RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Least educated, US states · 2010

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2010 ACS). West Virginia leads at 17.3%. 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 2000

USUnited States308,745,53827.9%–

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.3%+16%

02Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39119.1%+15%

03Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77919.5%+15%

04Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82420.3%+19%

05Louisiana, LALA4,611,96120.9%+12%

06Alabama, ALAL5,086,76821.7%+14%

07Nevada, NVNV3,184,61221.8%+20%

08Indiana, ININ6,851,07322.4%+16%

09Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63422.6%+11%

10Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38322.7%+16%

11Wyoming, WYWY582,39723.6%+8%

12South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22524.0%+17%

13Ohio, OHOH11,810,29324.1%+14%

14Idaho, IDID1,934,26224.3%+12%

15Iowa, IAIA3,210,50724.5%+16%

16Michigan, MIMI10,077,76125.0%+15%

17Missouri, MOMO6,191,81425.0%+16%

18South Dakota, SDSD907,42825.3%+18%

19New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24625.5%+9%

20Texas, TXTX30,188,42425.8%+11%

21Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87225.8%+15%

22Florida, FLFL22,416,07725.9%+16%

23North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40426.1%+16%

24North Dakota, NDND784,84126.3%+20%

25Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83826.3%+12%

26Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63926.4%+18%

27Maine, MEME1,387,81726.5%+16%

28Alaska, AKAK735,70627.0%+9%

29Georgia, GAGA10,940,40727.2%+12%

30Delaware, DEDE1,021,19127.7%+10%

31Nebraska, NENE1,978,70727.7%+17%

32Montana, MTMT1,116,87527.9%+14%

33Oregon, OROR4,254,29328.6%+14%

34Kansas, KSKS2,947,19729.3%+14%

35Utah, UTUT3,392,33129.4%+13%

36Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23529.4%+12%

37California, CACA39,287,37730.1%+13%

38Illinois, ILIL12,694,79830.3%+16%

39Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80130.3%+18%

40Washington, WAWA7,816,11631.0%+12%

41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44531.4%+15%

42New York, NYNY19,852,36632.1%+17%

43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86832.9%+15%

44Vermont, VTVT647,10633.3%+13%

45Virginia, VAVA8,705,17033.8%+15%

46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80934.6%+16%

47Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50835.2%+12%

48Maryland, MDMD6,206,01135.7%+14%

49Colorado, COCO5,862,18935.9%+10%

50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05638.3%+15%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29449.2%+26%

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 17.3% (2010 Decennial Census).

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

West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Louisiana.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2010 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, 2010 Decennial Census.