Louisiana
WalletHub ranks Louisiana a bottom 3 state for education. Here’s why
Louisiana’s Childcare Fund at Risk
The Early Childhood Education Fund faces a funding shortfall, threatening access to affordable childcare for thousands of Louisiana children.
For many, education is a priority and a quality education can open pathways for greater career opportunities and potential higher earnings.
Despite this, not all states offer the same quality education, and Louisiana often seems to lack in the education department.
In order to find out which states are the most educated, WalletHub analyzed states based on educational attainment, school quality and disparities in achievement.
Where does Louisiana rank in quality education?
Louisiana ranked 48th on WalletHub’s list of the most educated states in the U.S. for 2026, making it the third least educated state.
Within WalletHub’s study, Louisiana also ranks No. 48 for education attainments and 40th for quality of education.
Additionally, Louisiana had the fourth-lowest percentage of high school diploma holders, third-lowest percentage of Associate’s Degree holders or college-experienced adults and the fourth-lowest percentage of Bachelor’s Degree holders.
In comparison, Massachusetts ranked as the most educated state, as the state has the highest percentage of adults with at least a Bachelor’s Degree and the highest share of adults who have a graduate or professional degree, according to WalletHub.
The most and least educated states according to WalletHub
- Massachusetts
- Vermont
- Maryland
- Connecticut
- Colorado
- New Jersey
- Virginia
- New Hampshire
- Minnesota
- Washington
- Utah
- Maine
- Rhode Island
- Delaware
- Illinois
- New York
- Oregon
- Montana
- Wisconsin
- Pennsylvania
- Florida
- North Carolina
- Hawaii
- Kansas
- Nebraska
- Wyoming
- Michigan
- North Dakota
- California
- Georgia
- Missouri
- Iowa
- South Dakota
- Arizona
- Ohio
- Alaska
- Idaho
- South Carolina
- Tennessee
- Indiana
- Texas
- New Mexico
- Alabama
- Kentucky
- Oklahoma
- Nevada
- Arkansas
- Louisiana
- Mississippi
- West Virginia
Presley Bo Tyler is a reporter for the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team for USA Today. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
Louisiana
‘Growth pays for growth’: Entergy’s Fair Share Plus model to save Louisiana customers $2.8 billion
Louisiana
Thinking of retiring in Louisiana? These are 5 best places to do so
Think tank proposes capping Social Security benefits at $100,000
A Washington think tank proposed capping annual Social Security benefits at $100,000 for couples as a way to shrink a looming deficit in the retirement trust fund.
When it comes to retiring, the best places to do so often are affordable, have a high quality of life and access to quality healthcare.
If you’re looking for a place to retire, Niche has identified the best places for retirees in Louisiana.
In its list, Niche has taken into account factors like weather, crime rates, housing costs and access to amenities.
The 5 best places to retire in Louisiana according to Niche
These are the top five best places to retire in Louisiana, according to Niche.
1. Oak Hills Place
Oak Hills Place is a suburb of Baton Rouge and is the overall best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb, located in East Baton Rouge Parish, has a population of 9,038 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. The area is highly rated for families, diversity, as well as health and fitness. Here, the median home value is $437,900 and the median rent is $1,422, according to Niche.
2. Westminster
Westminster is another suburb of Baton Rouge and is the second-best place to retire in Louisiana. Located in East Baton Rouge Parish, this suburb has a population of 2,559 and offers residents an urban suburban mix feel. This area is highly rated for nightlife, diversity, families, health and fitness, as well as commute. The median home value here is $266,100 and the median rent is $1,482, says Niche.
3. River Ridge
River Ridge is a suburb of New Orleans, located in Jefferson Parish, and is the third-best place to retire in Louisiana. This suburb has a population of 13,312 and offers residents a dense suburban feel. The area is highly rated for public schools, family, nightlife and diversity. The median home value is $357,400 and the median rent is $1,127, according to Niche.
4. Westlake
Westlake is a town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. With a population of 4,743, this town offers residents a rural feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, jobs, cost of living, nightlife and weather. Here, the median home value is $166,100 and the median rent is $1,049, says Niche.
5. Prien
Prien is another town in Calcasieu Parish that is among the best places to retire in Louisiana. This town has a population of 7,119 and offers residents a suburban rural mix feel. The town is highly rated for public schools, housing, families, nightlife and weather. The median home value here is $278,000 and the median rent is $1,292, according to Niche.
Presley Bo Tyler is the Louisiana Deep South Connect Team reporter for USA Today Network. Find her on X @PresleyTyler02 and email at PTyler@Gannett.com
Louisiana
Louisiana Tech seeks partnership with Lincoln Parish Library to help students
A motorcyclist is recovering after a West Monroe crash involving an 18-wheeler, while Chevron won a Louisiana Supreme Court ruling shifting a major coastal lawsuit back to lower courts. Ouachita deputies arrested a suspect and recovered more than a dozen guns, Mississippi passed a new school social-media safety requirement, and Louisiana’s House advanced a unanimous state budget. A new recovery center opened, and multiple weekend events are underway across northeast Louisiana, plus national updates include stock-market stress guidance, a Ford F-150 recall, Spirit Airlines uncertainty, and tax-refund tips.
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