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 (2023 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 39.1%. 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, DCDC681,29439.1%+0%

02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05633.2%+0%

03Colorado, COCO5,862,18932.7%+0%

04Maryland, MDMD6,206,01131.4%+0%

05Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50831.4%+0%

06New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80929.8%+0%

07Virginia, VAVA8,705,17029.5%+0%

08Vermont, VTVT647,10629.4%+0%

09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86828.7%+0%

10Washington, WAWA7,816,11627.7%+0%

11Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44527.4%+0%

12New York, NYNY19,852,36627.4%+0%

13California, CACA39,287,37726.6%+0%

14Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23526.2%+0%

15Utah, UTUT3,392,33126.1%+0%

16Illinois, ILIL12,694,79826.1%+0%

17Kansas, KSKS2,947,19725.8%+0%

18Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80125.6%+0%

19Oregon, OROR4,254,29325.1%+0%

20Delaware, DEDE1,021,19125.0%+0%

21Alaska, AKAK735,70624.7%+0%

22Montana, MTMT1,116,87524.4%+0%

23Georgia, GAGA10,940,40724.3%+0%

24Nebraska, NENE1,978,70723.7%+0%

25Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83823.5%+0%

26New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24623.5%+0%

27Texas, TXTX30,188,42423.2%+0%

28Maine, MEME1,387,81722.9%+0%

29North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40422.5%+0%

30Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87222.4%+0%

31Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63922.4%+0%

32Florida, FLFL22,416,07722.3%+0%

33North Dakota, NDND784,84122.0%+0%

34Wyoming, WYWY582,39721.9%+0%

35Michigan, MIMI10,077,76121.8%+0%

36Idaho, IDID1,934,26221.7%+0%

37Missouri, MOMO6,191,81421.6%+0%

38South Dakota, SDSD907,42821.5%+0%

39Iowa, IAIA3,210,50721.2%+0%

40Ohio, OHOH11,810,29321.1%+0%

41South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22520.4%+0%

42Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63420.3%+0%

43Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38319.6%+0%

44Indiana, ININ6,851,07319.4%+0%

45Alabama, ALAL5,086,76819.0%+0%

46Louisiana, LALA4,611,96118.7%+0%

47Nevada, NVNV3,184,61218.2%+0%

48Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82417.1%+0%

49Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77916.9%+0%

50Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39116.7%+0%

51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37314.8%+0%

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 39.1% (2000 American Community Survey).

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 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 (2000).