People with [ppp1] college degrees typically earn between \(600 to \)1,200 more per week compared to those without higher education, as indicated by a recent study conducted by WalletHub.
The study conducted by the personal finance firm utilized various metrics such as the proportion of individuals holding high school diplomas, associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate or professional degrees in each state to evaluate and rank the most and least educated states in the United States. Additionally, the analysis considered factors like the average quality of universities within each state, along with the disparities in educational achievement based on race and gender.
Florida’s placement in WalletHub’s rankings of the most and least educated states, as well as the highest-paying occupations in the state that do not necessitate a degree, were highlighted in the study.
Which U.S. state is the least educated?
According to WalletHub’s assessment, West Virginia emerges as the least educated state nationwide. West Virginia not only ranked poorly overall but also scored in the bottom tier across specific categories such as the percentage of individuals holding associate’s, bachelor’s, and graduate or professional degrees, as well as the quality of universities in the state.
Top 10 least educated U.S. states
- West Virginia
- Mississippi
- Louisiana
- Arkansas
- Oklahoma
- Alabama
- Nevada
- Kentucky
- New Mexico
- Texas
Which U.S. state is considered the most educated?
Massachusetts secured the top spot in WalletHub’s rankings for the most educated state, excelling in educational attainment and the quality of education provided. Massachusetts boasts the highest percentage of bachelor’s and graduate or professional degree holders, in addition to ranking second in university quality.
Top 10 most educated U.S. states
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- Virginia
- New Jersey
- New Hampshire
- Minnesota
- Washington
What is Florida’s educational ranking?
While Florida did not fall within the bottom 10 or 15 states, it landed in the 21st position out of the 50 states. WalletHub’s evaluation of Florida highlighted the state’s relatively low percentage of degree holders and its ranking as the 18th state with the largest racial gap in educational achievement. However, Florida performed well in terms of university quality, securing a position in the top 50th percentile, and excelled in minimizing the gender gap in education, ranking first in this category.
Florida notably ranked as the 11th state with the highest-quality universities and achieved the top position for the smallest gender gap in educational attainment.
What are the highest-paying jobs in Florida that do not require a degree?
While a college degree often correlates with higher salaries, there are lucrative job opportunities available in Florida that do not mandate higher education. Here are some examples from Indeed’s career guide:
- Survey Technician, Florida average salary: $54,209 per year
- Carpenter, Florida average salary: $54,457 per year
- Executive Assistant, Florida average salary: $55,215 per year
- Crane Operator, Florida average salary: $60,005 per year
- Real Estate Agent, Florida average salary: $92,389 per year