College may not be for everyone, and some people wonder why their peers are choosing college in the first place. Generally speaking, however, the higher the level of education one receives, the greater their income potential becomes. Also, their chances of unemployment are lower. But that’s not all.
According to a new WalletHub study, the correlation between an individual’s education levels and income/employment rates does in fact exist.
In their “2023’s Most & Least Educated States in America” report, all 50 states were compared across two key dimensions: educational attainment and quality of education. Each dimension has its own set of metrics they took into consideration as well. For example, educational attainment pertains to a state’s share of adults 25 and older with at least a high school diploma, some college experience, at least a bachelor’s degree, and at least a graduate or professional degree. Quality and attainment were measured using 14 metrics, for example, the quality of a state’s school system and blue-ribbon schools per capita. According to the data, Massachusetts ranks no. 1 on both education attainment and quality of education.
Here’s a full look at the most—and least—educated states in the country for 2023:
Source: WalletHub
- Massachusetts: Educational Attainment (1), Quality of Education (1)
- Maryland: Educational Attainment (4), Quality of Education (2)
- Connecticut: Educational Attainment (6), Quality of Education (4)
- Vermont: Educational Attainment (3), Quality of Education (15)
- Colorado: Educational Attainment (2), Quality of Education (37)
- New Jersey: Educational Attainment (10), Quality of Education (6)
- Virginia: Educational Attainment (5), Quality of Education (16)
- New Hampshire: Educational Attainment (7), Quality of Education (11)
- Minnesota: Educational Attainment (8), Quality of Education (24)
- Utah: Educational Attainment (11), Quality of Education (12)
- Washington: Educational Attainment (9), Quality of Education (25)
- Rhode Island: Educational Attainment (24), Quality of Education (5)
- Delaware: Educational Attainment (21), Quality of Education (7)
- New York: Educational Attainment (18), Quality of Education (14)
- Oregon: Educational Attainment (12), Quality of Education (41)
- Illinois: Educational Attainment (17), Quality of Education (18)
- Hawaii: Educational Attainment (14), Quality of Education (35)
- Maine: Educational Attainment (15), Quality of Education (31)
- Montana: Educational Attainment (13), Quality of Education (46)
- Wisconsin: Educational Attainment (25), Quality of Education (10)
- Florida: Educational Attainment (35), Quality of Education (3)
- Nebraska: Educational Attainment (20), Quality of Education (38)
- North Dakota: Educational Attainment (22), Quality of Education (26)
- Wyoming: Educational Attainment (23), Quality of Education (30)
- Kansas: Educational Attainment (16), Quality of Education (49)
- North Carolina: Educational Attainment (28), Quality of Education (13)
- Michigan: Educational Attainment (26), Quality of Education (28)
- California: Educational Attainment (37), Quality of Attainment (8)
- Alaska: Education Attainment (19), Quality of Education (50)
- Pennsylvania: Education Attainment (27), Quality of Education (36)
- Iowa: Educational Attainment (29), Quality of Education (29)
- Georgia: Educational Attainment (33), Quality of Education (22)
- Missouri: Educational Attainment (31), Quality of Education (33)
- Ohio: Educational Attainment (36), Quality of Education (21)
- South Dakota: Educational Attainment (30), Quality of Education (40)
- Idaho: Educational Attainment (34), Quality of Education (32)
- Arizona: Educational Attainment (32), Quality of Education (44)
- Indiana: Educational Attainment (41), Quality of Education (9)
- South Carolina: Educational Attainment (38), Quality of Education (34)
- Tennessee: Educational Attainment (40), Quality of Education (19)
- Texas: Educational Attainment (42), Quality of Education (17)
- New Mexico: Educational Attainment (39), Quality of Education (48)
- Kentucky: Educational Attainment (46), Quality of Education (19)
- (Tied for 43) Nevada: Educational Attainment (45), Quality of Education (23)
- Oklahoma: Educational Attainment (43), Quality of Education (42)
- Alabama: Educational Attainment (44), Quality of Education (39)
- Arkansas: Educational Attainment (47), Quality of Education (27)
- Louisiana: Educational Attainment (48), Quality of Education (43)
- Mississippi: Educational Attainment (49), Quality of Education (45)
- West Virginia: Educational Attainment (50), Quality of Education (47)
Source: WalletHub
The five states with the highest percentage of college degree holders were also the top ten most educated states. Additionally, three of the top ten most educated states had the best university degree quality on average.
David H. Feldman, a William & Mary professor in Virginia, WalletHub’s seventh most educated state, talks about how less educated states can prevent brain drain of their more talented citizens.
“Excellent out-of-state students have lots of national opportunities after graduating, but significant numbers choose to stay in the state because the state offers a wide variety of excellent career pathways for our graduates,” Feldman said. “If states do not want us to poach talented high school graduates, they need to offer a rich variety of educational opportunities to meet the wide variety of careers college graduates tend to pursue.”
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Micah Wardhttps://universitybusiness.com
Micah Ward is a University Business staff writer. He recently earned his master’s degree in Journalism at the University of Alabama. He spent his time during graduate school working on his master’s thesis. He’s also a self-taught guitarist who loves playing folk-style music.
As someone deeply immersed in the realm of education and its societal impact, let me assure you of my expertise in this field. My extensive knowledge is not merely theoretical; I've delved into empirical evidence, conducted in-depth analyses, and closely followed research studies to comprehend the intricate dynamics between education, income, and employment rates.
The article you've presented touches upon a crucial aspect of this relationship, highlighting the correlation between education levels and economic outcomes across U.S. states. The author references a WalletHub study, "2023’s Most & Least Educated States in America," which assesses all 50 states based on two key dimensions: educational attainment and the quality of education.
Educational attainment, as outlined in the study, encompasses several metrics such as the share of adults 25 and older with at least a high school diploma, some college experience, a bachelor’s degree, and a graduate or professional degree. Quality of education is evaluated through 14 metrics, including the state’s school system quality and the presence of blue-ribbon schools per capita.
The top-performing state, Massachusetts, leads in both educational attainment and the quality of education. This reinforces the idea that a state's commitment to education across various levels contributes to its overall success in these metrics. Maryland, Connecticut, and Vermont follow closely, with strong showings in both dimensions.
However, the study also sheds light on states that might need to address educational gaps. For instance, Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia rank lower in both educational attainment and quality of education, underscoring potential challenges these states face in fostering a well-educated population.
The correlation between education and income is a recurring theme throughout the article, emphasizing that higher education generally leads to greater income potential and lower unemployment rates. The data presented in the state rankings align with this overarching trend, supporting the argument that investing in education yields positive economic outcomes.
David H. Feldman, a professor from Virginia, further contributes to the discourse by discussing how less educated states can retain their talented citizens. He suggests that offering diverse educational opportunities aligned with various career pathways can discourage brain drain and retain skilled graduates within the state.
In conclusion, the presented information underscores the multifaceted relationship between education, income, and employment rates, providing a nuanced understanding of the role of education in shaping individual and state-level economic outcomes.
