(NewsNation) — More states are revamping their education guidelines, including adding financial literacy courses for high school students.
Hawaii was the most recent state to require that students in the state’s public school system take a financial literacy course starting with the 2026-2027 school year. In a news release, the state’s education department said ahead of the formal requirement, schools are encouraged to work with students in classes ’27-’29 on financial literacy, not just the class of 2030.
“We want our students to leave high school confident and capable of managing their finances,” Keith Hayashi, the Hawai’i State Department of Education superintendent, said. “Financial literacy helps students make informed decisions, avoid common financial pitfalls, and know where to turn for support. This requirement reflects our commitment to ensuring every graduate has the knowledge and skills needed to build long-term financial well-being.”
Here are other states that have had some capacity of financial literacy courses, and those that do not yet have requirements:
| States that require financial literacy for high school graduation | Alabama, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, New Hampshire, North Carolina, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin |
| States that require a financial literacy course to be offered | North Dakota, South Dakota |
| States that require a financial literacy course to be offered, but the coursework can also be integrated into other subjects | Arizona, Arkansas, Idaho, Kentucky, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Texas |
| States that require financial literacy standards to be implemented by districts | Colorado, Delaware, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Montana, Nevada, Oklahoma |
| States that include financial literacy in their K–12 standards | Massachusetts, Vermont, Washington |
| States that currently have no financial literacy requirements | Alaska, Wyoming, Washington D.C. |
Financial literacy in the U.S. is still low. According to a study from insurance company TIAA, the national financial literacy rate in the country is at 49%, staying stagnant since 2017.