RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Least educated, US states · 1990

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (1990 ACS). West Virginia leads at 12.3%. 51 states qualify in total.

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SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros ZIP codes

YEAR1990 2000 2010 2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS –

USUnited States248,709,87320.3%–

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37312.3%–

02Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39113.3%–

03Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82413.6%–

04Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77914.7%–

05Nevada, NVNV3,184,61215.3%–

06Indiana, ININ6,851,07315.6%–

07Alabama, ALAL5,086,76815.7%–

08Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38316.0%–

09Louisiana, LALA4,611,96116.1%–

10South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22516.6%–

11Iowa, IAIA3,210,50716.9%–

12Ohio, OHOH11,810,29317.0%–

13South Dakota, SDSD907,42817.2%–

14Michigan, MIMI10,077,76117.4%–

15North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40417.4%–

16Idaho, IDID1,934,26217.7%–

17Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87217.7%–

18Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63417.8%–

19Missouri, MOMO6,191,81417.8%–

20Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63917.9%–

21North Dakota, NDND784,84118.1%–

22Florida, FLFL22,416,07718.3%–

23Maine, MEME1,387,81718.8%–

24Wyoming, WYWY582,39718.8%–

25Nebraska, NENE1,978,70718.9%–

26Georgia, GAGA10,940,40719.3%–

27Montana, MTMT1,116,87519.8%–

28Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83820.3%–

29Texas, TXTX30,188,42420.3%–

30New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24620.4%–

31Oregon, OROR4,254,29320.6%–

32Illinois, ILIL12,694,79821.0%–

33Kansas, KSKS2,947,19721.1%–

34Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80121.3%–

35Delaware, DEDE1,021,19121.4%–

36Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44521.8%–

37Utah, UTUT3,392,33122.3%–

38Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23522.9%–

39Washington, WAWA7,816,11622.9%–

40Alaska, AKAK735,70623.0%–

41New York, NYNY19,852,36623.1%–

42California, CACA39,287,37723.4%–

43Vermont, VTVT647,10624.3%–

44New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86824.4%–

45Virginia, VAVA8,705,17024.5%–

46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80924.9%–

47Maryland, MDMD6,206,01126.5%–

48Colorado, COCO5,862,18927.0%–

49Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50827.2%–

50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05627.2%–

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29433.3%–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

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

West Virginia ranks #1 with 12.3% (1990 Decennial Census).

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

West Virginia, Arkansas, Kentucky, Mississippi, Nevada.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 Decennial Census data.

How is bachelor's degree or higher measured?

Share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: US Census Bureau, 1990 Decennial Census.