State rankings

Best States for Education

New Jersey ranks 1st on Best Education Rank (USNews) in 2025, followed by Florida (2nd) and Colorado (3rd); rank 1 is the best. New Mexico ranks last (50th).

Education51 states · 8 metricsUpdated Feb 10, 2026Original page
6 sources
50 of 51 states
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Best Education Rank (USNews), 2025

Green is better, red is worse (rank 1 is the best). Click a place to highlight it.

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All 50 ranked

Best first; rank 1 is the best and has the longest bar.

Biggest changes · 2024 → 2025

50 states have a value in both years; rank 1 is the best.

Climbed

Fell

Data

Click a column to sort, a row to highlight that place on the charts.

50 states · # = rank by Best Education Rank (USNews)
#
1New Jersey1st
2Florida2nd
3Colorado3rd
4Utah4th
5Massachusetts5th
6Wyoming6th
7Wisconsin7th
8South Dakota8th
9Washington9th
10Connecticut10th
11Minnesota11th
12North Carolina12th
13Nebraska13th
14Illinois14th
15Virginia15th
16New Hampshire16th
17New York17th
18Kansas18th
19Indiana19th
20Iowa20th
21Maryland21st
22Montana22nd
23Vermont23rd
24California24th
25Texas25th
26Hawaii26th
27Georgia27th
28North Dakota28th
29Idaho29th
30Ohio30th
31Tennessee31st
32Kentucky32nd
33Missouri33rd
34Nevada34th
34Mississippi34th
36Delaware35th
37Arkansas36th
38Rhode Island38th
39Pennsylvania39th
40Maine40th
41Oregon41st
42Arizona42nd
43South Carolina43rd
44Alabama44th
45Michigan45th
46Louisiana46th
47West Virginia47th
48Oklahoma48th
49Alaska49th
50New Mexico50th

What correlates with Best Education Rank (USNews) (2025)?

Pearson r against 2,106 other state metrics sharing at least 30 states, 1 near-identical series hidden. Ranks are read by standing: a better rank counts as higher, whether rank 1 is the best place on a list or the worst. Correlation is not causation.

Higher together

Places that rank better on Best Education Rank (USNews) tend to score higher on these (or rank better)

  1. EducationBest States to Live InA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.98 · very strong · n = 49
    Plot
  2. Overall Worst States Rank (US News)Worst States to Live inA rank: rank 1 is the worst
    r = −0.78 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Overall Best - US NewsBest States to Live InA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.77 · very strong · n = 49
    Plot
  4. Total Score (WalletHub)Best States to Live In
    r = −0.71 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  5. Overall Best (WalletHub)Best States to Live InA rank: rank 1 is the best
    r = +0.71 · very strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. % of Pop. with Bachelors DegreeMost Educated U.S. States
    r = −0.70 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Opposite directions

Places that rank better on Best Education Rank (USNews) tend to score lower on these (or rank worse)

  1. % of Students Below Basic Reading LevelU.S. Literacy Rates by State
    r = +0.68 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  2. Pain Reliever Misuse Past MonthDrug Use by State
    r = +0.67 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  3. Premature Deaths Per 100kHealthiest States
    r = +0.67 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  4. Most Unhealthy States Total ScoreMost Unhealthy States in the U.S.
    r = +0.66 · strong · n = 49
    Plot
  5. Per Capita Balance of Payments without COVIDFederal Aid by State
    r = +0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot
  6. Per Capita Balance of PaymentsFederal Aid by State
    r = +0.65 · strong · n = 50
    Plot

Quick answers

Which state ranks first on Best Education Rank (USNews)?
New Jersey ranks first on Best Education Rank (USNews) in 2025, at 1st, followed by Florida (2nd) and Colorado (3rd). Rank 1 is the best state.
Which state ranks last on Best Education Rank (USNews)?
New Mexico ranks last of the 50 US states with data in 2025, at 50th.
Where does this best states for education data come from?
Rankodex compiles it from World Population Review and the primary sources it cites: Education - USNews; State and Urban Districts Snapshots - NAEP; States with the Highest and Lowest Math Scores - Learner; U.S. State and County Estimates Resources - PIAAC.