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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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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
USUnited States308,745,53827.9%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.3%+2.4 pts
02Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39119.1%+2.5 pts
03Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77919.5%+2.6 pts
04Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82420.3%+3.2 pts
05Louisiana, LALA4,611,96120.9%+2.2 pts
06Alabama, ALAL5,086,76821.7%+2.7 pts
07Nevada, NVNV3,184,61221.8%+3.7 pts
08Indiana, ININ6,851,07322.4%+3.0 pts
09Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63422.6%+2.3 pts
10Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38322.7%+3.1 pts
11Wyoming, WYWY582,39723.6%+1.7 pts
12South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22524.0%+3.5 pts
13Ohio, OHOH11,810,29324.1%+3.0 pts
14Idaho, IDID1,934,26224.3%+2.6 pts
15Iowa, IAIA3,210,50724.5%+3.3 pts
16Michigan, MIMI10,077,76125.0%+3.3 pts
17Missouri, MOMO6,191,81425.0%+3.5 pts
18South Dakota, SDSD907,42825.3%+3.8 pts
19New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24625.5%+2.0 pts
20Texas, TXTX30,188,42425.8%+2.5 pts
21Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87225.8%+3.4 pts
22Florida, FLFL22,416,07725.9%+3.6 pts
23North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40426.1%+3.6 pts
24North Dakota, NDND784,84126.3%+4.3 pts
25Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83826.3%+2.8 pts
26Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63926.4%+4.0 pts
27Maine, MEME1,387,81726.5%+3.7 pts
28Alaska, AKAK735,70627.0%+2.3 pts
29Georgia, GAGA10,940,40727.2%+2.9 pts
30Delaware, DEDE1,021,19127.7%+2.6 pts
31Nebraska, NENE1,978,70727.7%+3.9 pts
32Montana, MTMT1,116,87527.9%+3.5 pts
33Oregon, OROR4,254,29328.6%+3.6 pts
34Kansas, KSKS2,947,19729.3%+3.5 pts
35Utah, UTUT3,392,33129.4%+3.3 pts
36Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23529.4%+3.3 pts
37California, CACA39,287,37730.1%+3.4 pts
38Illinois, ILIL12,694,79830.3%+4.2 pts
39Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80130.3%+4.7 pts
40Washington, WAWA7,816,11631.0%+3.3 pts
41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44531.4%+4.0 pts
42New York, NYNY19,852,36632.1%+4.8 pts
43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86832.9%+4.2 pts
44Vermont, VTVT647,10633.3%+3.8 pts
45Virginia, VAVA8,705,17033.8%+4.3 pts
46New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80934.6%+4.8 pts
47Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50835.2%+3.8 pts
48Maryland, MDMD6,206,01135.7%+4.3 pts
49Colorado, COCO5,862,18935.9%+3.2 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05638.3%+5.1 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29449.2%+10.1 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 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.