Educational Attainment by State (2026 stats)

Last updated: April 29, 2026 Source: U.S. Census Bureau, NCES

TL;DR

Educational attainment varies significantly by state, ranging from 52.8% of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher in Massachusetts to 24.2% in West Virginia. States with the highest college graduation rates are concentrated in the Northeast and West Coast, while states with lower rates are primarily in the South and Appalachian regions. Regional patterns reflect differences in economic opportunities, educational infrastructure, and historical access to higher education.

Key Facts

  • Highest attainment: Massachusetts (52.8%), Colorado (49.6%), and Maryland (49.1%) have the highest percentages of adults with bachelor's degrees or higher
  • Lowest attainment: West Virginia (24.2%), Arkansas (26.1%), and Mississippi (26.4%) have the lowest percentages
  • National average: 38.3% of adults aged 25+ have a bachelor's degree or higher (2024)
  • Regional patterns: Northeast and West Coast states generally have higher attainment rates than Southern and Appalachian states
  • Gap between highest and lowest: 28.6 percentage points separates Massachusetts from West Virginia
  • State variation: 15 states exceed 45% bachelor's degree attainment, while 10 states fall below 30%

Top 10 States: Highest Educational Attainment

Insight: Massachusetts leads all states with 52.8% of adults holding bachelor's degrees or higher, nearly 15 percentage points above the national average of 38.3%.
Evidence: The top 10 states all exceed 45% bachelor's degree attainment. These states are concentrated in the Northeast (Massachusetts, Connecticut, Vermont, New Jersey, New York, New Hampshire) and West Coast (Colorado, Washington, California), with Maryland representing the Mid-Atlantic region.
Why it matters: High educational attainment correlates with stronger economies, higher median incomes, and greater innovation capacity. States with higher attainment rates tend to have more diverse, knowledge-based economies.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2024. Data for adults aged 25 and older with bachelor's degree or higher.

Bottom 10 States: Lowest Educational Attainment

Insight: West Virginia has the lowest educational attainment rate at 24.2%, more than 14 percentage points below the national average.
Evidence: The bottom 10 states all fall below 32% bachelor's degree attainment. These states are concentrated in the South (West Virginia, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana, Alabama, Kentucky, Tennessee, Oklahoma) and Mountain West (Nevada, New Mexico), regions with historical challenges in educational access and economic development.
Why it matters: Lower educational attainment rates present both challenges and opportunities. States with lower rates may benefit from targeted investments in higher education access, workforce development programs, and economic diversification to improve educational outcomes.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2024. Data for adults aged 25 and older with bachelor's degree or higher.

Educational Attainment by Region

Insight: The Northeast and West regions have significantly higher educational attainment rates (45.2% and 43.1% respectively) compared to the South (34.1%) and Midwest (36.8%).
Evidence: Regional differences reflect historical patterns of educational investment, economic structure, and migration patterns. The Northeast's high rate (45.2%) reflects its concentration of universities, knowledge industries, and higher-cost-of-living areas that attract educated workers. The West (43.1%) benefits from tech hubs and strong state university systems.
Why it matters: Regional disparities highlight the need for region-specific policies to improve educational access and outcomes. Understanding these patterns helps policy makers identify successful strategies and areas needing investment.

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2024. Regional averages weighted by state population. Data for adults aged 25 and older with bachelor's degree or higher.

Educational Attainment by State: Complete Rankings

Full state-by-state breakdown of educational attainment levels. Data shows the percentage of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor's degree or higher.

Rank State Bachelor's Degree or Higher (%) High School or Higher (%) Master's Degree or Higher (%)
1Massachusetts52.893.222.4
2Colorado49.694.119.8
3Maryland49.191.821.2
4Connecticut47.892.520.6
5Vermont47.293.519.4
6New Jersey46.990.819.9
7Virginia46.591.220.1
8Minnesota46.394.518.7
9New York46.188.920.3
10New Hampshire45.894.818.9
11Washington45.692.718.2
12Utah45.294.215.8
13Illinois44.990.519.1
14California44.786.818.5
15Hawaii44.593.117.9
16Delaware43.891.418.3
17Rhode Island43.590.218.7
18Oregon42.992.117.4
19Maine42.693.817.8
20Wisconsin42.393.417.2
21Alaska41.994.116.5
22Nebraska41.593.716.8
23Kansas41.292.916.4
24Iowa41.093.616.6
25North Dakota40.894.315.9
26Pennsylvania40.591.717.8
27Arizona40.289.416.1
28Texas39.887.215.7
29South Dakota39.593.215.3
30Montana39.294.015.6
31Florida38.989.815.2
32Georgia38.688.515.4
33Missouri38.291.316.0
34Ohio37.991.516.3
35Michigan37.691.816.1
36Indiana37.390.915.8
37South Carolina36.989.214.7
38Idaho36.592.414.5
39Wyoming36.194.214.3
40North Carolina35.889.614.9
41Nevada35.488.713.8
42Tennessee33.188.913.2
43Alabama32.887.513.5
44Oklahoma31.589.112.9
45Kentucky30.288.412.6
46Louisiana29.886.712.4
47New Mexico29.587.912.1
48Mississippi26.485.811.2
49Arkansas26.188.210.9
50West Virginia24.288.510.5

Source: U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey (ACS), 2024. Data for adults aged 25 and older. Percentages may not sum to 100% as categories are not mutually exclusive.

Methodology

This analysis uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau's American Community Survey (ACS), specifically the 1-year estimates for 2024, which provide comprehensive state-level data on educational attainment.

Data Source

  • American Community Survey (ACS): Conducted annually by the U.S. Census Bureau, the ACS provides detailed demographic, social, economic, and housing data for states, counties, and other geographic areas
  • Data Year: 2024 (1-year estimates)
  • Geographic Coverage: All 50 U.S. states and the District of Columbia

Definitions

  • Bachelor's Degree or Higher: Includes all individuals with a bachelor's degree, master's degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree
  • High School or Higher: Includes individuals with a high school diploma, GED, or any higher level of education
  • Master's Degree or Higher: Includes individuals with a master's degree, professional degree, or doctoral degree

Population Scope

  • Age Range: Adults aged 25 and older (standard age range for educational attainment analysis)
  • Residence: Data reflects state of residence, not state where education was obtained

Limitations

  • Data reflects self-reported educational attainment and may be subject to reporting errors
  • State-level data may have larger margins of error than national estimates, particularly for smaller states
  • Data represents state of residence, which may differ from state where education was completed
  • Migration patterns may influence state-level statistics (educated workers may move to certain states)

Analysis & insights

This treatment of educational attainment by state pulls from EDsmart files and the sources on the page; the charts summarize those records, not future outcomes. National aggregates flatten real variation—Ohio, Georgia, and Washington can look like different worlds. Skewed distributions split the median and the mean into different stories. Program, year, and campus still matter more than any single national line.

The tables show who holds which credentials by age, sex, race, and state where the source allows. States with older populations can show higher bachelor’s-or-better shares for reasons unrelated to current freshman classes. Pay gaps by education level also follow occupation and field, not only years in school. First-generation and adult-student rates track who enrolls and what support is available. The portrait is descriptive; it does not single out one policy driver.

FAQ

Educational attainment & mobility

What does educational attainment measure?

Attainment statistics describe the highest credential completed by a population (national, state, or demographic slice). They do not show quality of learning or later enrollment.

Why use Census or ACS data alongside education department releases?

Census surveys capture population-wide attainment and workforce participation; NCES and Scorecard focus on formal institutions. Together they explain context but cannot be merged without harmonizing age cohorts.

How should mobility statistics be read?

Mobility metrics compare earnings or status across generations or geography; confounding factors include local labor markets and migration—avoid causal claims from aggregates alone.

Using this page

What does this page cover on “Educational Attainment by State”?

This page summarizes Educational Attainment by State using EDsmart’s processed tables and charts. It is a data-driven overview—always confirm mission-critical figures in the original agency release.

Which sources power the numbers here?

Figures draw on U.S. Census Bureau - American Community Survey (ACS), and National Center for Education Statistics (NCES). Use Data Sources for exact tables, APIs, and methodology notes.

Why might these figures differ from another chart or headline?

If another outlet shows a different total, check whether the cohort (all borrowers vs undergraduates only), academic year, and data source match. Mixing definitions is the most common reason charts appear to conflict.

How often is this page updated?

We refresh when upstream federal releases change and the site rebuild ships new CSV/JSON extracts. The Last updated line points to the latest editorial pass on this HTML.

Data Sources