What does this bachelor's or higher ranking show?

It orders states by Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher. It is a comparison of this one published measure, not an overall ranking of where to live.

Where do these figures come from?

U.S. Census Bureau supplies this measure. States without a comparable published value are shown as not ranked rather than estimated.

How should I use this ranking?

Use it to narrow a search, then open a state or county profile for the underlying figures, source dates and caveats. A statewide number may not describe every neighbourhood.

Rankings · Schools

The most educated states

Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher.

This measure has no better end. The order describes the states, it does not rank them — see the other direction.

Census ACS 5-year, table B15003. Measures the adults who live here, not the schools — a college town and a county that keeps its graduates read the same way.

How to read this ranking

District of Columbia has the highest published bachelor's or higher in this comparison, at 65.5%. The next states shown are Massachusetts (48.3%) and Colorado (47.8%).

The table orders 51 states by adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher. It describes one published measure, not an overall judgment about where to live.

Use the result as a starting point, then compare the underlying source, dates, and local county figures before making a decision. Census ACS 5-year, table B15003. Measures the adults who live here, not the schools — a college town and a county that keeps its graduates read the same way.

1District of Columbia65.5%
2Massachusetts48.3%
3Colorado47.8%
4Vermont45.1%
5Maryland44.7%
6New Jersey44.5%
7Virginia43.3%
8Connecticut42.6%
9New Hampshire41.5%
10New York41.2%
11Washington41.0%
12Minnesota40.0%
13Illinois39.2%
14Utah39.1%
15Rhode Island39.0%
16California38.1%
17Hawaii37.8%
18Oregon37.8%
19Maine37.1%
20North Carolina37.1%
21Pennsylvania36.4%
22Georgia36.3%
23Montana36.3%
24Delaware36.0%
25Kansas36.0%
26Florida35.8%
27Nebraska35.4%
28Texas35.2%
29Arizona34.7%
30Wisconsin34.6%
31South Dakota34.2%
32North Dakota34.0%
33Missouri33.5%
34Michigan33.3%
35South Carolina33.3%
36Idaho33.0%
37Alaska32.8%
38Ohio32.4%
39Tennessee32.4%
40Wyoming32.3%
41Iowa32.1%
42New Mexico31.8%
43Indiana30.7%
44Alabama29.9%
45Oklahoma29.3%
46Nevada28.5%
47Kentucky27.9%
48Louisiana27.8%
49Arkansas27.1%
50Mississippi27.0%
51West Virginia24.4%

Related schools rankings

Frequently asked questions

What does this ranking show?: It orders states by Adults 25+ with a bachelor's degree or higher. It is one measure, not an overall verdict on where to live.
Where do the figures come from?: U.S. Census Bureau. States without a comparable published figure are listed as not ranked rather than estimated.
How should I use it?: Use it to narrow your search, then open a state or county profile for the source date, caveats and local context.

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Source: U.S. Census Bureau. · How this is built

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