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RANKING · 2000 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most educated, US states · 2000

US states ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2000 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 39.1%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 1990
USUnited States281,421,90624.4%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29439.1%+5.8 pts
02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05633.2%+6.0 pts
03Colorado, COCO5,862,18932.7%+5.7 pts
04Maryland, MDMD6,206,01131.4%+5.0 pts
05Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50831.4%+4.2 pts
06New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80929.8%+4.9 pts
07Virginia, VAVA8,705,17029.5%+5.0 pts
08Vermont, VTVT647,10629.4%+5.1 pts
09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86828.7%+4.3 pts
10Washington, WAWA7,816,11627.7%+4.8 pts
11Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44527.4%+5.6 pts
12New York, NYNY19,852,36627.4%+4.2 pts
13California, CACA39,287,37726.6%+3.3 pts
14Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23526.2%+3.3 pts
15Utah, UTUT3,392,33126.1%+3.9 pts
16Illinois, ILIL12,694,79826.1%+5.0 pts
17Kansas, KSKS2,947,19725.8%+4.7 pts
18Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80125.6%+4.3 pts
19Oregon, OROR4,254,29325.1%+4.5 pts
20Delaware, DEDE1,021,19125.0%+3.6 pts
21Alaska, AKAK735,70624.7%+1.7 pts
22Montana, MTMT1,116,87524.4%+4.6 pts
23Georgia, GAGA10,940,40724.3%+5.0 pts
24Nebraska, NENE1,978,70723.7%+4.8 pts
25Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83823.5%+3.2 pts
26New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24623.5%+3.0 pts
27Texas, TXTX30,188,42423.2%+2.9 pts
28Maine, MEME1,387,81722.9%+4.1 pts
29North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40422.5%+5.1 pts
30Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87222.4%+4.7 pts
31Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63922.4%+4.4 pts
32Florida, FLFL22,416,07722.3%+4.1 pts
33North Dakota, NDND784,84122.0%+3.9 pts
34Wyoming, WYWY582,39721.9%+3.1 pts
35Michigan, MIMI10,077,76121.8%+4.4 pts
36Idaho, IDID1,934,26221.7%+4.0 pts
37Missouri, MOMO6,191,81421.6%+3.8 pts
38South Dakota, SDSD907,42821.5%+4.3 pts
39Iowa, IAIA3,210,50721.2%+4.4 pts
40Ohio, OHOH11,810,29321.1%+4.1 pts
41South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22520.4%+3.8 pts
42Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63420.3%+2.5 pts
43Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38319.6%+3.6 pts
44Indiana, ININ6,851,07319.4%+3.8 pts
45Alabama, ALAL5,086,76819.0%+3.4 pts
46Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.7%+2.6 pts
47Nevada, NVNV3,184,61218.2%+2.9 pts
48Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82417.1%+3.5 pts
49Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77916.9%+2.2 pts
50Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.7%+3.3 pts
51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37314.8%+2.5 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-08-08 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

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

District of Columbia ranks #1 with 39.1% (2000 Decennial Census).

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

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2000 Decennial Census data.

How is bachelor's degree or higher measured?

Share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher. Source: US Census Bureau, 2000 Decennial Census.