Dumbest States 2024

Penn Stakes

High School Completion Rate

College Enrollment Per Capita

Penn Stakes

1.	West Virginia	12.6
2.	Mississippi	13.3
3.	Louisiana	15.2
4.	Arkansas	19.1
5.	Nevada	20.0
6.	New Mexico	20.4
7.	Alabama	22.4
8.	Oklahoma	22.4
9.	Texas	23.9
10.	South Carolina	28.0
11.	Kentucky	30.5
12.	Florida	32.4
13.	Tennessee	34.2
14.	Arizona	35.9
15.	Idaho	36.8
16.	Indiana	36.8
17.	California	40.0
18.	Georgia	40.2
19.	North Carolina	40.7
20.	Alaska	43.1
21.	Hawaii	43.1
22.	South Dakota	43.1
23.	Michigan	43.8
24.	Missouri	45.0
25.	Iowa	46.2
26.	Ohio	46.7
27.	Delaware	46.8
28.	North Dakota	48.4
29.	Wisconsin	48.5
30.	Wyoming	49.3
31.	Rhode Island	50.5
32.	Illinois	51.4
33.	Montana	51.9
34.	Oregon	52.0
35.	Pennsylvania	52.4
36.	Kansas	55.5
37.	Utah	55.5
38.	Maine	55.8
39.	Nebraska	57.8
40.	New York	57.8
41.	Washington	60.3
42.	Minnesota	67.0
43.	Colorado	69.4
44.	New Jersey	69.5
45.	New Hampshire	70.5
46.	Vermont	72.2
47.	Virginia	72.5
48.	Maryland	72.8
49.	Connecticut	73.8
50.	Massachusetts	93.9

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Interactive Map
Introduction
10 Dumbest States
By Region
Table

Introduction

Assessing a state's intelligence is an intricate task considering the numerous factors that contribute to education and smartness. While some states demonstrate a high level of intelligence due to favorable circumstances, others significantly lag behind due to various underlying issues. A significant role is attributed to the state's GDP, access to quality education, family income, educational standards, and even societal attitudes towards learning.

By taking a closer look at the data collected by 'Penn Stakes', we assess each state based on IQ scores, SAT scores, ACT scores, and the percentage of college graduates, crucial factors that provide a snapshot of the intelligence levels.

Higher-income states, such as Massachusetts, Connecticut, and Maryland, are at the top of the list, demonstrating high levels of intelligence.
States like Mississippi, Louisiana, and Arkansas, with higher proportions of lower-income families, rank lower on our list, alluding to the impact of income on educational outcomes.
The states that rank near the bottom, including West Virginia, Mississippi, and Louisiana, are generally located in the South, suggesting potential regional disparities in educational policy and resources. Conversely, most North-Eastern states display significantly higher scores, indicating more robust educational practices in those areas.

10 Dumbest States

Falling at the bottom place is West Virginia, with an intelligence index of 12.6, followed by Mississippi at 13.3. Louisiana, with an intelligence index of 15.2, takes the third rank from the bottom.

Arkansas and Nevada follow suit, with indexes being 19.1 and 20.0, respectively. The southwestern state of New Mexico ranks sixth from the bottom, with an index of 20.4. Alabama and Oklahoma have comparable indexes at 22.4. Texas, with its large and diverse population, has an index of 23.9. Finally, South Carolina lands a spot in the ten 'dumbest' states with an index of 28.0.

10 Dumbest States:

West Virginia - 12.6
Mississippi - 13.3
Louisiana - 15.2
Arkansas - 19.1
Nevada - 20.0
New Mexico - 20.4
Alabama - 22.4
Oklahoma - 22.4
Texas - 23.9
South Carolina - 28.0

By Region

Alabama

See Less

Metric

Value

Rank

Penn Stakes

22.4

Region ↕	Penn Stakes ↕	High School Completion Rate ↕	College Enrollment Per Capita ↕
Alabama	22.4	86.9%	5,797
Alaska	43.1	93.1%	3,017
Arizona	35.9	87.9%	8,247
Arkansas	19.1	87.2%	4,934
California	40.0	83.9%	6,575
Colorado	69.4	92.1%	6,233
Connecticut	73.8	90.9%	5,179
Delaware	46.8	90.6%	5,848
Florida	32.4	88.5%	4,717
Georgia	40.2	87.9%	5,069
Hawaii	43.1	92.5%	4,141
Idaho	36.8	91.3%	6,470
Illinois	51.4	89.7%	5,382
Indiana	36.8	89.3%	6,038
Iowa	46.2	92.5%	6,521
Kansas	55.5	91.4%	6,581
Kentucky	30.5	87.2%	5,797
Louisiana	15.2	85.9%	5,266
Maine	55.8	93.2%	5,089
Maryland	72.8	90.6%	5,646
Massachusetts	93.9	91.1%	6,782
Michigan	43.8	91.3%	4,876
Minnesota	67.0	93.4%	6,933
Mississippi	13.3	85.3%	5,527
Missouri	45.0	90.6%	5,555
Montana	51.9	94.0%	4,117
Nebraska	57.8	91.6%	6,876
Nevada	20.0	86.9%	3,711
New Hampshire	70.5	93.3%	13,574
New Jersey	69.5	90.3%	4,234
New Mexico	20.4	86.5%	5,203
New York	57.8	87.2%	5,961
North Carolina	40.7	88.5%	5,285
North Dakota	48.4	93.1%	6,621
Ohio	46.7	90.8%	5,556
Oklahoma	22.4	88.6%	4,746
Oregon	52.0	91.1%	4,799
Pennsylvania	52.4	91.0%	5,149
Rhode Island	50.5	89.2%	7,036
South Carolina	28.0	88.3%	4,527
South Dakota	43.1	92.2%	5,679
Tennessee	34.2	88.2%	4,534
Texas	23.9	84.4%	5,423
Utah	55.5	93.0%	11,851
Vermont	72.2	93.5%	6,141
Virginia	72.5	90.3%	6,431
Washington	60.3	91.7%	4,317
West Virginia	12.6	87.6%	7,725
Wisconsin	48.5	92.6%	5,408
Wyoming	49.3	93.6%	5,346

Dumbest States

Table of Contents

Introduction

10 Dumbest States

By Region

Alabama

Alaska

Arizona

Arkansas

California

Colorado

Connecticut

Delaware

Florida

Georgia

Hawaii

Idaho

Illinois

Indiana

Iowa

Kansas

Kentucky

Louisiana

Maine

Maryland

Massachusetts

Michigan

Minnesota

Mississippi

Missouri

Montana

Nebraska

Nevada

New Hampshire

New Jersey

New Mexico

New York

North Carolina

North Dakota

Ohio

Oklahoma

Oregon

Pennsylvania

Rhode Island

South Carolina

South Dakota

Tennessee

Texas

Utah

Vermont

Virginia

Washington

West Virginia

Wisconsin

Wyoming

Table

Additional Education Datasets

Education Rankings by Country

Educational Attainment By State

High School Graduation Rates By State

Least Educated States

Literacy Rate By Country

Literacy Rate By State