Mapped: The Value of a College Degree, by U.S. State
Update: 2025-10-25
Description
Mapped: The Value of a College Degree by U.S. State
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Key Takeaways
- The average value of a college degree (specifically, a bachelor’s degree) varies widely across the United States, from under $3,000 in Washington, D.C., to nearly $24,000 in California.
- On average across the country, a bachelor’s degree boosts income by around $13,000.
A college degree is often viewed as a lifelong investment, but the financial payoff of education depends heavily not only on what you study, but also on where you live.
This map uses data from the U.S. Census Bureau to visualize the value of a bachelor’s degree in each U.S. state, by comparing the median value of earnings of a bachelor’s degree holder to the median earnings of the average worker.
Where a Bachelor’s Degree Pays Off Most
In 2025, the nationwide median value added by a bachelor’s degree stands at roughly $13,000 per year, but the returns vary dramatically by state.
| Rank | State | Median earnings | Bachelor’s degree added earnings | Median earnings with degree |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | California | $57,142 | $23,732 | $80,874 |
| 2 | Georgia | $51,472 | $19,110 | $70,582 |
| 3 | New York | $57,977 | $18,783 | $76,760 |
| 4 | New Jersey | $62,394 | $18,713 | $81,107 |
| 5 | Texas | $51,410 | $18,084 | $69,494 |
| 6 | Washington | $63,980 | $17,660 | $81,640 |
| 7 | Pennsylvania | $53,151 | $17,110 | $70,261 |
| 8 | Oregon | $53,070 | $16,492 | $69,562 |
| 9 | Illinois | $56,201 | $16,424 | $72,625 |
| 10 | Ohio | $51,357 | $16,234 | $67,591 |
| 11 | Connecticut | $62,042 | $15,837 | $77,879 |
| 12 | Arizona | $51,767 | $15,699 | $67,466 |
| 13 | Michigan | $50,867 | $15,630 | $66,497 |
| 14 | Virginia | $60,195 | $15,380 | $75,575 |
| 15 | Massachusetts | $66,968 | $14,816 | $81,784 |
| 16 | North Carolina | $50,858 | $14,312 | $65,170 |
| 17 | Nevada | $48,474 | $14,308 | $62,782 |
| 18 | Kansas | $51,227 | $14,307 | $65,534 |
| 19 | Delaware | $51,993 | $13,680 | $65,673 |
| 20 | South Carolina | $50,063 | $13,668 | $63,731 |
| 21 | Colorado | $61,975 | $13,662 | $75,637 |
| 22 | Maryland | $65,664 | $13,578 | $79,242 |
| 23 | Minnesota | $58,961 | $13,577 | $72,538 |
| 24 | Louisiana | $46,484 | $13,433 | $59,917 |
| 25 | Oklahoma | $46,800 | $13,206 | $60,006 |
| 26 | Kentucky | $47,730 | $13,124 | $60,854 |
| 27 | Wisconsin | $52,914 | $12,783 | $65,697 |
| 28 | Alabama | $48,522 | $12,661 | $61,183 |
| 29 | Tennessee | $50,054 | $12,600 | $62,654 |
| 30 | Indiana | $50,788 | $12,579 | $63,367 |
| 31 | Florida | $48,103 | $12,515 | $60,618 |
| 32 | Rhode Island | $57,276 | $12,220 | $69,496 |
| 33 | Alaska | $57,273 | $11,758 | $69,031 |
| 34 | Missouri | $50,341 | $11,750 | $62,091 |
| 35 | West Virginia |
