Most and least educated states in America

michaeljung // Shutterstock Each year, around 50 million young Americans attend public elementary and secondary schools, according to the National Center for Education Statistics, making the country’s educational system one of the farthest-reaching and most impactful government services. And while the debate over alternatives like charter schools rages on, one thing is undebatable: The future of the country lies in our youth, and our system’s ability to provide an education that will enable them to create productive and meaningful lives for themselves. Because education is handled at the state level–from curricula and budgets to graduation requirements–a standard American education is somewhat hard to define. Formal academic education is one of the ways children and young adults obtain the information needed to seek individual enrichment. Moreover, the social interaction inherent in public educational settings helps young people develop the traits and skills needed to thrive in diverse social environments. To what extent education influences a person’s ability to achieve a satisfactory level of well-being has been a constant matter of discussion among psychologists, sociologists, educators, and philosophers ever since the time of Socrates; however, there is greater consensus about how education affects living conditions. To wit, education has a causal relationship with income, housing, public policy, lifestyle, and health care. A study published by Virginia Commonwealth University’s Center of Society and Health found that people in the U.S. with less education face “serious health disadvantages.” According to the report, those whose formal education ended with high school “live with greater illnesses, have a shorter life expectancy, and tend to generate higher medical care costs.” To help understand areas with the highest educational attainment, Stacker used data from the Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, released in 2022, to determine areas with the highest educational attainment. This index evaluates each state’s population across seven educational tiers, ranging from individuals not educated past eighth grade to those with graduate or professional degrees. States are ranked by the percentage of the population with a graduate degree. Ties are broken by the percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher. How does your state stack up? Read on to discover which states are the most educated in the U.S. #52. Puerto Rico Terri Butler Photography // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 14.1% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 28.0% – Some college, no degree: 11.9% – Associate’s degree: 11.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.6% – Graduate or professional degree: 7.8% #51. West Virginia Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.1% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 40.1% – Some college, no degree: 18.5% – Associate’s degree: 7.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 13.0% – Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% #50. Arkansas Eduardo Medrano // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 34.1% – Some college, no degree: 21.7% – Associate’s degree: 7.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 15.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 8.8% #49. North Dakota Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.1% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 26.1% – Some college, no degree: 22.0% – Associate’s degree: 14.1% – Bachelor’s degree: 22.2% – Graduate or professional degree: 8.9% #48. Mississippi Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 9.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 29.8% – Some college, no degree: 22.1% – Associate’s degree: 10.5% – Bachelor’s degree: 14.2% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.0% #47. Nevada Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 5.3% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 27.8% – Some college, no degree: 24.6% – Associate’s degree: 8.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 17.0% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.1% #46. Louisiana Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 9.2% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 33.1% – Some college, no degree: 20.9% – Associate’s degree: 6.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 16.3% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.2% #45. Oklahoma Sean Pavone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.4% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.8% – Some college, no degree: 22.9% – Associate’s degree: 8.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 17.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.3% #44. South Dakota Steven Frame // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.8% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.1% – Some college, no degree: 20.7% – Associate’s degree: 11.8% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.6% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.4% #43. Idaho Charles Knowles // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.2% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 26.5% – Some college, no degree: 25.6% – Associate’s degree: 9.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.6% #42. Iowa Grindstone Media Group // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.4% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.6% – Some college, no degree: 20.5% – Associate’s degree: 12.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.0% – Graduate or professional degree: 9.7% #41. Indiana KYPhua // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.5% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 33.0% – Some college, no degree: 19.9% – Associate’s degree: 9.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 17.7% – Graduate or professional degree: 10.1% #40. Alabama Sean Pavone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 8.8% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.5% – Some college, no degree: 21.3% – Associate’s degree: 8.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 16.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 10.2% #39. Kentucky f11photo // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 32.8% – Some college, no degree: 20.6% – Associate’s degree: 8.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 15.1% – Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% #38. Wyoming Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 1.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.5% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 28.4% – Some college, no degree: 25.2% – Associate’s degree: 11.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 17.9% – Graduate or professional degree: 10.6% #37. Tennessee CrackerClips Stock Media // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.0% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.2% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 31.6% – Some college, no degree: 20.6% – Associate’s degree: 7.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 18.2% – Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% #36. Wisconsin Tony Savino // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.4% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.0% – Some college, no degree: 20.2% – Associate’s degree: 11.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.7% – Graduate or professional degree: 10.8% #35. South Carolina jdross75 // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.5% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 28.7% – Some college, no degree: 20.2% – Associate’s degree: 10.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 18.6% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.2% #34. Texas kintermedia // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 7.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.5% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 24.5% – Some college, no degree: 21.2% – Associate’s degree: 7.5% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.4% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.2% #33. Ohio photo.ua // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.2% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 32.6% – Some college, no degree: 20.0% – Associate’s degree: 8.8% – Bachelor’s degree: 18.4% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% #32. Montana Jon Bilous // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 1.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.1% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 27.8% – Some college, no degree: 23.4% – Associate’s degree: 9.5% – Bachelor’s degree: 22.3% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.3% #31. Nebraska Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.5% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 25.6% – Some college, no degree: 22.5% – Associate’s degree: 10.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.4% #30. Alaska mffoto // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.3% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.5% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 28.5% – Some college, no degree: 25.6% – Associate’s degree: 8.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.1% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.5% #29. Florida pisaphotography // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.4% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 27.9% – Some college, no degree: 19.5% – Associate’s degree: 10.1% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.8% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.7% #28. Missouri Joe Hendrickson // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.3% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.5% – Some college, no degree: 21.6% – Associate’s degree: 8.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 18.9% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.8% #27. Arizona antsdrone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.9% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.8% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 23.5% – Some college, no degree: 24.6% – Associate’s degree: 9.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.3% – Graduate or professional degree: 11.9% #26. Michigan Jacob Boomsma // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.8% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 28.5% – Some college, no degree: 22.8% – Associate’s degree: 9.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 18.6% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.0% #25. Utah f11photo // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.5% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.4% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 22.7% – Some college, no degree: 25.1% – Associate’s degree: 9.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 23.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.0% #24. North Carolina Derek Olson Photography // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.1% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.8% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 25.2% – Some college, no degree: 20.8% – Associate’s degree: 10.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.9% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.1% #23. Hawaii Leigh Trail // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.4% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 3.9% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 26.8% – Some college, no degree: 20.5% – Associate’s degree: 11.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 22.2% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.2% #22. Maine Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.1% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.2% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.9% – Some college, no degree: 18.9% – Associate’s degree: 10.3% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.0% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.6% #21. New Mexico turtix // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 5.4% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.8% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 26.0% – Some college, no degree: 23.3% – Associate’s degree: 8.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 15.8% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.7% #20. Georgia Sean Pavone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.4% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.4% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 27.2% – Some college, no degree: 19.9% – Associate’s degree: 8.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.2% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.8% #19. Kansas Sean Pavone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.5% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.9% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 25.7% – Some college, no degree: 22.7% – Associate’s degree: 8.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.6% – Graduate or professional degree: 12.8% #18. Minnesota Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 3.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 23.9% – Some college, no degree: 20.5% – Associate’s degree: 11.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 24.6% – Graduate or professional degree: 13.0% #17. Pennsylvania Zack Frank // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.0% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 33.8% – Some college, no degree: 15.7% – Associate’s degree: 8.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.9% – Graduate or professional degree: 13.2% #16. Oregon Josemaria Toscano // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.3% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.2% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 22.5% – Some college, no degree: 24.9% – Associate’s degree: 9.1% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.7% – Graduate or professional degree: 13.3% #15. California Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 8.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 7.1% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 20.4% – Some college, no degree: 20.5% – Associate’s degree: 8.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.9% – Graduate or professional degree: 13.4% #14. Delaware Real Window Creative // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.2% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.7% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 30.4% – Some college, no degree: 18.8% – Associate’s degree: 8.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 19.4% – Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% #13. Washington kan_khampanya// Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.5% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 21.8% – Some college, no degree: 22.7% – Associate’s degree: 10.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 23.1% – Graduate or professional degree: 14.2% #12. Rhode Island Sean Pavone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.2% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 27.9% – Some college, no degree: 17.7% – Associate’s degree: 8.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 20.9% – Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% #11. Illinois marchello74 // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 25.4% – Some college, no degree: 20.1% – Associate’s degree: 8.2% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.8% – Graduate or professional degree: 14.4% #10. New Hampshire Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 2.1% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.3% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 27.3% – Some college, no degree: 17.8% – Associate’s degree: 10.3% – Bachelor’s degree: 23.4% – Graduate or professional degree: 14.9% #9. Colorado Maciej Bledowski // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.2% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.4% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 20.6% – Some college, no degree: 20.5% – Associate’s degree: 8.5% – Bachelor’s degree: 26.7% – Graduate or professional degree: 16.1% #8. New Jersey Kamira // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.6% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.9% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 26.4% – Some college, no degree: 15.9% – Associate’s degree: 6.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 25.1% – Graduate or professional degree: 16.4% #7. Vermont haveseen // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 1.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.3% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 28.0% – Some college, no degree: 16.5% – Associate’s degree: 8.6% – Bachelor’s degree: 24.2% – Graduate or professional degree: 16.7% #6. New York Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 6.0% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 6.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 25.2% – Some college, no degree: 15.2% – Associate’s degree: 8.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 21.3% – Graduate or professional degree: 16.8% #5. Virginia Canva Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.7% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.5% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 23.8% – Some college, no degree: 18.7% – Associate’s degree: 7.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 22.8% – Graduate or professional degree: 17.6% #4. Connecticut Laura Stone // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.0% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.9% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 26.1% – Some college, no degree: 16.6% – Associate’s degree: 7.8% – Bachelor’s degree: 22.3% – Graduate or professional degree: 18.2% #3. Maryland Real Window Creative // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.8% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 5.4% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 23.9% – Some college, no degree: 18.4% – Associate’s degree: 6.9% – Bachelor’s degree: 22.0% – Graduate or professional degree: 19.5% #2. Massachusetts lunamarina // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 4.2% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.6% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 23.2% – Some college, no degree: 15.1% – Associate’s degree: 7.7% – Bachelor’s degree: 24.8% – Graduate or professional degree: 20.4% #1. Washington D.C. Orhan Cam // Shutterstock Highest level of education completed: – Less than 9th grade: 3.2% – 9th to 12th grade, no diploma: 4.5% – High school graduate (includes equivalency): 15.5% – Some college, no degree: 12.4% – Associate’s degree: 3.0% – Bachelor’s degree: 25.5% – Graduate or professional degree: 35.9%