The States With the Most, Least College Grads

A new look at college credentials shows just how uneven higher education is across the country. Business Insider ranked all 50 states using recent Census data on the share of residents 25 and older who hold at least a bachelor's degree, leaving out associate degrees from the main list but analyzing them separately. The exercise highlights stark differences in how states approach postsecondary education: Some lean heavily on four-year and graduate programs, others on two-year degrees and technical training. In several states, low rates of bachelor's and advanced degrees are offset by higher associate-degree attainment, while some of the most bachelor's-heavy states show relatively small numbers of two-year degree holders. The full ranking runs from the smallest to largest share of adults with at least a bachelor's degree.

States with the most college grads

1. Massachusetts: 48.3% The state also has the highest share of graduate-degree holders, at 22.6%.
2. Colorado: 47.8%
3. Vermont: 45.1%
4. Maryland: 44.7%
5. New Jersey: 44.5%
6. Virginia: 43.3%
7. Connecticut: 42.6%
8. New Hampshire: 41.5%
9. New York: 41.2%
10. Washington: 41.0%

States with the least college grads

41. New Mexico: 31.8%
42. Indiana: 30.7%
43. Alabama: 29.9%
44. Oklahoma: 29.3%
45. Nevada: 28.5%
46. Kentucky: 27.9%
47. Louisiana: 27.8%
48. Arkansas: 27.1%
49. Mississippi: 27.0%
50. West Virginia: 24.4%

For the full list and details, head over to Business Insider.