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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 (2020 ACS). West Virginia leads at 8.6%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000
USUnited States331,449,28112.7%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3738.6%+2.6 pts
02North Dakota, NDND784,8418.6%+3.1 pts
03Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3918.6%+2.9 pts
04Nevada, NVNV3,184,6128.8%+2.7 pts
05Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7798.9%+3.1 pts
06Louisiana, LALA4,611,9618.9%+2.4 pts
07Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6349.0%+2.2 pts
08South Dakota, SDSD907,4289.2%+3.2 pts
09Idaho, IDID1,934,2629.4%+2.5 pts
10Iowa, IAIA3,210,5079.6%+3.1 pts
11Alabama, ALAL5,086,7689.9%+3.0 pts
12Indiana, ININ6,851,0739.9%+2.7 pts
13Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82410.3%+3.4 pts
14Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38310.4%+3.6 pts
15Wyoming, WYWY582,39710.5%+3.5 pts
16Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87210.5%+3.4 pts
17Texas, TXTX30,188,42410.8%+3.2 pts
18South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22510.8%+3.9 pts
19Montana, MTMT1,116,87510.9%+3.7 pts
20Ohio, OHOH11,810,29310.9%+3.6 pts
21Nebraska, NENE1,978,70711.1%+3.9 pts
22Florida, FLFL22,416,07711.3%+3.2 pts
23Alaska, AKAK735,70611.3%+2.7 pts
24Missouri, MOMO6,191,81411.5%+3.9 pts
25Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83811.5%+3.1 pts
26Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23511.6%+3.2 pts
27North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40411.6%+4.5 pts
28Utah, UTUT3,392,33111.7%+3.4 pts
29Michigan, MIMI10,077,76111.7%+3.7 pts
30Maine, MEME1,387,81712.2%+4.2 pts
31New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24612.3%+2.5 pts
32Kansas, KSKS2,947,19712.5%+3.7 pts
33Georgia, GAGA10,940,40712.5%+4.2 pts
34Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44512.6%+4.3 pts
35Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63912.8%+4.4 pts
36California, CACA39,287,37713.1%+3.6 pts
37Oregon, OROR4,254,29313.1%+4.4 pts
38Delaware, DEDE1,021,19113.7%+4.2 pts
39Washington, WAWA7,816,11613.9%+4.6 pts
40Illinois, ILIL12,694,79813.9%+4.4 pts
41Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80114.0%+4.2 pts
42New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86814.5%+4.5 pts
43Colorado, COCO5,862,18915.6%+4.4 pts
44New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80915.9%+5.0 pts
45Vermont, VTVT647,10616.1%+5.0 pts
46New York, NYNY19,852,36616.5%+4.8 pts
47Virginia, VAVA8,705,17017.2%+5.6 pts
48Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50817.9%+4.6 pts
49Maryland, MDMD6,206,01119.1%+5.7 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05620.0%+6.3 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29434.5%+13.5 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?

West Virginia ranks #1 with 8.6% (2020 Decennial Census).

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 Decennial Census data.

How is graduate degree measured?

Share of adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.