RANKING · 1990 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most educated, US states · 1990

US states ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2023 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 33.3%. 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

01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29433.3%−15%

02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05627.2%−18%

03Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50827.2%−13%

04Colorado, COCO5,862,18927.0%−18%

05Maryland, MDMD6,206,01126.5%−16%

06New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80924.9%−17%

07Virginia, VAVA8,705,17024.5%−17%

08New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86824.4%−15%

09Vermont, VTVT647,10624.3%−17%

10California, CACA39,287,37723.4%−12%

11New York, NYNY19,852,36623.1%−15%

12Alaska, AKAK735,70623.0%−7%

13Washington, WAWA7,816,11622.9%−17%

14Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23522.9%−13%

15Utah, UTUT3,392,33122.3%−15%

16Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44521.8%−20%

17Delaware, DEDE1,021,19121.4%−15%

18Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80121.3%−17%

19Kansas, KSKS2,947,19721.1%−18%

20Illinois, ILIL12,694,79821.0%−19%

21Oregon, OROR4,254,29320.6%−18%

22New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24620.4%−13%

23Texas, TXTX30,188,42420.3%−13%

24Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83820.3%−14%

25Montana, MTMT1,116,87519.8%−19%

26Georgia, GAGA10,940,40719.3%−21%

27Nebraska, NENE1,978,70718.9%−20%

28Wyoming, WYWY582,39718.8%−14%

29Maine, MEME1,387,81718.8%−18%

30Florida, FLFL22,416,07718.3%−18%

31North Dakota, NDND784,84118.1%−18%

32Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63917.9%−20%

33Missouri, MOMO6,191,81417.8%−18%

34Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63417.8%−12%

35Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87217.7%−21%

36Idaho, IDID1,934,26217.7%−19%

37North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40417.4%−23%

38Michigan, MIMI10,077,76117.4%−20%

39South Dakota, SDSD907,42817.2%−20%

40Ohio, OHOH11,810,29317.0%−20%

41Iowa, IAIA3,210,50716.9%−21%

42South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22516.6%−18%

43Louisiana, LALA4,611,96116.1%−14%

44Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38316.0%−18%

45Alabama, ALAL5,086,76815.7%−18%

46Indiana, ININ6,851,07315.6%−20%

47Nevada, NVNV3,184,61215.3%−16%

48Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77914.7%−13%

49Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82413.6%−20%

50Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39113.3%−20%

51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37312.3%−17%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-06-02 · 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 33.3% (1990 American Community Survey).

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

District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Colorado, Maryland.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 1990 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 (1990).