RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most college graduates, US states · 2020

US states with the most adults 25 and over holding a bachelor's degree or higher, as of the 2020 American Community Survey. Ranked by number of graduates, not the share. California leads at 9,256,873. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 2,506,771, against an all-states median of 877,044.

All statesAll rankings

SAME RANKING BYCities Counties Metros

YEAR2020 2024

RANKPLACESTATEPOPCOLLEGE GRADUATESVS –

USUnited States22.1% of US population331,449,28173,356,319–

01California, CACA39,287,3779,256,873–

02Texas, TXTX30,188,4245,662,178–

03New York, NYNY19,852,3665,112,792–

04Florida, FLFL22,416,0774,659,946–

05Illinois, ILIL12,694,7983,085,274–

06Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,6392,906,517–

07New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,8092,513,062–

08Ohio, OHOH11,810,2932,315,539–

09Virginia, VAVA8,705,1702,304,490–

10North Carolina, NCNC10,730,4042,273,890–

11Georgia, GAGA10,940,4072,252,662–

12Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,0562,144,142–

13Michigan, MIMI10,077,7612,055,131–

14Washington, WAWA7,816,1161,907,238–

15Maryland, MDMD6,206,0111,703,178–

16Colorado, COCO5,862,1891,622,853–

17Arizona, AZAZ7,378,8381,468,698–

18Minnesota, MNMN5,739,4451,398,575–

19Tennessee, TNTN7,066,3831,308,972–

20Missouri, MOMO6,191,8141,250,584–

21Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,8721,226,547–

22Indiana, ININ6,851,0731,212,794–

23South Carolina, SCSC5,296,2251,018,306–

24Oregon, OROR4,254,2931,013,044–

25Connecticut, CTCT3,624,508996,000–

26Alabama, ALAL5,086,768877,044–

27Louisiana, LALA4,611,961780,547–

28Kentucky, KYKY4,534,824759,332–

29Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,634682,902–

30Kansas, KSKS2,947,197648,613–

31Utah, UTUT3,392,331648,070–

32Iowa, IAIA3,210,507617,115–

33Nevada, NVNV3,184,612532,997–

34Arkansas, ARAR3,049,391482,695–

35Mississippi, MSMS2,946,779451,199–

36Nebraska, NENE1,978,707409,315–

37New Mexico, NMNM2,120,246398,288–

38New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,868364,685–

39Hawaii, HIHI1,445,235334,489–

40Idaho, IDID1,934,262328,347–

41Maine, MEME1,387,817319,175–

42District of Columbia, DCDC681,294299,975–

43West Virginia, WVWV1,778,373273,425–

44Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,801259,644–

45Montana, MTMT1,116,875243,496–

46Delaware, DEDE1,021,191222,043–

47Vermont, VTVT647,106175,328–

48South Dakota, SDSD907,428169,991–

49North Dakota, NDND784,841152,653–

50Alaska, AKAK735,706144,967–

51Wyoming, WYWY582,397110,699–

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest college graduates?

California ranks #1 with 9,256,873 (2020 Decennial Census).

What are the top 5 states by college graduates?

California, Texas, New York, Florida, Illinois.

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 college graduates measured?

Number of adults 25 and over holding a bachelor's degree or higher (ACS B15003). The raw-count companion to the college-degree share. Source: US Census Bureau, 2020 Decennial Census.