Average IQ in Louisiana: Estimates & Context
Estimated Avg IQ
~95
US Ranking
#45
of 50 states
Region
South
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 Louisiana's IQ Ranking
Louisiana faces significant educational challenges rooted in high poverty rates, limited education funding, and the lingering effects of Hurricane Katrina on New Orleans' school system. Interestingly, New Orleans' post-Katrina charter school experiment has produced mixed but sometimes promising results. Baton Rouge benefits from LSU's presence, and the state's oil industry supports some well-funded communities, but overall educational outcomes remain below the national average.
What Shapes Louisiana's Cognitive Profile
Louisiana posted some of the strongest NAEP reading growth in the nation in 2022 and 2024, an unexpected surge tied to phonics-based instruction mandates and literacy coach deployment that observers now group with the broader Southern early-grade reform wave. The petrochemical corridor between Baton Rouge and New Orleans employs thousands of chemical engineers and process specialists, one of the densest concentrations of such work in the hemisphere. TOPS, the state merit scholarship, keeps many graduates at LSU but strains the treasury in lean years. Outmigration to Texas removes a steady stream of educated young workers, a flow visible in census data for two decades. Tulane provides New Orleans a private research anchor, and the city's post-2005 system became the country's first nearly all-charter district. Rural parishes north of Alexandria post attainment among the South's lowest. The estimated average remains in the bottom ten, though the elementary grade trendline now points clearly upward.
For global context, see how the US compares in our United States IQ page and the full country rankings.
Louisiana vs Other South States
| State | Average IQ | US Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Louisiana | ~95 | #45 |
| Virginia | ~102 | #9 |
| Maryland | ~102 | #12 |
| Texas | ~100 | #26 |
| North Carolina | ~99 | #28 |
| Florida | ~98 | #32 |
| Georgia | ~98 | #35 |
| Tennessee | ~97 | #39 |
| Oklahoma | ~97 | #39 |
| South Carolina | ~96 | #41 |
| Kentucky | ~96 | #42 |
| Alabama | ~96 | #43 |
| West Virginia | ~96 | #44 |
| Arkansas | ~95 | #46 |
| Mississippi | ~94 | #50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Louisiana?
Louisiana's estimated average IQ is 95.3, ranking #45. High poverty rates and education funding challenges contribute to below-average cognitive test performance.
How did Hurricane Katrina affect Louisiana's education?
Katrina devastated New Orleans' already struggling school system. The post-Katrina rebuild transitioned most schools to charters, creating a natural experiment in education reform with mixed results — some schools dramatically improved while others have not.
How does Louisiana compare to Mississippi?
Louisiana (95.3) ranks slightly above Mississippi (94.2). Both states face similar challenges with poverty and education funding, though Louisiana's larger urban economies provide somewhat more educational resources.
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.