In this article, you will look at the 20 best states for education in the US. You can skip our detailed analysis if you wish to look at the Best State for Education in the US.
Overview of US Government’s Spending on Education
The education system of the United States of America is considered the best in the world as per common consensus. According to data by the National Center for Education Statistics, the US government spent $17,495 in constant 2022-2023 dollars on each student in the academic year 2020-2021, which comes up to $15,362 when considered in terms of unadjusted US dollars. The total expenditure per pupil in average daily attendance in public primary and secondary schools in the US has been increasing since the academic year 2012-2013. It went from $16,761 (considered in constant 2022-2023 US dollars) in the academic year 2018-2019 to $16,808 in the academic year 2019-2020, before eventually increasing to $17,495 in the year 2020-2021.
Data from the National Center for Education Statistics further showed that the US government spent a total of $870 billion (considered in constant 2021-2022 US dollars) in the academic year 2019-2020 for all public elementary and secondary schools in the country. 87% of the total expenditure per pupil went to current expenditures in 2019-2020. This amount, which came up to around $14,789 per pupil, included employee benefits, salaries, purchased services, tuition, supplies, and other related expenditures. Capital outlay accounted for 10% of the per pupil expense, coming up to about $1,760, while 3$ of the amount went to interest on school debt.
Trends in the US Education System
Data from the Census Bureau shows that nearly 35% of the population of the United States above the age of 25 had a bachelor’s degree as of 2021. The rate was the highest for the District of Columbia at 63%, with Massachusetts trailing behind at a rate of 47%, Colorado and Vermont at 44%, and New Jersey and Maryland at 43% as of the same year. The lowest rate of people with a bachelor’s degree as of 2021 was in West Virginia at 24%. The rate of educational attainment also varies across races. According to data by the Census Bureau Population Survey, 61% of Asians either aged 25 or older had completed at least four years of college education as of 2021. The rate stood at 41.9% for White people, and at 28.1% for Black people as of the same year. You can also look at 25 Best Countries For College Education.
Where Does Technology Come In?
EdTech companies have ushered a new age of education accessibility through remote learning and personalized feedback. Some of these companies include Chegg, Inc. (NYSE:CHGG), TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL), and Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM).
Chegg, Inc. (NYSE:CHGG) is an American edtech platform that offers a personalized learning experience to its users. It offers tailored practice problems, study plans, online textbook rentals, and other virtual resources to aid students in mastering complicated concepts. The company’s 24/7 online tutoring service is especially well known, for it connects students with field experts for real-time guidance, support, and academic assistance.
TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) is another prominent name in the edtech sector that stands for Tomorrow Advancing Life. Headquartered in Beijing, China, the platform offers after-school tutoring and other academic services to students in primary and secondary school. On January 13, the company reported that TAL Education Group (NYSE:TAL) also made its debut at the Consumer Electronics Show 2024 in Las Vegas, showcasing innovative edtech products and its two flagship products: Mobby Kids’ Learning Pad and Xueersi xPad Flagship Model. The products use the Source Tracing Learning Method and Artificial Intelligence to offer personalized education services to users.
Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM) is an educational support services company that offers education advising, tuition program management, and student loan repayment programs. On April 29, Walmart announced the opening of the Little Squiggles Children’s Enrichment Center, a specialized child care center that will be operated by Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM). Set to open on May 6, the center is the largest in northwestern Arkansas with a capacity of 500 children. It will also increase the region’s market capacity by 15%. Bright Horizons Family Solutions Inc. (NYSE:BFAM) will offer student-centric resources targeted at their growth and an academic environment with a low student-to-teacher ratio.
Now that we have taken an overview of the education sector in the United States, let us take a look at the 20 best states for education in the US. You can also look at 20 Countries that Spend the Most on Education and 25 Countries with Best Education System in the World.
Photo by Alvaro Reyes on Unsplash
Our Methodology
In order to compile a list of the 20 best states for education in the US, we have considered the per pupil expenditure on education, the pupil-to-teacher ratio of each state, and the percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment in people aged 25 and older. We then computed the average ranking of each state according to its position in the list of each of the three metrics, calling it the Insider Monkey Score. We then chose the top 20 states as the best states for education in the US, with 1.66 being the highest Insider Monkey Score for the best US state for education in the US. We assumed that the best states for education in the US have high expenditure per student, low pupil-to-teacher ratio, and high percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment among people aged 25 or older.
Data for expenditure per student, pupil-to-teacher ratio, and percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment has been taken from reports by the National Center of Education Statistics. The latest data for each of the three metrics is available from 2021. The 20 best states for education in the US are arranged in descending order of their Insider Monkey Score.
20 Best States for Education in the US
20. Minnesota
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $17,716
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 15.6
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 38.8%
Insider Monkey Score: 22.66
Minnesota ranks 20th on our list of the 20 best states for education in the US. It has an Insider Monkey Score of 22.66.
19. Colorado
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $16,331
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 16.3
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 44.5%
Insider Monkey Score: 22.66
Colorado has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 16.3 and a 44.5% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2021. It ranks 19th on our list.
18. Wyoming
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $22,923
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 12.7
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 29.1%
Insider Monkey Score: 21.66
The state of Wyoming spends $22,923 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021, and has a pupil-to-student ratio of 12.7. It has an Insider Monkey Score of 21.66.
17. Delaware
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $18,588
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 14.0
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 34.9%
Insider Monkey Score: 21
With an Insider Monkey Score of 21, Delaware ranks 17th on our list of the 20 best states for education in the US. The state spends $18,588 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021.
16. Nebraska
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $17,682
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 13.5
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 34.7%
Insider Monkey Score: 21
Nebraska has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 13.5, and a 34.7% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2021. With an Insider Monkey Score of 21, it ranks 16th on our list.
15. Hawaii
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $20,668
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 14.4
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 36.0%
Insider Monkey Score: 20.66
Hawaii is an island state of the US located in the Pacific Ocean. It has a bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 36.0% and spends $20,668 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021.
14. North Dakota
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $18,335
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 12.3
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 31.9%
Insider Monkey Score: 20
North Dakota ranks 14th on our list of 20 best states for education in the US with an Insider Monkey Score of 20. The state has a 31.9% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of the same year.
13. Kansas
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $16,263
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 12.7
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 35.9%
Insider Monkey Score: 19.66
With a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 12.7 and a 35.9% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2021, Kansas ranks 13th on our list. It has an Insider Monkey Score of 19.66.
12. Pennsylvania
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $21,924
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 13.4
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 34.6%
Insider Monkey Score: 17.66
Pennsylvania spends $21,924 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021, and has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 13.4. It ranks 12th on our list.
11. Maryland
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $21,082
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 14.1
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 42.5%
Insider Monkey Score: 15
Maryland is located in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States and has an Insider Monkey Score of 15. The state has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 14.1, and a 42.5% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2021.
10. Rhode Island
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $23,881
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 12.9
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 36.4%
Insider Monkey Score: 12.33
With an Insider Monkey Score of 12.33, Rhode Island ranks tenth on our list of the 20 best states for education in the US. The state spends $23,881 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021.
9. Illinois
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $23,637
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 13.4
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 37.2%
Insider Monkey Score: 12.33
Illinois is located in the midwestern United States, and has an Insider Monkey Score of 12.33. It ranks ninth on our list with a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 13.4 as of 2021.
8. Maine
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $23,164
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 11.2
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 36.2%
Insider Monkey Score: 9.66
Located on the northeastern edge of the United States, Maine ranks eighth on our list with an Insider Monkey Score of 9.66. The state has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 11.2.
7. New Hampshire
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $21,853
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 11.6
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 40.3%
Insider Monkey Score: 8.66
New Hampshire is located in New England, and ranks seventh on our list of the 20 best states for education in the US. It has an Insider Monkey score of 8.66.
6. Connecticut
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $26,626
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 12.2
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 41.9%
Insider Monkey Score: 6.66
The per student educational expenditure of the state of Connecticut is around $26,626, ranking it among the best states for education in the US. It also has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 12.2, and a 41.9% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2021.
5. New York
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $32,497
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 11.8
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 39.9%
Insider Monkey Score: 6
The state of New York spends $32,497 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021, and has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 11.8. It ranks fifth on our list of the 20 best states for education in the US.
4. Massachusetts
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $26,050
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 12.1
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 46.7%
Insider Monkey Score: 5
With an Insider Monkey Score of 5, Massachusetts ranks fourth on our list of the best US states for education. It has a pupil-to-teacher ratio of 12.1 as of 2021.
3. New Jersey
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $27,497
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 11.7
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 43.3%
Insider Monkey Score: 4.66
New Jersey is located in the northeastern portion of the United States, about 130 miles away from the Atlantic coast. The state spends $27,497 on its per student educational expenses as of 2021.
2. Vermont
Expenditure per Pupil as of 2021: $31,235
Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio as of 2021: 10.5
Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2021: 43.6%
Insider Monkey Score: 2.66
With an Insider Monkey Score of 2.66, Vermont ranks second on our list. The state has a 43.6% bachelor’s degree attainment rate and spends $31,235 on its per student educational expenses, earning it a high rank.
