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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. The median across all 51 is 34.6%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Alaska, AK, up 5 places to #15.

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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
10▲2Wyoming, WYWY582,39730.6%+8.6 pts
11▼1New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24631.0%+7.5 pts
12▼1Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38331.1%+11.5 pts
13▲4Iowa, IAIA3,210,50731.4%+10.2 pts
14Ohio, OHOH11,810,29331.5%+10.4 pts
15▲5Alaska, AKAK735,70631.7%+7.0 pts
16▼3Idaho, IDID1,934,26231.8%+10.1 pts
17▼1South Dakota, SDSD907,42831.9%+10.4 pts
18▼3South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22532.1%+11.7 pts
19▼1Missouri, MOMO6,191,81432.4%+10.8 pts
20▼1Michigan, MIMI10,077,76132.4%+10.7 pts
21▲2North Dakota, NDND784,84132.7%+10.7 pts
22▼1Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83833.3%+9.8 pts
23▲2Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87233.4%+11.0 pts
24Texas, TXTX30,188,42433.8%+10.6 pts
25▼3Florida, FLFL22,416,07734.1%+11.8 pts
26▲4Nebraska, NENE1,978,70734.6%+10.8 pts
27Georgia, GAGA10,940,40734.9%+10.6 pts
28▲4Montana, MTMT1,116,87535.2%+10.8 pts
29▼1Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63935.2%+12.8 pts
30▲4Kansas, KSKS2,947,19735.6%+9.8 pts
31▼5North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40435.7%+13.2 pts
32▼1Delaware, DEDE1,021,19135.8%+10.7 pts
33Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23536.1%+10.0 pts
34▼5Maine, MEME1,387,81736.2%+13.3 pts
35Oregon, OROR4,254,29336.8%+11.7 pts
36▲1California, CACA39,287,37737.1%+10.5 pts
37▼1Utah, UTUT3,392,33137.7%+11.6 pts
38Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80137.7%+12.1 pts
39Illinois, ILIL12,694,79837.8%+11.8 pts
40▲1Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44539.4%+12.0 pts
41▼1Washington, 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
45▲1Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50842.5%+11.1 pts
46▲2Maryland, MDMD6,206,01143.4%+12.0 pts
47New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80943.6%+13.8 pts
48▼3Vermont, 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 2026-09-11 · 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).