In this article, we will look at the 20 States with the most brilliant students in the US and take an overview of educational attainment in the United States.
Increase in Educational Attainment Across the United States
The United States has one of the best educational systems in the world. According to data from the United States Census Bureau, an official website of the U.S. government, less than 8.9% of the country’s residents had less than a high school diploma or equivalent academic qualification as of 2021. In contrast, around 14.4% had attained an advanced degree as of the same year, such as a professional, doctoral, or master’s degree. Furthermore, a bachelor’s degree was the highest educational qualification of 23.5% of individuals in the country, while 10.5% had an associate degree as their highest credential. Around 14.9% of individuals did not have a degree but did complete a college as of 2021.
In addition, 27.9% of individuals had a high school graduation certificate as their highest educational qualification. The high school graduation rate in the United States for individuals aged 25 or older has increased over the years, going from 87.6% in 2011 to 91.1% in 2021. The increase was also exhibited in other academic areas, with the percentage of people aged 25 or older attaining a bachelor’s degree also increasing from 30.4% in 2011 to 37.9% in 2021, showing an increase of 7.5 percentage points. The same trend could be observed across master’s and doctoral degree attainment in individuals of the same group, increasing to 24.1 million in 2021 and undergoing a 50.2% increase between 2011 and 2021. The number of doctoral degree holders also increased by 54.5% during the same time frame, going up to 4.7 million in 2021. In fact, associate degree attainment also increased from 10.9% in 2011 to 14.3% in 2021. These positive trends exhibit an overall positive trajectory for educational attainment in the United States. For further insight, you can also look at 15 Cheapest American Universities with Low Tuition for International Students.
Breakdown of Educational Attainment in the United States
Although the educational attainment statistics in the United States are promising, they are not evenly distributed across the country. Children of foreign-born parents had a 43.0% bachelor’s and higher degree attainment in 2021, while naturalized citizens had a 42.2% attainment rate of the same degrees as of 2021. Similarly, more foreign-born individuals held advanced degrees in 2021 as compared to native-born individuals. While 14.1% of the native-born population held master’s, professional, or doctoral degrees as of 2021, the statistics for the same stood around 15.4% for the foreign-born population.
However, some statistics do show an even distribution in different races. Between 2011 and 2021, the high school graduation rate in adults aged 25 and older increased across all races and Hispanic groups in the U.S. Similarly, the high school graduation rate increased from 92.4% in 2011 to 95.1% in 2021 for the White, non-Hispanic population, and from 84.5% in 2011 to 90.3% in 2021 for the Black population. The Asian and Hispanic populations showed similar positive trends, increasing from 50.3% to 61.0% for the Asian population and 14.1% to 20.6% for the Hispanic population between 2011 and 2021. Further data from the National Center for Educational Statistics shows that educational attainment rates between 2010 and 2022 increased across all educational levels in both males and females across the country. However, the attainment rates for females were generally higher than for males. You can also look at 22 Best Online Side Hustles for College Students.
Several companies other than brick-and-mortar educational institutions also promote education in the U.S., such as Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR). On May 20, Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) announced plans to collaborate with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) to offer four new entry-level Professional Certificates tailored to equip learners with the necessary skills to kickstart a new career within months. The Professional Certificates eliminate the immediate need for a college degree, and will help prepare learners for jobs on an exponential growth trajectory. The four new certifications by Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) include IT Support Specialist Professional Certificate, Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate, Business Analyst Professional Certificate, and Project Manager Professional Certificate.
Now that we have taken an overview of the education-related statistics in the United States, let us look at the 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US. You can also look at 20 Countries with the Most Brilliant Students in the World.
20 States with the Most Brilliant Students in the US
Our Methodology
In order to compile a list of the 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US, we took SAT mean scores of high school seniors, percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment in individuals aged 25 and older, and standard IQ scores as the primary metrics. We then computed the average of the ranks attained by each state in each of the three metrics, i.e. the Insider Monkey Score. The lower the Insider Monkey Score, the more brilliant the state is in terms of its students.
Data for the SAT mean scores of high school seniors as of 2023 and statistics for the percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment as of 2022 have been taken from the National Center for Education Statistics. Furthermore, data for each state’s standard IQ scores has been derived from a report by Bryan J. Pesta titled Updated IQ and Well-Being Scores for the 50 U.S. States, available at the National Library of Medicine website, which is an official website of the United States government. The report provides standard IQ scores for all 50 US states as of 2022. The 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US are arranged in descending order of their Insider Monkey Score.
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20 States with the Most Brilliant Students in the US
20. Nevada
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1166
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 87.4%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 96.6
Insider Monkey Score: 37.33
Nevada ranks 20th on our list of the 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US. It has an 87.4% bachelor’s degree attainment rate in individuals aged 25 and older as of 2022.
19. Mississippi
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1184
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 87.4%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 95.8
Insider Monkey Score: 37
The standard IQ score of residents of Mississippi is 95.8 as of 2022. The state ranks 19th on our list with an Insider Monkey Score of 37.
18. Alabama
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1161
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 88.9%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 96.4
Insider Monkey Score: 36.33
The southeastern state of Alabama houses several historical landmarks from the American Civil Rights movement. It ranks 18th on our list with an SAT mean score of 1161 as of 2023.
17. Louisiana
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1194
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 87.3%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 95.2
Insider Monkey Score: 36.33
Louisiana ranks 17th on our list with an Insider Monkey Score of 36.33. The state has an 87.3% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2022.
16. Arkansas
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1192
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 89.1%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 97.1
Insider Monkey Score: 32.66
With an SAT mean score of 1192 for high school students enrolled in public schools in the state, Arkansas ranks 16th on our list. The state has a standard IQ score of 97.1 as of 2022.
15. Arizona
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1183
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 89.2%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 98.3
Insider Monkey Score: 31.33
The standard IQ score of the residents of Arizona is 98.3, ranking it 15th on our list. The state has an 89.2% bachelor’s degree attainment rate in individuals aged 25 or older as of 2022.
14. Tennessee
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1191
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 90.4%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 98.3
Insider Monkey Score: 29
Tennessee is a landlocked state located in the south of the United States. With an Insider Monkey Score of 29, it ranks 14th on our list.
13. Kentucky
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1208
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 88.9%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 98.8
Insider Monkey Score: 28
Kentucky ranks 13th on our list of the 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US with an SAT mean score of 1208 as of 2023. It has an 88.9% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2022 in individuals aged 25 or older.
12. North Carolina
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1127
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 90.4%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 99.5
Insider Monkey Score: 27.66
North Carolina has a 99.5 standard IQ score as of 2022 and a 90.4% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2022. The state ranks 12th on our list.
11. Missouri
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1191
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 91.6%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 99.5
Insider Monkey Score: 21.66
With an Insider Monkey Score of 21.66, Missouri ranks 11th on our list. The state has a 91.6% bachelor’s degree attainment rate in individuals aged 25 and older as of 2022.
10. Kansas
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1245
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 92.2%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 100.5
Insider Monkey Score: 14.33
The SAT mean score of high school seniors enrolled in public schools in Kansas stands at 1245 as of 2023. The state also has a 92.2% bachelor’s degree attainment rate.
9. South Dakota
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1208
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.3%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 100.7
Insider Monkey Score: 12
The midwestern state of South Dakota is home to the iconic Black Hills National Forest and Mount Rushmore. It ranks ninth on our list with a standard IQ score of 100.7 as of 2022.
8. Montana
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1193
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.7%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.1
Insider Monkey Score: 11
Montana ranks eighth on our list of the 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US. It has a 93.7% bachelor’s degree attainment rate in individuals aged 25 and older as of 2022.
7. Wyoming
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1200
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.1%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.7
Insider Monkey Score: 9
With a standard IQ score of 101.7 as of 2022 and a bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 93.1% in individuals aged 25 or older as of 2022, Wyoming ranks seventh on our list. The state has an SAT mean score of 1200 as of 2023.
6. Wisconsin
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1236
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.4%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.2
Insider Monkey Score: 8.66
The SAT mean scores of high school seniors in Wisconsin stand at 1236 as of 2023, ranking it sixth on our list. The state has an Insider Monkey Score of 8.66.
5. Iowa
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1208
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.8%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.1
Insider Monkey Score: 8.33
Iowa is located in the midwestern United States, wedged between the Missouri and Mississippi rivers. The state ranks fifth on our list with an SAT mean score of 1208 as of 2023 and a bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 93.8% as of 2022.
4. Utah
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1239
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.0%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.5
Insider Monkey Score: 8.33
With a bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 93.0%, Utah ranks fourth on our list. The state has a standard IQ of 101.5, and an SAT mean score of 1239 as of 2023.
3. Nebraska
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1252
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.0%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.2
Insider Monkey Score: 8
With an Insider Monkey Score of 8, Nebraska ranks third on our list. The state’s SAT mean score stands at 1252 as of 2023. It also has a standard IQ of 101.2 as of 2022.
2. Minnesota
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1201
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 94.2%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 102.9
Insider Monkey Score: 5.33
Minnesota ranks second on our list with an Insider Monkey Score of 5.33. The state has a 94.2% bachelor’s degree attainment rate as of 2022 in individuals aged 25 and older. Also known as the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” Minnesota is located in the midwestern United States.
1. North Dakota
SAT Mean Score as of 2023: 1287
Percentage of Bachelor’s Degree Attainment as of 2022: 93.7%
Standard IQ Scores as of 2022: 101.7
Insider Monkey Score: 4.33
North Dakota ranks first on our list of the 20 states with the most brilliant students in the US, with an Insider Monkey Score of 4.33. The landlocked state is located in the Upper Midwest, and has a standard IQ score of 101.7 as of 2022. North Dakota has a 93.7% bachelor’s degree attainment rate in individuals aged 25 and older as of 2022. Of this rate, the highest percentage of bachelor’s degree attainment is held by Asian students, at a 59.5% rate. The bachelor’s degree attainment rates of Black, Hispanic, and White people stand at 14.7%, 17.1%, and 33.2%, respectively. North Dakota has a 93.7% high school graduation rate as of 2022, with the highest percentage held by Black people at 99.2%. The high school completion rates for Asian, Hispanic, and White people are 90.6%, 75.3%, and 94.7% as of 2022, respectively. The state’s performance in the standardized test score domain is also better than average, with its SAT mean score standing at 1287 as of 2023.
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