PROVIDENCE – While the other five New England states ranked within the top 20 – with four of the five within the top 10 – Rhode Island was named No. 21 most-educated state in the nation, according to WalletHub.
Massachusetts scored No. 1 nationwide followed by Vermont (No. 3), Connecticut (No. 4), New Hampshire (No. 7) and Maine (No. 17).
At No. 50, Mississippi is the least-educated state in the nation, according to WalletHub’s findings.
The report focuses on educational attainment as well as quality of education and attainment gap measures.
The Ocean State ranked No. 25 in educational attainment. The measure, which accounts for 60 percent of the total ranking, takes into account the share of adults, aged 25 or older, with at least a high school diploma, some college experience, an associate’s degree, a bachelor’s degree, or a graduate or professional degree.
The second factor – in which Rhode Island ranked No. 13 – is based on the analysis of 16 metrics for 40 total possible points. Among the metrics are the quality of local schools systems, the number of Blue Ribbon Schools per capita, public high school graduation rates, the average quality of universities, enrolled students in top universities per capita, public college graduation rates, engagement of students, voucher programs and free community college education initiatives.
In October, three Rhode Island-based schools – Colt Andrews Elementary School in Bristol, East Greenwich High School and Jamestown School-Melrose – were awarded Blue Ribbon status by the U.S. Department of Education.
Educational experiences based on gender and race are also taken into account when measuring a state’s educational quality and attainment gaps.
The Monday report shows no change from WalletHub’s 2017 findings, which compared 11 metrics rather than the updated 20 in Monday’s announcement. The 2018 report is no longer available, per WalletHub.
Among additional data breakouts, regional highlights include New Hampshire ranking No. 2 in highest percent of high school diploma holders.
Massachusetts took first place, and Connecticut was No. 4, in highest percent of bachelor’s degree holders.
The Bay State also took first place and Connecticut was not far behind at No. 3 for highest percentage of graduate and professional degree holders.
Top-five rankings in the highest average university quality category included Massachusetts (No. 2) and Rhode Island (No. 4).
Data used to calculate the rankings came from sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, National Center for Education Statistics, the Chronicle of Higher Education, U.S. News & World Report, Data Resource Center for Child and Adolescent Health, National Summer Learning Association, Western Interstate Commission for Higher Education, U.S. Department of Education, the College Board and WalletHub research.
A second WalletHub report found, of the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas, the Providence-Warwick area ranked No. 104 in the nation for most educated, while the Boston-Cambridge-Newton area ranked No. 7. Ann Arbor, Mich., was the No. 1 most educated U.S. city per the report.
Similarly, the July 2018 findings were based on educational attainment and quality of education and attainment gap.
Emily Gowdey-Backus is a staff writer for PBN. You can follow her on Twitter @FlashGowdeyor contact her via email, gowdey-backus@pbn.com.
