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Explore national- and state-level data for hundreds of health, environmental and socioeconomic measures, including background information about each measure. Use features on this page to find measures; view subpopulations, trends and rankings; and download and share content.
South Dakota Value:
Percentage of the population age 25 and older without a high school diploma
South Dakota Rank:
Percentage of the population age 25 and older without a high school diploma
5.0% - 6.4%
6.5% - 7.8%
7.9% - 9.1%
9.2% - 10.3%
10.4% - 15.2%
US Value: 10.1 %
Top State(s): New Hampshire: 5.0 %
Bottom State(s): California: 15.2 %
Definition: Percentage of the population age 25 and older without a high school diploma
Data Source and Years(s): U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, 2024
Suggested Citation: America's Health Rankings analysis of U.S. Census Bureau, American Community Survey, 1-Year Dataset, United Health Foundation, AmericasHealthRankings.org, accessed 2026.
Keeping children and adolescents in school through high school graduation and beyond is a key strategy to advance health equity, as educational attainment is a strong predictor of future health outcomes. The connection between education and health is well documented — lower educational attainment among adults is correlated with poorer health. In comparison, higher educational attainment is associated with better jobs, higher earnings and fewer chronic conditions. The health benefits of higher education extend into older age and across sex and economic levels. Individuals with lower educational attainment are at greater risk of adverse health outcomes such as worse general health, more chronic conditions, more functional limitations and disability, and premature death.
The high school graduation rate is lower among:
Several high school completion programs have successfully increased graduation rates by targeting high-risk populations. Programs aimed at increasing high school graduation rates — and ultimately health equity — include:
Increasing the proportion of students who graduate in four years with a regular diploma is a Healthy People 2030 adolescent health objective.
Balaj, Mirza, Claire A. Henson, Amanda Aronsson, Aleksandr Aravkin, Kathryn Beck, Claire Degail, Lorena Donadello, et al. “Effects of Education on Adult Mortality: A Global Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.” The Lancet Public Health 9, no. 3 (March 2024): e155–65. https://doi.org/10.1016/S2468-2667(23)00306-7.
Hahn, Robert A., John A. Knopf, Sandra Jo Wilson, Benedict I. Truman, Bobby Milstein, Robert L. Johnson, Jonathan E. Fielding, et al. “Programs to Increase High School Completion: A Community Guide Systematic Health Equity Review.” American Journal of Preventive Medicine 48, no. 5 (March 26, 2015): 599–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amepre.2014.12.005.
Hummer, Robert A., and Elaine M. Hernandez. “The Effect of Educational Attainment on Adult Mortality in the United States.” Population Bulletin 68, no. 1 (June 2013): 1–16. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25995521/.
Lansford, Jennifer E., Kenneth A. Dodge, Gregory S. Pettit, and John E. Bates. “A Public Health Perspective on School Dropout and Adult Outcomes: A Prospective Study of Risk and Protective Factors From Age 5 to 27 Years.” Journal of Adolescent Health 58, no. 6 (March 19, 2016): 652–58. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jadohealth.2016.01.014.
Raghupathi, Viju, and Wullianallur Raghupathi. “The Influence of Education on Health: An Empirical Assessment of OECD Countries for the Period 1995–2015.” Archives of Public Health 78, no. 1 (December 2020): 20. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-020-00402-5.
Why Education Matters to Health: Exploring the Causes. Issue Brief #2. Education and Health Initiative. Richmond, VA: The VCU Center on Society and Health and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, April 2014. https://societyhealth.vcu.edu/media/society-health/pdf/test-folder/CSH-EHI-Issue-Brief-2.pdf.
Zajacova, Anna, and Elizabeth M. Lawrence. “The Relationship Between Education and Health: Reducing Disparities Through a Contextual Approach.” Annual Review of Public Health 39 (April 1, 2018): 273–89. https://doi.org/10.1146/annurev-publhealth-031816-044628.
America’s Health Rankings builds on the work of the United Health Foundation to draw attention to public health and better understand the health of various populations. Our platform provides relevant information that policymakers, public health officials, advocates and leaders can use to effect change in their communities.
We have developed detailed analyses on the health of key populations in the country, including women and children, seniors and those who have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, in addition to a deep dive into health disparities across the country.
