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    US States Ranked by High School Graduation Rates | Invesloan.com

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    Students’ chances of tossing their graduation caps on time can vary widely by the US state where they attend high school.

    In Alaska, the rate of students who graduate from high school in four years is 79.87%, compared to Kentucky’s 93.60%.

    While graduation rates are one way to measure academic achievement and are used by local and state governments to track educational progress, they are complex metrics.

    For starters, diploma requirements vary from state to state, meaning students in different states face different course and testing requirements to earn a diploma, influencing the rigor of education demonstrated by a high school degree.

    Still, the diploma matters.

    Across the nation, higher levels of education are almost always associated with higher earnings, and high school degrees are no different. On average, US adults aged 25 or over with a high school degree earn $8,216 more a year than those without one, according to Census data.

    Using data from state education agencies and public data portals across all 50 states, Business Insider compiled a list of the most up-to-date high school graduation rates from each.

    The US Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics regularly publishes an official list of all states’ high school graduation rates, but because of the adjustment process used for its calculations, the released data often lags by a couple of years. The most recent data, released in 2024, covers the 2021-2022 school year.

    The graduation rates we used in our list come from the much more frequently updated state data.

    While most percentages reflect the 2024-2025 school year, a handful of states had only 2023-2024 numbers publicly available. Those include: Connecticut, Delaware, Kansas, Ohio, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, and Texas.

    Most states follow the four-year adjusted cohort graduation rate formula, which measures the share of first-time ninth graders who earn a regular high school diploma within four years.

    The formula adjusts the cohort of students by adding those who transfer into the school system and removing students who transfer out, emigrate, or die.

    To put graduation rates into context, we also listed each state’s public school spending per pupil and median household income.

    See what percentage of public high school students graduate in four years in every state, and where yours falls in the nationwide ranking.

    50. Alaska


    Downtown Anchorage, Alaska on the water with mountains in the background.

    Anchorage, Alaska.

    Jeff Manes/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 79.87%

    Per-pupil education spending: $21,004

    Median household income: $95,665

    49. Arizona


    Phoenix, Arizona, USA downtown cityscape at dusk.

    Phoenix, Arizona.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 80.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,003

    Median household income: $81,486

    48. New Mexico


    City view of historic Santa Fe, New Mexico in fall

    Santa Fe, New Mexico.

    MonaMakela/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 80.63%

    Per-pupil education spending: $17,664

    Median household income: $67,816

    47. Vermont


    Autumn view over the historic city of Montpelier, Vermont, USA with church spires and colorful fall leaves

    Montpelier, Vermont.

    jenifoto/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $28,818

    Median household income: $82,730

    46. Oklahoma


    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, USA downtown skyline at twilight.

    Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.20%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,162

    Median household income: $66,148

    45. Idaho


    Cloudy sky over Boise with many hot air balloons

    Boise, Idaho.

    knowlesgallery/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.50%

    Per-pupil education spending: $11,060

    Median household income: $81,166

    44. Washington


    Aerial view of downtown Seattle.

    Seattle, Washington.

    Mekdet/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 82.64%

    Per-pupil education spending: $18,564

    Median household income: $99,389

    43. Oregon


    Aerial View of Portland, Oregon at Dusk on a cloudy Day

    Portland, Oregon.

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 83.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $18,083

    Median household income: $85,220

    42. Wyoming


    Wyoming, WY, USA - May 10, 2022: A place known for as Magic City of the Plains

    Magic City of the Plains, Wyoming.

    Cheri Alguire/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 83.10%

    Per-pupil education spending: $20,521

    Median household income: $75,532

    41. North Dakota


    Fargo is a the largest City in North Dakota on the Red River

    Fargo, North Dakota.

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $17,102

    Median household income: $77,871

    40. Michigan


    Skyline of Grand Rapids Michigan in the morning with the sunrise to the east

    Grand Rapids, Michigan.

    Craig Rinzema/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.01%

    Per-pupil education spending: $18,314

    Median household income: $72,389

    39. Rhode Island


    Providence, Rhode Island, USA park and skyline.

    Providence, Rhode Island.

    SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.10%

    Per-pupil education spending: $22,110

    Median household income: $83,504

    38. Minnesota


    Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA downtown city skyline over the river at dusk.

    Minneapolis, Minnesota.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 84.90%

    Per-pupil education spending: $17,098

    Median household income: $87,117

    37. Louisiana


    City of New Orleans at sunset

    New Orleans, Louisiana.

    Larry Gibson/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,581

    Median household income: $60,986

    36. Nevada


    Aerial view of Las Vegas strip in Nevada as seen at night USA

    Las Vegas, Nevada.

    f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.40%

    Per-pupil education spending: $14,812

    Median household income: $81,134

    35. Montana


    Aerial panorama of Missoula, Montana, above Beartracks Bridge. Missoula is a city in and the county seat of Missoula County, Montana. It is located along the Clark Fork River.

    Missoula, Montana.

    Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.41%

    Per-pupil education spending: $13,656

    Median household income: $75,340

    34. New York


    Elevated evening view of Brooklyn Bridge, Lower Manhattan skyscrapers, and East River. Twilight cityscape with illuminated New York City skyline stock photo

    New York City.

    francois-roux/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.50%

    Per-pupil education spending: $31,918

    Median household income: $85,820

    33. Colorado


    Panorama of Denver skyline long exposure at twilight.

    Denver, Colorado.

    f11photo/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 85.60%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,908

    Median household income: $97,113

    31. (tie) Hawaii


    Skyline of Honolulu, Hawaii. Waikiki Beach. stock photo

    Honolulu, Hawaii.

    SCStock/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $23,878

    Median household income: $100,745

    31. (tie) South Dakota


    Summer Aerial View of Sioux Falls, The largest City in the State of South Dakota

    Sioux Falls, South Dakota.

    Jacob Boomsma/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,828

    Median household income: $76,881

    30. Maryland


    Progression over the City of Baltimore toward the inner harbor while hopping over each building that's constructed below as the focus bounces across the skyline and into the rich colors of the horizon

    Baltimore, Maryland.

    Thomas Berberich/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.40%

    Per-pupil education spending: $20,208

    Median household income: $102,905

    29. South Carolina


    Drone Aerial of Main Street in Downtown Spartanburg, South Carolina, USA.

    Spartanburg, South Carolina.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 86.70%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,060

    Median household income: $72,350

    28. Georgia


    Atlanta Skyline with Midtown Towers Above Lush Urban Park in Summer Light

    Atlanta, Georgia.

    Alexey_Fedoren/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.20%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,833

    Median household income: $79,991

    26. (tie) California


    Los Angeles California Downtown Skyline Aerial

    Los Angeles.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.50%

    Per-pupil education spending: $20,791

    Median household income: $100,149

    26. (tie) North Carolina


    Charlotte city downtown skyline cityscape in North Carolina, United States

    Charlotte, North Carolina.

    Leonid Andronov/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.50%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,995

    Median household income: $73,958

    25. New Hampshire


    Manchester, New Hampshire, USA skyline.

    Manchester, New Hampshire

    SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.54%

    Per-pupil education spending: $22,978

    Median household income: $99,782

    24. Nebraska


    Omaha Downtown stock photo

    Omaha, Nebraska.

    f1monaco31/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 87.90%

    Per-pupil education spending: $16,147

    Median household income: $76,376

    23. Ohio


    Akron, Ohio, USA downtown skyline stock photo

    Akron, Ohio.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 88.30%

    Per-pupil education spending: $17,257

    Median household income: $72,212

    22. Iowa


    Cedar Rapids, Iowa, USA cityscape on the Cedar River at dusk.

    Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 88.80%

    Per-pupil education spending: $14,369

    Median household income: $75,501

    21. Connecticut


    Hartford, Connecticut, USA Downtown Skyline stock photo

    Hartford, Connecticut.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 88.90%

    Per-pupil education spending: $26,316

    Median household income: $96,049

    20. Illinois


    Chicago, IL, USA - May 12, 2018: Tourists visit Cloud Gate in Millennium Park in the evening. The sculpture was completed in 2006.

    Chicago.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $21,776

    Median household income: $83,211

    19. Delaware


    The aerial view of the Riverfront area near downtown Wilmington, Delaware

    Wilmington, Delaware.

    Bo Shen/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.05%

    Per-pupil education spending: $22,201

    Median household income: $87,534

    18. Maine


    Augusta, Maine, USA downtown skyline on the Kennebec River.

    Augusta, Maine.

    SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.10%

    Per-pupil education spending: $19,962

    Median household income: $76,442

    17. Pennsylvania


    Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA downtown city skyline on the Ohio River at dusk.

    Pittsburgh.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.11%

    Per-pupil education spending: $21,091

    Median household income: $77,545

    16. Mississippi


    Jackson, Mississippi, USA skyline over the Capitol Building.

    Jackson, Mississippi.

    SeanPavonePhoto/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.20%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,324

    Median household income: $59,127

    15. Massachusetts


    Boston harbor and cityscape skyline view, Massachusetts, USA

    Boston.

    xbrchx/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.30%

    Per-pupil education spending: $24,429

    Median household income: $104,828

    14. Kansas


    Aerial panorama of Topeka, Kansas along the 10th Avenue. Topeka is the capital city of the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Shawnee County

    Topeka, Kansas.

    Ultima_Gaina/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.50%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,558

    Median household income: $75,514

    13. Utah


    Salt Lake City, Utah, USA downtown city skyline at dawn.

    Salt Lake City.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 89.80%

    Per-pupil education spending: $11,347

    Median household income: $96,658

    12. Arkansas


    Bridge in front of buildings in Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Little Rock, Arkansas.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 90.16%

    Per-pupil education spending: $13,873

    Median household income: $62,106

    11. Texas


    Aerial Drone Photo of Houston Texas Skyline at Twilight stock photo

    Houston.

    Scott Flathouse/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 90.70%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,895

    Median household income: $79,721

    10. Missouri


    Aerial View of downtown St Charles, Missouri

    St. Charles, Missouri.

    Perry Spring/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 91.40%

    Per-pupil education spending: $14,241

    Median household income: $71,589

    9. New Jersey


    Panoramic view of New Jersey City skylines

    Jersey City, New Jersey.

    bluebeat76/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 91.80%

    Per-pupil education spending: $27,234

    Median household income: $104,294

    8. Indiana


    Indianapolis, Indiana, USA downtown cityscape on the White River at dusk.

    Indianapolis.

    Sean Pavone/Shutterstock

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 91.83%

    Per-pupil education spending: $13,622

    Median household income: $71,959

    7. Wisconsin


    Aerial view of Madison city downtown at sunset, Wisconsin

    Madison, Wisconsin.

    marchello74/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.00%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,952

    Median household income: $77,488

    6. Florida


    Downtown skyline glows at dusk with illuminated high-rises, palm trees, and curving highway light trails.

    Tampa, Florida.

    Alex Baxter/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.20%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,693

    Median household income: $77,735

    5. Tennessee


    Knoxville Tennessee Downtown Drone Skyline Aerial

    Knoxville, Tennessee.

    Kruck20/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.30%

    Per-pupil education spending: $12,882

    Median household income: $71,997

    4. Virginia


    Newport News, Virginia, USA city center from above at twilight.

    Newport News, Virginia.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.70%

    Per-pupil education spending: $17,104

    Median household income: $92,090

    3. Alabama


    Downtown Mobile, Alabama waterfront skyline stock photo

    Mobile, Alabama.

    Cavan Images/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.77%

    Per-pupil education spending: $13,627

    Median household income: $66,659

    2. West Virginia


    Downtown skyline of Charleston, West Virginia, United States, viewed from across the Kanawha River on a clear, sunny day. The cityscape features historic and modern architecture along the riverfront

    Charleston, West Virginia.

    Leonid Andronov/Getty Images

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 92.80%

    Per-pupil education spending: $15,640

    Median household income: $60,798

    1. Kentucky


    Louisville, Kentucky, USA skyline on the river.

    Louisville, Kentucky.

    Sean Pavone/Getty Images/iStockphoto

    Four-year high school graduation rate: 93.60%

    Per-pupil education spending: $14,596

    Median household income: $64,526

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