Demographics
California vs New York: Advanced Degree
New York has a higher advanced-degree share than California.
National Rankings
Where They Rank Nationally
See where both states fall among all 50 states for advanced degree.
California
#14 · 14.7%
New York
#7 · 18.1%
Lowest
Highest
Top 10 States — Advanced Degree
#1
Massachusetts
22.4%
Massachusetts
#2
Maryland
21.3%
Maryland
#3
Connecticut
19.8%
Connecticut
#4
Vermont
18.5%
Vermont
#5
Virginia
18.5%
Virginia
#6
Colorado
18.1%
Colorado
#7
New York
18.1%
New York
#8
New Jersey
17.5%
New Jersey
#9
New Hampshire
16.2%
New Hampshire
#10
Washington
16.1%
Washington
Selected states
#14
California
14.7%
California
California ranks 14th and New York ranks 7th nationally for advanced degree.
Related context
Advanced Education & Economic Outcomes
Graduate and professional degree holders typically earn more and face lower unemployment.
What this means
California vs New York: Advanced Degree in context
New York's advanced degree is 18.1%, compared with 14.7% in California, a gap of 23.1%. Adults age 25+ with a graduate or professional degree (ACS 2023).
California
14.7%
New York
18.1%
Difference
3.40 percentage points
People also ask
California vs New York Advanced Degree — common questions
QWhat is California's advanced degree?
California's advanced degree is 14.7%.
QWhat is New York's advanced degree?
New York's advanced degree is 18.1%.
QWhich state has a higher advanced degree — California or New York?
New York has a higher advanced-degree share than California.
QHow much more advanced degree does New York have compared to California?
3.40 percentage points.
More comparisons: California vs New York
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Data source and freshness
Primary source
Data period
ACS 2023 estimates
Dataset reviewed
July 23, 2026
Method note
State values or ratios calculated from ACS fields.