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RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Least educated, US states

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2024 ACS). West Virginia leads at 24.1%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
USUnited States334,922,49935.6%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37324.1%+9.3 pts
02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77925.1%+8.2 pts
03Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39125.7%+9.1 pts
04Louisiana, LALA4,611,96127.0%+8.3 pts
05Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82427.6%+10.4 pts
06Nevada, NVNV3,184,61227.9%+9.7 pts
07Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63428.3%+8.1 pts
08Alabama, ALAL5,086,76828.4%+9.3 pts
09Indiana, ININ6,851,07329.5%+10.1 pts
10Wyoming, WYWY582,39730.6%+8.6 pts
11New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24631.0%+7.5 pts
12Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38331.1%+11.5 pts
13Iowa, IAIA3,210,50731.4%+10.2 pts
14Ohio, OHOH11,810,29331.5%+10.4 pts
15Alaska, AKAK735,70631.7%+7.0 pts
16Idaho, IDID1,934,26231.8%+10.1 pts
17South Dakota, SDSD907,42831.9%+10.4 pts
18South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22532.1%+11.7 pts
19Missouri, MOMO6,191,81432.4%+10.8 pts
20Michigan, MIMI10,077,76132.4%+10.7 pts
21North Dakota, NDND784,84132.7%+10.7 pts
22Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83833.3%+9.8 pts
23Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87233.4%+11.0 pts
24Texas, TXTX30,188,42433.8%+10.6 pts
25Florida, FLFL22,416,07734.1%+11.8 pts
26Nebraska, NENE1,978,70734.6%+10.8 pts
27Georgia, GAGA10,940,40734.9%+10.6 pts
28Montana, MTMT1,116,87535.2%+10.8 pts
29Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63935.2%+12.8 pts
30Kansas, KSKS2,947,19735.6%+9.8 pts
31North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40435.7%+13.2 pts
32Delaware, DEDE1,021,19135.8%+10.7 pts
33Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23536.1%+10.0 pts
34Maine, MEME1,387,81736.2%+13.3 pts
35Oregon, OROR4,254,29336.8%+11.7 pts
36California, CACA39,287,37737.1%+10.5 pts
37Utah, UTUT3,392,33137.7%+11.6 pts
38Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80137.7%+12.1 pts
39Illinois, ILIL12,694,79837.8%+11.8 pts
40Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44539.4%+12.0 pts
41Washington, WAWA7,816,11639.6%+11.9 pts
42New York, NYNY19,852,36640.2%+12.9 pts
43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86840.6%+12.0 pts
44Virginia, VAVA8,705,17042.2%+12.7 pts
45Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50842.5%+11.1 pts
46Maryland, MDMD6,206,01143.4%+12.0 pts
47New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80943.6%+13.8 pts
48Vermont, VTVT647,10643.8%+14.3 pts
49Colorado, COCO5,862,18945.7%+13.0 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05647.3%+14.1 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29464.2%+25.2 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the lowest bachelor's degree or higher?

West Virginia ranks #1 with 24.1% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by bachelor's degree or higher?

West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky.

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 bachelor's degree or higher measured?

Share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).