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RANKING · 2024 ACS · 51 SHOWN OF 51

Most graduate degrees, US states

US states ranked by the share of adults 25+ holding a graduate or professional degree (2024 ACS). District of Columbia leads at 38.0%. 51 states qualify in total. The top 25 average 16.8%, against an all-states median of 13.0%. Biggest climber in the top 100 since 2020: Texas, TX, up 5 places to #30.

Flip the list · Fewest graduate degrees, US states →
All statesAll rankings
RANKPLACESTATEPOPGRADUATE DEGREEVS 2000
USUnited States334,922,49914.0%–
01District of Columbia, DCDC681,29438.0%+17.0 pts
02Massachusetts, MAMA7,044,05621.8%+8.1 pts
03Maryland, MDMD6,206,01120.8%+7.3 pts
04Connecticut, CTCT3,624,50819.2%+5.9 pts
05▲2Vermont, VTVT647,10618.6%+7.5 pts
06▼1Virginia, VAVA8,705,17018.5%+6.9 pts
07▼1New York, NYNY19,852,36617.9%+6.1 pts
08▲1Colorado, COCO5,862,18917.6%+6.5 pts
09▼1New Jersey, NJNJ9,343,80917.6%+6.6 pts
10New Hampshire, NHNH1,394,86816.1%+6.2 pts
11▲2Washington, WAWA7,816,11615.6%+6.3 pts
12▼1Rhode Island, RIRI1,101,80115.4%+5.6 pts
13▲1Delaware, DEDE1,021,19115.3%+5.9 pts
14▼2Illinois, ILIL12,694,79815.3%+5.7 pts
15▲1California, CACA39,287,37714.4%+4.9 pts
16▲1Pennsylvania, PAPA13,018,63914.3%+5.9 pts
17▼2Oregon, OROR4,254,29314.1%+5.5 pts
18▲3New Mexico, NMNM2,120,24613.9%+4.1 pts
19Georgia, GAGA10,940,40713.9%+5.6 pts
20▼2Minnesota, MNMN5,739,44513.8%+5.5 pts
21▲1Maine, MEME1,387,81713.7%+5.8 pts
22▲3North Carolina, NCNC10,730,40413.5%+6.3 pts
23▼3Kansas, KSKS2,947,19713.4%+4.7 pts
24▲2Hawaii, HIHI1,445,23513.3%+4.9 pts
25▼1Utah, UTUT3,392,33113.0%+4.8 pts
26▲1Arizona, AZAZ7,378,83813.0%+4.6 pts
27▲3Florida, FLFL22,416,07712.9%+4.8 pts
28▼5Michigan, MIMI10,077,76112.7%+4.7 pts
29▼1Missouri, MOMO6,191,81412.6%+5.0 pts
30▲5Texas, TXTX30,188,42412.3%+4.7 pts
31▲3South Carolina, SCSC5,296,22512.3%+5.5 pts
32▼1Nebraska, NENE1,978,70712.3%+5.0 pts
33▼1Ohio, OHOH11,810,29312.2%+4.8 pts
34▼1Montana, MTMT1,116,87512.0%+4.8 pts
35▼6Alaska, AKAK735,70611.8%+3.2 pts
36▲2Tennessee, TNTN7,066,38311.7%+4.9 pts
37Wyoming, WYWY582,39711.5%+4.5 pts
38▼2Wisconsin, WIWI5,914,87211.4%+4.2 pts
39Kentucky, KYKY4,534,82411.3%+4.5 pts
40▲1Alabama, ALAL5,086,76811.1%+4.2 pts
41▼1Indiana, ININ6,851,07310.8%+3.6 pts
42Iowa, IAIA3,210,50710.5%+4.0 pts
43Idaho, IDID1,934,26210.5%+3.7 pts
44▲2Louisiana, LALA4,611,96110.1%+3.6 pts
45▼1South Dakota, SDSD907,42810.0%+4.0 pts
46▼1Oklahoma, OKOK4,028,6349.9%+3.1 pts
47Mississippi, MSMS2,946,7799.9%+4.0 pts
48Nevada, NVNV3,184,6129.8%+3.7 pts
49▲1North Dakota, NDND784,8419.7%+4.2 pts
50▲1West Virginia, WVWV1,778,3739.7%+3.8 pts
51▼2Arkansas, ARAR3,049,3919.5%+3.8 pts
SHOWING 1–51 OF 51

UPDATED 2026-09-11 · DATA: US CENSUS BUREAU ACS 5-YEAR ESTIMATES

Frequently asked

Which state has the highest graduate degree?

District of Columbia ranks #1 with 38.0% (2024 American Community Survey).

What are the top 5 states by graduate degree?

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

How many states are in this ranking?

51 states qualify after filtering for population minimums and data availability. The ranking covers 2024 ACS 5-year data.

How is graduate degree measured?

Share of adults 25+ with a graduate or professional degree. Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-year estimates (2024).