RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most educated, US states

US states ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2024 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 64.2%. 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 States334,922,49935.6%–

01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29464.2%+64%

02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05647.3%+42%

03Colorado, COCO5,862,18945.7%+40%

04Vermont, VTVT647,10643.8%+49%

05New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80943.6%+47%

06Maryland, MDMD6,206,01143.4%+38%

07Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50842.5%+35%

08Virginia, VAVA8,705,17042.2%+43%

09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86840.6%+42%

10New York, NYNY19,852,36640.2%+47%

11Washington, WAWA7,816,11639.6%+43%

12Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44539.4%+44%

13Illinois, ILIL12,694,79837.8%+45%

14Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80137.7%+47%

15Utah, UTUT3,392,33137.7%+44%

16California, CACA39,287,37737.1%+39%

17Oregon, OROR4,254,29336.8%+47%

18Maine, MEME1,387,81736.2%+58%

19Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23536.1%+38%

20Delaware, DEDE1,021,19135.8%+43%

21North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40435.7%+59%

22Kansas, KSKS2,947,19735.6%+38%

23Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63935.2%+57%

24Montana, MTMT1,116,87535.2%+44%

25Georgia, GAGA10,940,40734.9%+44%

26Nebraska, NENE1,978,70734.6%+46%

27Florida, FLFL22,416,07734.1%+53%

28Texas, TXTX30,188,42433.8%+46%

29Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87233.4%+49%

30Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83833.3%+42%

31North Dakota, NDND784,84132.7%+49%

32Michigan, MIMI10,077,76132.4%+49%

33Missouri, MOMO6,191,81432.4%+50%

34South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22532.1%+57%

35South Dakota, SDSD907,42831.9%+48%

36Idaho, IDID1,934,26231.8%+47%

37Alaska, AKAK735,70631.7%+28%

38Ohio, OHOH11,810,29331.5%+49%

39Iowa, IAIA3,210,50731.4%+48%

40Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38331.1%+59%

41New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24631.0%+32%

42Wyoming, WYWY582,39730.6%+39%

43Indiana, ININ6,851,07329.5%+52%

44Alabama, ALAL5,086,76828.4%+49%

45Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63428.3%+40%

46Nevada, NVNV3,184,61227.9%+54%

47Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82427.6%+61%

48Louisiana, LALA4,611,96127.0%+44%

49Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39125.7%+54%

50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77925.1%+49%

51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37324.1%+63%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

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

District of Columbia ranks #1 with 64.2% (2024 American Community Survey).

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

District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Vermont, New Jersey.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 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 (2024).