Adam R Brown
Department of Political Science, Brigham Young University
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How educated is the typical state legislator?
Although many members of the U.S. Congress are lawyers and doctors, you certainly do not need such a long education to serve as a state lawmaker. To produce the table below, I wrote a program to automatically code the educational histories available for each legislator from Project Vote Smart (as of February 2011).
- Doctoral level: Includes PhD, MD, DDS, DVM, OD, PharmD, EdD, DBA, DHA, DSW, and other medical/doctoral degrees.
- Law school: Includes JD and LLM.
- Masters level: Includes MA, MS, MFA, MBA, LLB, MSF, MMus, MPA, MEd, MPharm, and other tertiary degrees.
- Bachelors level: Includes most traditional four-year degrees, including BA, BS, BFA, BSW, BPhil, BBA, BBEd.
- Associates level: Includes associates degrees, two-year nursing programs, technical college certificates, and so on.
- High school only: Includes high school graduates, GEDs, and those who attended some college but never earned a degree or certificate.
- No data: For some legislators Vote Smart does not report data. This problem is worse in some states than in others.
Click a state or chamber name to see a list of legislators from that state/chamber.
| State | Chamber | Size | Doct. | JD | Mast | Bach. | Asso. | H.S. | No data | Graph |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National average | Lower | 5391 | 186 3% |
713 13% |
852 16% |
1555 29% |
190 4% |
653 12% |
1242 23% |
|
| Upper | 1961 | 110 6% |
385 20% |
365 19% |
615 31% |
56 3% |
241 12% |
189 10% |
||
| Alabama | Lower | 104 | 6 6% |
9 9% |
24 23% |
37 36% |
3 3% |
10 10% |
15 14% |
|
| Upper | 35 | 1 3% |
13 37% |
5 14% |
13 37% |
1 3% |
1 3% |
1 3% |
||
| Alaska | Lower | 40 | 0 0% |
4 10% |
8 20% |
12 30% |
4 10% |
9 23% |
3 8% |
|
| Upper | 20 | 2 10% |
5 25% |
4 20% |
7 35% |
1 5% |
1 5% |
0 0% |
||
| Arizona | Lower | 60 | 5 8% |
4 7% |
11 18% |
16 27% |
1 2% |
7 12% |
16 27% |
|
| Upper | 30 | 2 7% |
3 10% |
5 17% |
10 33% |
0 0% |
3 10% |
7 23% |
||
| Arkansas | Lower | 98 | 2 2% |
8 8% |
8 8% |
23 23% |
1 1% |
2 2% |
54 55% |
|
| Upper | 35 | 0 0% |
5 14% |
3 9% |
12 34% |
0 0% |
3 9% |
12 34% |
||
| California | Lower | 79 | 1 1% |
15 19% |
21 27% |
28 35% |
1 1% |
3 4% |
10 13% |
|
| Upper | 40 | 6 15% |
9 23% |
5 13% |
16 40% |
1 3% |
2 5% |
1 3% |
||
| Colorado | Lower | 65 | 2 3% |
12 18% |
16 25% |
13 20% |
0 0% |
2 3% |
20 31% |
|
| Upper | 35 | 1 3% |
7 20% |
8 23% |
11 31% |
1 3% |
3 9% |
4 11% |
||
| Connecticut | Lower | 145 | 1 1% |
23 16% |
31 21% |
36 25% |
4 3% |
24 17% |
26 18% |
|
| Upper | 33 | 0 0% |
12 36% |
9 27% |
7 21% |
0 0% |
1 3% |
4 12% |
||
| Delaware | Lower | 41 | 3 7% |
2 5% |
6 15% |
10 24% |
6 15% |
12 29% |
2 5% |
|
| Upper | 21 | 2 10% |
0 0% |
5 24% |
7 33% |
0 0% |
6 29% |
1 5% |
||
| Florida | Lower | 120 | 4 3% |
26 22% |
15 13% |
37 31% |
6 5% |
7 6% |
25 21% |
|
| Upper | 39 | 5 13% |
10 26% |
8 21% |
8 21% |
0 0% |
5 13% |
3 8% |
||
| Georgia | Lower | 179 | 7 4% |
21 12% |
17 9% |
74 41% |
3 2% |
15 8% |
42 23% |
|
| Upper | 56 | 5 9% |
9 16% |
7 13% |
19 34% |
1 2% |
8 14% |
7 13% |
||
| Hawaii | Lower | 51 | 2 4% |
12 24% |
4 8% |
18 35% |
1 2% |
2 4% |
12 24% |
|
| Upper | 25 | 2 8% |
3 12% |
5 20% |
9 36% |
0 0% |
1 4% |
5 20% |
||
| State | Chamber | Size | Doct. | JD | Mast | Bach. | Asso. | H.S. | No data | Graph |
| Idaho | Lower | 70 | 4 6% |
4 6% |
7 10% |
23 33% |
5 7% |
9 13% |
18 26% |
|
| Upper | 35 | 1 3% |
4 11% |
5 14% |
15 43% |
1 3% |
7 20% |
2 6% |
||
| Illinois | Lower | 118 | 2 2% |
19 16% |
21 18% |
33 28% |
5 4% |
15 13% |
23 19% |
|
| Upper | 58 | 1 2% |
13 22% |
11 19% |
19 33% |
0 0% |
7 12% |
7 12% |
||
| Indiana | Lower | 100 | 3 3% |
7 7% |
17 17% |
29 29% |
2 2% |
16 16% |
26 26% |
|
| Upper | 50 | 0 0% |
13 26% |
6 12% |
22 44% |
3 6% |
5 10% |
1 2% |
||
| Iowa | Lower | 100 | 1 1% |
13 13% |
17 17% |
31 31% |
10 10% |
14 14% |
14 14% |
|
| Upper | 50 | 1 2% |
1 2% |
12 24% |
18 36% |
2 4% |
10 20% |
6 12% |
||
| Kansas | Lower | 125 | 5 4% |
7 6% |
13 10% |
31 25% |
2 2% |
1 1% |
66 53% |
|
| Upper | 40 | 4 10% |
6 15% |
7 18% |
9 23% |
2 5% |
3 8% |
9 23% |
||
| Kentucky | Lower | 100 | 7 7% |
14 14% |
22 22% |
21 21% |
0 0% |
13 13% |
23 23% |
|
| Upper | 38 | 3 8% |
9 24% |
9 24% |
9 24% |
1 3% |
4 11% |
3 8% |
||
| Louisiana | Lower | 104 | 1 1% |
25 24% |
12 12% |
37 36% |
4 4% |
21 20% |
4 4% |
|
| Upper | 38 | 2 5% |
11 29% |
2 5% |
13 34% |
2 5% |
4 11% |
4 11% |
||
| Maine | Lower | 152 | 5 3% |
8 5% |
23 15% |
40 26% |
10 7% |
23 15% |
43 28% |
|
| Upper | 35 | 3 9% |
5 14% |
6 17% |
5 14% |
3 9% |
7 20% |
6 17% |
||
| Maryland | Lower | 141 | 3 2% |
27 19% |
24 17% |
38 27% |
1 1% |
20 14% |
28 20% |
|
| Upper | 47 | 2 4% |
12 26% |
14 30% |
12 26% |
3 6% |
2 4% |
2 4% |
||
| Massachusetts | Lower | 159 | 2 1% |
36 23% |
27 17% |
33 21% |
4 3% |
19 12% |
38 24% |
|
| Upper | 40 | 2 5% |
13 33% |
10 25% |
7 18% |
0 0% |
7 18% |
1 3% |
||
| Michigan | Lower | 110 | 1 1% |
10 9% |
9 8% |
24 22% |
1 1% |
4 4% |
61 55% |
|
| Upper | 38 | 1 3% |
4 11% |
7 18% |
11 29% |
1 3% |
13 34% |
1 3% |
||
| State | Chamber | Size | Doct. | JD | Mast | Bach. | Asso. | H.S. | No data | Graph |
| Minnesota | Lower | 133 | 4 3% |
13 10% |
29 22% |
41 31% |
6 5% |
9 7% |
31 23% |
|
| Upper | 67 | 1 1% |
9 13% |
14 21% |
30 45% |
4 6% |
6 9% |
3 4% |
||
| Mississippi | Lower | 122 | 5 4% |
28 23% |
10 8% |
40 33% |
4 3% |
32 26% |
3 2% |
|
| Upper | 51 | 1 2% |
8 16% |
6 12% |
15 29% |
2 4% |
17 33% |
2 4% |
||
| Missouri | Lower | 163 | 3 2% |
8 5% |
20 12% |
32 20% |
3 2% |
21 13% |
76 47% |
|
| Upper | 33 | 2 6% |
8 24% |
2 6% |
12 36% |
0 0% |
7 21% |
2 6% |
||
| Montana | Lower | 100 | 6 6% |
4 4% |
11 11% |
31 31% |
5 5% |
8 8% |
35 35% |
|
| Upper | 50 | 3 6% |
4 8% |
8 16% |
12 24% |
1 2% |
7 14% |
15 30% |
||
| Nebraska | Upper | 49 | 5 10% |
11 22% |
10 20% |
17 35% |
0 0% |
5 10% |
1 2% |
|
| Nebraska has a nonpartisan unicameral legislature. | ||||||||||
| Nevada | Lower | 42 | 1 2% |
4 10% |
7 17% |
4 10% |
1 2% |
5 12% |
20 48% |
|
| Upper | 21 | 1 5% |
2 10% |
3 14% |
7 33% |
1 5% |
6 29% |
1 5% |
||
| New Hampshire | Lower | 399 | 16 4% |
7 2% |
39 10% |
51 13% |
11 3% |
38 10% |
237 59% |
|
| Upper | 24 | 2 8% |
3 13% |
4 17% |
10 42% |
1 4% |
0 0% |
4 17% |
||
| New Jersey | Lower | 80 | 5 6% |
21 26% |
14 18% |
19 24% |
1 1% |
12 15% |
8 10% |
|
| Upper | 40 | 4 10% |
12 30% |
14 35% |
5 13% |
1 3% |
3 8% |
1 3% |
||
| New Mexico | Lower | 70 | 1 1% |
5 7% |
12 17% |
11 16% |
1 1% |
6 9% |
34 49% |
|
| Upper | 42 | 2 5% |
5 12% |
13 31% |
10 24% |
0 0% |
2 5% |
10 24% |
||
| New York | Lower | 149 | 6 4% |
41 28% |
34 23% |
38 26% |
6 4% |
9 6% |
15 10% |
|
| Upper | 62 | 0 0% |
19 31% |
14 23% |
21 34% |
2 3% |
2 3% |
4 6% |
||
| North Carolina | Lower | 120 | 4 3% |
14 12% |
16 13% |
32 27% |
2 2% |
6 5% |
46 38% |
|
| Upper | 50 | 3 6% |
13 26% |
6 12% |
9 18% |
1 2% |
6 12% |
12 24% |
||
| North Dakota | Lower | 94 | 4 4% |
2 2% |
14 15% |
38 40% |
6 6% |
18 19% |
12 13% |
|
| Upper | 47 | 2 4% |
4 9% |
6 13% |
19 40% |
3 6% |
8 17% |
5 11% |
||
| State | Chamber | Size | Doct. | JD | Mast | Bach. | Asso. | H.S. | No data | Graph |
| Ohio | Lower | 99 | 1 1% |
24 24% |
15 15% |
34 34% |
3 3% |
11 11% |
11 11% |
|
| Upper | 33 | 1 3% |
10 30% |
8 24% |
8 24% |
1 3% |
3 9% |
2 6% |
||
| Oklahoma | Lower | 101 | 6 6% |
11 11% |
16 16% |
36 36% |
2 2% |
9 9% |
21 21% |
|
| Upper | 48 | 2 4% |
13 27% |
6 13% |
14 29% |
1 2% |
7 15% |
5 10% |
||
| Oregon | Lower | 60 | 5 8% |
9 15% |
14 23% |
19 32% |
0 0% |
10 17% |
3 5% |
|
| Upper | 30 | 3 10% |
5 17% |
10 33% |
10 33% |
0 0% |
2 7% |
0 0% |
||
| Pennsylvania | Lower | 203 | 4 2% |
41 20% |
22 11% |
79 39% |
15 7% |
38 19% |
4 2% |
|
| Upper | 49 | 3 6% |
15 31% |
4 8% |
17 35% |
3 6% |
5 10% |
2 4% |
||
| Rhode Island | Lower | 75 | 1 1% |
19 25% |
13 17% |
19 25% |
5 7% |
15 20% |
3 4% |
|
| Upper | 38 | 1 3% |
6 16% |
10 26% |
7 18% |
2 5% |
8 21% |
4 11% |
||
| South Carolina | Lower | 123 | 9 7% |
28 23% |
18 15% |
42 34% |
10 8% |
13 11% |
3 2% |
|
| Upper | 45 | 2 4% |
13 29% |
5 11% |
19 42% |
0 0% |
5 11% |
1 2% |
||
| South Dakota | Lower | 70 | 1 1% |
2 3% |
7 10% |
19 27% |
1 1% |
6 9% |
34 49% |
|
| Upper | 35 | 0 0% |
1 3% |
9 26% |
13 37% |
1 3% |
4 11% |
7 20% |
||
| Tennessee | Lower | 99 | 6 6% |
5 5% |
12 12% |
47 47% |
1 1% |
20 20% |
8 8% |
|
| Upper | 33 | 2 6% |
11 33% |
2 6% |
12 36% |
0 0% |
3 9% |
3 9% |
||
| Texas | Lower | 150 | 6 4% |
40 27% |
22 15% |
53 35% |
3 2% |
11 7% |
15 10% |
|
| Upper | 31 | 2 6% |
12 39% |
2 6% |
13 42% |
0 0% |
2 6% |
0 0% |
||
| Utah | Lower | 75 | 5 7% |
5 7% |
20 27% |
22 29% |
1 1% |
11 15% |
11 15% |
|
| Upper | 29 | 2 7% |
7 24% |
6 21% |
7 24% |
2 7% |
3 10% |
2 7% |
||
| Vermont | Lower | 150 | 3 2% |
10 7% |
39 26% |
48 32% |
14 9% |
21 14% |
15 10% |
|
| Upper | 30 | 3 10% |
3 10% |
7 23% |
11 37% |
2 7% |
1 3% |
3 10% |
||
| State | Chamber | Size | Doct. | JD | Mast | Bach. | Asso. | H.S. | No data | Graph |
| Virginia | Lower | 99 | 5 5% |
27 27% |
28 28% |
27 27% |
1 1% |
7 7% |
4 4% |
|
| Upper | 40 | 4 10% |
10 25% |
11 28% |
9 23% |
0 0% |
4 10% |
2 5% |
||
| Washington | Lower | 98 | 2 2% |
9 9% |
22 22% |
38 39% |
5 5% |
16 16% |
6 6% |
|
| Upper | 49 | 5 10% |
2 4% |
12 24% |
18 37% |
4 8% |
4 8% |
4 8% |
||
| West Virginia | Lower | 100 | 5 5% |
10 10% |
24 24% |
30 30% |
3 3% |
19 19% |
9 9% |
|
| Upper | 34 | 4 12% |
5 15% |
10 29% |
6 18% |
1 3% |
6 18% |
2 6% |
||
| Wisconsin | Lower | 96 | 2 2% |
9 9% |
16 17% |
43 45% |
4 4% |
21 22% |
1 1% |
|
| Upper | 33 | 2 6% |
3 9% |
5 15% |
18 55% |
0 0% |
4 12% |
1 3% |
||
| Wyoming | Lower | 60 | 3 5% |
11 18% |
5 8% |
18 30% |
2 3% |
13 22% |
8 13% |
|
| Upper | 30 | 2 7% |
4 13% |
5 17% |
7 23% |
0 0% |
8 27% |
4 13% |
||
Hi. My name is Adam Brown. How to contact me. I work at BYU, where I teach political science courses and do research. I got my PhD at the University of California, San Diego (UCSD). All content and code ©2005-2013 Adam R Brown unless noted. Do not republish any material from this site anywhere else without permission. Featuring glorious hand-coded PHP and valid XHTML/CSS. This page last updated February 25th, 2011.. Want more scripture power?