California · Education
Adults with Bachelor's Degree+ in California
Share of adults age 25 and older who hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
38% in 2024
#15 of 50 · Top tier (higher is better)
California is better than the 50-state median (36%). That's a gap of 2.5%.
View interactive chart & trend → See full 50-state ranking →
2008 – 2024 · California only · interactive chart with US median overlay →
About adults with bachelor's degree+
What this measures: Share of adults age 25 and older who hold a bachelor's degree or higher.
Why it matters: Bachelor's-attainment is a structural driver of state median wages, tax base, and innovation capacity.
Watch out: Measures credential share, not skill or workforce fit. Brain-drain states can have weak attainment despite strong K-12 systems.
Recent trend
| Year | California | US median |
|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 32% | 29% |
| 2015 | 32% | 30% |
| 2016 | 33% | 30% |
| 2017 | 34% | 31% |
| 2018 | 34% | 31% |
| 2019 | 35% | 32% |
| 2021 | 36% | 34% |
| 2022 | 37% | 34% |
| 2023 | 37% | 35% |
| 2024 | 38% | 36% |
California vs. neighboring states
Same metric (adults with bachelor's degree+), latest year with full state coverage. Click any name for that state's full report.
| State | Adults with Bachelor's Degree+ | National rank |
|---|---|---|
| Oregon | 38% | #16 of 50 |
| Nevada | 29% | #45 of 50 |
| Arizona | 35% | #28 of 50 |
How California compares (2024)
Top 5 best
| #1 | Massachusetts | 4827% |
| #2 | Colorado | 4777% |
| #3 | Vermont | 4510% |
| #4 | Maryland | 4469% |
| #5 | New Jersey | 4455% |
Bottom 5
| #46 | Kentucky | 2794% |
| #47 | Louisiana | 2784% |
| #48 | Arkansas | 2712% |
| #49 | Mississippi | 2702% |
| #50 | West Virginia | 2438% |
Source and methodology
Source: Census ACS / FRED · Direction: higher is better · Unit: %
Download raw CSV (all 50 states, all years)