A good education is considered by some to be an essential first step on the road to a better future.
Higher levels of education tend to lead to higher salaries, meaning more educated people may choose to move to places where they have better earning potential after graduation. But the quality of education received from a young age is another important factor that can depend on where you grow up.
The personal finance website WalletHub has released a report showing the most and least educated states in the U.S.
Massachusetts—home to prestigious institutions including Harvard University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology—was the most educated state in the country, according to WalletHub's analysis. West Virginia, which has one of the highest unemployment rates in the country, was the least educated.
WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 key indicators, including educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.
Each state was given an educational attainment rank, meaning the share of adults with a high school diploma or college education, and a quality of education rank, before being given a final score to determine its overall rank.
West Virginia ranked at the bottom of the list for a number of reasons, according to WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe.
"While it boasts a high percentage of adults with at least a high school diploma, it falls behind significantly in higher education attainment, with low percentages of adults holding bachelor's and graduate degrees," Happe told Newsweek via email.
"Additionally, the state's quality of education, including the average quality of universities and enrollment in top universities, ranks lower compared to other states. The projected decline in high school graduation rates further compounds these challenges, highlighting the need for targeted interventions to improve educational outcomes in the state."
Massachusetts, on the other hand, ranked number one in both educational attainment and quality of education to top the list.
The state has the highest percentage of adults aged 25 or older with at least a bachelor's degree—46 percent—and the highest share of those with a graduate or professional degree at almost 21 percent.
Massachusetts ranks second when it comes to the average quality of its universities, and also has some of the best high schools in the country.
Vermont was the second most educated state, according to the analysis. Almost 42 percent of residents 25 or over have at least a bachelor's degree and more than 94 percent have at least a high school diploma. The other states in the top 10 were: Maryland, Connecticut, Colorado, Virginia, New Jersey, New Hampshire, Minnesota and Washington.
After West Virginia, Mississippi and Louisiana were the least educated states, according to the analysis. Other states at the bottom of the list include Arkansas, Oklahoma, Alabama, Nevada, Kentucky, New Mexico and Texas. The full list can be viewed here.
"There are some states that consistently perform poorly in educational attainment, such as Louisiana, Mississippi, and West Virginia," Happe said.
"The reasons for this include various factors such as lower percentages of adults with high school diplomas, limited college experience or degrees, and lower quality of education metrics."
Happe said these states also often struggle with lower graduation rates, have fewer enrolled students in top universities per capita, and lower scores on metrics like math and reading scores on the National Assessment of Educational Progress.
"Additionally, they may face challenges in educational engagement and attainment gaps based on race and gender," Happe said.
States need to adopt comprehensive strategies that prioritize equitable access to education to address these disparities, invest in educational infrastructure, and support initiatives that foster academic success, she said.
"Ultimately, bridging these gaps is essential for ensuring that all individuals have the opportunity to unlock their full potential and contribute meaningfully to society," she added.
Uncommon Knowledge
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
Newsweek is committed to challenging conventional wisdom and finding connections in the search for common ground.
About the writer
Khaleda Rahman is Newsweek's Senior News Reporter based in London, UK. Her focus is reporting on abortion rights, race, education, ... Read more
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