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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. The median across all 51 is 34.6%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Maine, ME, up 5 places to #18.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
USUnited States334,922,49935.6%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29464.2%+25.2 pts
02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05647.3%+14.1 pts
03Colorado, COCO5,862,18945.7%+13.0 pts
04▲3Vermont, VTVT647,10643.8%+14.3 pts
05New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80943.6%+13.8 pts
06▼2Maryland, MDMD6,206,01143.4%+12.0 pts
07▼1Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50842.5%+11.1 pts
08Virginia, VAVA8,705,17042.2%+12.7 pts
09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86840.6%+12.0 pts
10New York, NYNY19,852,36640.2%+12.9 pts
11▲1Washington, WAWA7,816,11639.6%+11.9 pts
12▼1Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44539.4%+12.0 pts
13Illinois, ILIL12,694,79837.8%+11.8 pts
14Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80137.7%+12.1 pts
15▲1Utah, UTUT3,392,33137.7%+11.6 pts
16▼1California, CACA39,287,37737.1%+10.5 pts
17Oregon, OROR4,254,29336.8%+11.7 pts
18▲5Maine, MEME1,387,81736.2%+13.3 pts
19Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23536.1%+10.0 pts
20▲1Delaware, DEDE1,021,19135.8%+10.7 pts
21▲5North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40435.7%+13.2 pts
22▼4Kansas, KSKS2,947,19735.6%+9.8 pts
23▲1Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63935.2%+12.8 pts
24▼4Montana, MTMT1,116,87535.2%+10.8 pts
25Georgia, GAGA10,940,40734.9%+10.6 pts
26▼4Nebraska, NENE1,978,70734.6%+10.8 pts
27▲3Florida, FLFL22,416,07734.1%+11.8 pts
28Texas, TXTX30,188,42433.8%+10.6 pts
29▼2Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87233.4%+11.0 pts
30▲1Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83833.3%+9.8 pts
31▼2North Dakota, NDND784,84132.7%+10.7 pts
32▲1Michigan, MIMI10,077,76132.4%+10.7 pts
33▲1Missouri, MOMO6,191,81432.4%+10.8 pts
34▲3South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22532.1%+11.7 pts
35▲1South Dakota, SDSD907,42831.9%+10.4 pts
36▲3Idaho, IDID1,934,26231.8%+10.1 pts
37▼5Alaska, AKAK735,70631.7%+7.0 pts
38Ohio, OHOH11,810,29331.5%+10.4 pts
39▼4Iowa, IAIA3,210,50731.4%+10.2 pts
40▲1Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38331.1%+11.5 pts
41▲1New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24631.0%+7.5 pts
42▼2Wyoming, WYWY582,39730.6%+8.6 pts
43Indiana, ININ6,851,07329.5%+10.1 pts
44Alabama, ALAL5,086,76828.4%+9.3 pts
45Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63428.3%+8.1 pts
46Nevada, NVNV3,184,61227.9%+9.7 pts
47Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82427.6%+10.4 pts
48Louisiana, LALA4,611,96127.0%+8.3 pts
49Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39125.7%+9.1 pts
50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77925.1%+8.2 pts
51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37324.1%+9.3 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · 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).