Indiana’s Early Education System Ranks Last in New Study

I have written several articles about Indiana being ranked at or near the top of the list for a number of different categories. This is NOT gonna be one of those articles. And, unfortunately, this isn't the kind of news you want to hear right before a new school year starts, especially if you're the parent of young students.

Indiana Lands at the Bottom of the List

WalletHub just released its 2026 study of the States with the Best & Worst Early Education Systems, and the news is not good for the Hoosier State. Indiana isn't just "among the worst" states in the country - we are actually THE worst, as in ranked #51, as in at the very bottom of the list. Ouch!

Why is Indiana Ranked Last?

Before us Hoosiers get our feelings hurt, remember that this study is data-driven. It all comes down to the numbers, and Indiana's ranking in several key categories tells the tale of why the Hoosier State is dead last on the list.

• Access Rank - 51st
• Quality Rank - 42nd
• Resources & Economic Support Rank - 50th

How Neighboring States Compared

While Indiana's performance here is very disappointing, I must say that what surprised me the most is how much better our Tri-State neighbors ranked. Kentucky landed at #14, and Illinois came in one spot higher at #13.

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The full report contains a lot of information which you might find interesting. If you're interested in how the rest of the country ranks, you can see that by scrolling over the map below.