Skip to main content

Resource 2009 State Legislator Education Levels

Updated March 02, 2010

The following table presents the education levels of state legislators by state in 2009. The data was provided to NCSL by BYU Associate Professor of Political Science, Adam Brown.

 
State unknown HS Some college AA BA MA JD Doc
Alabama 4.35% 1.45% 5.07% 2.90% 38.41% 25.36% 17.39% 5.07%
Alaska 1.67% 6.67% 18.33% 3.33% 35.00% 16.67% 15.00% 3.33%
Arizona 15.56% 3.33% 15.56% 2.22% 28.89% 17.78% 11.11% 5.56%
Arkansas 57.04% 2.22% 3.70% 0.00% 20.00% 8.15% 5.93% 2.96%
California 8.40% 0.84% 2.52% 1.68% 36.13% 23.53% 21.01% 5.88%
Colorado 37.00% 1.00% 3.00% 2.00% 22.00% 21.00% 12.00% 2.00%
Connecticut 7.49% 2.14% 11.76% 2.67% 24.60% 25.13% 24.06% 2.14%
Delaware 1.64% 13.11% 22.95% 8.20% 29.51% 13.11% 3.28% 8.20%
Florida 1.86% 0.62% 9.32% 4.97% 27.33% 21.12% 25.47% 9.32%
Georgia 12.45% 0.00% 12.02% 2.58% 41.20% 10.30% 15.45% 6.01%
Hawaii 11.84% 1.32% 3.95% 0.00% 42.11% 13.16% 23.68% 3.95%
Idaho 17.14% 3.81% 7.62% 5.71% 39.05% 14.29% 8.57% 3.81%
Illinois 7.34% 2.82% 10.17% 3.39% 32.20% 22.60% 19.21% 2.26%
Indiana 8.00% 4.00% 13.33% 3.33% 33.33% 21.33% 13.33% 3.33%
Iowa 9.33% 7.33% 11.33% 4.67% 32.67% 20.67% 10.67% 3.33%
Kansas 35.15% 0.61% 3.03% 3.03% 25.45% 13.33% 10.30% 9.09%
Kentucky 10.95% 2.92% 10.22% 2.92% 21.90% 23.36% 20.44% 7.30%
Louisiana 4.93% 3.52% 13.38% 4.23% 34.51% 10.56% 26.76% 2.11%
Maine 19.15% 3.19% 11.70% 6.38% 26.60% 20.21% 9.04% 3.72%
Maryland 2.66% 1.06% 13.83% 2.66% 29.79% 23.40% 22.87% 3.72%
Massachusetts 2.50% 1.50% 12.50% 2.50% 24.50% 22.00% 31.50% 3.00%
Michigan 6.80% 1.36% 13.61% 2.04% 36.05% 21.09% 16.33% 2.72%
Minnesota 1.00% 3.48% 5.97% 4.98% 40.30% 24.88% 15.42% 3.98%
Mississippi 1.72% 2.30% 27.01% 4.02% 29.89% 10.34% 21.26% 3.45%
Missouri 3.55% 7.61% 17.77% 2.54% 30.96% 17.77% 15.23% 4.57%
Montana 30.00% 3.33% 8.67% 2.67% 30.67% 16.67% 3.33% 4.67%
Nebraska 0.00% 6.12% 8.16% 0.00% 36.73% 16.33% 20.41% 12.24%
Nevada 3.17% 4.76% 17.46% 3.17% 28.57% 23.81% 14.29% 4.76%
New Hampshire 44.44% 4.02% 9.69% 2.60% 17.49% 14.89% 3.31% 3.55%
New Jersey 7.50% 2.50% 10.00% 1.67% 20.00% 24.17% 26.67% 7.50%
New Mexico 35.71% 0.89% 8.04% 0.89% 21.43% 21.43% 8.93% 2.68%
New York 6.16% 1.42% 6.64% 1.90% 31.75% 21.80% 28.44% 1.90%
North Carolina 26.47% 2.35% 5.88% 2.35% 27.06% 14.12% 16.47% 5.29%
North Dakota 5.67% 4.26% 17.02% 5.67% 40.43% 15.60% 6.38% 4.96%
Ohio 6.11% 3.82% 9.16% 3.05% 29.01% 13.74% 32.06% 3.05%
Oklahoma 6.76% 2.70% 10.81% 1.35% 37.16% 16.89% 17.57% 6.76%
Oregon 2.27% 3.41% 12.50% 0.00% 26.14% 32.95% 12.50% 10.23%
Pennsylvania 1.98% 1.98% 15.08% 6.35% 38.49% 9.92% 23.81% 2.38%
Rhode Island 1.79% 3.57% 16.07% 3.57% 26.79% 16.07% 29.46% 2.68%
South Carolina 0.59% 1.18% 10.59% 4.71% 41.76% 13.53% 21.18% 6.47%
South Dakota 40.00% 4.76% 7.62% 2.86% 23.81% 12.38% 5.71% 2.86%
Tennessee 5.34% 3.05% 13.74% 1.53% 45.04% 10.69% 14.50% 6.11%
Texas 3.87% 2.21% 6.08% 1.66% 37.02% 12.15% 30.94% 6.08%
Utah 1.92% 0.00% 18.27% 2.88% 28.85% 30.77% 10.58% 6.73%
Vermont 2.22% 6.11% 6.11% 8.33% 38.33% 29.44% 7.22% 2.22%
Virginia 0.72% 3.62% 5.07% 1.45% 27.54% 29.71% 25.36% 6.52%
Washington 4.08% 2.72% 14.29% 5.44% 38.10% 23.13% 6.80% 5.44%
West Virginia 2.24% 5.97% 13.43% 3.73% 28.36% 25.37% 15.67% 5.22%
Wisconsin 0.76% 6.82% 16.67% 3.03% 38.64% 18.94% 12.88% 2.27%
Wyoming 10.23% 5.68% 17.05% 3.41% 29.55% 14.77% 14.77% 4.55%

Source: Adam R. Brown, BYU Political Science and Project Vote Smart

Loading

  • Contact NCSL

  • For more information on this topic, use this form to reach NCSL staff.

Related Resources

Public Records Law and State Legislatures

All 50 states have enacted laws requiring certain government records to be open to the public to increase transparency and public awareness of government decision-making. This list included links to state public record statues that cover Public Records Acts/ Freedom of Information Act Citations, as well as the provisions relevant to legislative exemptions and confidentiality.
Center for Legislative Strengthening
Table