PlainCities

States ranked

The most educated U.S. states

Massachusetts ranks first by adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher (47.3%); West Virginia is last (24.1%). Adults 25 and older with a bachelor's, master's, professional or doctoral degree.

Which states have the most college graduates?

First to fifth: Massachusetts (47.3%), Colorado (45.7%), Vermont (43.8%), New Jersey (43.6%) and Maryland (43.4%).

The most educated U.S. states, by adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher. "Within the margin": the survey cannot tell it from the next one.
RankStateAdults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higherResidents, 2025
1 Massachusetts 47.3%±0.3 pts 7,154,084
2 Colorado 45.7%±0.2 pts 6,012,561
3 Vermontwithin the margin 43.8%±0.6 pts 644,663
4 New Jerseywithin the margin 43.6%±0.2 pts 9,548,215
5 Maryland 43.4%±0.3 pts 6,265,347
6 Connecticutwithin the margin 42.5%±0.3 pts 3,688,496
7 Virginia 42.2%±0.3 pts 8,880,107
8 New Hampshirewithin the margin 40.6%±0.5 pts 1,415,342
9 New York 40.2%±0.2 pts 20,002,427
10 Washingtonwithin the margin 39.6%±0.3 pts 8,001,020
11 Minnesota 39.4%±0.2 pts 5,830,405
12 Illinoiswithin the margin 37.8%±0.2 pts 12,719,141
13 Utahwithin the margin 37.7%±0.4 pts 3,538,904
13 Rhode Island 37.7%±0.5 pts 1,114,521
15 Californiawithin the margin 37.1%±0.2 pts 39,355,309
16 Oregon 36.8%±0.3 pts 4,273,586
17 Mainewithin the margin 36.2%±0.5 pts 1,414,874
18 Hawaiiwithin the margin 36.1%±0.4 pts 1,432,820
19 Delawarewithin the margin 35.8%±0.6 pts 1,059,952
20 North Carolinawithin the margin 35.7%±0.3 pts 11,197,968
21 Kansas 35.6%±0.3 pts 2,977,220
22 Pennsylvaniawithin the margin 35.2%±0.2 pts 13,059,432
22 Montanawithin the margin 35.2%±0.4 pts 1,144,694
24 Georgiawithin the margin 34.9%±0.3 pts 11,302,748
25 Nebraska 34.6%±0.4 pts 2,018,006
26 Florida 34.1%±0.2 pts 23,462,518
27 Texas 33.8%±0.2 pts 31,709,821
28 Wisconsinwithin the margin 33.4%±0.2 pts 5,972,787
29 Arizona 33.3%±0.2 pts 7,623,818
30 North Dakotawithin the margin 32.7%±0.5 pts 799,358
31 Michiganwithin the margin 32.4%±0.2 pts 10,127,884
31 Missouriwithin the margin 32.4%±0.2 pts 6,270,541
33 South Carolinawithin the margin 32.1%±0.3 pts 5,570,274
34 South Dakotawithin the margin 31.9%±0.5 pts 935,094
35 Idahowithin the margin 31.8%±0.4 pts 2,029,733
36 Alaskawithin the margin 31.7%±0.5 pts 737,270
37 Ohiowithin the margin 31.5%±0.2 pts 11,900,510
38 Iowawithin the margin 31.4%±0.3 pts 3,238,387
39 Tennesseewithin the margin 31.1%±0.3 pts 7,315,076
40 New Mexicowithin the margin 31.0%±0.4 pts 2,125,498
41 Wyoming 30.6%±0.7 pts 588,753
42 Indiana 29.5%±0.3 pts 6,973,333
43 Alabamawithin the margin 28.4%±0.3 pts 5,193,088
44 Oklahoma 28.3%±0.2 pts 4,123,288
45 Nevadawithin the margin 27.9%±0.3 pts 3,282,188
46 Kentucky 27.6%±0.3 pts 4,606,864
47 Louisiana 27.0%±0.3 pts 4,618,189
48 Arkansas 25.7%±0.3 pts 3,114,791
49 Mississippi 25.1%±0.3 pts 2,954,160
50 West Virginia 24.1%±0.4 pts 1,766,147

Not states, so not ranked: District of Columbia, 64.2%; Puerto Rico, not published.

Source: ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau · Check it at data.census.gov

How is this ranking made?

One figure is read for each of the 50 states: the adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher. A survey estimate with a coefficient of variation over 40% is left out. Equal figures share a rank. A ranking measures one number; it is not a judgment of a place. The rules are on the methodology page (how a survey figure's reliability is judged), and every ranking is on the rankings page.

Source: PlainCities ranking method applied to the ACS 2020-2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau · How ranks are computed