U.S. Bachelor’s Degree Rate by State 2026: Statistics & Rankings
State rankings use the latest complete ACS 5-year state dataset: the 2024 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates. The measure is the share of adults age 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The 2026 label denotes publication year. The source year remains 2024, covering the 2020–2024 ACS 5-year period.
Degree Attainment Snapshot
Statistics are based on 51 state-level jurisdictions and use rounded ACS percentage values.
Highest Bachelor’s Degree Rates, 2024 ACS 5-Year
Top 15 jurisdictions by the share of adults age 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
The chart is a visual summary. The full 51-row ranking table remains the source of truth for all states and DC.
Chart analysis
- District of Columbia ranks first at 65.5%.
- Massachusetts is the highest-ranked state at 48.3%.
- Colorado follows closely at 47.8%.
- Four jurisdictions are at or above 45.0%: DC, Massachusetts, Colorado, and Vermont.
- The top 15 cutoff is 39.0%, held by Rhode Island.
State Grid by Bachelor’s Degree Rate
Static grid map grouped into five rate bands. Each chip shows the state code and 2024 ACS 5-year rate.
Rates use ACS 5-year period estimates. The map grid is a banded state view, not a geographic SVG map.
Map analysis
- 4 jurisdictions fall in the 45.0%+ band.
- 8 jurisdictions fall in the 40.0%–44.9% band.
- The largest band is 35.0%–39.9% with 16 jurisdictions.
- 8 jurisdictions are below 30.0%.
- The full spread is 41.1 percentage points, from 65.5% to 24.4%.
Full State Bachelor’s Degree Rate Ranking
Ranked by 2024 ACS 5-year percentage of adults age 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher. Equal rounded rates share the same rank.
| Rank | State | Code | Region | 2024 Rate | 2023 Rate | Change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | District of Columbia | DC | South | 65.5% | 65.9% | -0.4 pp |
| 2 | Massachusetts | MA | Northeast | 48.3% | 47.8% | +0.5 pp |
| 3 | Colorado | CO | West | 47.8% | 46.4% | +1.4 pp |
| 4 | Vermont | VT | Northeast | 45.1% | 43.7% | +1.4 pp |
| 5 | Maryland | MD | South | 44.7% | 43.7% | +1.0 pp |
| 6 | New Jersey | NJ | Northeast | 44.5% | 43.8% | +0.7 pp |
| 7 | Virginia | VA | South | 43.3% | 42.4% | +0.9 pp |
| 8 | Connecticut | CT | Northeast | 42.6% | 42.9% | -0.3 pp |
| 9 | New Hampshire | NH | Northeast | 41.5% | 40.7% | +0.8 pp |
| 10 | New York | NY | Northeast | 41.2% | 40.6% | +0.6 pp |
| 11 | Washington | WA | West | 41.0% | 40.5% | +0.5 pp |
| 12 | Minnesota | MN | Midwest | 40.0% | 40.0% | 0.0 pp |
| 13 | Illinois | IL | Midwest | 39.2% | 38.3% | +0.9 pp |
| 14 | Utah | UT | West | 39.1% | 38.4% | +0.7 pp |
| 15 | Rhode Island | RI | Northeast | 39.0% | 39.0% | 0.0 pp |
| 16 | California | CA | West | 38.1% | 37.5% | +0.6 pp |
| 17 | Hawaii | HI | West | 37.8% | 37.0% | +0.8 pp |
| 17 | Oregon | OR | West | 37.8% | 37.7% | +0.1 pp |
| 19 | Maine | ME | Northeast | 37.1% | 37.0% | +0.1 pp |
| 19 | North Carolina | NC | South | 37.1% | 36.8% | +0.3 pp |
| 21 | Pennsylvania | PA | Northeast | 36.4% | 35.3% | +1.1 pp |
| 22 | Georgia | GA | South | 36.3% | 35.4% | +0.9 pp |
| 22 | Montana | MT | West | 36.3% | 34.6% | +1.7 pp |
| 24 | Delaware | DE | South | 36.0% | 36.5% | -0.5 pp |
| 24 | Kansas | KS | Midwest | 36.0% | 35.8% | +0.2 pp |
| 26 | Florida | FL | South | 35.8% | 34.9% | +0.9 pp |
| 27 | Nebraska | NE | Midwest | 35.4% | 35.3% | +0.1 pp |
| 28 | Texas | TX | South | 35.2% | 34.2% | +1.0 pp |
| 29 | Arizona | AZ | West | 34.7% | 33.5% | +1.2 pp |
| 30 | Wisconsin | WI | Midwest | 34.6% | 33.8% | +0.8 pp |
| 31 | South Dakota | SD | Midwest | 34.2% | 33.3% | +0.9 pp |
| 32 | North Dakota | ND | Midwest | 34.0% | 33.6% | +0.4 pp |
| 33 | Missouri | MO | Midwest | 33.5% | 33.2% | +0.3 pp |
| 34 | Michigan | MI | Midwest | 33.3% | 32.7% | +0.6 pp |
| 34 | South Carolina | SC | South | 33.3% | 32.9% | +0.4 pp |
| 36 | Idaho | ID | West | 33.0% | 32.1% | +0.9 pp |
| 37 | Alaska | AK | West | 32.8% | 32.2% | +0.6 pp |
| 38 | Ohio | OH | Midwest | 32.4% | 32.0% | +0.4 pp |
| 38 | Tennessee | TN | South | 32.4% | 31.7% | +0.7 pp |
| 40 | Wyoming | WY | West | 32.3% | 30.4% | +1.9 pp |
| 41 | Iowa | IA | Midwest | 32.1% | 31.5% | +0.6 pp |
| 42 | New Mexico | NM | West | 31.8% | 31.6% | +0.2 pp |
| 43 | Indiana | IN | Midwest | 30.7% | 30.2% | +0.5 pp |
| 44 | Alabama | AL | South | 29.9% | 28.9% | +1.0 pp |
| 45 | Oklahoma | OK | South | 29.3% | 28.7% | +0.6 pp |
| 46 | Nevada | NV | West | 28.5% | 28.7% | -0.2 pp |
| 47 | Kentucky | KY | South | 27.9% | 27.8% | +0.1 pp |
| 48 | Louisiana | LA | South | 27.8% | 27.0% | +0.8 pp |
| 49 | Arkansas | AR | South | 27.1% | 26.2% | +0.9 pp |
| 50 | Mississippi | MS | South | 27.0% | 25.5% | +1.5 pp |
| 51 | West Virginia | WV | South | 24.4% | 24.0% | +0.4 pp |
Table analysis
- District of Columbia leads the table by a wide margin at 65.5%.
- Massachusetts, Colorado, and Vermont are the three highest-ranked states.
- West Virginia reports the lowest rate at 24.4%.
- The top-to-bottom gap is 41.1 percentage points.
- Florida is the median jurisdiction at 35.8%.
- Wyoming shows the largest rounded period gain at +1.9 percentage points.
- Delaware, District of Columbia, Connecticut, and Nevada show negative rounded period movement.
- Change values compare overlapping ACS 5-year estimate periods and should not be read as a single-year cohort change.
Regional and Distribution Views
Regional summaries use Census regions and unweighted jurisdiction-level values. Distribution bands group the same 51 values used in the full ranking table.
Average Bachelor’s Degree Rate by Region
Unweighted average of state-level jurisdictions within each Census region.
The South includes the District of Columbia under Census regional grouping, which affects the unweighted regional average.
Chart analysis
- Northeast has the highest unweighted regional average at 41.7%.
- West follows at 36.2%.
- South averages 34.9% across 17 jurisdictions, including DC.
- Midwest averages 34.6% across 12 states.
Jurisdictions by Rate Band
Count of states and DC in each bachelor’s degree rate band.
The 35.0%–39.9% band contains the largest number of jurisdictions.
Chart analysis
- 16 jurisdictions fall in the 35.0%–39.9% band.
- 15 jurisdictions fall in the 30.0%–34.9% band.
- 12 jurisdictions are at or above 40.0%.
- 8 jurisdictions are below 30.0%.
| Region | Count | Average | Median | Highest | Lowest |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northeast | 9 | 41.7% | 41.5% | Massachusetts, 48.3% | Pennsylvania, 36.4% |
| West | 13 | 36.2% | 36.3% | Colorado, 47.8% | Nevada, 28.5% |
| South | 17 | 34.9% | 33.3% | District of Columbia, 65.5% | West Virginia, 24.4% |
| Midwest | 12 | 34.6% | 34.1% | Minnesota, 40.0% | Indiana, 30.7% |
Table analysis
- Northeast is the only region with an unweighted average above 40.0%.
- South has the widest internal spread because it includes both DC and West Virginia.
- Midwest has the narrowest regional range among the four Census regions shown.
- Regional averages are not population-weighted and do not represent the share of adults in the full regional population.
| Band | Count | Share | Jurisdictions |
|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 8 | 15.7% | Alabama; Arkansas; Kentucky; Louisiana; Mississippi; Nevada; Oklahoma; West Virginia |
| 30.0%–34.9% | 15 | 29.4% | Alaska; Arizona; Idaho; Indiana; Iowa; Michigan; Missouri; New Mexico; North Dakota; Ohio; South Carolina; South Dakota; Tennessee; Wisconsin; Wyoming |
| 35.0%–39.9% | 16 | 31.4% | California; Delaware; Florida; Georgia; Hawaii; Illinois; Kansas; Maine; Montana; Nebraska; North Carolina; Oregon; Pennsylvania; Rhode Island; Texas; Utah |
| 40.0%–44.9% | 8 | 15.7% | Connecticut; Maryland; Minnesota; New Hampshire; New Jersey; New York; Virginia; Washington |
| 45.0%+ | 4 | 7.8% | Colorado; District of Columbia; Massachusetts; Vermont |
Table analysis
- The two middle bands from 30.0% to 39.9% contain 31 jurisdictions.
- The upper two bands at 40.0%+ contain 12 jurisdictions.
- The highest band has 4 jurisdictions, while the lowest band has 8.
- Band shares are based on 51 jurisdictions and may not sum to exactly 100.0% after rounding.
Degree Attainment Data Notes
The ranking is limited to a single educational attainment indicator and should be read with the source-year and survey-design notes.
Indicator scope
The rate measures adults age 25 and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher. It does not measure associate degrees, certificates, current college enrollment, or degree completion among young adults only.
Ranking basis
Ranks use the selected ACS percentage value. They do not rate state education systems, labor markets, affordability, or K–12 performance.
Period estimates
ACS 5-year values describe a 60-month collection period ending in 2024. Consecutive ACS 5-year periods overlap.
Rounding
Published rates are rounded to one decimal place. Equal rounded rates share the same displayed rank in the full table.
Regional view
Regional averages are unweighted across jurisdictions. A population-weighted regional rate would require adult population denominators.
DC handling
District of Columbia is included because the site standard for state-level tables is 50 states plus DC. Some state-only summaries may exclude DC.
Source and Methodology
U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, Subject Table S1501, Educational Attainment.
Federal Reserve Bank of St. Louis FRED release table, Educational Attainment Annual: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher by State.
2024 ACS 5-year estimate period, covering 2020–2024 survey data.
Percent of population age 25 years and over with a bachelor’s degree or higher.
50 states and District of Columbia. Puerto Rico and other territories are not included in this ranking table.
State-level jurisdictions as reported in ACS and FRED state series.
Rows are ordered from highest to lowest 2024 rounded percentage. Equal rounded rates share the same rank.
Change equals 2024 rate minus 2023 rate, expressed in percentage points. Both values are ACS 5-year estimates.
Rates and changes are shown to one decimal place. Minor differences may occur if unrounded source values are used.
Census Table S1501 · FRED state release table · ACS technical documentation
ACS 5-year estimates are survey period estimates. State rankings based on these values are suitable for broad geographic comparison, but they should not be interpreted as direct measures of school quality or as single-year population counts.
Bachelor’s degree attainment is an adult population measure. It reflects long-run migration, age structure, labor market composition, higher education completion, and reporting coverage. The ranking does not establish causes, and it should not be merged with school spending, NAEP, graduation, or workforce indicators without a separate source crosswalk.