RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Least educated, US states · 2000

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2000 ACS). West Virginia leads at 14.8%. 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 1990

USUnited States281,421,90624.4%–

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37314.8%+20%

02Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.7%+25%

03Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77916.9%+15%

04Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82417.1%+26%

05Nevada, NVNV3,184,61218.2%+19%

06Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.7%+16%

07Alabama, ALAL5,086,76819.0%+21%

08Indiana, ININ6,851,07319.4%+25%

09Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38319.6%+23%

10Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63420.3%+14%

11South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22520.4%+23%

12Ohio, OHOH11,810,29321.1%+24%

13Iowa, IAIA3,210,50721.2%+26%

14South Dakota, SDSD907,42821.5%+25%

15Missouri, MOMO6,191,81421.6%+21%

16Idaho, IDID1,934,26221.7%+23%

17Michigan, MIMI10,077,76121.8%+25%

18Wyoming, WYWY582,39721.9%+17%

19North Dakota, NDND784,84122.0%+22%

20Florida, FLFL22,416,07722.3%+22%

21Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63922.4%+25%

22Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87222.4%+26%

23North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40422.5%+29%

24Maine, MEME1,387,81722.9%+22%

25Texas, TXTX30,188,42423.2%+14%

26New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24623.5%+15%

27Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83823.5%+16%

28Nebraska, NENE1,978,70723.7%+25%

29Georgia, GAGA10,940,40724.3%+26%

30Montana, MTMT1,116,87524.4%+23%

31Alaska, AKAK735,70624.7%+7%

32Delaware, DEDE1,021,19125.0%+17%

33Oregon, OROR4,254,29325.1%+22%

34Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80125.6%+20%

35Kansas, KSKS2,947,19725.8%+22%

36Illinois, ILIL12,694,79826.1%+24%

37Utah, UTUT3,392,33126.1%+17%

38Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23526.2%+14%

39California, CACA39,287,37726.6%+14%

40New York, NYNY19,852,36627.4%+18%

41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44527.4%+26%

42Washington, WAWA7,816,11627.7%+21%

43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86828.7%+18%

44Vermont, VTVT647,10629.4%+21%

45Virginia, VAVA8,705,17029.5%+20%

46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80929.8%+20%

47Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50831.4%+16%

48Maryland, MDMD6,206,01131.4%+19%

49Colorado, COCO5,862,18932.7%+21%

50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05633.2%+22%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29439.1%+17%

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 14.8% (2000 Decennial Census).

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

West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Nevada.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 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, 2000 Decennial Census.