In this article, we look at the 5 least educated states in America. To see how we ranked these states and for a larger overview of the level of educational attainment in states that score low on education, you can head over to the 20 Least Educated States in America.
5. Oklahoma
Population aged 18-24 less than high school: 15%
Population aged 18-24 with high school graduation: 40.2%
Population aged 18-24 with some college or associate degree: 36.9%
Population aged 25 or above with bachelor’s degree: 18.3%
Population aged 25 or above with graduate or professional degree: 9.6%
Score: 15.10
Oklahoma is the fifth least educated state in America, with 15% of its population aged between 18 and 24 having not completed their high school education, and less than 10% of the population aged 25 or above holding a graduate or professional degree. Oklahoma also ranks as the fifth poorest state in America.
4. Louisiana
Population aged 18-24 less than high school: 14.9%
Population aged 18-24 with high school graduation: 38.5%
Population aged 18-24 with some college or associate degree: 38.1%
Population aged 25 or above with bachelor’s degree: 16.8%
Population aged 25 or above with graduate or professional degree: 9.7%
Score: 14.78
Louisiana ranks fourth on our list of the least educated states in America. The status of educational attainment is not much dissimilar to what we discussed above in Oklahoma’s case. Nearly 15% of the youth has not completed their high school education and under 10% of the population aged 25 or above have graduate or professional degrees. Louisiana fares lower than Oklahoma in undergraduate education, with only 16.8% of the age group considered in our research holding a bachelor’s degree.
3. Mississippi
Population aged 18-24 less than high school: 13.8%
Population aged 18-24 with high school graduation: 34.3%
Population aged 18-24 with some college or associate degree: 43.3%
Population aged 25 or above with bachelor’s degree: 15.4%
Population aged 25 or above with graduate or professional degree: 9.3%
Score: 14.75
Mississippi is the poorest state in America, having the highest poverty rate for any state, recorded at 18.1% by the Census Bureau. It is also the third least educated state in the US, scoring alarmingly low on higher education. The only positive for Mississippi in educational attainment comes from college education, where more than 43% of those between 18-24 have completed their college degrees.
2. New Mexico
Population aged 18-24 less than high school: 19.1%
Population aged 18-24 with high school graduation: 37%
Population aged 18-24 with some college or associate degree: 35.7%
Population aged 25 or above with bachelor’s degree: 16%
Population aged 25 or above with graduate or professional degree: 14.1%
Score: 14.51
New Mexico is the fifth largest state in the US in terms of area, but is amongst the country’s poorest and least educated. Nearly one-fifth of its young people are not high school graduates. Only 16% of the population in the 25 or above age group has completed their bachelor’s degrees, while only 14.1% hold a graduate or professional degree.
1. West Virginia
Population aged 18-24 less than high school: 10.8%
Population aged 18-24 with high school graduation: 35.8%
Population aged 18-24 with some college or associate degree: 36%
Population aged 25 or above with bachelor’s degree: 14.2%
Population aged 25 or above with graduate or professional degree: 9.9%
Score: 14.42
West Virginia is the least educated state in America. It has the lowest percentage of population aged 25 or above with a bachelor’s degree among 50 states in the country. Less than 10% of the population in the same age group hold a master’s or professional degree. 10.8% of the youth aged between 18-14 are without high school graduation.
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