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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 (2020 ACS). West Virginia leads at 21.3%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
USUnited States331,449,28132.9%–
01West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37321.3%+6.5 pts
02Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77922.8%+5.8 pts
03Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39123.8%+7.2 pts
04Louisiana, LALA4,611,96124.9%+6.1 pts
05Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82425.0%+7.9 pts
06Nevada, NVNV3,184,61225.5%+7.3 pts
07Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63426.1%+5.9 pts
08Alabama, ALAL5,086,76826.2%+7.2 pts
09Indiana, ININ6,851,07327.2%+7.7 pts
10New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24628.1%+4.7 pts
11Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38328.2%+8.6 pts
12Wyoming, WYWY582,39728.2%+6.3 pts
13Idaho, IDID1,934,26228.7%+7.0 pts
14Ohio, OHOH11,810,29328.9%+7.8 pts
15South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22529.0%+8.6 pts
16South Dakota, SDSD907,42829.3%+7.8 pts
17Iowa, IAIA3,210,50729.3%+8.1 pts
18Missouri, MOMO6,191,81429.9%+8.4 pts
19Michigan, MIMI10,077,76130.0%+8.2 pts
20Alaska, AKAK735,70630.0%+5.3 pts
21Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83830.3%+6.8 pts
22Florida, FLFL22,416,07730.5%+8.2 pts
23North Dakota, NDND784,84130.7%+8.7 pts
24Texas, TXTX30,188,42430.7%+7.5 pts
25Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87230.8%+8.4 pts
26North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40432.0%+9.6 pts
27Georgia, GAGA10,940,40732.2%+7.9 pts
28Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63932.3%+10.0 pts
29Maine, MEME1,387,81732.5%+9.6 pts
30Nebraska, NENE1,978,70732.5%+8.8 pts
31Delaware, DEDE1,021,19132.7%+7.6 pts
32Montana, MTMT1,116,87533.1%+8.8 pts
33Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23533.6%+7.4 pts
34Kansas, KSKS2,947,19733.9%+8.1 pts
35Oregon, OROR4,254,29334.4%+9.3 pts
36Utah, UTUT3,392,33134.7%+8.6 pts
37California, CACA39,287,37734.7%+8.1 pts
38Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80135.0%+9.4 pts
39Illinois, ILIL12,694,79835.5%+9.5 pts
40Washington, WAWA7,816,11636.7%+8.9 pts
41Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44536.8%+9.3 pts
42New York, NYNY19,852,36637.5%+10.1 pts
43New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86837.6%+8.9 pts
44Virginia, VAVA8,705,17039.5%+10.1 pts
45Vermont, VTVT647,10639.7%+10.2 pts
46Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50840.0%+8.6 pts
47New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80940.7%+11.0 pts
48Maryland, MDMD6,206,01140.9%+9.4 pts
49Colorado, COCO5,862,18941.6%+8.9 pts
50Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05644.5%+11.3 pts
51District of Columbia, DCDC681,29459.8%+20.7 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 21.3% (2020 Decennial Census).

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 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, 2020 Decennial Census.