05620.0%+46%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29434.5%+64%

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?

West Virginia ranks #1 with 8.6% (2020 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by graduate degree?

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 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 (2020).