Data / Rankings / Public school current spending per pupil / US states

US states by public school current spending per pupil

New York had the highest public school current spending per pupil of 51 states in 2014, at $20,607. Utah had the lowest, at $6,500. The median was $10,749 and the figure for the United States was $11,003. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest20,607New York
Lowest6,500Utah
Median10,74951 states
United States11,003History

Map of states, 2014

Alabama: 9,028 USDAlaska: 18,416 USDArizona: 7,528 USDArkansas: 9,616 USDCalifornia: 9,595 USDColorado: 8,985 USDConnecticut: 17,745 USDDelaware: 13,938 USDDistrict of Columbia: 18,485 USDFlorida: 8,755 USDGeorgia: 9,202 USDHawaii: 12,400 USDIdaho: 6,621 USDIllinois: 13,077 USDIndiana: 9,548 USDIowa: 10,668 USDKansas: 9,940 USDKentucky: 9,314 USDLouisiana: 10,749 USDMaine: 12,707 USDMaryland: 14,003 USDMassachusetts: 15,087 USDMichigan: 11,110 USDMinnesota: 11,464 USDMississippi: 8,263 USDMissouri: 9,875 USDMontana: 11,017 USDNebraska: 11,726 USDNevada: 8,414 USDNew Hampshire: 14,332 USDNew Jersey: 17,899 USDNew Mexico: 9,008 USDNew York: 20,607 USDNorth Carolina: 8,512 USDNorth Dakota: 12,358 USDOhio: 11,349 USDOklahoma: 7,829 USDOregon: 9,945 USDPennsylvania: 13,961 USDRhode Island: 14,767 USDSouth Carolina: 9,732 USDSouth Dakota: 8,881 USDTennessee: 8,630 USDTexas: 8,592 USDUtah: 6,500 USDVermont: 16,988 USDVirginia: 10,973 USDWashington: 10,202 USDWest Virginia: 11,251 USDWisconsin: 11,186 USDWyoming: 15,797 USD
  • Under 8,700
  • 8,700 to 9,600
  • 9,600 to 11K
  • 11K to 12K
  • 12K to 15K
  • 15K and over
USD, 2014. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. Boundaries: U.S. Census Bureau cartographic boundary files.

All states, 2014

New York: 20,607 USDNew York20,607District of Columbia: 18,485 USDDistrict of Columbia18,485Alaska: 18,416 USDAlaska18,416New Jersey: 17,899 USDNew Jersey17,899Connecticut: 17,745 USDConnecticut17,745Vermont: 16,988 USDVermont16,988Wyoming: 15,797 USDWyoming15,797Massachusetts: 15,087 USDMassachusetts15,087Rhode Island: 14,767 USDRhode Island14,767New Hampshire: 14,332 USDNew Hampshire14,332Maryland: 14,003 USDMaryland14,003Pennsylvania: 13,961 USDPennsylvania13,961Delaware: 13,938 USDDelaware13,938Illinois: 13,077 USDIllinois13,077Maine: 12,707 USDMaine12,707Hawaii: 12,400 USDHawaii12,400North Dakota: 12,358 USDNorth Dakota12,358Nebraska: 11,726 USDNebraska11,726Minnesota: 11,464 USDMinnesota11,464Ohio: 11,349 USDOhio11,349West Virginia: 11,251 USDWest Virginia11,251Wisconsin: 11,186 USDWisconsin11,186Michigan: 11,110 USDMichigan11,110Montana: 11,017 USDMontana11,017Virginia: 10,973 USDVirginia10,973Louisiana: 10,749 USDLouisiana10,749Iowa: 10,668 USDIowa10,668Washington: 10,202 USDWashington10,202Oregon: 9,945 USDOregon9,945Kansas: 9,940 USDKansas9,940Missouri: 9,875 USDMissouri9,875South Carolina: 9,732 USDSouth Carolina9,732Arkansas: 9,616 USDArkansas9,616California: 9,595 USDCalifornia9,595Indiana: 9,548 USDIndiana9,548Kentucky: 9,314 USDKentucky9,314Georgia: 9,202 USDGeorgia9,202Alabama: 9,028 USDAlabama9,028New Mexico: 9,008 USDNew Mexico9,008Colorado: 8,985 USDColorado8,985South Dakota: 8,881 USDSouth Dakota8,881Florida: 8,755 USDFlorida8,755Tennessee: 8,630 USDTennessee8,630Texas: 8,592 USDTexas8,592North Carolina: 8,512 USDNorth Carolina8,512Nevada: 8,414 USDNevada8,414Mississippi: 8,263 USDMississippi8,263Oklahoma: 7,829 USDOklahoma7,829Arizona: 7,528 USDArizona7,528Idaho: 6,621 USDIdaho6,621Utah: 6,500 USDUtah6,500New York: 20,607 USDNew York20,607District of Columbia: 18,485 USDDistrict of Columbia18,485Alaska: 18,416 USDAlaska18,416New Jersey: 17,899 USDNew Jersey17,899Connecticut: 17,745 USDConnecticut17,745Vermont: 16,988 USDVermont16,988Wyoming: 15,797 USDWyoming15,797Massachusetts: 15,087 USDMassachusetts15,087Rhode Island: 14,767 USDRhode Island14,767New Hampshire: 14,332 USDNew Hampshire14,332Maryland: 14,003 USDMaryland14,003Pennsylvania: 13,961 USDPennsylvania13,961Delaware: 13,938 USDDelaware13,938Illinois: 13,077 USDIllinois13,077Maine: 12,707 USDMaine12,707Hawaii: 12,400 USDHawaii12,400North Dakota: 12,358 USDNorth Dakota12,358Nebraska: 11,726 USDNebraska11,726Minnesota: 11,464 USDMinnesota11,464Ohio: 11,349 USDOhio11,349West Virginia: 11,251 USDWest Virginia11,251Wisconsin: 11,186 USDWisconsin11,186Michigan: 11,110 USDMichigan11,110Montana: 11,017 USDMontana11,017Virginia: 10,973 USDVirginia10,973Louisiana: 10,749 USDLouisiana10,749Iowa: 10,668 USDIowa10,668Washington: 10,202 USDWashington10,202Oregon: 9,945 USDOregon9,945Kansas: 9,940 USDKansas9,940Missouri: 9,875 USDMissouri9,875South Carolina: 9,732 USDSouth Carolina9,732Arkansas: 9,616 USDArkansas9,616California: 9,595 USDCalifornia9,595Indiana: 9,548 USDIndiana9,548Kentucky: 9,314 USDKentucky9,314Georgia: 9,202 USDGeorgia9,202Alabama: 9,028 USDAlabama9,028New Mexico: 9,008 USDNew Mexico9,008Colorado: 8,985 USDColorado8,985South Dakota: 8,881 USDSouth Dakota8,881Florida: 8,755 USDFlorida8,755Tennessee: 8,630 USDTennessee8,630Texas: 8,592 USDTexas8,592North Carolina: 8,512 USDNorth Carolina8,512Nevada: 8,414 USDNevada8,414Mississippi: 8,263 USDMississippi8,263Oklahoma: 7,829 USDOklahoma7,829Arizona: 7,528 USDArizona7,528Idaho: 6,621 USDIdaho6,621Utah: 6,500 USDUtah6,500
USD. Source: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Full ranking

RankStates2014
USD		Change on 2013
1New York20,607+4%
2District of Columbia18,485-3.1%
3Alaska18,416+1.3%
4New Jersey17,899-1.8%
5Connecticut17,745+6.7%
6Vermont16,988+3.5%
7Wyoming15,797+0.6%
8Massachusetts15,087+3.7%
9Rhode Island14,767+2.4%
10New Hampshire14,332+4.4%
11Maryland14,003+1.3%
12Pennsylvania13,961+0.7%
13Delaware13,938+0.8%
14Illinois13,077+6.4%
15Maine12,707+4.6%
16Hawaii12,400+4.9%
17North Dakota12,358+3.2%
18Nebraska11,726+1.3%
19Minnesota11,464+3.4%
20Ohio11,349+1.8%
21West Virginia11,251+1.1%
22Wisconsin11,186+1%
23Michigan11,110+1.5%
24Montana11,017+3.7%
25Virginia10,973+0.1%
26Louisiana10,749+2.5%
27Iowa10,668+3.4%
28Washington10,202+5.5%
29Oregon9,945+4.2%
30Kansas9,940+1.1%
31Missouri9,875+2.9%
32South Carolina9,732+2.3%
33Arkansas9,616+2.4%
34California9,595+4.1%
35Indiana9,548-0.2%
36Kentucky9,314-0%
37Georgia9,202+1.1%
38Alabama9,028+3.1%
39New Mexico9,008-0%
40Colorado8,985+3.9%
41South Dakota8,881+4.9%
42Florida8,755+3.8%
43Tennessee8,630+1.6%
44Texas8,592+3.5%
45North Carolina8,512+1.4%
46Nevada8,414+0.9%
47Mississippi8,263+1.6%
48Oklahoma7,829+2%
49Arizona7,528+4.4%
50Idaho6,621-2.5%
51Utah6,500-0.8%

Other periods

About this ranking

Current spending of public elementary and secondary school systems divided by their fall enrollment, in US dollars, from the U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of School System Finances (Table 8).

More on how it is measured
  • Current spending is instruction plus support services such as administration, transport and food services; it leaves out capital outlay, debt interest, payments to other school systems, and adult education and other programs outside kindergarten to grade 12.
  • The year is the fiscal year, which ends on 30 June in most states (2024 means July 2023 to June 2024).

Current dollars, not adjusted for inflation or for price differences between states. NCES publishes a similar per pupil figure from its own finance survey with a different enrollment base, so the two differ slightly.

Every value in the ranking comes from the same publisher and the same period, so the states are compared on one definition. Equal values share a rank.

How to cite

U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

Citation styles

The publisher is the author. Invokely is named only as the place the figures were read, where a style asks for it.

APA 7

U.S. Census Bureau. (2017). Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total (US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2014) [Data set]. Retrieved October 12, 2026, from https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html

MLA 9

Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total, US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2014. U.S. Census Bureau, 14 June 2017, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2014. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2017. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2014. Dataset. Accessed October 12, 2026. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Also distributed by Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2014.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2017) Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total, US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2014 [Dataset]. Available at: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html, via Invokely: https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2014 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_public_2014,
  author = {{U.S. Census Bureau}},
  title = {{Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total: US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2014}},
  year = {2017},
  howpublished = {Data set},
  url = {https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html},
  urldate = {2026-10-12},
  note = {Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2014. Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.},
}
RIS
TY  - DATA
AU  - U.S. Census Bureau
TI  - Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total: US states by public school current spending per pupil, 2014
PY  - 2017
DA  - 2017/06/14
PB  - U.S. Census Bureau
DB  - Invokely
UR  - https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html
L2  - https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2014
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2014.
N1  - Publisher attribution: U.S. Census Bureau. Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Retrieved 2026-10-12.
ER  -
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Questions

Which state has the highest public school current spending per pupil?

New York, with $20,607 in 2014, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Which state has the lowest public school current spending per pupil?

Utah, with $6,500 in 2014.

Where does this ranking come from?

Every value comes from one source and one period, so the places are comparable: U.S. Census Bureau, Annual Survey of School System Finances, Table 8: per pupil amounts for current spending of public elementary-secondary school systems by state, total. Retrieved 2026-10-12.

US states: more rankings