Maryland ranks among the most educated states in the nation, according to a new 2026 report released by personal-finance company WalletHub. Maryland placed third overall, trailing only two other states nationwide.
The report comes as data continues to show a significant earnings gap tied to education levels, with workers holding college degrees earning roughly $600 to $1,400 more per week than those with only a high school diploma.
To determine the most and least educated states, WalletHub compared all 50 states across 18 metrics focused on educational attainment, school quality, and achievement gaps by gender and race.
The state ranked especially high in advanced degrees, placing second for the percentage of residents holding graduate or professional degrees and fifth for bachelor’s degree holders. Maryland also ranked seventh for average university quality.
While the state’s overall education profile remains strong, the report highlighted some mixed results. Maryland ranked 28th for the percentage of residents with only a high school diploma and 17th for racial gaps in educational attainment.
One area where Maryland stood out nationally was gender equity. The state ranked first in the nation for having the smallest gender gap in educational attainment. Here’s how Maryland ranked across key categories:
• Overall Rank: 3rd
• % of High-School Diploma Holders: 28th
• % of Associate’s Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults: 9th
• % of Bachelor’s Degree Holders: 5th
• % of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders: 2nd
• Average University Quality: 7th
• Racial Gap in Educational Attainment: 17th
• Gender Gap in Educational Attainment: 1st
For the full report, please visit:
https://wallethub.com/edu/e/most-educated-states/31075
