Washington is one of the ‘most educated’ states in the US. Here’s where it ranks and why
With its reputation as a hub for the tech and aerospace industries, it isn’t much of a surprise that Washington is considered one of the more educated states in the country. But a new study from WalletHub shows just how it stacks up when compared to its neighbors and the rest of the U.S.
WA ranks among most educated states
In a new study released last week, WalletHub ranked all 50 U.S. states by how well-educated their residents are. Washington took ninth place, one spot behind New Hampshire and one ahead of Minnesota. In the annual ranking in 2024, Washington ranked in 10th place, and in 2023 it ranked in 11th place.
The Evergreen State placed the highest of any state on the west coast – Oregon was ranked No. 16 and California No. 29 – and second-highest in the western U.S., behind fourth place Colorado.
Here’s the entire top ten:
- Massachusetts
- Maryland
- Vermont
- Colorado
- Connecticut
- Virginia
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Washington
- Minnesota
Where WA ranked highest
Washington’s ranking was driven by the share of adults in the state who have completed some college or have an associate degree – the third highest rate in the country. It ranked No. 15 in the percentage of adults with a high school diploma, No. 11 in the share with a bachelor’s degree and No. 10 in the share with a graduate degree. Washington also ranked No. 8 in the average quality of its colleges and topped the rankings of states with the lowest gender gap in education.
How the rankings were determined
The rankings were based on 18 metrics. The percentage of people in a given state above the age of 25 with a high school diploma, some college experience, a college degree and a graduate degree each accounted for 15% of a state’s final score.
The other 14 metrics, including quality of schools, quality of colleges and high school graduation rate, accounted for a combined 40% of a state’s score. The scores were compiled using data from the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics and U.S. Department of Education among other sources, as well as school rankings from U.S. News and World Report and previous WalletHub studies.
Why do the findings matter?
According to WalletHub, the findings are important since educational attainment often correlates with economic opportunities. In the study, WalletHub analyst Chris Lupo said that states at the top of the rankings will likely have jobs that offer higher pay as well. Since the study focused on all levels of schooling, Lupo said it’s also important to note that residents of high-ranking states will have more opportunities to set their children up for academic success.
This story was originally published February 20, 2025 at 5:00 AM with the headline "Washington is one of the ‘most educated’ states in the US. Here’s where it ranks and why."