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RANKING · 2010 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most educated, US states · 2010

US states ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2010 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 49.2%. 51 states qualify in total.

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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
USUnited States308,745,53827.9%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29449.2%+10.1 pts
02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05638.3%+5.1 pts
03Colorado, COCO5,862,18935.9%+3.2 pts
04Maryland, MDMD6,206,01135.7%+4.3 pts
05Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50835.2%+3.8 pts
06New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80934.6%+4.8 pts
07Virginia, VAVA8,705,17033.8%+4.3 pts
08Vermont, VTVT647,10633.3%+3.8 pts
09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86832.9%+4.2 pts
10New York, NYNY19,852,36632.1%+4.8 pts
11Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44531.4%+4.0 pts
12Washington, WAWA7,816,11631.0%+3.3 pts
13Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80130.3%+4.7 pts
14Illinois, ILIL12,694,79830.3%+4.2 pts
15California, CACA39,287,37730.1%+3.4 pts
16Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23529.4%+3.3 pts
17Utah, UTUT3,392,33129.4%+3.3 pts
18Kansas, KSKS2,947,19729.3%+3.5 pts
19Oregon, OROR4,254,29328.6%+3.6 pts
20Montana, MTMT1,116,87527.9%+3.5 pts
21Nebraska, NENE1,978,70727.7%+3.9 pts
22Delaware, DEDE1,021,19127.7%+2.6 pts
23Georgia, GAGA10,940,40727.2%+2.9 pts
24Alaska, AKAK735,70627.0%+2.3 pts
25Maine, MEME1,387,81726.5%+3.7 pts
26Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63926.4%+4.0 pts
27Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83826.3%+2.8 pts
28North Dakota, NDND784,84126.3%+4.3 pts
29North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40426.1%+3.6 pts
30Florida, FLFL22,416,07725.9%+3.6 pts
31Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87225.8%+3.4 pts
32Texas, TXTX30,188,42425.8%+2.5 pts
33New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24625.5%+2.0 pts
34South Dakota, SDSD907,42825.3%+3.8 pts
35Missouri, MOMO6,191,81425.0%+3.5 pts
36Michigan, MIMI10,077,76125.0%+3.3 pts
37Iowa, IAIA3,210,50724.5%+3.3 pts
38Idaho, IDID1,934,26224.3%+2.6 pts
39Ohio, OHOH11,810,29324.1%+3.0 pts
40South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22524.0%+3.5 pts
41Wyoming, WYWY582,39723.6%+1.7 pts
42Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38322.7%+3.1 pts
43Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63422.6%+2.3 pts
44Indiana, ININ6,851,07322.4%+3.0 pts
45Nevada, NVNV3,184,61221.8%+3.7 pts
46Alabama, ALAL5,086,76821.7%+2.7 pts
47Louisiana, LALA4,611,96120.9%+2.2 pts
48Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82420.3%+3.2 pts
49Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77919.5%+2.6 pts
50Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39119.1%+2.5 pts
51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37317.3%+2.4 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 49.2% (2010 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 2010 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, 2010 Decennial Census.