Quality and attainment: 2023’s most—and least—educated states in America

College may not be for everyone, and some people wonder why their peers are choosing college in the first place. Generally speaking, however, the higher the level of education one receives, the greater their income potential becomes. Also, their chances of unemployment are lower. But that’s not all.

According to a new WalletHub study, the correlation between an individual’s education levels and income/employment rates does in fact exist.

In their “2023’s Most & Least Educated States in America” report, all 50 states were compared across two key dimensions: educational attainment and quality of education. Each dimension has its own set of metrics they took into consideration as well. For example, educational attainment pertains to a state’s share of adults 25 and older with at least a high school diploma, some college experience, at least a bachelor’s degree, and at least a graduate or professional degree. Quality and attainment were measured using 14 metrics, for example, the quality of a state’s school system and blue-ribbon schools per capita. According to the data, Massachusetts ranks no. 1 on both education attainment and quality of education.

Here’s a full look at the most—and least—educated states in the country for 2023:

1. Massachusetts: Educational Attainment (1), Quality of Education (1)
2. Maryland: Educational Attainment (4), Quality of Education (2)
3. Connecticut: Educational Attainment (6), Quality of Education (4)
4. Vermont: Educational Attainment (3), Quality of Education (15)
5. Colorado: Educational Attainment (2), Quality of Education (37)
6. New Jersey: Educational Attainment (10), Quality of Education (6)
7. Virginia: Educational Attainment (5), Quality of Education (16)
8. New Hampshire: Educational Attainment (7), Quality of Education (11)
9. Minnesota: Educational Attainment (8), Quality of Education (24)
10. Utah: Educational Attainment (11), Quality of Education (12)
11. Washington: Educational Attainment (9), Quality of Education (25)
12. Rhode Island: Educational Attainment (24), Quality of Education (5)
13. Delaware: Educational Attainment (21), Quality of Education (7)
14. New York: Educational Attainment (18), Quality of Education (14)
15. Oregon: Educational Attainment (12), Quality of Education (41)
16. Illinois: Educational Attainment (17), Quality of Education (18)
17. Hawaii: Educational Attainment (14), Quality of Education (35)
18. Maine: Educational Attainment (15), Quality of Education (31)
19. Montana: Educational Attainment (13), Quality of Education (46)
20. Wisconsin: Educational Attainment (25), Quality of Education (10)
21. Florida: Educational Attainment (35), Quality of Education (3)
22. Nebraska: Educational Attainment (20), Quality of Education (38)
23. North Dakota: Educational Attainment (22), Quality of Education (26)
24. Wyoming: Educational Attainment (23), Quality of Education (30)
25. Kansas: Educational Attainment (16), Quality of Education (49)
26. North Carolina: Educational Attainment (28), Quality of Education (13)
27. Michigan: Educational Attainment (26), Quality of Education (28)
28. California: Educational Attainment (37), Quality of Attainment (8)
29. Alaska: Education Attainment (19), Quality of Education (50)
30. Pennsylvania: Education Attainment (27), Quality of Education (36)
31. Iowa: Educational Attainment (29), Quality of Education (29)
32. Georgia: Educational Attainment (33), Quality of Education (22)
33. Missouri: Educational Attainment (31), Quality of Education (33)
34. Ohio: Educational Attainment (36), Quality of Education (21)
35. South Dakota: Educational Attainment (30), Quality of Education (40)
36. Idaho: Educational Attainment (34), Quality of Education (32)
37. Arizona: Educational Attainment (32), Quality of Education (44)
38. Indiana: Educational Attainment (41), Quality of Education (9)
39. South Carolina: Educational Attainment (38), Quality of Education (34)
40. Tennessee: Educational Attainment (40), Quality of Education (19)
41. Texas: Educational Attainment (42), Quality of Education (17)
42. New Mexico: Educational Attainment (39), Quality of Education (48)
43. Kentucky: Educational Attainment (46), Quality of Education (19)
44. (Tied for 43) Nevada: Educational Attainment (45), Quality of Education (23)
45. Oklahoma: Educational Attainment (43), Quality of Education (42)
46. Alabama: Educational Attainment (44), Quality of Education (39)
47. Arkansas: Educational Attainment (47), Quality of Education (27)
48. Louisiana: Educational Attainment (48), Quality of Education (43)
49. Mississippi: Educational Attainment (49), Quality of Education (45)
50. West Virginia: Educational Attainment (50), Quality of Education (47)

The five states with the highest percentage of college degree holders were also the top ten most educated states. Additionally, three of the top ten most educated states had the best university degree quality on average.

David H. Feldman, a William & Mary professor in Virginia, WalletHub’s seventh most educated state, talks about how less educated states can prevent brain drain of their more talented citizens.

“Excellent out-of-state students have lots of national opportunities after graduating, but significant numbers choose to stay in the state because the state offers a wide variety of excellent career pathways for our graduates,” Feldman said. “If states do not want us to poach talented high school graduates, they need to offer a rich variety of educational opportunities to meet the wide variety of careers college graduates tend to pursue.”

More from UB: Agree or disagree? Check out the latest list of the 100 best college towns