New Jersey slipped seven places from 12th to 19th in US News & World Report’s annual “Best States” rankings, but no one can blame the state’s education system for the drop.

New Jersey schools took first place in US News & World Report’s “Best States for Education” ranking, released Tuesday.

The news magazine assessed the state’s public school systems and state-run higher education, examining factors such as preschool enrollments, high school graduation rates and graduation rates. tuition fees.

New Jersey’s kindergarten to high school public education system does the best among the 50 states. The state’s public high school graduation rate is also over 90%.

The state’s higher education system was ranked No. 27 in the United States. Over 47% of New Jersey’s population has a college education. The middle undergraduate pays almost $ 14,000 for tuition in the state. New Jersey students have over $ 33,000 in debt upon graduation, which is above the national average of almost $ 29,000.

Governor Phil Murphy took credit for New Jersey’s top educational ranking on Tuesday, noting the $ 1.5 billion in funding that has been provided to schools since Murphy took office in 2018.

“Today’s recognition by US News & World Report proves that New Jersey students – starting with our youngest learners – have the potential for long-term success,” Murphy said in a statement. “I also want to thank the educators who work tirelessly to ensure that our students receive the best education possible.”

Last year, US News & World Report ranked the state’s education system second behind Massachusetts. Education Week ranked New Jersey’s public school system No.1 in 2019 and 2020.

The state also earned high marks from US News & World Report in both health care (# 4) and crime and corrections (# 5).

New Jersey’s overall drop from No.12 to 19 can likely be related to fiscal stability and infrastructure, two categories in which the state ranks in the nation’s bottom 10. According to the rankings, only Illinois’ financial situation is worse than that of New Jersey.

The “Best States” rankings were less kind to Pennsylvania. As the state moved up one spot overall, from 41st to 40th, Pennsylvania did not make the top 10 in any category.

The Pennsylvania school system came in at No. 37 in the United States, including the latest for higher education. With nearly 41% of the state’s population graduating from college, the average Pennsylvanian has more than $ 39,000 in debt upon graduation, second only to New Hampshire for most. in the country.

The state also scored low for tuition and fees in the state (# 48), as well as two-year college graduation rates (# 36). Pennsylvania’s public high school graduation rate is 85%.

Pennsylvania’s top ranking was at No.11 for opportunities, a category that rates states by the resources they provide residents with to be successful. Pennsylvania was in the top 15 in affordability, and the state’s cost of living index and poverty rate are both lower than national averages.