According to U.S. Census estimates, only seven U.S. states have high school graduation rates above 90%: Minnesota, Wyoming, Alaska, Montana, New Hampshire, Utah, and Vermont. The percentage of United States residents who have earned a high school diploma is 84.5%.
There are fifteen states with above average high school and college graduation rates: Colorado, Connecticut, Hawaii, Illinois, Kansas, Maryland, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New Jersey, Oregon, Utah, Virginia, and Washington. The percentage of United States residents who have earned a Bachelor’s degree is 27.4%.
Another fifteen states have below average high school and college graduation rates: Alabama, Arizona, Arkansas, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, and West Virginia.
Three states have above average college graduation rates but below average high school graduation rates: California, New York, and Rhode Island. This educational inequality is particularly pronounced in California which ranks fourteenth for college graduation rates but forty-eighth for high school graduation rates. Similarly, New York ranks ninth for college graduation rates but thirty-fourth for high school graduation rates. And, Rhode Island, which ranks twelfth for college graduation rates, ranks thirty-eighth for high school graduation rates.
The border states of California, Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona join Kentucky and Mississippi for holding the dubious distinction of having the largest percentage of residents who have failed to complete the ninth grade. More than ten percent of California residents have less than a ninth grade education.
Educational attainment, graduation rates, and rankings for all 50 states are presented below in six categories: Less than 9th Grade; Failied to Graduate High School; High School Graduate or Higher; Associate’s Degree or Higher; Bachelor’s Degree or Higher; and Graduate/Professional Degree. Those six categories are put forward in two formats: states are first listed in alphabetical order and then in traditonal ranking lists.
U.S. Census estimates of graduation rates are for persons who are 25-years of age and older.
State Education Rankings: Alabama Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.3% (Ranking 15)
Failed to Graduate High School: 19.1% (Ranking 6)
High School Graduate or Higher: 80.9% (Ranking 45)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 28.2% (Ranking 44)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 21.5% (Ranking 44)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.8% (Ranking 38)
State Education Rankings: Alaska Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.6% (Ranking 43)
Failed to Graduate High School: 9.4% (Ranking 48)
High School Graduate or Higher: 90.6% (Ranking 3)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 34.6% (Ranking 23)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 26.5% (Ranking 23)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.7% (Ranking 21)
State Education Rankings: Arizona Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.4% (Ranking 6)
Failed to Graduate High School: 16.3% (Ranking 15)
High School Graduate or Higher: 83.6% (Ranking 36)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 33.1% (Ranking 33)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25.3% (Ranking 30)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.2% (Ranking 25)
State Education Rankings: Arkansas Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.1% (Ranking 9)
Failed to Graduate High School: 18.8% (Ranking 7)
High School Graduate or Higher: 81.3% (Ranking 44)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 24.5% (Ranking 49)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 18.9% (Ranking 49)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 6.4% (Ranking 50)
State Education Rankings: California Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 10.6% (Ranking 1)
Failed to Graduate High School: 19.8% (Ranking 4)
High School Graduate or Higher: 80.2% (Ranking 48)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 37% (Ranking 16)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29.4% (Ranking 14)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 10.6% (Ranking 13)
State Education Rankings: Colorado Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.6% (Ranking 29)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11.4% (Ranking 34)
High School Graduate or Higher: 88.6% (Ranking 17)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 42.5% (Ranking 2)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 35% (Ranking 3)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 12.5% (Ranking 8)
State Education Rankings: Connecticut Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.7% (Ranking 28)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11.8% (Ranking 32)
High School Graduate or Higher: 88.2% (Ranking 19)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 42.2% (Ranking 3)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 34.8% (Ranking 4)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 15.1% (Ranking 3)
State Education Rankings: Delaware Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.4% (Ranking 32)
Failed to Graduate High School: 13.3% (Ranking 24)
High School Graduate or Higher: 86.7% (Ranking 27)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 34.2% (Ranking 25)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 26.8% (Ranking 22)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 10.6% (Ranking 13)
State Education Rankings: Florida Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5.7% (Ranking 20)
Failed to Graduate High School: 15.1% (Ranking 19)
High School Graduate or Higher: 84.9% (Ranking 33)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 34.1% (Ranking 27)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25.7% (Ranking 27)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9% (Ranking 26)
State Education Rankings: Georgia Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.2% (Ranking 17)
Failed to Graduate High School: 17.1% (Ranking 12)
High School Graduate or Higher: 83.1% (Ranking 37)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 33.6% (Ranking 29)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 27.1% (Ranking 21)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.5% (Ranking 22)
State Education Rankings: Hawaii Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5% (Ranking 23)
Failed to Graduate High School: 10.5% (Ranking 41)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89.5% (Ranking 10)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 39.1% (Ranking 12)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29.2% (Ranking 15)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.8% (Ranking 20)
State Education Rankings: Idaho Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.5% (Ranking 30)
Failed to Graduate High School: 12.1% (Ranking 30)
High School Graduate or Higher: 87.8% (Ranking 21)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 32.5% (Ranking 35)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 23.9% (Ranking 37)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.4% (Ranking 42)
State Education Rankings: Illinois Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.4% (Ranking 14)
Failed to Graduate High School: 14.4% (Ranking 20)
High School Graduate or Higher: 85.7% (Ranking 29)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 36.8 % (Ranking 17)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29.6% (Ranking 13)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 11.1% (Ranking 11)
State Education Rankings: Indiana Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.4% (Ranking 32)
Failed to Graduate High School: 14.2% (Ranking 23)
High School Graduate or Higher: 85.7% (Ranking 31)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 29.5% (Ranking 41)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 22.2% (Ranking 42)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8% (Ranking 37)
State Education Rankings: Iowa Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.1% (Ranking 36)
Failed to Graduate High School: 10.4% (Ranking 42)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89.7% (Ranking 8)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 33.6% (Ranking 29)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 24.3% (Ranking 36)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.5% (Ranking 41)
State Education Rankings: Kansas Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.1% (Ranking 36)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11% (Ranking 36)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89% (Ranking 13)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 36.2% (Ranking 18)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29% (Ranking 16)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.9% (Ranking 17)
State Education Rankings: Kentucky Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 8.5% (Ranking 3)
Failed to Graduate High School: 19.7% (Ranking 5)
High School Graduate or Higher: 80.4% (Ranking 46)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 26.5% (Ranking 46)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 20% (Ranking 47)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.1% (Ranking 36)
State Education Rankings: Louisiana Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.2% (Ranking 7)
Failed to Graduate High School: 19.8% (Ranking 3)
High School Graduate or Higher: 80.3% (Ranking 47)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 25.1% (Ranking 48)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 20.4% (Ranking 46)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 6.7% (Ranking 46)
State Education Rankings: Maine Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4% (Ranking 39)
Failed to Graduate High School: 10.7% (Ranking 39)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89.3% (Ranking 12)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 34.8% (Ranking 22)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25.9% (Ranking 26)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9% (Ranking 26)
State Education Rankings: Maryland Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.3% (Ranking 34)
Failed to Graduate High School: 12.5% (Ranking 28)
High School Graduate or Higher: 87.6% (Ranking 22)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 41.6% (Ranking 5)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 35.2% (Ranking 2)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 15.6% (Ranking 2)
State Education Rankings: Massachusetts Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.9% (Ranking 26)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11.6% (Ranking 33)
High School Graduate or Higher: 88.3% (Ranking 18)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 45.2% (Ranking 1)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 37.7% (Ranking 1)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 16% (Ranking 1)
State Education Rankings: Michigan Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.6% (Ranking 43)
Failed to Graduate High School: 12.4% (Ranking 29)
High School Graduate or Higher: 87.6% (Ranking 22)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 32.6% (Ranking 34)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 24.7% (Ranking 34)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.4% (Ranking 23)
State Education Rankings: Minnesota Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.7% (Ranking 42)
Failed to Graduate High School: 8.9% (Ranking 50)
High School Graduate or Higher: 91.2% (Ranking 1)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 40.7% (Ranking 7)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 31.1% (Ranking 10)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.9% (Ranking 17)
State Education Rankings: Mississippi Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.5% (Ranking 5)
Failed to Graduate High School: 21.2% (Ranking 1)
High School Graduate or Higher: 78.7% (Ranking 50)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 26.5% (Ranking 46)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 19% (Ranking 48)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 6.5% (Ranking 48)
State Education Rankings: Missouri Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.8% (Ranking 27)
Failed to Graduate High School: 14.3% (Ranking 21)
High School Graduate or Higher: 85.7% (Ranking 29)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 31.1% (Ranking 39)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 24.6% (Ranking 35)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.9% (Ranking 28)
State Education Rankings: Montana Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.2% (Ranking 48)
Failed to Graduate High School: 9.6% (Ranking 45)
High School Graduate or Higher: 90.6% (Ranking 4)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 35% (Ranking 21)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 27.2% (Ranking 20)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.5% (Ranking 31)
State Education Rankings: Nebraska Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.2% (Ranking 35)
Failed to Graduate High School: 10.2% (Ranking 43)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89.7% (Ranking 8)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 36.1% (Ranking 19)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 27.2% (Ranking 19)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.6% (Ranking 29)
State Education Rankings: Nevada Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.5% (Ranking 13)
Failed to Graduate High School: 16.3% (Ranking 15)
High School Graduate or Higher: 83.8% (Ranking 35)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 28.6% (Ranking 43)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 21.4% (Ranking 45)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.2% (Ranking 44)
State Education Rankings: New Hampshire Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.1% (Ranking 49)
Failed to Graduate High School: 9.6% (Ranking 46)
High School Graduate or Higher: 90.4% (Ranking 5)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 41.7% (Ranking 4)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 32.5% (Ranking 8)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 11.6% (Ranking 9)
State Education Rankings: New Jersey Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5.6% (Ranking 21)
Failed to Graduate High School: 13.1% (Ranking 26)
High School Graduate or Higher: 86.9% (Ranking 24)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 40.1% (Ranking 8)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 34% (Ranking 5)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 12.7% (Ranking 6)
State Education Rankings: New Mexico Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 8.2% (Ranking 4)
Failed to Graduate High School: 18% (Ranking 10)
High School Graduate or Higher: 82% (Ranking 42)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 32.1% (Ranking 36)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 24.9% (Ranking 32)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 10.6% (Ranking 13)
State Education Rankings: New York Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.1% (Ranking 9)
Failed to Graduate High School: 15.9% (Ranking 18)
High School Graduate or Higher: 84.2% (Ranking 34)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 39.8% (Ranking 11)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 31.7% (Ranking 9)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 43.6% (Ranking 4)
State Education Rankings: North Carolina Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.3% (Ranking 15)
Failed to Graduate High School: 17.1% (Ranking 12)
High School Graduate or Higher: 82.9% (Ranking 39)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 33.8% (Ranking 28)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25.6% (Ranking 28)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.5% (Ranking 31)
State Education Rankings: North Dakota Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5.9% (Ranking 19)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11.1% (Ranking 35)
High School Graduate or Higher: 88.9% (Ranking 15)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 37.8% (Ranking 14)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 26% (Ranking 24)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 6.5% (Ranking 48)
State Education Rankings: Ohio Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.5% (Ranking 45)
Failed to Graduate High School: 13% (Ranking 27)
High School Graduate or Higher: 86.9% (Ranking 24)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 30.9% (Ranking 40)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 23.7% (Ranking 38)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.6% (Ranking 29)
State Education Rankings: Oklahoma Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5% (Ranking 23)
Failed to Graduate High School: 16.1% (Ranking 17)
High School Graduate or Higher: 85% (Ranking 32)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 29.2% (Ranking 42)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 22.5% (Ranking 41)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.4% (Ranking 42)
State Education Rankings: Oregon Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.5% (Ranking 30)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11.9% (Ranking 31)
High School Graduate or Higher: 88% (Ranking 20)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 35.9% (Ranking 20)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 27.9% (Ranking 18)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 10.1% (Ranking 16)
State Education Rankings: Pennsylvania Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4.1% (Ranking 36)
Failed to Graduate High School: 13.2% (Ranking 25)
High School Graduate or Higher: 86.9% (Ranking 24)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 33.3% (Ranking 31)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 26% (Ranking 24)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.9% (Ranking 17)
State Education Rankings: Rhode Island Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.2% (Ranking 7)
Failed to Graduate High School: 17% (Ranking 14)
High School Graduate or Higher: 83% (Ranking 38)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 37.2% (Ranking 15)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 29.8% (Ranking 12)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 11.5% (Ranking 10)
State Education Rankings: South Carolina Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.1% (Ranking 18)
Failed to Graduate High School: 17.8% (Ranking 11)
High School Graduate or Higher: 82.3% (Ranking 41)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 31.5% (Ranking 37)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 33.3% (Ranking 39)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.2% (Ranking 34)
State Education Rankings: South Dakota Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5% (Ranking 23)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11% (Ranking 36)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89% (Ranking 13)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 34.2% (Ranking 25)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 24.8% (Ranking 33)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.1% (Ranking 45)
State Education Rankings: Tennessee Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 7.1% (Ranking 9)
Failed to Graduate High School: 18.2% (Ranking 9)
High School Graduate or Higher: 82.4% (Ranking 40)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 27.9% (Ranking 45)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 22.1% (Ranking 43)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.7% (Ranking 39)
State Education Rankings: Texas Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 10.4% (Ranking 2)
Failed to Graduate High School: 20.8% (Ranking 2)
High School Graduate or Higher: 79.1% (Ranking 49)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 31.4% (Ranking 38)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25.1% (Ranking 31)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.2% (Ranking 34)
State Education Rankings: Utah Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.3% (Ranking 47)
Failed to Graduate High School: 9.7% (Ranking 44)
High School Graduate or Higher: 90.3% (Ranking 6)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 38.1% (Ranking 13)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 28.8% (Ranking 17)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 9.3% (Ranking 24)
State Education Rankings: Vermont Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.4% (Ranking 46)
Failed to Graduate High School: 9.6% (Ranking 46)
High School Graduate or Higher: 90.3% (Ranking 7)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 41.5% (Ranking 6)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 33% (Ranking 7)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 12.7% (Ranking 6)
State Education Rankings: Virginia Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 5.6% (Ranking 21)
Failed to Graduate High School: 14.3% (Ranking 22)
High School Graduate or Higher: 85.8% (Ranking 28)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 40% (Ranking 9)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 33.3% (Ranking 6)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 13.6% (Ranking 4)
State Education Rankings: Washington Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 4% (Ranking 39)
Failed to Graduate High School: 10.6% (Ranking 40)
High School Graduate or Higher: 89.4% (Ranking 11)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 39.9% (Ranking 10)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 30.5% (Ranking 11)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 10.8% (Ranking 12)
State Education Rankings: West Virginia Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 6.9% (Ranking 12)
Failed to Graduate High School: 18.5% (Ranking 8)
High School Graduate or Higher: 81.4% (Ranking 43)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 22.8% (Ranking 50)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 17.0% (Ranking 50)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 6.6% (Ranking 47)
State Education Rankings: Wisconsin Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 3.8% (Ranking 41)
Failed to Graduate High School: 11% (Ranking 36)
High School Graduate or Higher: 88.9% (Ranking 15)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 34.2% (Ranking 24)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 25.4% (Ranking 29)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 8.5% (Ranking 31)
State Education Rankings: Wyoming Graduation Rates
Less than 9th Grade: 2.7% (Ranking 50)
Failed to Graduate High School: 9.1% (Ranking 49)
High School Graduate or Higher: 90.9% (Ranking 2)
Associate’s Degree or Higher: 33.2% (Ranking 32)
Bachelor’s Degree or Higher: 23.2% (Ranking 40)
Graduate/Professional Degree: 7.6% (Ranking 40)
State Education Rankings: Less than 9th Grade
1. California (10.6%)
2. Texas (10.4%)
3. Kentucky (8.5%)
4. New Mexico (8.2%)
5. Mississippi (7.5%)
6. Arizona (7.4%)
7. (tie) Louisiana (7.2%); Rhode Island (7.2%)
9. (tie) Arkansas (7.1%); New York (7.1%); Tennessee (7.1%)
12. West Virginia (6.9%)
13. Nevada (6.5%)
14. Illinois (6.4%)
15. (tie) Alabama (6.3%); North Carolina (6.3%)
17. Georgia (6.2%)
18. South Carolina (6.1%)
19. North Dakota (5.9%)
20. Florida (5.7%)
21. (tie) New Jersey (5.6%); Virginia (5.6%)
23. Hawaii (5.0%); South Dakota (5.0%)
26. Massachusetts (4.9%)
27. Missouri (4.8%)
28. Connecticut (4.7%)
29. Colorado (4.6%)
30. (tie) Idaho (4.5%); Oregon (4.5%)
32. (tie) Delaware (4.4%); Indiana (4.4%)
34. Maryland (4.3%)
35. Nebraska (4.2%)
36. (tie) Iowa (4.1%); Kansas (4.1%); Pennsylvania (4.1%)
39. Maine (4%)
41. Wisconsin (3.8%)
42. Minnesota (3.7%)
43. Alaska (3.6%); Michigan (3.6%)
45. Ohio (3.5%)
46. Vermont (3.4%)
47. Utah (3.3%)
48. Montana (3.2%)
49. New Hampshire (3.1%)
50. Wyoming (2.7%)
State Education Rankings: Failed to Graduate High School
1. Mississippi (21.2%)
2. Texas (20.8%)
3. (tie) California (19.8%); Louisiana (19.8%)
5. Kentucky (19.7%)
6. Alabama (19.1%)
7. Arkansas (18.8%)
8. West Virginia (18.5%)
9. Tennessee (18.2%)
10. New Mexico (18%)
11. South Carolina (17.8%)
12. (tie) Georgia (17.1%); North Carolina (17.1%)
14. Rhode Island (17%)
15. (tie) Arizona (16.3%); Nevada (16.3%)
17. Oklahoma (16.1%)
18. New York (15.9%)
19. Florida (15.1%)
20. Illinois (14.4%)
21. (tie) Missouri (14.3%); Virginia (14.3%)
23. Indiana (14.2%)
24. Delaware (13.3%)
25. Pennsylvania (13.2%)
26. New Jersey (13.1%)
27. Ohio (13%)
28. Maryland (12.5%)
29. Michigan (12.4%)
30. Idaho (12.1%)
31. Oregon (11.9%)
32. Connecticut (11.8%)
33. Massachusetts (11.6%)
34. Colorado (11.4%)
35. North Dakota (11.1%)
36. (tie) Kansas (11%); South Dakota (11%); Wisconsin (11%)
39. Maine (10.7%)
40. Washington (10.6%)
41. Hawaii (10.5%)
42. Iowa (10.4%)
43. Nebraska (10.2%)
44. Utah (9.7%)
45. (tie) Montana (9.6%); New Hampshire (9.6%); Vermont (9.6%)
48. Alaska (9.4%)
49. Wyoming (9.1%)
50. Minnesota (8.9%)
State Education Rankings: High School Graduate or Higher
1. Minnesota (91.2%)
2. Wyoming (90.9%)
3. (tie) Alaska (90.6%); Montana (90.6%)
5. New Hampshire (90.4%)
6. Utah (90.3%)
7. Vermont (90.3%)
8. Iowa (89.7%)
10. Hawaii (89.5%)
11. Washington (89.4%)
12. Maine (89.3%)
13. (tie) Kansas (89.0%); South Dakota (89.0%)
15. (tie) North Dakota (88.9%); Wisconsin (88.9%)
17. Colorado (88.6%)
18. Massachusetts (88.3%)
19. Connecticut (88.2%)
20. Oregon (88.0%)
21. Idaho (87.8%)
22. (tie) Maryland (87.6%); Michigan (87.6%)
24. (tie) New Jersey (86.9%); Ohio (86.9%); Pennsylvania (86.9%)
27. Delaware (86.7%)
28. Virginia (85.8%)
29. (tie) Illinois (85.7%); Missouri (85.7%); Indiana (85.7%)
32. Oklahoma (85.0%)
33. Florida (84.9%)
34. New York (84.2%)
35. Nevada (83.8%)
36. Arizona (83.6%)
37. Georgia (83.1%)
38. Rhode Island (83.0%)
39. North Carolina (82.9%)
40. Tennessee (82.4%)
41. South Carolina (82.3%)
42. New Mexico (82.0%)
43. West Virginia (81.4%)
44. Arkansas (81.3%)
45. Alabama (80.9%)
46. Kentucky (80.4%)
47. Louisiana (80.3%)
48. California (80.2%)
49. Texas (79.1%)
50. Mississippi (78.7%)
State Education Rankings: Associate’s Degree or Higher
1. Massachusetts (45.2%)
2. Colorado (42.5%)
3. Connecticut (42.2%)
4. New Hampshire (41.7%)
5. Maryland (41.6%)
6. Vermont (41.5%)
7. Minnesota (40.7%)
8. New Jersey (40.1%)
9. Virginia (40.0%)
10. Washington (39.9%)
11. New York (39.8%)
12. Hawaii (39.1%)
13. Utah (38.1%)
14. North Dakota (37.8%)
15. Rhode Island (37.2%)
16. California (37.0%)
17. Illinois (36.8%)
18. Kansas (36.2%)
19. Nebraska (36.1%)
20. Oregon (35.9%)
21. Montana (35%)
22. Maine (34.8%)
23. Alaska (34.6%)
24. Delaware (34.2%); South Dakota (34.2%); Wisconsin (34.2%)
27. Florida (34.1%)
28. North Carolina (33.8%)
29. Georgia (33.6%); Iowa (33.6%)
31. Pennsylvania (33.3%)
32. Wyoming (33.2%)
33. Arizona (33.1%)
34. Michigan (32.6%)
35. Idaho (32.5%)
36. New Mexico (32.1%)
37. South Carolina (31.5%)
38. Texas (31.4%)
39. Missouri (31.1%)
40. Ohio (30.9%)
41. Indiana (29.5%)
42. Oklahoma (29.2%)
43. Nevada (28.6%)
44. Alabama (28.2%)
45. Tennessee (27.9%)
46. Kentucky (26.5%); Mississippi (26.5%)
48. Louisiana (25.1%)
49. Arkansas (24.5%)
50. West Virginia (22.8%)
State Education Rankings: Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
1. Massachusetts (37.7%)
2. Maryland (35.2%)
3. Colorado (35%)
4. Connecticut (34.8%)
5. New Jersey (34%)
6. Virginia (33.3%)
7. Vermont (33%)
8. New Hampshire (32.5%)
9. New York (31.7%)
10. Minnesota (31.1%)
11. Washington (30.5%)
12. Rhode Island (29.8%)
13. Illinois (29.6%)
14. California (29.4%)
15. Hawaii (29.2%)
16. Kansas (29%)
17. Utah (28.8%)
18. Oregon (27.9%)
19. Nebraska (27.2%); Montana (27.2%)
21. Georgia (27.1%)
22. Delaware (26.8%)
23. Alaska (26.5%)
24. (tie) North Dakota (26%); Pennsylvania (26%)
26. Maine (25.9%)
27. Florida (25.7%)
28. North Carolina (25.6%)
29. Wisconsin (25.4%)
30. Arizona (25.3%)
31. Texas (25.1%)
32. New Mexico (24,9%)
33. South Dakota (24.8%)
34. Michigan (24.7%)
35. Missouri (24.6%)
36. Iowa (24.3%)
37. Idaho (23.9%)
38. Ohio (23.7%)
39. South Carolina (23.3%)
40. Wyoming (23.2%)
41. Oklahoma (22.5%)
42. Indiana (22.2%)
43. Tennessee (22.1%)
44. Alabama (21.5%)
45. Nevada (21.4%)
46. Louisana (20.4%)
47. Kentucky (20%)
48. Mississippi (19%)
49. Arkansas (18.9%)
50. West Virginia (17%)
State Education Rankings: Graduate or Professional Degree
1. Massachusetts (16%)
2. Maryland (15.6%)
3. Connecticut (15.1%)
4. (tie) New York (13.6%); Virginia (13.6%)
6. (tie) New Jersey (12.7%); Vermont (12.7%)
8. Colorado (12.5%)
9. New Hampshire (11.6%)
10. Rhode Island (11.5%)
11. Illinois (11.1%)
12. Washington (10.8%)
13. (tie) California (10.6%); Delaware (10.6%); New Mexico (10.6%)
16. Oregon (10.1%)
17. (tie) Kansas (9.9%); Minnesota (9.9%); Pennsylvania (9.9%)
20. Hawaii (9.8%)
21. Alaska (9.7%)
22. Georgia (9.5%)
23. Michigan (9.4%)
24. Utah (9.3%)
25. Arizona (9.2%)
26. (tie) Florida (9%); Maine (9%)
28. Missouri (8.9%)
29. (tie) Nebraska (8.6%); Ohio (8.6%)
31. (tie) Montana (8.5%); North Carolina (8.5%); Wisconsin (8.5%)
34. (tie) South Carolina (8.2%); Texas (8.2%)
36. Kentucky (8.1%)
37. Indiana (8%)
38. Alabama (7.8%)
39. Tennessee (7.7%)
40. Wyoming (7.6%)
41. Iowa (7.5%)
42. (tie) Idaho (7.4%); Oklahoma (7.4%)
44. Nevada (7.2%)
45. South Dakota (7.1%)
46. Louisiana (6.7%)
47. West Virginia (6.6%)
48. (tie) Mississippi (6.5%); North Dakota (6.5%)
50. Arkansas (6.4%)
Sources(s):
” College Graduation Rates: Behind the Numbers ,” American Council on Education
” Fact Sheet: 2006-2008 American Community Survey 3-Year Estimates ,” U.S. Census
” Graduation Rates ,” Arizona Department of Education
” PERSONS 25 YEARS OLD AND OVER WITH A BACHELOR’S DEGREE OR MORE, 2008 ,” U.S. Census
