Best States for Education 2026: Schools Ranked
Which states have the best schools and education systems? All 50 ranked using NAEP scores, graduation rates, and education quality data.
The 10 best states for education
For families with kids, education quality is often the deciding factor in where to live. We ranked all 50 states using NAEP test scores, high school graduation rates, and WalletHub's education quality metrics. The gap between the best and worst states is 100 points on our 100-point scale — a massive difference that affects everything from college admissions to lifetime earnings.
Massachusetts leads with an education score of 100.0/100 and a 90% graduation rate. Connecticut (98.0) and New Jersey (95.9) follow. The national average graduation rate is 86.5%.
Education quality correlates with almost everything else we measure. States that rank in the top 10 for education average a composite score of 75.5/100 overall — well above the national average of 56.9. Good schools attract educated workers, who earn more, who pay more taxes, which funds better schools.
| Rank | State | Score | HS Grad Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Massachusetts | 100.0 | 90% |
| #2 | Connecticut | 98.0 | 89% |
| #3 | New Jersey | 95.9 | 91% |
| #4 | Utah | 93.9 | 88% |
| #5 | New Hampshire | 91.8 | 88% |
| #6 | South Dakota | 89.8 | 85% |
| #7 | Minnesota | 87.8 | 84% |
| #8 | Rhode Island | 85.7 | 84% |
| #9 | Nebraska | 83.7 | 90% |
| #10 | North Dakota | 81.6 | 89% |
#1: Massachusetts
Massachusetts tops the education rankings with a score of 100.0/100 and a 90% high school graduation rate (national average: 86.5%). The state ranks #1 nationally in WalletHub's education quality assessment. Strong schools tend to produce strong economies, and Massachusetts bears this out — the median income is $101,370 and unemployment is just 4.9%.
Massachusetts's overall ranking is #12 (70.3/100, B+ grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 60.7 for safety and 98.0 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 108. Median home: $615,000.
#2: Connecticut
Connecticut scores 98.0/100 for education with a 89% graduation rate. Ranked #2 nationally for education quality, the state invests in schools and it shows. Median income: $93,228. The connection between education quality and economic opportunity is direct — employers go where the talent is.
Connecticut's overall ranking is #10 (73.5/100, A grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 88.5 for safety and 93.9 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 104. Median home: $415,000.
#3: New Jersey
New Jersey scores 95.9/100 for education with a 91% graduation rate. Ranked #3 nationally for education quality, the state invests in schools and it shows. Median income: $97,126. The connection between education quality and economic opportunity is direct — employers go where the talent is.
New Jersey's overall ranking is #19 (65.1/100, B grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 80.7 for safety and 81.6 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 109. Median home: $521,000.
#4: Utah
Utah scores 93.9/100 for education with a 88% graduation rate. Ranked #4 nationally for education quality, the state invests in schools and it shows. Median income: $87,804. The connection between education quality and economic opportunity is direct — employers go where the talent is.
Utah's overall ranking is #2 (81.5/100, A+ grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 76.3 for safety and 91.8 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 95. Median home: $548,000.
#5: New Hampshire
At #5, New Hampshire posts an education score of 91.8/100 with a 88% graduation rate. National education rank: #5. The state's median income of $97,880 and 2.8% unemployment rate suggest the education pipeline is producing results.
New Hampshire's overall ranking is #1 (86.6/100, A+ grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 92.0 for safety and 100.0 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 105. Median home: $483,000.
#6: South Dakota
At #6, South Dakota posts an education score of 89.8/100 with a 85% graduation rate. National education rank: #6. The state's median income of $72,280 and 2% unemployment rate suggest the education pipeline is producing results.
South Dakota's overall ranking is #3 (80.2/100, A+ grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 62.7 for safety and 53.1 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 88. Median home: $320,000.
#7: Minnesota
At #7, Minnesota posts an education score of 87.8/100 with a 84% graduation rate. National education rank: #7. The state's median income of $85,551 and 3.4% unemployment rate suggest the education pipeline is producing results.
Minnesota's overall ranking is #5 (77.1/100, A+ grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 72.5 for safety and 89.8 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 98. Median home: $354,000.
#8: Rhode Island
At #8, Rhode Island posts an education score of 85.7/100 with a 84% graduation rate. National education rank: #8. The state's median income of $81,800 and 4.3% unemployment rate suggest the education pipeline is producing results.
Rhode Island's overall ranking is #13 (69.3/100, B+ grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 86.1 for safety and 75.5 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 101. Median home: $487,000.
#9: Nebraska
At #9, Nebraska posts an education score of 83.7/100 with a 90% graduation rate. National education rank: #9. The state's median income of $73,423 and 2.8% unemployment rate suggest the education pipeline is producing results.
Nebraska's overall ranking is #8 (74.5/100, A grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 68.0 for safety and 71.4 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 90. Median home: $289,000.
#10: North Dakota
At #10, North Dakota posts an education score of 81.6/100 with a 89% graduation rate. National education rank: #10. The state's median income of $72,583 and 2.2% unemployment rate suggest the education pipeline is producing results.
North Dakota's overall ranking is #6 (77.1/100, A grade). Education doesn't exist in a vacuum — the state also scores 71.1 for safety and 65.3 for health. States that invest in schools tend to invest in other public services too. Cost of living: 89. Median home: $281,000.
Spending vs. outcomes
Money matters in education, but it's not the only thing that matters. Some states spend heavily and get mediocre results, while others get strong outcomes on moderate budgets. The key is how the money is spent — teacher quality, class sizes, curriculum, and support services all matter more than raw dollar amounts.
Among the top 10 education states, the average cost of living index is 99. Higher-cost states tend to spend more per pupil, but residents in lower-cost states with good schools get arguably the better deal.
Weakest education states
Alaska (0.0), Mississippi (4.1), West Virginia (6.1), Nevada (8.2), Arizona (10.2) score lowest for education. The average graduation rate among these states is 83.8%, compared to 86.5% nationally.
Lower education quality tends to perpetuate economic challenges. The average median income in the bottom 5 education states is $67,332 — 10% below the national average. Improving education outcomes is a long-term investment that pays dividends across every category we measure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q:Which state has the best education system?
Massachusetts ranks #1 with an education score of 100.0/100 and a 90% graduation rate.
Q:What is the national average graduation rate?
The national average high school graduation rate is 86.5%. The top 10 education states average 87.8%.
Q:Does education quality affect a state's economy?
Yes. The top 10 education states have an average median income of $86,305 and average unemployment of 3.5%, both better than national averages.
Q:How are education rankings determined?
We use NAEP test scores, high school graduation rates, and WalletHub's education quality metrics, which include factors like teacher quality, school safety, and student outcomes.