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Most educated states: 15. Utah
- Utah has a Penn Stake of 55.5. Here, you'll find top universities such as the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU).
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14. Kansas - Kansas also has a Penn Stake of 55.5. The University of Kansas and Kansas State University are two of the best universities in Kansas.
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13. Maine - Maine has a Penn Stake of 55.8. Prestigious schools such as the University of Maine and Bowdoin College are located here.
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12. New York - New York has a Penn Stake of 57.8 and is home to Columbia University and New York University (NYU).
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11. Nebraska - Nebraska has a Penn Stake of 57.8. University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University can be found in Nebraska.
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10. Washington - Washington has a Penn Stake of 60.3. The University of Washington and Washington State University can be found here and are helping educate the next generation of leaders.
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9. Minnesota - Minnesota has a Penn Stake of 67. Two universities here are the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Carleton College.
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8. Colorado
- Colorado has a Penn Stake of 69.4 and is home to the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado College.
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7. New Jersey
- New Jersey has a Penn Stake of 69.5. It is home to over 5,000 information and technology companies as well as several prestigious universities such as Princeton University and Rutgers University.
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6. New Hampshire
- New Hampshire has a Penn Stake of 70.5. It is a large hub for biotech and medical research industries. Here you'll also find Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire.
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5. Vermont
- Vermont has a Penn Stake of 72.2. In Vermont, fantastic universities such as the University of Vermont and Middlebury College can be found.
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4. Virginia - Virginia has a Penn Stake of 72.5. Some excellent universities reside in Virginia including James Madison University and the College of William and Mary.
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3. Maryland - Maryland has a Penn Stake of 72.8. Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, College Park are two popular universities found here.
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2. Connecticut
- Connecticut has a Penn Stake of 73.8. The state boasts universities such as Yale and the University of Connecticut.
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1. Massachusetts
- Massachusetts has a Penn Stake of 93.9, making it the most intelligent US state. Universities here include Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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Least educated: 15. Indiana - Indiana has a Penn Stake of 36.8. In Indiana, two prominent universities include Indiana University Bloomington and Purdue University.
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14. Arizona - Arizona has a Penn Stake of 35.9. The University of Arizona and Arizona State University are two top universities in Arizona.
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13. Tennessee - Tennessee has a Penn stake of 34.2. It's home to the Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
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12. Florida - Florida has a Penn Stake of 32.4. The two rival universities in Florida are the University of Florida and Florida State University.
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11. Kentucky
- Kentucky has a Penn Stake of 30.5. The University of Kentucky and Bellarmine University are two schools located in Kentucky.
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10. South Carolina
- South Carolina has a Penn Stake of 28. In South Carolina, you'll find the University of South Carolina and Clemson University, amongst numerous others.
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9. Texas - Texas has a Penn Stake of 23.9. Two top-ranking universities are the University of Texas at Austin and Rice University.
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8. Alabama - Alabama has a Penn Stake of 22.4. Examples of universities here include the University of Alabama and Auburn University.
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7. Oklahoma - Oklahoma has a Penn Stake of 22.4 and here you'll find the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.
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6. New Mexico - New Mexico has a Penn Stake of 20.4. Two of the most recognized universities here include The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University.
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5. Nevada
- Nevada has a Penn Stake of 20. The University of Nevada, Reno, and Nevada State College are two popular schools in Nevada.
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4. Arkansas - Arkansas has a Penn Stake of 19.1. Here you'll find the likes of the University of Arkansas and Hendrix College.
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3. Louisiana
- Louisiana has a Penn Stake of 15.2. Here, Tulane University and Lousiana State University can be found.
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2. Mississippi - Coming in as the second least educated US state is Mississippi, with a Penn Stake of 13.3. The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Mississippi State University are located here.
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1. West Virginia
- West Virginia has a Penn stake of 12.6, making it the least educated US state on the list. Here there is West Virginia University and Marshall University. Sources: (World Population Review) (U.S. News & World Report) See also: The welcome signs of every US state (and their meaning)
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Most educated states: 15. Utah
- Utah has a Penn Stake of 55.5. Here, you'll find top universities such as the University of Utah and Brigham Young University (BYU).
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14. Kansas - Kansas also has a Penn Stake of 55.5. The University of Kansas and Kansas State University are two of the best universities in Kansas.
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13. Maine - Maine has a Penn Stake of 55.8. Prestigious schools such as the University of Maine and Bowdoin College are located here.
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12. New York - New York has a Penn Stake of 57.8 and is home to Columbia University and New York University (NYU).
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11. Nebraska - Nebraska has a Penn Stake of 57.8. University of Nebraska-Lincoln and Creighton University can be found in Nebraska.
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10. Washington - Washington has a Penn Stake of 60.3. The University of Washington and Washington State University can be found here and are helping educate the next generation of leaders.
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9. Minnesota - Minnesota has a Penn Stake of 67. Two universities here are the University of Minnesota Twin Cities and Carleton College.
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8. Colorado
- Colorado has a Penn Stake of 69.4 and is home to the University of Colorado Boulder and Colorado College.
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7. New Jersey
- New Jersey has a Penn Stake of 69.5. It is home to over 5,000 information and technology companies as well as several prestigious universities such as Princeton University and Rutgers University.
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6. New Hampshire
- New Hampshire has a Penn Stake of 70.5. It is a large hub for biotech and medical research industries. Here you'll also find Dartmouth College and the University of New Hampshire.
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5. Vermont
- Vermont has a Penn Stake of 72.2. In Vermont, fantastic universities such as the University of Vermont and Middlebury College can be found.
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4. Virginia - Virginia has a Penn Stake of 72.5. Some excellent universities reside in Virginia including James Madison University and the College of William and Mary.
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3. Maryland - Maryland has a Penn Stake of 72.8. Johns Hopkins University and the University of Maryland, College Park are two popular universities found here.
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2. Connecticut
- Connecticut has a Penn Stake of 73.8. The state boasts universities such as Yale and the University of Connecticut.
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1. Massachusetts
- Massachusetts has a Penn Stake of 93.9, making it the most intelligent US state. Universities here include Harvard and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).
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Least educated: 15. Indiana - Indiana has a Penn Stake of 36.8. In Indiana, two prominent universities include Indiana University Bloomington and Purdue University.
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14. Arizona - Arizona has a Penn Stake of 35.9. The University of Arizona and Arizona State University are two top universities in Arizona.
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13. Tennessee - Tennessee has a Penn stake of 34.2. It's home to the Vanderbilt University and the University of Tennessee Knoxville.
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12. Florida - Florida has a Penn Stake of 32.4. The two rival universities in Florida are the University of Florida and Florida State University.
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11. Kentucky
- Kentucky has a Penn Stake of 30.5. The University of Kentucky and Bellarmine University are two schools located in Kentucky.
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10. South Carolina
- South Carolina has a Penn Stake of 28. In South Carolina, you'll find the University of South Carolina and Clemson University, amongst numerous others.
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9. Texas - Texas has a Penn Stake of 23.9. Two top-ranking universities are the University of Texas at Austin and Rice University.
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8. Alabama - Alabama has a Penn Stake of 22.4. Examples of universities here include the University of Alabama and Auburn University.
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7. Oklahoma - Oklahoma has a Penn Stake of 22.4 and here you'll find the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University.
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6. New Mexico - New Mexico has a Penn Stake of 20.4. Two of the most recognized universities here include The University of New Mexico and New Mexico State University.
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5. Nevada
- Nevada has a Penn Stake of 20. The University of Nevada, Reno, and Nevada State College are two popular schools in Nevada.
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4. Arkansas - Arkansas has a Penn Stake of 19.1. Here you'll find the likes of the University of Arkansas and Hendrix College.
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3. Louisiana
- Louisiana has a Penn Stake of 15.2. Here, Tulane University and Lousiana State University can be found.
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2. Mississippi - Coming in as the second least educated US state is Mississippi, with a Penn Stake of 13.3. The University of Mississippi (Ole Miss) and Mississippi State University are located here.
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1. West Virginia
- West Virginia has a Penn stake of 12.6, making it the least educated US state on the list. Here there is West Virginia University and Marshall University. Sources: (World Population Review) (U.S. News & World Report) See also: The welcome signs of every US state (and their meaning)
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The most (and the least) educated states in the US
Which states will take the top spots?
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The Penn Stakes measure takes a broad look at intelligence across the US, considering factors like education levels, IQ scores, and standardized test results. This ranking, done by World Population Review, offers an overview of how different states compare in terms of cognitive and educational achievement. Beyond the numbers, it reflects the unique lifestyle and opportunities that shape each region. Universities play a key role in this, influencing the academic and cultural fabric of their states. From prestigious institutions to regional leaders, higher education is an essential part of the story.
Curious to see which state is considered the smartest? Click through now to find out.
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