Teachers’ highest degree earned: Percentage distribution of public K–12 school teachers, by highest degree earned and state: 2020–21

State	Less than a bachelor's degree		Bachelor's degree	Master's degree	Higher than a master's degree¹
United States	0.8		38.2	51.2	9.8

Alabama	‡		33.8	53.1	11.4
Alaska	‡		37.1	52.8	9.1
Arizona	1.8		44.6	45.3	8.3
Arkansas	0.7	!	42.9	48.3	8.1
California	0.6		36.3	47.4	15.7

Colorado	0.8	!	35.1	55.7	8.4
Connecticut	0.9	!	9.5	70.5	19.1
Delaware	‡		26.7	63.7	9.4
District of Columbia	‡		26.6	62.9	10.5
Florida	0.4	!	54.5	38.4	6.7

Georgia	1.0	!	27.9	45.2	25.9
Hawaii	‡		42.7	45.2	10.8
Idaho	‡		56.4	36.4	6.4
Illinois	‡		29.2	62.4	8.2
Indiana	1.3	!	48.3	44.6	5.8

Iowa	‡		52.5	42.2	4.5
Kansas	‡		40.0	53.4	6.0
Kentucky	‡		16.1	67.8	15.0
Louisiana	‡		60.3	31.9	6.9
Maine	2.5	!	45.3	42.2	10.0

Maryland	0.9	!	26.1	57.3	15.7
Massachusetts	1.5	!	13.8	73.7	11.0
Michigan	1.4	!	29.2	61.5	7.8
Minnesota	‡		31.9	56.9	10.7
Mississippi	‡		45.0	45.1	9.4

Missouri	‡		32.5	56.2	8.4
Montana	‡		46.9	47.0	5.9
Nebraska	‡		35.0	58.8	6.0
Nevada	1.5	!	33.0	54.5	11.1
New Hampshire	0.9	!	33.9	56.4	8.8

New Jersey	‡		42.6	46.6	10.8
New Mexico	‡		41.6	51.1	6.4
New York	0.4		4.5	83.8	11.3
North Carolina	1.0	!	56.1	36.1	6.8
North Dakota	‡		51.2	44.2	4.3

Ohio	1.4	!	27.3	63.5	7.9
Oklahoma	‡		68.6	29.1	2.0	!
Oregon	‡		18.2	72.1	9.1
Pennsylvania	‡		26.1	62.1	11.7
Rhode Island	‡		37.2	51.6	11.2

South Carolina	‡		36.8	53.4	9.1
South Dakota	1.2	!	59.1	34.4	5.3
Tennessee	2.0	!	37.2	46.6	14.2
Texas	0.6		66.6	28.3	4.5
Utah	2.6		50.9	39.8	6.8

Vermont	‡		37.2	54.6	7.9
Virginia	‡		36.4	54.2	8.5
Washington	1.1	!	24.8	68.6	5.5
West Virginia	‡		41.8	49.7	6.9
Wisconsin	‡		43.5	47.4	9.0
Wyoming	‡		43.7	47.5	8.5

! Interpret data with caution. The coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is between 30 percent and 50 percent (i.e., the standard error is at least 30 percent and less than 50 percent of the estimate).

‡ Reporting standards not met. Either there are too few cases for a reliable analysis, or the coefficient of variation (CV) for this estimate is 50 percent or greater (i.e., the standard error is 50 percent or more of the estimate).

¹Higher than a master’s degree is defined as a teacher who completed any of the following: an educational specialist or professional diploma, a certificate of advanced graduate studies, or a doctorate or first professional degree.

NOTE: Data are weighted estimates of the population. Teachers include both full-time and part-time teachers. Detail may not sum to totals because of rounding.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics, National Teacher and Principal Survey (NTPS), “Public School Teacher Data File,” 2020–21.