Local News
How do you like them apples? Massachusetts finishes first, yet again.
The Boston skyline is seen from Cambridge, Massachusetts October 28, 2025. Jessica Rinaldi/The Boston Globe
Massachusetts has once again earned top marks for education, ranking as the most educated state in the nation in a new study.
According to a recent WalletHub analysis, Massachusetts claimed the No. 1 spot among all 50 states thanks to its exceptional levels of higher education attainment and strong public school performance. The annual report, dubbed Most & Least Educated States in America (2026), used 18 metrics ranging from the share of residents with college degrees to public school performance and achievement disparities across gender and race.
Massachusetts stands out particularly for its concentration of advanced degrees. More than 47% of adults age 25 and older hold a bachelor’s degree — the highest percentage in the country — while nearly 22% have earned a graduate or professional degree, also ranking first nationally. The state also performed near the top in measures of university quality and K–12 outcomes.
Vermont and Maryland followed Massachusetts in second and third place, respectively. Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia came in last.
“There’s a strong correlation between being more educated and receiving higher compensation,” said Chip Lupo, a WalletHub analyst. “The most educated states provide high-quality educational experiences from elementary school all the way to graduate programs, which helps parents raise children in an environment that gives them as many opportunities as possible. The top states also provide equitable schooling conditions, with low racial and gender gaps in educational attainment.”
While Massachusetts led in bachelor’s and advanced degrees, Colorado ranked first for associate degree holders, and Vermont had the highest percentage of residents with high school diplomas.
Here’s the full ranking of states from WalletHub’s 2026 study:
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Utah
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- Illinois
- New York
- Oregon
- Montana
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- Michigan
- North Dakota
- California
- Georgia
- Missouri
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Arizona
- Ohio
- Alaska
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Texas
- New Mexico
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Oklahoma
- Nevada
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
Morgan Rousseau is a freelance writer for Boston.com, where she reports on a variety of local and regional news.
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