How Education Affects the USA

It has been said that education is the bedrock of society. In this graphic by Top Education Degrees, we take a look at education levels in each state to see just how education affects the states in areas of social and economic importance.

 Produced By Top Education Degrees

Among states with the highest levels of median household income (those on the map in shades of green), college graduation ranking ranged from 1st in the country (District of Columbia) to 24th in the country (Alaska), with the seven remaining states in those income ranges appearing in the top ten for college graduation rate. Interestingly, these same states show high levels of credit debt compared with other states, with all of them placing among the 15 states with the highest levels of credit debt.

High school graduation rates and median household income seem to be less strongly correlated. Among states with the very highest levels of high school grad rate, Connecticut and New Jersey are 3rd and 4th in median household income. Minnesota is 12th, Utah is 13th, Wisconsin is 23rd, Pennsylvania is 25th, and Idaho is 32nd.

Education aside, it's interesting to note the high concentration of states with low violent crime rates in the upper midwest, Pacific northwest, and extreme northeastern New England areas.

The upper midwest states of North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Minnesota, and Wisconsin comprise most of the states with the most favorable rate of credit card debt per resident. Other states ranking favorably for credit card debt are West Virginia, Kentucky, Arkansas, and Idaho.