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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.

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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
04Vermont, VTVT647,10643.8%+14.3 pts
05New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80943.6%+13.8 pts
06Maryland, MDMD6,206,01143.4%+12.0 pts
07Connecticut, 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
11Washington, WAWA7,816,11639.6%+11.9 pts
12Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44539.4%+12.0 pts
13Illinois, ILIL12,694,79837.8%+11.8 pts
14Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80137.7%+12.1 pts
15Utah, UTUT3,392,33137.7%+11.6 pts
16California, CACA39,287,37737.1%+10.5 pts
17Oregon, OROR4,254,29336.8%+11.7 pts
18Maine, MEME1,387,81736.2%+13.3 pts
19Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23536.1%+10.0 pts
20Delaware, DEDE1,021,19135.8%+10.7 pts
21North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40435.7%+13.2 pts
22Kansas, KSKS2,947,19735.6%+9.8 pts
23Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63935.2%+12.8 pts
24Montana, MTMT1,116,87535.2%+10.8 pts
25Georgia, GAGA10,940,40734.9%+10.6 pts
26Nebraska, NENE1,978,70734.6%+10.8 pts
27Florida, FLFL22,416,07734.1%+11.8 pts
28Texas, TXTX30,188,42433.8%+10.6 pts
29Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87233.4%+11.0 pts
30Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83833.3%+9.8 pts
31North Dakota, NDND784,84132.7%+10.7 pts
32Michigan, MIMI10,077,76132.4%+10.7 pts
33Missouri, MOMO6,191,81432.4%+10.8 pts
34South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22532.1%+11.7 pts
35South Dakota, SDSD907,42831.9%+10.4 pts
36Idaho, IDID1,934,26231.8%+10.1 pts
37Alaska, AKAK735,70631.7%+7.0 pts
38Ohio, OHOH11,810,29331.5%+10.4 pts
39Iowa, IAIA3,210,50731.4%+10.2 pts
40Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38331.1%+11.5 pts
41New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24631.0%+7.5 pts
42Wyoming, 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 2026-08-08 · 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).