The share of adults with at least a bachelor’s degree hit an all time high in 2018, according to new data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. Recently released data shows that 32.6% of American adults age 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree or higher, compared to 32.0% in 2017.
Americans with more educational attainment — especially those with a bachelor’s degree or higher — are more likely to have high-paying jobs and less likely to be unemployed. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the typical American adult with a four-year college education and a full-time job earns nearly $1,200 a week, about $470 more than someone with only a high school education. Additionally, those with just a high school education are about twice as likely to be unemployed as those with a bachelor’s degree.
There was a statistically significant increase in the bachelor’s degree attainment rate in 20 states in 2018. Of course, educational attainment rates are not even across the country, and some states have much higher rates of educational attainment than others. 24/7 Wall St. reviewed 2018 bachelor’s degree attainment rates from the ACS to identify America’s most and least educated states.
While a state may have reported an increase in educational attainment since 2017, not all increases were statistically significant. States in which the uptick was not significant were not counted as having an increase in bachelor’s degree attainment.
Several of the 20 states that reported a meaningful improvement in the bachelor’s degree attainment rate also reported a statistically significant increase in median household income, and all but one — West Virginia — reported an improvement in average annual unemployment between 2017 and 2018.
In general, states with higher educational attainment tend to have higher incomes and lower unemployment — and in states where a smaller share of adults have a college education, incomes tend to be low and the job markets are often not as strong. Here is a look at the states where it is hardest to find full-time work.
It is important to note that a college education can be expensive, and a bachelor’s degree in itself is no guarantee of a well-paying job. For the college-bound who are looking for a high-paying career, some fields of study are best avoided. These are the lowest paying college majors in America.
Click here to see America’s most and least educated states
Click here to read our methodology
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1. Massachusetts
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 44.5% (2018); 43.4% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $62,154 (5th highest)
> Median household income: $79,835 (2018); $79,371 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.3% (2018); 3.8% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Massachusetts
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2. Colorado
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 41.7% (2018); 41.2% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $54,937 (15th highest)
> Median household income: $71,953 (2018); $70,676 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.3% (2018); 2.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Colorado
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3. Maryland
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 40.8% (2018); 39.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $63,399 (3rd highest)
> Median household income: $83,242 (2018); $82,747 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.9% (2018); 4.3% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Maryland
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4. New Jersey
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 40.8% (2018); 39.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $65,658 (the highest)
> Median household income: $81,740 (2018); $81,763 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.1% (2018); 4.6% (2017)
See all stories featuring: New Jersey
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5. Connecticut
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 39.6% (2018); 38.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $64,398 (2nd highest)
> Median household income: $76,348 (2018); $75,947 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.1% (2018); 4.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Connecticut
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6. Virginia
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 39.3% (2018); 38.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $60,105 (8th highest)
> Median household income: $72,577 (2018); $73,155 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3% (2018); 3.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Virginia
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7. Vermont
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 38.7% (2018); 38.3% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $43,198 (4th lowest)
> Median household income: $60,782 (2018); $59,028 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.7% (2018); 3% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Vermont
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8. New York
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 37.2% (2018); 36.0% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $60,985 (7th highest)
> Median household income: $67,844 (2018); $66,201 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.1% (2018); 4.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: New York
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9. New Hampshire
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 36.8% (2018); 36.9% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $57,015 (12th highest)
> Median household income: $74,991 (2018); $75,051 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.5% (2018); 2.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: New Hampshire
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10. Minnesota
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 36.7% (2018); 36.1% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $57,806 (9th highest)
> Median household income: $70,315 (2018); $70,049 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.9% (2018); 3.4% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Minnesota
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11. Washington
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 36.7% (2018); 35.5% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $61,135 (6th highest)
> Median household income: $74,073 (2018); $72,591 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.5% (2018); 4.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Washington
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12. Illinois
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 35.1% (2018); 34.4% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $57,357 (11th highest)
> Median household income: $65,030 (2018); $64,493 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.3% (2018); 4.9% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Illinois
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13. Utah
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 34.9% (2018); 34.6% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $49,238 (16th lowest)
> Median household income: $71,414 (2018); $69,917 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.1% (2018); 3.3% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Utah
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14. Rhode Island
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 34.4% (2018); 33.5% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $56,513 (13th highest)
> Median household income: $64,340 (2018); $65,366 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.1% (2018); 4.4% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Rhode Island
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15. California
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 34.2% (2018); 33.6% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $62,347 (4th highest)
> Median household income: $75,277 (2018); $73,513 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.2% (2018); 4.8% (2017)
See all stories featuring: California
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16. Oregon
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 34.0% (2018); 33.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $51,699 (22nd highest)
> Median household income: $63,426 (2018); $61,369 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.2% (2018); 4.1% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Oregon
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17. Kansas
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 33.8% (2018); 33.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $49,852 (19th lowest)
> Median household income: $58,218 (2018); $57,652 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.4% (2018); 3.7% (2017)
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18. Hawaii
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 33.5% (2018); 32.9% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,463 (24th lowest)
> Median household income: $80,212 (2018); $79,648 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.4% (2018); 2.4% (2017)
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19. Nebraska
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 32.4% (2018); 31.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,032 (20th lowest)
> Median household income: $59,566 (2018); $60,847 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.8% (2018); 2.9% (2017)
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20. Georgia
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.9% (2018); 30.9% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $54,692 (16th highest)
> Median household income: $58,756 (2018); $57,322 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.9% (2018); 4.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Georgia
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21. North Carolina
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.9% (2018); 31.3% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $49,295 (17th lowest)
> Median household income: $53,855 (2018); $53,951 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.9% (2018); 4.5% (2017)
See all stories featuring: North Carolina
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22. Pennsylvania
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.8% (2018); 31.4% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $52,668 (17th highest)
> Median household income: $60,905 (2018); $60,460 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.3% (2018); 4.9% (2017)
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23. Montana
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.7% (2018); 32.3% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $42,224 (2nd lowest)
> Median household income: $55,328 (2018); $54,643 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.7% (2018); 3.9% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Montana
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24. Maine
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.5% (2018); 32.1% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $43,809 (5th lowest)
> Median household income: $55,602 (2018); $57,486 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.4% (2018); 3.4% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Maine
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25. Delaware
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 31.3% (2018); 31.5% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $52,267 (20th highest)
> Median household income: $64,805 (2018); N/A (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.8% (2018); 4.5% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Delaware
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26. Florida
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.4% (2018); 29.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $46,380 (10th lowest)
> Median household income: $55,462 (2018); $53,945 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.6% (2018); 4.2% (2017)
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27. Texas
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.3% (2018); 29.6% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $55,437 (14th highest)
> Median household income: $60,629 (2018); $60,416 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.9% (2018); 4.3% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Texas
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28. Alaska
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.2% (2018); 28.8% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $57,708 (10th highest)
> Median household income: $74,346 (2018); $75,092 (2017)
> Unemployment: 6.6% (2018); 7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Alaska
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29. Wisconsin
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 30.0% (2018); 30.4% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $51,879 (21st highest)
> Median household income: $60,773 (2018); $60,552 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3% (2018); 3.3% (2017)
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30. Arizona
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.7% (2018); 29.4% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $51,576 (24th highest)
> Median household income: $59,246 (2018); $57,884 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.8% (2018); 4.9% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Arizona
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31. North Dakota
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.7% (2018); 30.7% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,976 (25th highest)
> Median household income: $63,837 (2018); $63,245 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.6% (2018); 2.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: North Dakota
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32. Michigan
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.6% (2018); 29.1% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $52,352 (19th highest)
> Median household income: $56,697 (2018); $56,081 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.1% (2018); 4.6% (2017)
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33. Missouri
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.5% (2018); 29.1% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,659 (25th lowest)
> Median household income: $54,478 (2018); $54,910 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.2% (2018); 3.8% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Missouri
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34. South Dakota
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.2% (2018); 28.1% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $45,177 (7th lowest)
> Median household income: $56,274 (2018); $57,613 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3% (2018); 3.2% (2017)
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35. Ohio
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.0% (2018); 28.0% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $52,613 (18th highest)
> Median household income: $56,111 (2018); $55,236 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.6% (2018); 5% (2017)
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36. Iowa
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 29.0% (2018); 28.9% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $51,620 (23rd highest)
> Median household income: $59,955 (2018); $60,002 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.5% (2018); 3.1% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Iowa
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37. South Carolina
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 28.3% (2018); 28.0% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $49,131 (15th lowest)
> Median household income: $52,306 (2018); $51,396 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.4% (2018); 4.3% (2017)
See all stories featuring: South Carolina
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38. Idaho
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.7% (2018); 26.8% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $44,469 (6th lowest)
> Median household income: $55,583 (2018); $53,392 (2017)
> Unemployment: 2.8% (2018); 3.2% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Idaho
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39. New Mexico
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.7% (2018); 27.1% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $45,861 (8th lowest)
> Median household income: $47,169 (2018); $47,646 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.9% (2018); 5.9% (2017)
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40. Tennessee
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.5% (2018); 27.3% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $48,256 (13th lowest)
> Median household income: $52,375 (2018); $52,201 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.5% (2018); 3.8% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Tennessee
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41. Indiana
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 27.1% (2018); 26.8% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $49,851 (18th lowest)
> Median household income: $55,746 (2018); $55,368 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.4% (2018); 3.6% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Indiana
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42. Wyoming
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 26.9% (2018); 27.6% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $47,980 (12th lowest)
> Median household income: $61,584 (2018); $61,523 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.1% (2018); 4.2% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Wyoming
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43. Oklahoma
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 25.6% (2018); 25.5% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $46,162 (9th lowest)
> Median household income: $51,924 (2018); $50,839 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.4% (2018); 4.2% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Oklahoma
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44. Alabama
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 25.5% (2018); 25.5% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,081 (21st lowest)
> Median household income: $49,861 (2018); $49,249 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.9% (2018); 4.4% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Alabama
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45. Nevada
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 24.9% (2018); 24.9% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $48,779 (14th lowest)
> Median household income: $58,646 (2018); $59,340 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.6% (2018); 5.1% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Nevada
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46. Kentucky
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 24.8% (2018); 24.0% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,146 (22nd lowest)
> Median household income: $50,247 (2018); $49,437 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.3% (2018); 4.9% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Kentucky
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47. Louisiana
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 24.3% (2018); 23.8% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $50,273 (23rd lowest)
> Median household income: $47,905 (2018); $47,050 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.9% (2018); 5.1% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Louisiana
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48. Arkansas
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 23.3% (2018); 23.4% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $46,919 (11th lowest)
> Median household income: $47,062 (2018); $46,859 (2017)
> Unemployment: 3.7% (2018); 3.7% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Arkansas
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49. Mississippi
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 23.2% (2018); 21.9% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $42,497 (3rd lowest)
> Median household income: $44,717 (2018); $44,604 (2017)
> Unemployment: 4.8% (2018); 5.1% (2017)
See all stories featuring: Mississippi
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50. West Virginia
> Bachelor’s degree attainment: 21.3% (2018); 20.2% (2017)
> Median earnings for degree holders: $41,804 (the lowest)
> Median household income: $44,097 (2018); $44,587 (2017)
> Unemployment: 5.3% (2018); 5.2% (2017)
See all stories featuring: West Virginia
Methodology
To determine America’s most and least educated states, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed the percentage of adults age 25 and over with at least a bachelor’s degree with data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2018 American Community Survey.
Median household income and median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders also came from the 2018 ACS. We also reviewed annual average unemployment data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics for 2018 and 2017. All references to ranks in this article refer to a state’s rank compared to other states.
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