35th Place – South Dakota
Don’t underestimate South Dakota when it comes to education! This humble midwestern state is actually packing some serious academic heat. According to the US News and World Report, around 39% of South Dakotans proudly sport a college degree. That’s right, they’re outpacing a good chunk of the nation. So, if you’re looking for a state that values education, give South Dakota a second glance!
South Dakota, the land of Mount Rushmore, finds itself in a peculiar predicament – a brain drain of sorts! Once its young minds are polished with degrees, they pack their bags seeking greener pastures elsewhere. Adding salt to their educational wound is the high school dropout rate, a staggering 16.3%! This quirky combo lands South Dakota among the least educated states in the US. Quite the paradox for a state that houses a monument of four great minds, isn’t it?