Average IQ in Oklahoma: Estimates & Context
Estimated Avg IQ
~97
US Ranking
#39
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 Oklahoma's IQ Ranking
Oklahoma faces education challenges rooted in decades of underfunding — a 2018 teacher walkout highlighted the state's low teacher pay and education spending. The state's economy depends on oil and agriculture, sectors that don't drive demand for highly educated workers the way tech or finance do. However, Oklahoma City and Tulsa have growing economies improving their educational profiles.
What Shapes Oklahoma's Cognitive Profile
Hundreds of Oklahoma districts have moved to four-day school weeks, the highest concentration in the nation, a budget adaptation that doubles as a teacher recruitment pitch in a state issuing emergency teaching certifications by the thousands each year. Tulsa Remote, funded by the George Kaiser Family Foundation, pays remote workers $10,000 to relocate and has drawn several thousand educated transplants, philanthropy applied directly to brain gain. Aviation maintenance is a quiet specialty: American Airlines runs its largest maintenance base in Tulsa, and Tinker Air Force Base near Oklahoma City employs tens of thousands in aircraft sustainment engineering. Tribal nations have become major education funders, with the Cherokee and Chickasaw nations investing in scholarships, career training, and language immersion at a scale unmatched elsewhere. Weather science at the University of Oklahoma, home to the National Weather Center in Norman, is genuinely world class. The estimated average remains in the bottom quartile while these countervailing forces develop.
For global context, see how the US compares in our United States IQ page and the full country rankings.
Oklahoma vs Other South States
| State | Average IQ | US Rank |
|---|---|---|
| Oklahoma | ~97 | #39 |
| Virginia | ~102 | #9 |
| Maryland | ~102 | #12 |
| Texas | ~100 | #26 |
| North Carolina | ~99 | #28 |
| Florida | ~98 | #32 |
| Georgia | ~98 | #35 |
| Tennessee | ~97 | #39 |
| South Carolina | ~96 | #41 |
| Kentucky | ~96 | #42 |
| Alabama | ~96 | #43 |
| West Virginia | ~96 | #44 |
| Louisiana | ~95 | #45 |
| Arkansas | ~95 | #46 |
| Mississippi | ~94 | #50 |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the average IQ in Oklahoma?
Oklahoma's estimated average IQ is 97.0, ranking #39. Chronic education underfunding and an economy based on oil and agriculture contribute to below-average outcomes.
How did the teacher walkout affect Oklahoma?
The 2018 teacher walkout successfully secured a teacher pay raise and increased education funding. While improvements are ongoing, the walkout highlighted decades of underinvestment that continue to affect outcomes.
How does Oklahoma compare to Texas?
Texas (99.6) outranks Oklahoma (97.0). Texas' larger, more diversified economy with major tech and finance sectors attracts more educated workers and generates more education revenue.
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.