The average cost of a college education in the United States is $35,720 a year — three times higher than it was two decades ago. While rising tuition costs are discouraging many Americans from enrolling, a college education is an investment that can increase access to career opportunities, improve job security, and increase earning potential.
Nationwide, an estimated 32.1% of American adults 25 and older have a bachelor’s degree or higher. Educational attainment rates vary considerably across the country, however, and in every state, there is at least one ZIP code where the share of adults with a bachelor’s degree is well above the national average.
Using education data from the U.S. Census Bureau, 24/7 Wall St. identified the most educated ZIP code in every state.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the unemployment rate among adults with a four-year college education was 5.5% 2020. Meanwhile, the jobless rate among those with no more than a high school diploma was 9.0%. Similarly, in most ZIP codes on this list — each the most educated in its state — the five-year average unemployment rate among the 25 to 64 year population is lower than the comparable jobless rate across the state as a whole.
In addition to being better protected from unemployment, Americans with a bachelor’s degree also tend to have higher salaries. The average weekly wage for a college-educated worker in the United States is about 67% higher than it is for those with no more than a high school diploma — and in places with well educated populations, incomes also tend to be higher than average. In most ZIP codes on this list, the typical household earns more in a year than the statewide median income.
Click here to see the most educated zip codes in every state
Click here to see our detailed methodology
Alabama: 35213
> Location: Mountain Brook
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 84.4% (Alabama: 25.5%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 34.7% (Alabama: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $122,379 (Alabama: $50,536)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.2% (Alabama: 5.9%)
> Population: 14,062
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Alaska: 99587
> Location: Anchorage
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 62.4% (Alaska: 29.6%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 12.8% (Alaska: 11.2%)
> Median household income: $85,898 (Alaska: $77,640)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 0.0% reported (Alaska: 7.2%)
> Population: 1,742
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Arizona: 85255
> Location: Scottsdale
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 70.9% (Arizona: 29.5%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 30.4% (Arizona: 11.1%)
> Median household income: $133,044 (Arizona: $58,945)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.0% (Arizona: 5.9%)
> Population: 43,956
Arkansas: 72718
> Location: Cave Springs
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 70.2% (Arkansas: 23.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 24.8% (Arkansas: 8.3%)
> Median household income: $132,230 (Arkansas: $47,597)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.2% (Arkansas: 5.1%)
> Population: 3,294
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California: 94305
> Location: Stanford
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 93.6% (California: 33.9%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 58.2% (California: 12.8%)
> Median household income: $60,000 (California: $75,235)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.7% (California: 6.1%)
> Population: 16,397
Colorado: 80238
> Location: Denver
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 80.9% (Colorado: 40.9%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 41.2% (Colorado: 15.3%)
> Median household income: $141,786 (Colorado: $72,331)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.3% (Colorado: 4.3%)
> Population: 21,632
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Connecticut: 06510
> Location: New Haven
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 83.8% (Connecticut: 39.3%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 59.3% (Connecticut: 17.5%)
> Median household income: $61,250 (Connecticut: $78,444)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 7.1% (Connecticut: 6.0%)
> Population: 2,576
Delaware: 19807
> Location: Greenville
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 74.4% (Delaware: 32.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 38.3% (Delaware: 13.4%)
> Median household income: $128,235 (Delaware: $68,287)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.3% (Delaware: 5.5%)
> Population: 7,515
Florida: 32603
> Location: Gainesville
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 76.9% (Florida: 29.9%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 49.3% (Florida: 11.0%)
> Median household income: $20,660 (Florida: $55,660)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 9.6% (Florida: 5.6%)
> Population: 6,949
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Georgia: 30346
> Location: Dunwoody
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 85.1% (Georgia: 31.3%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 49.6% (Georgia: 12.1%)
> Median household income: $84,879 (Georgia: $58,700)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.5% (Georgia: 5.7%)
> Population: 4,914
Hawaii: 96821
> Location: East Honolulu
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 60.4% (Hawaii: 33.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 25.9% (Hawaii: 11.2%)
> Median household income: $143,032 (Hawaii: $81,275)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.5% (Hawaii: 4.3%)
> Population: 18,599
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Idaho: 83712
> Location: Boise City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 67.4% (Idaho: 27.6%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 31.3% (Idaho: 9.0%)
> Median household income: $84,828 (Idaho: $55,785)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.2% (Idaho: 4.3%)
> Population: 9,746
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Illinois: 60043
> Location: Kenilworth
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 93.1% (Illinois: 34.7%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 51.6% (Illinois: 13.6%)
> Median household income: $227,404 (Illinois: $65,886)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.0% (Illinois: 5.9%)
> Population: 2,460
Indiana: 46033
> Location: Carmel
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 73.4% (Indiana: 26.5%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 30.0% (Indiana: 9.5%)
> Median household income: $135,087 (Indiana: $56,303)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.7% (Indiana: 4.8%)
> Population: 38,942
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Iowa: 52246
> Location: Iowa City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 68.1% (Iowa: 28.6%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 39.1% (Iowa: 9.3%)
> Median household income: $50,313 (Iowa: $60,523)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.5% (Iowa: 3.7%)
> Population: 23,032
Kansas: 66221
> Location: Overland Park
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 76.1% (Kansas: 33.4%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 33.2% (Kansas: 12.3%)
> Median household income: $165,883 (Kansas: $59,597)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.1% (Kansas: 4.1%)
> Population: 17,443
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Kentucky: 40059
> Location: Prospect
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 70.1% (Kentucky: 24.2%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 35.4% (Kentucky: 10.0%)
> Median household income: $150,736 (Kentucky: $50,589)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.1% (Kentucky: 5.6%)
> Population: 19,886
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Louisiana: 70124
> Location: New Orleans
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 68.3% (Louisiana: 24.1%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 32.4% (Louisiana: 8.4%)
> Median household income: $96,844 (Louisiana: $49,469)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.9% (Louisiana: 6.5%)
> Population: 20,414
Maine: 04110
> Location: Cumberland Center
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 78.5% (Maine: 31.8%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 45.3% (Maine: 11.8%)
> Median household income: $191,250 (Maine: $57,918)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.7% (Maine: 4.1%)
> Population: 1,576
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Maryland: 20818
> Location: Cabin John
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 90.5% (Maryland: 40.2%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 61.4% (Maryland: 18.6%)
> Median household income: $180,368 (Maryland: $84,805)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.2% (Maryland: 5.1%)
> Population: 1,971
Massachusetts: 02163
> Location: Boston
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 97.1% (Massachusetts: 43.7%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 35.4% (Massachusetts: 19.6%)
> Median household income: $53,214 (Massachusetts: $81,215)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 12.2% (Massachusetts: 4.8%)
> Population: 2,621
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Michigan: 48104
> Location: Ann Arbor
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 80.6% (Michigan: 29.1%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 48.5% (Michigan: 11.4%)
> Median household income: $58,788 (Michigan: $57,144)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.4% (Michigan: 5.9%)
> Population: 43,369
Minnesota: 55424
> Location: Edina
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 81.8% (Minnesota: 36.1%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 42.6% (Minnesota: 12.4%)
> Median household income: $171,125 (Minnesota: $71,306)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.8% (Minnesota: 3.6%)
> Population: 9,966
Mississippi: 39110
> Location: Madison
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 66.5% (Mississippi: 22.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 27.8% (Mississippi: 8.4%)
> Median household income: $109,270 (Mississippi: $45,081)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.8% (Mississippi: 7.5%)
> Population: 42,551
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Missouri: 64113
> Location: Kansas City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 79.0% (Missouri: 29.2%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 39.5% (Missouri: 11.2%)
> Median household income: $138,220 (Missouri: $55,461)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.7% (Missouri: 4.6%)
> Population: 12,129
Montana: 59715
> Location: Bozeman
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.9% (Montana: 32.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 26.5% (Montana: 10.6%)
> Median household income: $58,591 (Montana: $54,970)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.0% (Montana: 4.0%)
> Population: 36,185
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Nebraska: 68130
> Location: Omaha
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 61.2% (Nebraska: 31.9%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 21.8% (Nebraska: 10.9%)
> Median household income: $106,406 (Nebraska: $61,439)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.9% (Nebraska: 3.3%)
> Population: 21,163
Nevada: 89138
> Location: Las Vegas
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 58.8% (Nevada: 24.7%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 23.8% (Nevada: 8.6%)
> Median household income: $120,759 (Nevada: $60,365)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.6% (Nevada: 6.2%)
> Population: 17,952
New Hampshire: 03755
> Location: Hanover
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 83.7% (New Hampshire: 37.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 53.8% (New Hampshire: 14.3%)
> Median household income: $123,250 (New Hampshire: $76,768)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.6% (New Hampshire: 3.6%)
> Population: 10,595
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New Jersey: 07310
> Location: Jersey City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 88.0% (New Jersey: 39.7%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 54.6% (New Jersey: 15.5%)
> Median household income: $147,516 (New Jersey: $82,545)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.2% (New Jersey: 5.5%)
> Population: 13,148
New Mexico: 87122
> Location: Albuquerque
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 67.8% (New Mexico: 27.3%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 38.0% (New Mexico: 12.0%)
> Median household income: $120,325 (New Mexico: $49,754)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.7% (New Mexico: 6.7%)
> Population: 18,546
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New York: 10004
> Location: New York
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 91.9% (New York: 36.6%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 47.1% (New York: 16.0%)
> Median household income: $190,223 (New York: $68,486)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.5% (New York: 5.5%)
> Population: 3,335
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North Carolina: 28207
> Location: Charlotte
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 82.7% (North Carolina: 31.3%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 34.7% (North Carolina: 11.3%)
> Median household income: $136,333 (North Carolina: $54,602)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.6% (North Carolina: 5.6%)
> Population: 9,986
North Dakota: 58104
> Location: Fargo
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 49.1% (North Dakota: 30.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 13.6% (North Dakota: 8.2%)
> Median household income: $77,278 (North Dakota: $64,894)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.5% (North Dakota: 2.8%)
> Population: 43,363
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Ohio: 45174
> Location: Terrace Park
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 83.0% (Ohio: 28.3%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 38.1% (Ohio: 10.7%)
> Median household income: $173,750 (Ohio: $56,602)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.8% (Ohio: 5.3%)
> Population: 2,305
Oklahoma: 73104
> Location: Oklahoma City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 69.6% (Oklahoma: 25.5%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 31.1% (Oklahoma: 8.7%)
> Median household income: $60,052 (Oklahoma: $52,919)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.8% (Oklahoma: 5.1%)
> Population: 2,445
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Oregon: 97210
> Location: Portland
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 74.9% (Oregon: 33.7%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 35.2% (Oregon: 12.9%)
> Median household income: $77,845 (Oregon: $62,818)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.5% (Oregon: 5.5%)
> Population: 11,877
Pennsylvania: 19066
> Location: Narberth
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 87.0% (Pennsylvania: 31.4%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 59.9% (Pennsylvania: 12.4%)
> Median household income: $218,571 (Pennsylvania: $61,744)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.8% (Pennsylvania: 5.3%)
> Population: 5,662
Rhode Island: 02906
> Location: Providence
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 75.3% (Rhode Island: 34.2%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 44.0% (Rhode Island: 13.8%)
> Median household income: $85,270 (Rhode Island: $67,167)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.2% (Rhode Island: 5.4%)
> Population: 27,825
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South Carolina: 29482
> Location: Sullivan’s Island
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 83.6% (South Carolina: 28.1%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 39.8% (South Carolina: 10.3%)
> Median household income: $136,528 (South Carolina: $53,199)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 6.0% (South Carolina: 5.8%)
> Population: 2,203
South Dakota: 57069
> Location: Vermillion
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 56.1% (South Dakota: 28.8%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 29.0% (South Dakota: 8.9%)
> Median household income: $46,028 (South Dakota: $58,275)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.4% (South Dakota: 3.4%)
> Population: 11,950
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Tennessee: 37215
> Location: Nashville-Davidson
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 79.8% (Tennessee: 27.3%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 41.6% (Tennessee: 10.1%)
> Median household income: $127,203 (Tennessee: $53,320)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.3% (Tennessee: 5.3%)
> Population: 22,379
Texas: 77030
> Location: Houston
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 86.9% (Texas: 29.9%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 52.2% (Texas: 10.4%)
> Median household income: $90,075 (Texas: $61,874)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 5.3% (Texas: 5.1%)
> Population: 11,229
Utah: 84108
> Location: Salt Lake City
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 72.8% (Utah: 34.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 39.6% (Utah: 11.5%)
> Median household income: $110,995 (Utah: $71,621)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.5% (Utah: 3.6%)
> Population: 22,347
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Vermont: 05055
> Location: Norwich
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 83.5% (Vermont: 38.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 52.5% (Vermont: 15.5%)
> Median household income: $120,729 (Vermont: $61,973)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.5% (Vermont: 3.6%)
> Population: 3,230
Virginia: 22209
> Location: Arlington
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 85.3% (Virginia: 38.8%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 47.0% (Virginia: 16.8%)
> Median household income: $110,050 (Virginia: $74,222)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 4.3% (Virginia: 4.6%)
> Population: 13,227
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Washington: 98112
> Location: Seattle
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 81.2% (Washington: 36.0%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 38.0% (Washington: 13.6%)
> Median household income: $118,305 (Washington: $73,775)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 3.7% (Washington: 5.0%)
> Population: 25,474
West Virginia: 25314
> Location: Charleston
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 59.0% (West Virginia: 20.6%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 28.8% (West Virginia: 8.2%)
> Median household income: $80,625 (West Virginia: $46,711)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 2.5% (West Virginia: 6.5%)
> Population: 14,027
Wisconsin: 53726
> Location: Madison
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 90.2% (Wisconsin: 30.1%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 59.2% (Wisconsin: 10.4%)
> Median household income: $37,976 (Wisconsin: $61,747)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 1.9% (Wisconsin: 3.6%)
> Population: 5,612
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Wyoming: 83014
> Location: Moose Wilson Road
> Adults with at least a bachelor’s degree: 63.7% (Wyoming: 27.4%)
> Adults with a graduate or professional degree: 16.1% (Wyoming: 9.9%)
> Median household income: $110,711 (Wyoming: $64,049)
> Estimated unemployment rate 2015-2019: 0.1% (Wyoming: 4.5%)
> Population: 2,931
Methodology
To determine the most educated ZIP code in every state, 24/7 Wall St. reviewed five-year estimates of the percentage of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree from the U.S. Census Bureau’s 2019 American Community Survey.
We used ZIP Code Tabulation Areas — a Census geography type which defines areal representations of United States Postal Service ZIP codes (USPS ZIP codes do not define geographic boundaries but instead are a network of mail delivery routes in a service area). We refer to Census ZCTAs as ZIP codes.
Of the 33,120 ZIP codes the Census publishes data for, 32,936 had boundaries that fell within one of the 50 states, while the rest were in the District of Columbia or Puerto Rico.
ZIP codes were excluded if bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rates were not available in the 2019 ACS, if the ZIP code’s 25 and older population was less than 1,000, or if the sampling error associated with a ZIP code’s data was deemed too high.
The sampling error was defined as too high if the coefficient of variation — a statistical assessment of how reliable an estimate is — for a ZIP code’s bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rate was above 15% and greater than two standard deviations above the mean CV for all ZIP codes’ bachelor’s degree or higher attainment rate. We similarly excluded ZIP codes that had a sampling error too high for their 25 and over population estimates, using the same definition.
The remaining 20,091 ZIP codes were ranked within their state based on the share of adults 25 years and over with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Additional information on the share of adults 25 years and over who have a graduate or professional degree, median household income, unemployment rates for the 16 and older population in the civilian labor force, and population figures are also five-year estimates from the 2019 ACS.
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