20 Least Educated States in the US

3. Mississippi

Population aged 25 and above with high school or less: 43.2%

Population aged 25 and above with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 24.8%

Pupil-to-Teacher Ratio: 13.9

Expenditure per Pupil: $12,601

Insider Monkey Score: 0.105

According to the Census Bureau, Mississippi is the poorest state in America, with a poverty rate of 18.1% as of 2023. It is also among the least educated states in the country, with a low education spending per capita. Furthermore, it has the joint lowest level of higher education attainment along with West Virginia with only 24.8% of the population aged 25 and above having a bachelor’s degree or higher.