We started with 2021 data from World Population Review of the average IQ score in each state—for reference, the highest score possible, in theory, is 200, but a score of 140 or higher is considered genius-level intelligence. Then we consulted test-taking preparation sites Prep Scholar and On to College for each state’s most recent average SAT and ACT scores, which have max scores of 1600 and 36, respectively. Finally, we used U.S. Census Bureau data, via the National Science Foundation, on the percentage of adults between 25 and 44 years of age in each state who have a bachelor’s degree. We then gave each metric a weighted value before running them through our exclusive algorithm to see how each state scored on our Intelligence Index, where 100 is the most intelligent and 0 is the least. Of course, it is important to acknowledge the sad truth that countless communities across the U.S. just don’t have the same opportunities and access to a quality education that others do. This ranking is strictly based on the metrics explained above and does not account for socioeconomic disparity. Keeping that in mind, read on to discover the smartest state in America and to see where yours ranks in comparison. And to learn more about the places where you need to keep your wits about you, This Is the Most Dangerous City in America. Average IQ score: 98.7 Average SAT score: 936 Average ACT score: 20.8 Percentage of college graduates: 24.6 percent Intelligence Index Score: 0.01 Average IQ score: 99.3 Average SAT score: 971 Average ACT score: 18.9 Percentage of college graduates: 27.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 0.96 Average IQ score: 95.7 Average SAT score: 1055 Average ACT score: 19.3 Percentage of college graduates: 25.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 2.25 Average IQ score: 96.5 Average SAT score: 1150 Average ACT score: 17.9 Percentage of college graduates: 24.8 percent Intelligence Index Score: 4.30 Average IQ score: 94.2 Average SAT score: 1203 Average ACT score: 18.4 Percentage of college graduates: 25.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 9.69 Average IQ score: 98.4 Average SAT score: 1026 Average ACT score: 18.8 Percentage of college graduates: 30.8 percent Intelligence Index Score: 11.89 Average IQ score: 95.7 Average SAT score: 1127 Average ACT score: 18.9 Percentage of college graduates: 27.9 percent Intelligence Index Score: 12.22 Average IQ score: 95.3 Average SAT score: 1170 Average ACT score: 18.8 Percentage of college graduates: 26.9 percent Intelligence Index Score: 13.03 Average IQ score: 97.5 Average SAT score: 1157 Average ACT score: 19.3 Percentage of college graduates: 25.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 13.84 Average IQ score: 98.4 Average SAT score: 992 Average ACT score: 20.21 Percentage of college graduates: 32.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 17.43 And for the place where it pays to have street smarts, This Is the Most Dangerous State in America. Average IQ score: 97.4 Average SAT score: 1139 Average ACT score: 19 Percentage of college graduates: 29.8 percent Intelligence Index Score: 19.44 Average IQ score: 99 Average SAT score: 1098 Average ACT score: 20.1 Percentage of college graduates: 29.4 percent Intelligence Index Score: 21.43 Average IQ score: 100 Average SAT score: 1010 Average ACT score: 20.5 Percentage of college graduates: 32.1 percent Intelligence Index Score: 22.18 Average IQ score: 101.4 Average SAT score: 984 Average ACT score: 22.5 Percentage of college graduates: 29.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 23.91 Average IQ score: 95.6 Average SAT score: 1095 Average ACT score: 19 Percentage of college graduates: 35.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 25.20 Average IQ score: 97.7 Average SAT score: 1186 Average ACT score: 19.4 Percentage of college graduates: 31.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 28.48 Average IQ score: 99.4 Average SAT score: 1207 Average ACT score: 19.8 Percentage of college graduates: 29 percent Intelligence Index Score: 29.22 Average IQ score: 100.2 Average SAT score: 1096 Average ACT score: 19 Percentage of college graduates: 35.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 30.95 Average IQ score: 101.8 Average SAT score: 1070 Average ACT score: 20 Percentage of college graduates: 34 percent Intelligence Index Score: 31.11 Average IQ score: 98 Average SAT score: 1053 Average ACT score: 21.4 Percentage of college graduates: 34 percent Intelligence Index Score: 31.65 Average IQ score: 100.4 Average SAT score: 978 Average ACT score: 24 Percentage of college graduates: 31.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 33.99 Average IQ score: 102.4 Average SAT score: 1220 Average ACT score: 19.8 Percentage of college graduates: 29.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 34.12 Average IQ score: 101.7 Average SAT score: 1074 Average ACT score: 22.5 Percentage of college graduates: 31.5 percent Intelligence Index Score: 36.85 Average IQ score: 95.5 Average SAT score: 1049 Average ACT score: 22.6 Percentage of college graduates: 36.9 percent Intelligence Index Score: 39.88 And for the least kind place in the country, This Is the Most Hateful State in America. Average IQ score: 103.4 Average SAT score: 1185 Average ACT score: 19.8 Percentage of college graduates: 34.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 42.35 Average IQ score: 100.5 Average SAT score: 998 Average ACT score: 24.4 Percentage of college graduates: 34.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 42.97 Average IQ score: 101.2 Average SAT score: 1104 Average ACT score: 21.2 Percentage of college graduates: 36.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 44.22 Average IQ score: 101 Average SAT score: 1212 Average ACT score: 20.8 Percentage of college graduates: 34.6 percent Intelligence Index Score: 47.30 Average IQ score: 101.1 Average SAT score: 1204 Average ACT score: 20.3 Percentage of college graduates: 36.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 47.91 Average IQ score: 99.5 Average SAT score: 990 Average ACT score: 24.7 Percentage of college graduates: 37.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 48.78 Average IQ score: 103.4 Average SAT score: 995 Average ACT score: 24.3 Percentage of college graduates: 36.1 percent Intelligence Index Score: 49.08 Average IQ score: 102.9 Average SAT score: 1243 Average ACT score: 20.3 Percentage of college graduates: 35.5 percent Intelligence Index Score: 51.73 Average IQ score: 101.9 Average SAT score: 1073 Average ACT score: 22.1 Percentage of college graduates: 40.1 percent Intelligence Index Score: 53.21 Average IQ score: 102.8 Average SAT score: 1218 Average ACT score: 21.6 Percentage of college graduates: 34.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 53.55 Average IQ score: 103.8 Average SAT score: 1231 Average ACT score: 19.9 Percentage of college graduates: 37.9 percent Intelligence Index Score: 54.92 Average IQ score: 103.2 Average SAT score: 1220 Average ACT score: 21.6 Percentage of college graduates: 35.4 percent Intelligence Index Score: 55.41 Average IQ score: 99.7 percentae0fcc31ae342fd3a1346ebb1f342fcb Average SAT score: 1029 Average ACT score: 22.3 Percentage of college graduates: 43.9 percent Intelligence Index Score: 55.86 Average IQ score: 102.3 Average SAT score: 1229 Average ACT score: 20 Percentage of college graduates: 39.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 56.52 Average IQ score: 99.9 Average SAT score: 1007 Average ACT score: 24.3 Percentage of college graduates: 41.4 percent Intelligence Index Score: 57.52 Average IQ score: 101.5 Average SAT score: 1078 Average ACT score: 23.6 Percentage of college graduates: 39.4 percent Intelligence Index Score: 58.20 Average IQ score: 102.8 Average SAT score: 1237 Average ACT score: 21.2 Percentage of college graduates: 37.3 percent Intelligence Index Score: 58.72 Average IQ score: 101.6 Average SAT score: 1012 Average ACT score: 23.8 Percentage of college graduates: 43.5 percent Intelligence Index Score: 61.97 Average IQ score: 104.2 Average SAT score: 1055 Average ACT score: 25 Percentage of college graduates: 40 percent Intelligence Index Score: 66.28 Average IQ score: 100.7 Average SAT score: 1058 Average ACT score: 24.5 Percentage of college graduates: 45 percent Intelligence Index Score: 71.17 And for more exclusive rankings sent to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter. Average IQ score: 101.9 Average SAT score: 1116 Average ACT score: 24 Percentage of college graduates: 43.2 percent Intelligence Index Score: 71.57 Average IQ score: 103.7 Average SAT score: 1257 Average ACT score: 21.4 Percentage of college graduates: 42.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 73.53 Average IQ score: 103.1 Average SAT score: 1039 Average ACT score: 25.5 Percentage of college graduates: 44.6 percent Intelligence Index Score: 75.48 Average IQ score: 103.8 Average SAT score: 1103 Average ACT score: 24.1 Percentage of college graduates: 44.7 percent Intelligence Index Score: 75.99 Average IQ score: 102.8 Average SAT score: 1081 Average ACT score: 24.2 Percentage of college graduates: 47.5 percent Intelligence Index Score: 79.30 Average IQ score: 104.3 Average SAT score: 1119 Average ACT score: 25.5 Percentage of college graduates: 52.4 percent Intelligence Index Score: 99.98 And for the place where people are green with envy, This Is the Most Jealous State in America.