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 2022, at $29,873. Utah had the lowest, at $9,552. The median was $14,505 and the figure for the United States was $15,630. Source: the U.S. Census Bureau.

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Highest29,873New York
Lowest9,552Utah
Median14,50551 states
United States15,630History

Map of states, 2022

Alabama: 11,819 USDAlaska: 20,191 USDArizona: 10,315 USDArkansas: 12,159 USDCalifornia: 17,049 USDColorado: 13,422 USDConnecticut: 24,453 USDDelaware: 19,357 USDDistrict of Columbia: 27,425 USDFlorida: 11,076 USDGeorgia: 13,619 USDHawaii: 17,420 USDIdaho: 9,670 USDIllinois: 18,927 USDIndiana: 12,322 USDIowa: 13,259 USDKansas: 14,408 USDKentucky: 13,549 USDLouisiana: 14,928 USDMaine: 17,885 USDMaryland: 17,753 USDMassachusetts: 21,906 USDMichigan: 15,719 USDMinnesota: 15,441 USDMississippi: 10,984 USDMissouri: 12,631 USDMontana: 13,582 USDNebraska: 14,285 USDNevada: 11,677 USDNew Hampshire: 20,487 USDNew Jersey: 25,099 USDNew Mexico: 13,260 USDNew York: 29,873 USDNorth Carolina: 12,298 USDNorth Dakota: 15,843 USDOhio: 15,583 USDOklahoma: 10,890 USDOregon: 15,754 USDPennsylvania: 19,186 USDRhode Island: 19,962 USDSouth Carolina: 13,387 USDSouth Dakota: 11,564 USDTennessee: 11,317 USDTexas: 11,803 USDUtah: 9,552 USDVermont: 24,608 USDVirginia: 15,069 USDWashington: 17,119 USDWest Virginia: 13,858 USDWisconsin: 14,505 USDWyoming: 18,529 USD
  • Under 12K
  • 12K to 13K
  • 13K to 15K
  • 15K to 17K
  • 17K to 20K
  • 20K and over
USD, 2022. 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, 2022

New York: 29,873 USDNew York29,873District of Columbia: 27,425 USDDistrict of Columbia27,425New Jersey: 25,099 USDNew Jersey25,099Vermont: 24,608 USDVermont24,608Connecticut: 24,453 USDConnecticut24,453Massachusetts: 21,906 USDMassachusetts21,906New Hampshire: 20,487 USDNew Hampshire20,487Alaska: 20,191 USDAlaska20,191Rhode Island: 19,962 USDRhode Island19,962Delaware: 19,357 USDDelaware19,357Pennsylvania: 19,186 USDPennsylvania19,186Illinois: 18,927 USDIllinois18,927Wyoming: 18,529 USDWyoming18,529Maine: 17,885 USDMaine17,885Maryland: 17,753 USDMaryland17,753Hawaii: 17,420 USDHawaii17,420Washington: 17,119 USDWashington17,119California: 17,049 USDCalifornia17,049North Dakota: 15,843 USDNorth Dakota15,843Oregon: 15,754 USDOregon15,754Michigan: 15,719 USDMichigan15,719Ohio: 15,583 USDOhio15,583Minnesota: 15,441 USDMinnesota15,441Virginia: 15,069 USDVirginia15,069Louisiana: 14,928 USDLouisiana14,928Wisconsin: 14,505 USDWisconsin14,505Kansas: 14,408 USDKansas14,408Nebraska: 14,285 USDNebraska14,285West Virginia: 13,858 USDWest Virginia13,858Georgia: 13,619 USDGeorgia13,619Montana: 13,582 USDMontana13,582Kentucky: 13,549 USDKentucky13,549Colorado: 13,422 USDColorado13,422South Carolina: 13,387 USDSouth Carolina13,387New Mexico: 13,260 USDNew Mexico13,260Iowa: 13,259 USDIowa13,259Missouri: 12,631 USDMissouri12,631Indiana: 12,322 USDIndiana12,322North Carolina: 12,298 USDNorth Carolina12,298Arkansas: 12,159 USDArkansas12,159Alabama: 11,819 USDAlabama11,819Texas: 11,803 USDTexas11,803Nevada: 11,677 USDNevada11,677South Dakota: 11,564 USDSouth Dakota11,564Tennessee: 11,317 USDTennessee11,317Florida: 11,076 USDFlorida11,076Mississippi: 10,984 USDMississippi10,984Oklahoma: 10,890 USDOklahoma10,890Arizona: 10,315 USDArizona10,315Idaho: 9,670 USDIdaho9,670Utah: 9,552 USDUtah9,552New York: 29,873 USDNew York29,873District of Columbia: 27,425 USDDistrict of Columbia27,425New Jersey: 25,099 USDNew Jersey25,099Vermont: 24,608 USDVermont24,608Connecticut: 24,453 USDConnecticut24,453Massachusetts: 21,906 USDMassachusetts21,906New Hampshire: 20,487 USDNew Hampshire20,487Alaska: 20,191 USDAlaska20,191Rhode Island: 19,962 USDRhode Island19,962Delaware: 19,357 USDDelaware19,357Pennsylvania: 19,186 USDPennsylvania19,186Illinois: 18,927 USDIllinois18,927Wyoming: 18,529 USDWyoming18,529Maine: 17,885 USDMaine17,885Maryland: 17,753 USDMaryland17,753Hawaii: 17,420 USDHawaii17,420Washington: 17,119 USDWashington17,119California: 17,049 USDCalifornia17,049North Dakota: 15,843 USDNorth Dakota15,843Oregon: 15,754 USDOregon15,754Michigan: 15,719 USDMichigan15,719Ohio: 15,583 USDOhio15,583Minnesota: 15,441 USDMinnesota15,441Virginia: 15,069 USDVirginia15,069Louisiana: 14,928 USDLouisiana14,928Wisconsin: 14,505 USDWisconsin14,505Kansas: 14,408 USDKansas14,408Nebraska: 14,285 USDNebraska14,285West Virginia: 13,858 USDWest Virginia13,858Georgia: 13,619 USDGeorgia13,619Montana: 13,582 USDMontana13,582Kentucky: 13,549 USDKentucky13,549Colorado: 13,422 USDColorado13,422South Carolina: 13,387 USDSouth Carolina13,387New Mexico: 13,260 USDNew Mexico13,260Iowa: 13,259 USDIowa13,259Missouri: 12,631 USDMissouri12,631Indiana: 12,322 USDIndiana12,322North Carolina: 12,298 USDNorth Carolina12,298Arkansas: 12,159 USDArkansas12,159Alabama: 11,819 USDAlabama11,819Texas: 11,803 USDTexas11,803Nevada: 11,677 USDNevada11,677South Dakota: 11,564 USDSouth Dakota11,564Tennessee: 11,317 USDTennessee11,317Florida: 11,076 USDFlorida11,076Mississippi: 10,984 USDMississippi10,984Oklahoma: 10,890 USDOklahoma10,890Arizona: 10,315 USDArizona10,315Idaho: 9,670 USDIdaho9,670Utah: 9,552 USDUtah9,552
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

RankStates2022
USD		Change on 2021
1New York29,873+12.4%
2District of Columbia27,425+11.8%
3New Jersey25,099+13.3%
4Vermont24,608+4.3%
5Connecticut24,453+7.4%
6Massachusetts21,906+7.5%
7New Hampshire20,487+5.4%
8Alaska20,191+3.3%
9Rhode Island19,962+8.7%
10Delaware19,357+10.9%
11Pennsylvania19,186+7.3%
12Illinois18,927+3.3%
13Wyoming18,529+2.1%
14Maine17,885+1.2%
15Maryland17,753+8.1%
16Hawaii17,420+5.3%
17Washington17,119+10%
18California17,049+13.8%
19North Dakota15,843+4.6%
20Oregon15,754+13.5%
21Michigan15,719+11.6%
22Ohio15,583+6.6%
23Minnesota15,441+7.4%
24Virginia15,069+8.9%
25Louisiana14,928+11.4%
26Wisconsin14,505+6.7%
27Kansas14,408+7.2%
28Nebraska14,285+3.3%
29West Virginia13,858+6.1%
30Georgia13,619+12.1%
31Montana13,582+2.1%
32Kentucky13,549+11.7%
33Colorado13,422+4.2%
34South Carolina13,387+7.1%
35New Mexico13,260+9.3%
36Iowa13,259+4.4%
37Missouri12,631+6.5%
38Indiana12,322+6.8%
39North Carolina12,298+15.4%
40Arkansas12,159+7.9%
41Alabama11,819+10.6%
42Texas11,803+7.2%
43Nevada11,677+11.8%
44South Dakota11,564+5.6%
45Tennessee11,317+7.7%
46Florida11,076+6.5%
47Mississippi10,984+8.9%
48Oklahoma10,890+3.7%
49Arizona10,315+7.3%
50Idaho9,670+6.8%
51Utah9,552+5%

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. (2025). 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, 2022) [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, 2022. U.S. Census Bureau, 29 Apr. 2025, https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/school-finances/data/tables.html. Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2022. Accessed 12 Oct. 2026.

Chicago (author-date)

U.S. Census Bureau. 2025. 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, 2022. 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=2022.

Harvard

U.S. Census Bureau (2025) 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, 2022 [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=2022 (Accessed: 12 October 2026).

BibTeX
@misc{census_us_states_by_public_2022,
  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, 2022}},
  year = {2025},
  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=2022. 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, 2022
PY  - 2025
DA  - 2025/04/29
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=2022
Y2  - 2026/10/12
N1  - Accessed via Invokely, https://invokely.ai/rankings/public-school-spending-per-pupil/us-states?period=2022.
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 $29,873 in 2022, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

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

Utah, with $9,552 in 2022.

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