Average IQ in Alaska: Estimates & Context
Estimated Avg IQ
~99
US Ranking
#30
of 50 states
Region
West
Note: No state administers IQ tests to its residents. These estimates are proxy conversions from standardized achievement scores (NAEP, SAT, ACT) — an approach popularized by McDaniel's 2006 state-IQ estimates in the journal Intelligence — combined with demographic data. Proxy conversions carry real limitations: SAT/ACT participation rates differ sharply by state and bias comparisons, and the variation within any state dwarfs the differences between states. Figures are shown rounded; decimal precision would overstate what these proxies can support. They say nothing about any individual resident.
About Alaska's IQ Ranking
Alaska faces unique educational challenges due to extreme geography — many communities are accessible only by air, creating one-room schools and difficulty attracting teachers. The state's oil revenue funds reasonable education spending, and urban areas like Anchorage and Fairbanks have functional school systems. Alaska Native communities face particular educational equity challenges.
What Shapes Alaska's Cognitive Profile
The Molly Hootch case settlement in 1976 forced Alaska to build high schools in more than a hundred rural Native villages, ending the era when teenagers were sent to distant boarding schools, and the resulting network of tiny schools still defines rural education there. Teacher turnover runs the highest in the nation, with some bush districts replacing a third of their staff every year. The university system absorbed deep budget cuts after a 2019 standoff with the governor, shrinking programs across all three campuses. Homeschooling through state correspondence programs enrolls a larger share of students than anywhere else, a system whose allotment spending reached the state supreme court. Recent NAEP results rank near the very bottom of the states, prompting the Alaska Reads Act of 2022. The Permanent Fund Dividend hands every resident an annual oil payout, a policy with measured effects on family finances. Estimated averages diverge enormously between Anchorage's hillside neighborhoods and villages off the road system.
For global context, see how the US compares in our United States IQ page and the full country rankings.
Alaska vs Other West States
| State | Average IQ | US Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Alaska | ~99 | #30 |
| Oregon | ~103 | #6 |
| Washington | ~103 | #7 |
| Montana | ~103 | #7 |
| Colorado | ~103 | #11 |
| Wyoming | ~102 | #11 |
| California | ~102 | #14 |
| Idaho | ~101 | #15 |
| Utah | ~101 | #17 |
| Hawaii | ~99 | #25 |
| Arizona | ~97 | #38 |
| Nevada | ~97 | #40 |
| New Mexico | ~95 | #47 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Alaska?
Alaska's estimated average IQ is 99.0, ranking #30. Extreme geography creates unique educational logistics challenges, though oil revenue provides reasonable school funding.
How does Alaska's geography affect education?
Many Alaskan communities are accessible only by bush plane, requiring one-teacher schools and distance learning. Teacher recruitment in remote areas is extremely difficult, and educational resources are expensive to transport.
How does Alaska compare to Hawaii?
Alaska (99.0) and Hawaii (99.4) both face geographic isolation challenges unique among US states. Hawaii's milder climate makes teacher recruitment easier, giving it a slight edge.
Explore Other States
Take our free IQ test to see how you compare, or learn what IQ actually measures.
MyIQScores Editorial Team
Editorial team focused on cognitive testing & psychometrics research
Last updated
May 10, 2026
MyIQScores content is written and maintained by our editorial team using published research in cognitive psychology and psychometrics as its source base. We label estimates as estimates, link primary sources where available, correct errors when readers flag them, and update pages as research or feedback warrants — see our corrections policy.