Smartest States in the U.S. 2025

Massachusetts
104.3
New Hampshire
104.2
North Dakota
103.8
Vermont
103.8
Minnesota
103.7
Maine
103.4
Montana
103.4
Iowa
103.2
Connecticut
103.1
Wisconsin
102.9
Kansas
102.8
New Jersey
102.8
South Dakota
102.8
Wyoming
102.4
Nebraska
102.3
Virginia
101.9
Washington
101.9
Ohio
101.8
Indiana
101.7
Colorado
101.6
Pennsylvania
101.5
Idaho
101.4
Oregon
101.2
Utah
101.1
Missouri
101.0
New York
100.7
Michigan
100.5
Delaware
100.4
North Carolina
100.2
Texas
100.0
Illinois
99.9
Maryland
99.7
Rhode Island
99.5
Kentucky
99.4
Oklahoma
99.3
Alaska
99.0
West Virginia
98.7
Florida
98.4
South Carolina
98.4
Georgia
98.0
Tennessee
97.7
Arkansas
97.5
Arizona
97.4
Nevada
96.5
Alabama
95.7
New Mexico
95.7
Hawaii
95.6
California
95.5
Louisiana
95.3
Mississippi
94.2
State
Average IQ Score
Smartest States (Guru99 2024)
Smartest States (Penn Stakes 2022)
Massachusetts Flag
Massachusetts104.351.893.9
New Hampshire Flag
New Hampshire104.256.870.5
North Dakota Flag
North Dakota103.854.448.4
Vermont Flag
Vermont103.854.972.2
Minnesota Flag
Minnesota103.755.867.0
Maine Flag
Maine103.453.855.8
Montana Flag
Montana103.454.651.9
Iowa Flag
Iowa103.25246.2
Connecticut Flag
Connecticut103.173.8
Wisconsin Flag
Wisconsin102.952.548.5
Kansas Flag
Kansas102.855.5
New Jersey Flag
New Jersey102.869.5
South Dakota Flag
South Dakota102.852.643.1
Wyoming Flag
Wyoming102.45549.3
Nebraska Flag
Nebraska102.350.757.8
Virginia Flag
Virginia101.972.5
Washington Flag
Washington101.951.460.3
Ohio Flag
Ohio101.846.7
Indiana Flag
Indiana101.736.8
Colorado Flag
Colorado101.650.669.4
Pennsylvania Flag
Pennsylvania101.552.4
Idaho Flag
Idaho101.436.8
Oregon Flag
Oregon101.252.0
Utah Flag
Utah101.152.255.5
Missouri Flag
Missouri101.045.0
New York Flag
New York100.757.8
Michigan Flag
Michigan100.543.8
Delaware Flag
Delaware100.446.8
North Carolina Flag
North Carolina100.240.7
Texas Flag
Texas100.041.523.9
Illinois Flag
Illinois99.951.4
Maryland Flag
Maryland99.772.8
Rhode Island Flag
Rhode Island99.54550.5
Kentucky Flag
Kentucky99.444.430.5
Oklahoma Flag
Oklahoma99.343.422.4
Alaska Flag
Alaska99.043.1
West Virginia Flag
West Virginia98.742.412.6
Florida Flag
Florida98.444.532.4
South Carolina Flag
South Carolina98.443.728.0
Georgia Flag
Georgia98.043.840.2
Tennessee Flag
Tennessee97.734.2
Arkansas Flag
Arkansas97.544.119.1
Arizona Flag
Arizona97.444.635.9
Nevada Flag
Nevada96.520.0
Alabama Flag
Alabama95.74322.4
New Mexico Flag
New Mexico95.740.520.4
Hawaii Flag
Hawaii95.643.1
California Flag
California95.543.840.0
Louisiana Flag
Louisiana95.342.415.2
Mississippi Flag
Mississippi94.241.713.3
  • Research by free online education platform Guru99.com analyzed six different metrics: average IQ, graduation rates, percentage of the population with low literacy rates, average SAT scores, % of the states that don’t have a high school diploma or GED and GDP per capita. These were then given a score out of 10 and combined to give a total score of 60.
  • The Penn Stakes measure of state-level intelligence compiles several intelligence- and education-based metrics: average IQ score; the percentage of a state’s population with a high school diploma, bachelor’s, or advanced degree; and SAT and ACT scores. Higher scores are preferable.
  • 2024 Guru99 data were unavailable for states ranked lower than the top 15 but higher than the bottom 15 (16-35).