Alabama Is 2026’s 8th Least Educated State in America – WalletHub Study

With people who have college degrees earning around $600 to $1,400 more per week than people with just a high school diploma, the personal-finance company WalletHub today released its report on 2026‘s Most & Least Educated States in America, as well as expert commentary.

In order to determine the most educated states, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 metrics that examined the key factors of a well-educated population: educational attainment, school quality and achievement gaps between genders and races.

WalletHub evaluated all 50 states using 18 metrics that capture the key components of a well-educated population, including educational attainment, school quality, and disparities in achievement across gender and race.

How educated is Alabama? (1=Most; 25=Avg.):

• Overall Rank: 43^rd
• 43^rd – % of High-School Diploma Holders
• 44^th – % of Associate’s Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults
• 43^rd – % of Bachelor’s Degree Holders
• 39^th – % of Graduate- or Professional-Degree Holders
• 35^th – Avg. University Quality
• 18^th – Racial Gap in Educational Attainment

Methodology

In order to determine the most and least educated states in America, WalletHub compared the 50 states across two key dimensions, Educational Attainment and Quality of Education.

We examined those dimensions using 18 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the “most educated.” In certain metrics where women showed an advantage over men and black people over white people, we gave equal credit to the states with no gender/racial inequality. These metrics were marked accordingly with an asterisk (*).

We then determined each state’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order the states.

Educational Attainment – Total Points: 60

• Share of Adults Aged 25 and Older with at Least a High School Diploma: Full Weight (~15.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Aged 25 and Older with at Least Some College Experience or an Associate’s Degree: Full Weight (~15.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Aged 25 and Older with at Least a Bachelor’s Degree: Full Weight (~15.00 Points)
• Share of Adults Aged 25 and Older with at Least a Graduate or Professional Degree: Full Weight (~15.00 Points)

Quality of Education & Attainment Gap – Total Points: 40

• Quality of School System: Double Weight (~5.16 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on U.S. News & World Report’s school systems rating.
• Blue Ribbon Schools per Capita: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
  Note: This metric refers to schools recognized by the Department of Education’s National Blue Ribbon Schools Program for academic excellence or improvement in closing achievement gaps.
• Average Quality of Universities: Double Weight (~5.16 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “2026 Best Colleges & Universities Ranking”.
• Enrolled Students in Top Universities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
  Note: This metric is based on WalletHub’s “2026 College & University Rankings” comparing America’s top 791 universities.
• Public High School Graduation Rate: Double Weight (~5.16 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the graduation rate for students who attended high school for four years.
• Projected High School Graduation Rate Change between 2024-2025 and 2035-2036: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
• NAEP Math & Reading Test Scores: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
• Share of 2024 High School Class Scoring “3” or Higher on Advanced Placement Exams: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
  Note: This metric shows the degree to which students are participating in AP Exams and are achieving scores that qualify them for college credit at most U.S. public colleges and universities.
• School Engagement of Students: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
• States with Summer Learning Legislation: Half Weight (~1.29 Points)
  Note: This metric measures whether a summer learning legislation was passed or introduced in the state.
• States with School Programs: Half Weight (~1.29 Points)
  Note: This binary metric measures the presence or absence of school programs.
  Programs include education savings accounts, school vouchers or tax-credit scholarship programs.
• Presence of Free Community College Education: Half Weight (~1.29 Points)
  Note: This metric measures the presence or absence of free community college education in a state.
• Racial Gap in Educational Attainment*: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
  Note: This metric specifically measures the difference between the share of black bachelor’s degree holders and the share of their white counterparts.
• Gender Gap in Educational Attainment*: Full Weight (~2.58 Points)
  Note: This metric specifically measures the difference between the share of female bachelor’s degree holders and the share of their male counterparts.

Media Release/Diana Polk/WalletHub