U.S. Census data ranked Maryland as the fourth-most-educated state in 2000 with 31.7 percent of its residents completing at least a bachelor's degree. Massachusetts ranked first, with 35 percent; West Virginia finished last, with 14.1 percent. The national rate is 25.1 percent.

State......Percent of residents with ..........a bachelor's degree or more.........Rank

Massachusetts.......35.0..........................1

Connecticut...........33.3..........................2

Colorado...............33.2..........................3

Maryland...............31.7..........................4

New Jersey............31.1..........................5

Virginia.................30.3...........................6

New Hampshire......29.9..........................7

Washington...........29.6..........................8

Vermont................28.3..........................9

New York...............28.1..........................10

Source: U.S. Census Bureau

-- Sun Staff