Educational Attainment in the U.S, people in states in the Northeast and along the East Coast tend to be the most educated in America. For its 2021 Best States rankings, U.S. News determined which states are the most educated by considering their educational attainment percentage and the share of the population 25 years and older with an associate degree or higher based on 2019 data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. The national average is 41.7%.
While the following ten states performed well in the educational attainment metric, many didn’t rank highly overall in the Higher Education subcategory because of significant student debt and high tuition costs.
The Most Educated States in America
10. Washington
Associate degree or higher: 46.94%
Washington, home of Microsoft and Amazon, is the most educated state in America. According to WalletHub, Washington is ranked number one for the percentage of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher. More than 48 percent of Washington residents have a college degree.
The University of Washington is one of the largest universities in the country and ranks as one of the best colleges in America. With so many well-educated residents, it’s no surprise that Washington ranks high for other education measures, including a percentage of K-12 students enrolled in private schools and the percentage of workers in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) jobs. Learn more about Washington.
9. Vermont
Associate degree or higher: 47.35%
1. According to WalletHub, Vermont is the most educated state in America. The report looked at factors such as the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the percentage of adults in the labor force, and the percentage of adults engaged in extracurricular activities.
Vermont ranked first in both the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (43.8%) and the percentage of adults in the labor force (83.5%). The state also ranked third in the percentage of adults engaged in extracurricular activities (62.3%). Other states that ranked highly on WalletHub’s list include Massachusetts (second), Connecticut (third), and Maryland (fourth). Learn more about Vermont.
8. New Hampshire
Associate degree or higher: 47.45%
According to WalletHub, New Hampshire is the most educated state in America. The study compared all 50 states across 28 key metrics, ranging from the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the average math scores on the SAT.
New Hampshire ranked first in the country for the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (47 percent) and also finished in the top five for several other metrics, including a percentage of adults with an advanced degree (17 percent), average SAT score (1,628), and public school spending per student ($18,043).
Hawaii, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland rounded out the top five most educated states in America. Learn more about New Hampshire.
7. Connecticut
Associate degree or higher: 47.48%
According to WalletHub, Connecticut is the most educated state in America. The study compared all 50 states across 27 key indicators of educational attainment. Those indicators ranged from the percentage of adults with a high school diploma or equivalent to the percentage of adults with a graduate or professional degree.
Connecticut ranked first in both the percentage of adults with a college degree and adults with a graduate or professional degree. The state also ranked first in the percentage of adults who have completed some college or an associate’s degree.
Other findings from WalletHub’s study include:
- Massachusetts is second on the list of most educated states, followed by Maryland, Vermont, and Virginia.
- Mississippi, West Virginia, Louisiana, and Alabama are the least educated states.
- Learn more about Connecticut.
6. Virginia
Associate degree or higher: 47.56%
Virginia has the tenth-highest percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher in the nation, according to WalletHub’s 2018 report on the most and least educated states. Forty-six percent of Virginia’s population holds a four-year degree or higher.
That may not surprise locals, who often boast about the high quality of education in Virginia’s public schools and universities. In addition to numerous prestigious private colleges, Virginia is home to some of the best public universities in the country, including the University of Virginia (No. 9), Virginia Tech (No. 16), and George Mason University (No. 36).
The state also ranks first in the nation for its share of workers in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) occupations. And it has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country. Learn more about Virginia.
5. New Jersey
Associate degree or higher: 47.66%
According to Wallethub, New Jersey is the most educated state in America. The Garden State boasts the highest percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, at 43.8 percent. It also has the second-highest percentage of adults with a graduate or professional degree, at 18.5 percent.
Ranking first in both categories is Massachusetts, which has 44.9 percent of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher and 19.7 percent of adults with a graduate or professional degree. Coming in second and third place for most educated states are Maryland and Connecticut, respectively.
What distinguishes these states from the rest of the country is their focus on investing in education. Learn more about New Jersey.
4. Maryland
Associate degree or higher: 47.74%
Maryland is the most educated state in America, according to a new report from WalletHub. The study compared the 50 states and the District of Columbia across three key dimensions: “Education attainment,” “Quality of education,” and “Cost of education.” Thanks to its high rankings in all three categories, Maryland ranked first overall.
Massachusetts, Connecticut and Vermont rounded out the top four most educated states in America. At the other end of the spectrum, Mississippi was the least educated state, followed by Alabama and Louisiana.
One of the factors that helped Maryland rank so highly was its high percentage of residents with a college degree (38.8%, compared to the national average of 30.6%). Learn more about Maryland.
3. Minnesota
Associate degree or higher: 48.76%
Minnesota is the most educated state in America. According to WalletHub, Minnesota has the most colleges and universities per capita. The state also has the highest percentage of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
Minnesota’s educational system is one of the reasons the state is so prosperous. The state’s economy is strong, and its residents have high incomes. Minnesota’s educational system is also one of the reasons it is a great place to live. The state has a low unemployment rate and a high quality of life. Learn more about Minnesota.
2. Colorado
Associate degree or higher: 51.08%
According to WalletHub, Colorado is the most educated state in America. The report looked at factors such as the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher, the percentage of adults with a graduate or professional degree, and the average test scores of public school students.
Colorado ranked first in both the percentage of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher (41.8%) and adults with a graduate or professional degree (14.6%). The state also ranked sixth in average test scores for public school students.
Colorado is home to some of the best colleges and universities, including the University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, and Regis University. These schools provide students with excellent educational opportunities and prepare them for successful careers. The high level of education in Colorado is reflected in its workforce. Learn more about Colorado.
1. Massachusetts
Associate degree or higher: 52.42%
Massachusetts has known for many things: its colonial history, the Kennedy family, its significant role in the American Revolution, and, more recently, as the home of several high-profile tech companies. But Massachusetts is also one of the most educated states in America. In fact, according to WalletHub’s 2018 report on the most and least educated states, Massachusetts is ranked third overall.
What contributes to Massachusetts’s high ranking? There are many factors, but some of the most important include the quality of schools and universities in the state and the percentage of residents with college degrees. In addition, Massachusetts has a strong economy, which helps attract talented people to the state.
This adds up to a highly educated population and a thriving economy. Learn more about Massachusetts.
The Most Educated States
1. Massachusetts
2. Colorado
3. Minnesota
4. Maryland
5. New Jersey
6. Virginia
7. Connecticut
8. New Hampshire
9. Vermont
10. Washington
