Originally published by WalletHub.
For millions of Americans, a good education is the ticket to a better future. College opens doors to more career opportunities, higher earnings and new social connections, among other benefits. But how much schooling one receives also matters to some extent. Generally, the higher the level of education one completes, the higher their income potential and the lower their chances of unemployment become.
Some states are able to provide better quality education than others, though. In this study, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 metrics that examined the key factors of a well-educated population: educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.
A separate WalletHub analysis identifies the Most & Least Educated Cities.
Main Findings
In-Depth Look at the Most Educated States
Massachusetts
Massachusetts, known for its top colleges like MIT and Harvard, ranks as the most educated state in America. The state has the highest percentage of adults ages 25 and older with at least a Bachelor’s degree, at nearly 47%, and the highest share who have a graduate or professional degree, at over 21%.
The Bay State ranks second in the country when it comes to the average quality of its universities. Colleges can’t hog all the credit for why Massachusetts is the most educated state, though. Massachusetts has the second-best public school system in the country, and students boast some of the highest math and reading test scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
Finally, Massachusetts is one of only 10 states that offer free statewide community college with very few eligibility limitations.
Maryland
The second-most educated state is Maryland, which is notable for enacting a free statewide community college program that allows anyone who wants to pursue higher education to have the opportunity. This is partially responsible for why Maryland has the fourth-highest share of residents ages 25+ with at least a bachelor’s degree and the second-highest share with a graduate or professional degree.
The Old Line state has great education at the high school level, too. The state has the seventh-highest share of students who scored at least a 3 out of 5 on an AP exam during high school, and its public school systems rank as the seventh-best in the nation.
To top things off, Maryland’s universities collectively rank as the sixth-best in the country. The state also has one of the smallest gender gaps when it comes to Bachelor’s degree attainment, and the ninth-smallest racial gap.
Vermont
Vermont is the third-most educated state in America. Nearly 43% of residents ages 25 and older have at least a Bachelor’s degree, while 18% have a graduate or professional degree. In addition, nearly 95% of people ages 25+ have at least a high school diploma, the highest percentage in the country.
To top things off, Vermont’s universities collectively rank as the 10th-best in the nation.
How educated is Maryland? (1=Most; 25=Avg.):
Overall Rank: 2nd
- 28th – % of High-School Diploma Holders
- 9th – % of Associate’s Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults
- 4th – % of Bachelor’s Degree Holders
- 2nd – % of Graduate- or Professional-Degree Holders
- 6th – Avg. University Quality
- 9th – Racial Gap in Educational Attainment
- 1st – Gender Gap in Educational Attainment
