WalletHub on Monday released its list of the most and least educated states in the country for 2025, looking at which areas saw the most educational attainment.
“For millions of Americans, a good education is the ticket to a better future,” the study reads. “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.”
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The study examined elements like educational attainment and quality to determine the top picks, breaking those categories down into the following factors:
- Educational Attainment (60 points) — Includes the share of adults aged 25 and older with at least a high school diploma, some college experience or an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, and a graduate or professional degree
- Quality of Education & Attainment Gap (40 points) — Includes the quality of school systems; blue ribbon schools per capita; average quality of universities; enrolled students in top universities per capita; public high school graduation rate; projected high school graduation rate changes; NAEP math and reading test scores; share of 2023 high school classes scoring a “3″ or higher on AP exams; school engagement with students; summer learning legislation; school programs; presence of community college education; racial gaps in educational attainment; and gender gaps in educational attainment
Massachusetts topped the list, scoring over 80 points and earning first place for both primary categories.
“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.”
WalletHub, "Most & Least Educated States in America (2025)"
Below that, Maryland came in second, and Vermont in third. But the Sunshine State appeared much farther down, coming in at No. 20 on the ranking.
According to the data, Florida earned just shy of 54 points overall, largely lacking in the educational attainment category. But on the other hand, Florida ranked third out of all states on the list when it came to education quality specifically.
This isn’t the only area where Florida’s earned high marks, though. Last year, Florida came out as the top state in the nation for both education and its economy, according to a study by U.S. News & World Report.
[READ: Florida ranks top state in the country for education, economy. Here’s why]
In that study, Florida’s placement in the education rankings was largely thanks to its achievement in higher education. The state’s college graduation rates and tuition fees helped it make the No. 1 spot, though its performance in PreK-12 education specifically left a little more to be desired.
“In higher education, Florida – which is No. 9 in the overall Best States rankings – posted the second-highest rates of timely graduation among students at public institutions pursuing two- and four-year degrees, respectively. Students attending its public, four-year institutions also faced the lowest average amount in the country for in-state tuition and fees. The state fell in the middle of the pack on two other measures of higher education: the average amount of federal student loan debt held by young adults and the share of those 25 and older in the state with at least an associate degree.”
U.S. News & World Report, "Yes, Florida is No. 1 in the Country for Education. Here's Why"
Meanwhile, the rest of WalletHub’s ranking is as follows:
| Overall Rank | State | Total Score | Educational Attainment Rank | Quality of Education Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Massachusetts | 82.28 | 1 | 1 |
| 2 | Maryland | 75.13 | 4 | 2 |
| 3 | Vermont | 73.54 | 3 | 14 |
| 4 | Colorado | 70.71 | 2 | 33 |
| 5 | Connecticut | 70.41 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | Virginia | 68.05 | 7 | 11 |
| 7 | New Jersey | 67.96 | 10 | 4 |
| 8 | New Hampshire | 66.89 | 6 | 17 |
| 9 | Washington | 65.69 | 9 | 12 |
| 10 | Minnesota | 64.43 | 8 | 22 |
| 11 | Utah | 60.77 | 11 | 24 |
| 12 | Illinois | 59.18 | 16 | 9 |
| 13 | Rhode Island | 58.70 | 21 | 5 |
| 14 | Delaware | 58.23 | 19 | 8 |
| 15 | New York | 57.16 | 17 | 18 |
| 16 | Oregon | 56.94 | 12 | 39 |
| 17 | Maine | 56.31 | 13 | 37 |
| 18 | Hawaii | 55.61 | 15 | 35 |
| 19 | Montana | 54.49 | 14 | 44 |
| 20 | Florida | 53.76 | 35 | 3 |
| 21 | Wisconsin | 53.69 | 25 | 15 |
| 22 | Pennsylvania | 53.26 | 26 | 13 |
| 23 | Nebraska | 52.15 | 20 | 36 |
| 24 | North Carolina | 51.85 | 28 | 20 |
| 25 | Kansas | 50.98 | 18 | 46 |
| 26 | North Dakota | 50.94 | 22 | 40 |
| 27 | Michigan | 50.59 | 27 | 25 |
| 28 | Wyoming | 49.94 | 23 | 42 |
| 29 | California | 49.45 | 37 | 7 |
| 30 | Georgia | 48.81 | 34 | 21 |
| 31 | Iowa | 48.24 | 30 | 29 |
| 32 | Missouri | 47.71 | 32 | 31 |
| 33 | Ohio | 47.61 | 36 | 19 |
| 34 | South Dakota | 47.49 | 33 | 32 |
| 35 | Alaska | 47.31 | 24 | 49 |
| 36 | Arizona | 45.89 | 31 | 41 |
| 37 | Idaho | 44.55 | 29 | 47 |
| 38 | South Carolina | 44.31 | 38 | 26 |
| 39 | Tennessee | 43.23 | 40 | 16 |
| 40 | Indiana | 42.98 | 41 | 10 |
| 41 | Texas | 40.22 | 42 | 23 |
| 42 | New Mexico | 37.81 | 39 | 50 |
| 43 | Alabama | 36.48 | 44 | 28 |
| 44 | Kentucky | 35.76 | 45 | 27 |
| 45 | Nevada | 34.60 | 46 | 30 |
| 46 | Oklahoma | 32.55 | 43 | 48 |
| 47 | Arkansas | 30.25 | 47 | 34 |
| 48 | Louisiana | 28.64 | 48 | 38 |
| 49 | Mississippi | 26.11 | 49 | 45 |
| 50 | West Virginia | 24.29 | 50 | 43 |
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