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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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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 1990
USUnited States281,421,90624.4%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37314.8%+2.5 pts
02Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.7%+3.3 pts
03Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77916.9%+2.2 pts
04Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82417.1%+3.5 pts
05Nevada, NVNV3,184,61218.2%+2.9 pts
06Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.7%+2.6 pts
07Alabama, ALAL5,086,76819.0%+3.4 pts
08Indiana, ININ6,851,07319.4%+3.8 pts
09Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38319.6%+3.6 pts
10Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63420.3%+2.5 pts
11South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22520.4%+3.8 pts
12Ohio, OHOH11,810,29321.1%+4.1 pts
13Iowa, IAIA3,210,50721.2%+4.4 pts
14South Dakota, SDSD907,42821.5%+4.3 pts
15Missouri, MOMO6,191,81421.6%+3.8 pts
16Idaho, IDID1,934,26221.7%+4.0 pts
17Michigan, MIMI10,077,76121.8%+4.4 pts
18Wyoming, WYWY582,39721.9%+3.1 pts
19North Dakota, NDND784,84122.0%+3.9 pts
20Florida, FLFL22,416,07722.3%+4.1 pts
21Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63922.4%+4.4 pts
22Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87222.4%+4.7 pts
23North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40422.5%+5.1 pts
24Maine, MEME1,387,81722.9%+4.1 pts
25Texas, TXTX30,188,42423.2%+2.9 pts
26New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24623.5%+3.0 pts
27Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83823.5%+3.2 pts
28Nebraska, NENE1,978,70723.7%+4.8 pts
29Georgia, GAGA10,940,40724.3%+5.0 pts
30Montana, MTMT1,116,87524.4%+4.6 pts
31Alaska, AKAK735,70624.7%+1.7 pts
32Delaware, DEDE1,021,19125.0%+3.6 pts
33Oregon, OROR4,254,29325.1%+4.5 pts
34Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80125.6%+4.3 pts
35Kansas, KSKS2,947,19725.8%+4.7 pts
36Illinois, ILIL12,694,79826.1%+5.0 pts
37Utah, UTUT3,392,33126.1%+3.9 pts
38Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23526.2%+3.3 pts
39California, CACA39,287,37726.6%+3.3 pts
40New York, NYNY19,852,36627.4%+4.2 pts
41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44527.4%+5.6 pts
42Washington, WAWA7,816,11627.7%+4.8 pts
43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86828.7%+4.3 pts
44Vermont, VTVT647,10629.4%+5.1 pts
45Virginia, VAVA8,705,17029.5%+5.0 pts
46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80929.8%+4.9 pts
47Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50831.4%+4.2 pts
48Maryland, MDMD6,206,01131.4%+5.0 pts
49Colorado, COCO5,862,18932.7%+5.7 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05633.2%+6.0 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29439.1%+5.8 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · 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.