RANKING · 2020 CENSUS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most educated, US states · 2020

US states ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a bachelor's degree or higher (2020 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 59.8%. 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

USUnited States331,449,28132.9%–

01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29459.8%+53%

02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05644.5%+34%

03Colorado, COCO5,862,18941.6%+27%

04Maryland, MDMD6,206,01140.9%+30%

05New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80940.7%+37%

06Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50840.0%+27%

07Vermont, VTVT647,10639.7%+35%

08Virginia, VAVA8,705,17039.5%+34%

09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86837.6%+31%

10New York, NYNY19,852,36637.5%+37%

11Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44536.8%+34%

12Washington, WAWA7,816,11636.7%+32%

13Illinois, ILIL12,694,79835.5%+36%

14Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80135.0%+37%

15California, CACA39,287,37734.7%+30%

16Utah, UTUT3,392,33134.7%+33%

17Oregon, OROR4,254,29334.4%+37%

18Kansas, KSKS2,947,19733.9%+31%

19Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23533.6%+28%

20Montana, MTMT1,116,87533.1%+36%

21Delaware, DEDE1,021,19132.7%+30%

22Nebraska, NENE1,978,70732.5%+37%

23Maine, MEME1,387,81732.5%+42%

24Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63932.3%+45%

25Georgia, GAGA10,940,40732.2%+33%

26North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40432.0%+43%

27Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87230.8%+37%

28Texas, TXTX30,188,42430.7%+32%

29North Dakota, NDND784,84130.7%+40%

30Florida, FLFL22,416,07730.5%+37%

31Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83830.3%+29%

32Alaska, AKAK735,70630.0%+21%

33Michigan, MIMI10,077,76130.0%+38%

34Missouri, MOMO6,191,81429.9%+39%

35Iowa, IAIA3,210,50729.3%+38%

36South Dakota, SDSD907,42829.3%+36%

37South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22529.0%+42%

38Ohio, OHOH11,810,29328.9%+37%

39Idaho, IDID1,934,26228.7%+32%

40Wyoming, WYWY582,39728.2%+29%

41Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38328.2%+44%

42New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24628.1%+20%

43Indiana, ININ6,851,07327.2%+40%

44Alabama, ALAL5,086,76826.2%+38%

45Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63426.1%+29%

46Nevada, NVNV3,184,61225.5%+40%

47Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82425.0%+46%

48Louisiana, LALA4,611,96124.9%+33%

49Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39123.8%+43%

50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77922.8%+35%

51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37321.3%+44%

SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

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UPDATED 2026-07-15 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU DECENNIAL CENSUS

Frequently asked

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

District of Columbia ranks #1 with 59.8% (2020 Decennial Census).

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

District of Columbia, Massachusetts, Colorado, Maryland, New Jersey.

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2020 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, 2020 Decennial Census.