No matter what some people say, higher education is still one of the best ways to boost your income potential and reduce your chances of unemployment. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, a good education leads to better earnings and employment prospects. The United States is one of the highest educated countries in the world, but education levels within the US vary from state to state.
Ranked: The most educated states in the US
Folks at WalletHub compared all the 50 states in America across 20 different metrics including school quality, educational attainment, and achievement gaps between genders and races to compile a ranking of the most educated states in the country. They also looked at the average university quality, and the share of adults aged 25 and older with at least a high school diploma. These are the most educated states in America, according to WalletHub.
10- Washington
The State of Washington has a population of nearly 7.5 million people – more than 60% of whom live in the Seattle metropolitan area. Washington received the overall score of 63.77 in WalletHub’s ranking. It was ranked 9th in educational attainment and 16th in terms of quality of education. The state has more than 40 institutions of higher education including the University of Washington and Seattle University.
9- Utah
Utah is one of the best states to live in the United States and it has the least income inequality of any state in the country. The state is home to several institutions of higher education including the University of Utah, University of Phoenix, and Westminster College. It had a total score of 64.53. WalletHub ranked Utah 6th in the quality of education and 11th in educational attainment. It has the lowest racial gap in educational attainment. About 24.11% black people aged 25 an older hold a bachelor’s degree compared to 23.71% for white people.
8- Minnesota
Minnesota happens to be one of the wealthiest states in the country. It was ranked 8th in educational attainment and 11th in terms of quality of education, with its overall score at 65.57. According to the US Census Bureau, Minnesota has the second highest proportion of high school graduates.
7- New Hampshire
New Hampshire has a population of just 1.35 million, but it ranks among the most educated states in the country. There are more than 80 public high schools and 30 private high schools in the state. It is also home to several colleges and universities including the prestigious Dartmouth College. According to WalletHub, New Hampshire received a total score of 66.32. It was ranked 5th in educational attainment and 20th in the quality of education.
6- Virginia
Virginia has produced eight US Presidents, more than any other state. WalletHub ranked the state 7th in educational attainment and 9th in terms of quality of education. It received an overall score of 66.98. Virginia has more than 176 colleges and universities including the University of Virginia and Virginia Tech.
5- Colorado
Colorado is the 5th most educated state in the United States with a total score of 67.97. It was ranked 2nd in educational attainment and 31st in quality of education. Public school enrollments in Colorado have grown in each of the last 29 years. The state has never seen a decline in public school enrollments since 1988-89.
4- Connecticut
With a score of 68.22, Connecticut was ranked 4th in educational attainment and 17th in terms of quality of education. It is home to some of the best colleges and universities in the US including Yale University, Trinity College, Wesleyan University, and the University of Connecticut.
3- Vermont
Some of the most educated states are located in the northeastern region of the country. Vermont had a total score of 70.07, the educational attainment ranking of 4th, and 5th rank in terms of the quality of education. In 2017, Vermonters spent $1.6 billion on education for 76,000 public school pupils, with an average of more than $21,000 per student.
2- Maryland
Maryland has several renowned colleges and universities including the Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland. It scored 73.21 in WalletHub’s analysis. The state was ranked 3rd in terms of educational attainment and 4th in quality of education.
1- Massachusetts
By far the most educated state in the United States of America. Massachusetts received a total score of 80.06. It was ranked 1st in both quality of education and educational attainment. Massachusetts has the highest percentage of professional degree holders and the highest percentage of bachelor’s degree holders. It has the highest school system rating, according to WalletHub. The state is home to several world-class colleges and universities including Harvard, MIT, and Amherst College.
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