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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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RANKPLACESTATEPOPBACHELOR'S DEGREE OR HIGHERVS 2000
USUnited States331,449,28132.9%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29459.8%+20.7 pts
02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05644.5%+11.3 pts
03Colorado, COCO5,862,18941.6%+8.9 pts
04Maryland, MDMD6,206,01140.9%+9.4 pts
05New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80940.7%+11.0 pts
06Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50840.0%+8.6 pts
07Vermont, VTVT647,10639.7%+10.2 pts
08Virginia, VAVA8,705,17039.5%+10.1 pts
09New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86837.6%+8.9 pts
10New York, NYNY19,852,36637.5%+10.1 pts
11Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44536.8%+9.3 pts
12Washington, WAWA7,816,11636.7%+8.9 pts
13Illinois, ILIL12,694,79835.5%+9.5 pts
14Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80135.0%+9.4 pts
15California, CACA39,287,37734.7%+8.1 pts
16Utah, UTUT3,392,33134.7%+8.6 pts
17Oregon, OROR4,254,29334.4%+9.3 pts
18Kansas, KSKS2,947,19733.9%+8.1 pts
19Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23533.6%+7.4 pts
20Montana, MTMT1,116,87533.1%+8.8 pts
21Delaware, DEDE1,021,19132.7%+7.6 pts
22Nebraska, NENE1,978,70732.5%+8.8 pts
23Maine, MEME1,387,81732.5%+9.6 pts
24Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63932.3%+10.0 pts
25Georgia, GAGA10,940,40732.2%+7.9 pts
26North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40432.0%+9.6 pts
27Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87230.8%+8.4 pts
28Texas, TXTX30,188,42430.7%+7.5 pts
29North Dakota, NDND784,84130.7%+8.7 pts
30Florida, FLFL22,416,07730.5%+8.2 pts
31Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83830.3%+6.8 pts
32Alaska, AKAK735,70630.0%+5.3 pts
33Michigan, MIMI10,077,76130.0%+8.2 pts
34Missouri, MOMO6,191,81429.9%+8.4 pts
35Iowa, IAIA3,210,50729.3%+8.1 pts
36South Dakota, SDSD907,42829.3%+7.8 pts
37South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22529.0%+8.6 pts
38Ohio, OHOH11,810,29328.9%+7.8 pts
39Idaho, IDID1,934,26228.7%+7.0 pts
40Wyoming, WYWY582,39728.2%+6.3 pts
41Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38328.2%+8.6 pts
42New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24628.1%+4.7 pts
43Indiana, ININ6,851,07327.2%+7.7 pts
44Alabama, ALAL5,086,76826.2%+7.2 pts
45Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,63426.1%+5.9 pts
46Nevada, NVNV3,184,61225.5%+7.3 pts
47Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82425.0%+7.9 pts
48Louisiana, LALA4,611,96124.9%+6.1 pts
49Arkansas, ARAR3,049,39123.8%+7.2 pts
50Mississippi, MSMS2,946,77922.8%+5.8 pts
51West Virginia, WVWV1,778,37321.3%+6.5 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 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.