In this article, we look at the 20 most educated states in America.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics, in a report in 2022, established the direct link between educational attainment and income levels in the United States. Earnings rise as you further climb the ladder in terms of education. An individual with less than a high school diploma makes $682 per week, on average, compared to $1,432 for someone holding a bachelor’s degree, $1,661 for master’s degree, and over $2,000 per week for those with professional or doctoral degrees.
Massachusetts is the most educated state in America, with 46.6% of its population aged 25 and above holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. Moreover, close to one-thirds of its youth in the age group of 18-24 years have completed some college or associate’s degree. The Bureau of Labor Statistics’ report linking education to income levels is validated by the fact that Massachusetts is also one of the 20 Wealthiest States in America, ranked seventh, with over 250,000 millionaires and 20 billionaires. Massachusetts is also home to the Ivy League Harvard University, established in 1636 in Cambridge, a major suburb in the Greater Boston area.
In contrast, West Virginia is the least educated state in America. Only 24.1% of the population in the age bracket analyzed for this research have attained higher education, of which 14.2% have completed bachelor’s degree, while only 9.9% hold a graduate or professional degree.
An article last year identified companies that were playing their roles in driving down the cost of education to make it more accessible for all. Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is one of them. The tech giant’s AWS on-demand cloud computing platform provides digital infrastructure support for many online educational companies, and helps them scale up their ability to handle more activity on their platforms.
Under its latest Project Kuiper, Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) is launching more than 3,000 satellites into orbit with the aim to provide affordable broadband around the world, and in particular, to communities that are underserved. There is great hope for Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)’s initiative to help make education more cost effective for all by using technology and internet.
International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM)’s P-TECH program is a fine example of how public-private partnership can help drive education in societies. It is an initiative by International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) to prepare youth with the academic, professional, and technical knowledge and skills required to excel in the 21st century. In addition to this, International Business Machines Corporation (NYSE:IBM) in 2021 announced an ambitious commitment and plan to provide 30 million people with the future skills required in the job market by 2030.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT), on the other hand, offers students and teachers at educational institutions including schools, colleges, and universities to sign up for its Office 365 Education, which will grant them free access to Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s top services like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Publisher, and Teams.
Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT)’s TechSpark program has also been instrumental in facilitating digital access and skills in rural areas of the United States. This partnership between Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ:MSFT) and education leaders is a significant step towards ensuring that students can be as prepared for the future as they can be.
Methodology
The 20 most educated states in America have been ranked based on the percentage of their populations aged 25 and above that hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Data has been sourced from The Census Bureau’s American Community Survey 2021. States are ranked in ascending order of percentages. In the case of two or more states having the same percentage, one outranked the other based on college education levels in those states.
If interested, you can also take a look at the 20 Least Educated States in America here.
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Here are the 20 most educated states in America.
20. Hawaii
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.3%
Located more than 2,000 miles off the US mainland, Hawaii is the top 20th among the most educated states in America when it comes to higher education. University of Hawaii in Manoa is a destination of choice for both local and international students.
19. Kansas
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.4%
Kansas is a landlocked state located in the Midwest of the United States. According to the Census Bureau, an estimated 35.4% of its population aged 25 or above holds a bachelor’s degree or higher.
18. Delaware
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 35.6%
Next on our list is the state of Delaware that is situated in the Mid-Atlantic region of the country. The state is well known for its education. The University of Delaware ranks among the top 500 educational institutions in the world.
17. Maine
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 36%
Maine is known for its maritime history and a rocky coastline. It is also among the most educated states in America with 36% of its population having attained higher education. Maine is the northeastern-most state in the country.
16. California
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.2%
California ranks 16th on our list of the most educated states in America. It is also the most popular destination for international students in the country, contributing the largest share of intakes each year. California is home to some of the top universities in the world, including Stanford University.
15, Oregon
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.3%
Oregon is situated in Western United States. Around 36.3% of its population aged 25 and above have a bachelor’s degree or higher. It ranks as the 15th most educated state in America.
14. Rhode Island
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.5%
Located in New England, Rhode Island is a state that is popular for its seaside towns and sandy beaches. University of Rhode Island, Brown University, and Bryant University are some of the highly ranked educational institutions in the state.
13. Utah
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 36.8%
Utah is one of the most educated states in America, with nearly 37% of its population aged 25 and above having attained higher education. Moreover, over 40% of its youth population aged between 18 and 24 also hold a college or associate degree.
12. Illinois
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 37.1%
Illinois is a midwestern state of the United States. Chicago is the largest city in the state, and hosts a number of top ranked educational institutions of the country, including the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, the University of Illinois Chicago, and The University of Chicago. 37.1% of the state’s population has attained higher education in the form of bachelor’s degree or above.
11. Minnesota
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.9%
Minnesota ranks 11th on our list of the most educated states in the US, with an estimated 38.9% of its population in the age group of 25 and above having completed education up to bachelor’s degree or higher. University of Minnesota, Bethel University, and the University of St. Thomas are among the renowned quality higher education institutions in Minnesota.
10. Washington
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 39%
The State of Washington, situated in the Pacific northwest, is the tenth most educated state in America. According to Census Bureau, about 39% of Washington’s population aged 25 and above hold a bachelor’s degree as their minimum qualification. The state also ranks as the 10th wealthiest state in the United States, with well over 230,000 millionaires.
9. New York
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 39.9%
New York is popular for its skyscrapers and vibrant districts. It is also well known for its higher education. Almost 40% of the state’s residents who are the age of 25 or above hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. Cornell University, Columbia University, New York University, and Fordham University are some prominent educational institutions in the state of New York.
8. New Hampshire
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 40.2%
New Hampshire has the lowest poverty rate in the US. This can be attributed to how well the state ranks in educational attainment. 40.2% of its population aged 25 and above have a bachelor’s degree or higher, while 48% of its youth aged between 18 and 24 hold a college or associate degree. You can read more about poverty levels in America in our article, 25 States with the Lowest Poverty Rates in America.
7. Virginia
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 41.8%
Virginia ranks as the seventh most educated state in America. It is located in the Mid-Atlantic and southern region of the US. Virginia Tech, which is ranked among the top 50 universities in the country for research, is situated in Blacksburg, Virginia. Other prominent institutions in the state include the University of Virginia, George Mason University, and James Madison University.
6. Connecticut
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.1%
Connecticut is the sixth most educated state in America, with an estimated 42.1% of the population having attained higher education. Ivy League research institution, Yale University, has its campus in New Haven, Connecticut. Founded in 1701, it is the third oldest higher education institution in the country, and one of the best in the world.
5. Maryland
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 42.5%
The state of Maryland is in the Mid-Atlantic region of the United States. It is home to some of the top universities in the world, including the John Hopkins University, founded in 1876, which was the first American university established on European research institution model. It is based in Baltimore, Maryland. 42.5% of the state’s population in the age group of 25 and above has completed a minimum of bachelor’s degree.
4. New Jersey
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 43.1%
New Jersey is one of the wealthiest states in America, and also amongst its most educated. In 2021, an estimated 43.1% of the population aged 25 and above had attained higher education. New Jersey is home to some of the leading educational institutions in the world such as Princeton University. Founded in 1746, it is the fourth oldest higher education institution in the country. The state is also very well known for its beaches, boardwalks, casinos, and nature.
3. Vermont
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 44.4%
Vermont ranks third on our list of the most educated states in America, based on the attainment of bachelor’s degree or higher. 44.4% of the population aged 25 and above have completed their higher education. Vermont had the same percentage as Colorado, but lost second spot to the latter on college education levels. The state is being consistently ranked and regarded as one of the nation’s most educated states for a number of years now.
2. Colorado
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 44.4%
Colorado, which is well known for its diverse landscape, is the second most educated state in the US after Massachusetts, and narrowly beat Vermont to take this spot due to a higher percentage of its population aged between 18-24 completing some college or associate’s degree. 38.9% against 38.8%. University of Colorado Boulder, Colorado State University, and the University of Denver are well known higher education institutions in the state.
1. Massachusetts
Population aged 25 and above with bachelor’s degree or higher: 46.6%
Massachusetts is the most educated state in America, with 46.6% of its population holding a bachelor’s degree or higher. The state is home to some of the world’s leading universities and research institutions, such as Harvard University, Boston University, Massachusetts Institute of Technology and University of Massachusetts Amherst to name a few. It is a top destination for students from across the nation and around the world to pursue their higher education in.
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