RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Least educated, US states · 2020

US states with the smallest share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). West Virginia leads at 21.3%. 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

01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37321.3%+44%

02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77922.8%+35%

03Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39123.8%+43%

04Louisiana, LALA4,611,96124.9%+33%

05Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82425.0%+46%

06Nevada, NVNV3,184,61225.5%+40%

07Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63426.1%+29%

08Alabama, ALAL5,086,76826.2%+38%

09Indiana, ININ6,851,07327.2%+40%

10New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24628.1%+20%

11Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38328.2%+44%

12Wyoming, WYWY582,39728.2%+29%

13Idaho, IDID1,934,26228.7%+32%

14Ohio, OHOH11,810,29328.9%+37%

15South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22529.0%+42%

16South Dakota, SDSD907,42829.3%+36%

17Iowa, IAIA3,210,50729.3%+38%

18Missouri, MOMO6,191,81429.9%+39%

19Michigan, MIMI10,077,76130.0%+38%

20Alaska, AKAK735,70630.0%+21%

21Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83830.3%+29%

22Florida, FLFL22,416,07730.5%+37%

23North Dakota, NDND784,84130.7%+40%

24Texas, TXTX30,188,42430.7%+32%

25Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87230.8%+37%

26North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40432.0%+43%

27Georgia, GAGA10,940,40732.2%+33%

28Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63932.3%+45%

29Maine, MEME1,387,81732.5%+42%

30Nebraska, NENE1,978,70732.5%+37%

31Delaware, DEDE1,021,19132.7%+30%

32Montana, MTMT1,116,87533.1%+36%

33Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23533.6%+28%

34Kansas, KSKS2,947,19733.9%+31%

35Oregon, OROR4,254,29334.4%+37%

36Utah, UTUT3,392,33134.7%+33%

37California, CACA39,287,37734.7%+30%

38Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80135.0%+37%

39Illinois, ILIL12,694,79835.5%+36%

40Washington, WAWA7,816,11636.7%+32%

41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44536.8%+34%

42New York, NYNY19,852,36637.5%+37%

43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86837.6%+31%

44Virginia, VAVA8,705,17039.5%+34%

45Vermont, VTVT647,10639.7%+35%

46Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50840.0%+27%

47New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80940.7%+37%

48Maryland, MDMD6,206,01140.9%+30%

49Colorado, COCO5,862,18941.6%+27%

50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05644.5%+34%

51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29459.8%+53%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

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

West Virginia ranks #1 with 21.3% (2020 American Community Survey).

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

West Virginia, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Kentucky.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 ACS 5-year data.

How is bachelor's degree or higher measured?

Share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2020).