Most & Least Educated Cities in America (2026)

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial WriterJun 30, 2025

Adam McCann, WalletHub Financial Writer
Jun 30, 2025

Cities want to attract highly educated workers to fuel their economic growth and tax revenues. Higher levels of education tend to lead to higher salaries. Plus, the more that graduates earn, the more tax dollars they contribute over time, according to the Economic Policy Institute. In turn, educated people want to live somewhere where they will get a good return on their educational investment. People also tend to marry others of the same educational level, which means that cities that already have a large educated population may be more attractive to people with degrees.

Not all highly educated people will flock to the same areas, though. Some may prefer to have many people with similar education levels around them for socializing and career connections. Others may want to be a big fish in a little pond. Not every city will provide the same quality of life to those with higher education, either.

To determine where the most educated Americans are putting their degrees to work, WalletHub compared the 150 largest metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across 11 key metrics. Our data set ranges from the share of adults aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher to the quality of the public-school system to the gender education gap.

“Higher education doesn’t guarantee better financial opportunities in the future, but it certainly correlates with it. The most educated cities provide good learning opportunities from childhood all the way through the graduate level. In addition to overall education, it’s also important to look at how well cities promote educational equality when it comes to race and gender.”

Chip Lupo, WalletHub Analyst

Table of Contents

Main Findings

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Most Educated Cities

Overall Rank*	MSA	Total Score	Educational Attainment Rank	Quality of Education & Attainment Gap Rank
1	Ann Arbor, MI	93.49	1	4
2	Durham-Chapel Hill, NC	84.87	6	1
3	Madison, WI	82.07	2	49
4	San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, CA	81.82	5	16
5	Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV	81.42	3	35
6	Raleigh-Cary, NC	80.41	4	27
7	San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, CA	80.22	7	19
8	Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, TX	79.51	9	6
9	Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, WA	78.92	10	11
10	Boston-Cambridge-Newton, MA-NH	77.99	8	66
11	Denver-Aurora-Lakewood, CO	74.57	11	86
12	Colorado Springs, CO	74.07	16	23
13	Portland-South Portland, ME	73.81	13	67
14	Provo-Orem, UT	73.39	17	20
15	Huntsville, AL	72.01	22	8
16	Portland-Vancouver-Hillsboro, OR-WA	71.43	21	22
17	Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, CT	71.39	12	142
18	Minneapolis-St. Paul-Bloomington, MN-WI	70.03	15	103
19	Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD	69.90	14	109
20	Trenton-Princeton, NJ	69.82	19	63
21	Albany-Schenectady-Troy, NY	69.76	18	77
22	Tallahassee, FL	68.79	25	21
23	San Diego-Chula Vista-Carlsbad, CA	68.64	27	13
24	Lexington-Fayette, KY	68.23	24	50
25	Hartford-East Hartford-Middletown, CT	67.31	20	121
26	New York-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA	66.41	30	24
27	New Haven-Milford, CT	66.31	23	113
28	Asheville, NC	66.17	29	53
29	Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Alpharetta, GA	66.01	32	26
30	Lansing-East Lansing, MI	65.14	26	76
31	Urban Honolulu, HI	64.58	45	10
32	Philadelphia-Camden-Wilmington, PA-NJ-DE-MD	64.46	28	81
33	Chicago-Naperville-Elgin, IL-IN-WI	64.38	38	36
34	Eugene-Springfield, OR	63.62	52	12
35	Charleston-North Charleston, SC	63.10	35	82
36	Richmond, VA	62.79	33	93
37	Rochester, NY	62.49	34	91
38	Pittsburgh, PA	62.26	43	43
39	Manchester-Nashua, NH	62.23	31	124
40	Salt Lake City, UT	62.15	48	29
41	Omaha-Council Bluffs, NE-IA	62.09	37	92
42	Worcester, MA-CT	61.97	40	71
43	Tucson, AZ	61.82	47	41
44	Virginia Beach-Norfolk-Newport News, VA-NC	61.63	55	25
45	Kansas City, MO-KS	61.34	36	114
46	St. Louis, MO-IL	61.05	39	127
47	Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC	60.90	56	31
48	Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN	60.77	50	58
49	Columbus, OH	60.58	44	95
50	Naples-Marco Island, FL	59.84	42	117
51	Sacramento-Roseville-Folsom, CA	59.54	58	34
52	Boise City, ID	59.13	57	59
53	North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL	58.70	41	138
54	Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford, FL	58.13	73	17
55	Cincinnati, OH-KY-IN	57.91	59	68
56	Milwaukee-Waukesha, WI	57.86	51	134
57	Des Moines-West Des Moines, IA	57.85	46	133
58	Santa Rosa-Petaluma, CA	57.58	54	118
59	Buffalo-Cheektowaga, NY	57.50	49	131
60	Columbia, SC	57.33	65	79
61	Spokane-Spokane Valley, WA	57.28	68	48
62	Anchorage, AK	57.15	62	83
63	Albuquerque, NM	57.09	53	129
64	Dayton-Kettering, OH	56.86	71	52
65	Indianapolis-Carmel-Anderson, IN	56.67	64	90
66	Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, FL	56.58	60	112
67	Fayetteville-Springdale-Rogers, AR	56.29	88	3
68	Syracuse, NY	56.16	63	108
69	Grand Rapids-Kentwood, MI	56.05	69	78
70	Santa Maria-Santa Barbara, CA	55.89	89	2
71	Dallas-Fort Worth-Arlington, TX	55.89	70	65
72	Jacksonville, FL	55.84	72	62
73	Miami-Fort Lauderdale-Pompano Beach, FL	55.50	86	5
74	Savannah, GA	55.35	66	94
75	Tampa-St. Petersburg-Clearwater, FL	54.33	80	46
76	Detroit-Warren-Dearborn, MI	54.30	67	128
77	Akron, OH	53.94	74	98
78	Little Rock-North Little Rock-Conway, AR	53.85	78	61
79	Birmingham-Hoover, AL	53.55	82	40
80	Ogden-Clearfield, UT	53.52	61	148
81	Harrisburg-Carlisle, PA	53.17	77	104
82	Phoenix-Mesa-Chandler, AZ	53.11	75	116
83	Oxnard-Thousand Oaks-Ventura, CA	52.95	81	57
84	Greenville-Anderson, SC	52.86	87	33
85	Houston-The Woodlands-Sugar Land, TX	52.78	99	18
86	Los Angeles-Long Beach-Anaheim, CA	52.56	102	14
87	Cleveland-Elyria, OH	52.56	76	130
88	Oklahoma City, OK	52.47	85	54
89	Peoria, IL	52.38	79	96
90	Knoxville, TN	51.65	90	38
91	Springfield, MO	51.48	96	37
92	Reno, NV	51.37	91	47
93	Louisville/Jefferson County, KY-IN	50.93	83	100
94	Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton, PA-NJ	50.85	92	55
95	Providence-Warwick, RI-MA	50.78	84	99
96	Fayetteville, NC	50.75	108	7
97	New Orleans-Metairie, LA	49.85	93	75
98	Pensacola-Ferry Pass-Brent, FL	49.76	98	70
99	Toledo, OH	49.72	97	73
100	San Antonio-New Braunfels, TX	49.65	105	32
101	Greensboro-High Point, NC	49.21	106	42
102	Chattanooga, TN-GA	48.90	101	80
103	Montgomery, AL	48.57	107	51
104	Wichita, KS	48.47	94	109
105	Jackson, MS	48.31	95	122
106	Davenport-Moline-Rock Island, IA-IL	47.87	100	132
107	Cape Coral-Fort Myers, FL	47.54	103	106
108	Winston-Salem, NC	47.21	113	39
109	Memphis, TN-MS-AR	46.83	104	111
110	Deltona-Daytona Beach-Ormond Beach, FL	46.74	110	56
111	Tulsa, OK	45.42	109	97
112	Myrtle Beach-Conway-North Myrtle Beach, SC-NC	45.39	118	30
113	Fort Wayne, IN	44.62	114	101
114	Baton Rouge, LA	44.32	116	74
115	Augusta-Richmond County, GA-SC	44.00	111	126
116	Port St. Lucie, FL	42.79	112	141
117	Killeen-Temple, TX	42.37	117	107
118	Las Vegas-Henderson-Paradise, NV	41.84	126	28
119	York-Hanover, PA	41.75	123	60
120	Springfield, MA	41.22	119	120
121	Lancaster, PA	40.85	122	89
122	Vallejo, CA	40.84	115	143
123	Canton-Massillon, OH	40.72	127	45
124	Salem, OR	40.21	120	119
125	Shreveport-Bossier City, LA	40.19	125	72
126	Scranton--Wilkes-Barre, PA	39.58	121	136
127	Mobile, AL	38.90	132	44
128	Salisbury, MD-DE	38.50	128	102
129	Flint, MI	37.87	129	115
130	Gulfport-Biloxi, MS	37.02	124	146
131	Rockford, IL	35.92	130	125
132	El Paso, TX	35.12	140	9
133	Youngstown-Warren-Boardman, OH-PA	35.03	135	84
134	Lafayette, LA	33.34	136	105
135	Huntington-Ashland, WV-KY-OH	33.30	133	144
136	Reading, PA	33.26	131	149
137	Lakeland-Winter Haven, FL	32.89	137	64
138	Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA	32.72	139	69
139	Ocala, FL	30.92	134	150
140	Corpus Christi, TX	30.02	138	137
141	Beaumont-Port Arthur, TX	27.39	143	85
142	Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, NC	26.89	141	139
143	Salinas, CA	26.32	142	140
144	Stockton, CA	25.33	145	87
145	Fresno, CA	23.90	144	135
146	Modesto, CA	17.78	146	145
147	Bakersfield, CA	16.91	147	123
148	McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX	14.10	150	15
149	Brownsville-Harlingen, TX	13.09	148	88
150	Visalia, CA	9.12	149	147

Notes: *No. 1 = Most Educated
With the exception of “Total Score,” all of the columns in the table above depict the relative rank of that MSA, where a rank of 1 represents the best conditions for that metric category.

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Note: For readability purposes, the above chart displays only 50 metro areas from a total sample of 150.

% of High School Diploma Holders

Highest

Highest
1. Portland, ME
T-2. Ann Arbor, MI
T-2. Madison, WI
4. Provo, UT
5. Colorado Springs, CO

Lowest

Lowest
146. Bakersfield, CA
147. Visalia, CA
148. Salinas, CA
149. Brownsville, TX
150. McAllen, TX

% of Associate's Degree Holders or College-Experienced Adults

Highest

Highest
1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. Provo, UT
T-3. Raleigh, NC
T-3. Madison, WI
5. Colorado Springs, CO

Lowest

Lowest
146. Modesto, CA
147. Bakersfield, CA
148. Visalia, CA
149. Brownsville, TX
150. McAllen, TX

% of Bachelor's Degree Holders

Highest

Highest
1. Ann Arbor, MI
2. San Jose, CA
3. Washington, DC
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Durham, NC

Lowest

Lowest
146. McAllen, TX
147. Beaumont, TX
148. Modesto, CA
149. Bakersfield, CA
150. Visalia, CA

% of Graduate or Professional Degree Holders

Highest

Highest
T-1. Ann Arbor, MI
T-1. San Jose, CA
T-1. Washington, DC
T-1. Durham, NC
T-1. Boston, MA

Lowest

Lowest
146. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, TX
147. Bakersfield, CA
148. Modesto, CA
T-149. Beaumont, TX
T-149. Visalia, CA

Avg. University Quality

Highest

Highest
1. New Haven, CT
2. Trenton, NJ
3. San Jose, CA
4. San Francisco, CA
5. Tallahassee, FL

Lowest

Lowest
T-128. Bakersfield, CA
T-128. North Port-Sarasota-Bradenton, FL
T-128. Ogden-Clearfield, UT
T-128. Gulfport-Biloxi, MS
T-128. Naples-Marco Island, FL

Racial Education Gap

Largest (favoring Black People)

Largest (favoring Black People)
1. Oxnard, CA
2. Portland, ME
3. Anchorage, AK
4. Reading, PA
5. Fayetteville, AR

Largest (favoring White People)

Largest (favoring White People)
141. Milwaukee, WI
142. Charleston, SC
143. Madison, WI
144. Omaha, NE
145. Bridgeport, CT

Gender Education Gap

Largest (favoring Women)

Largest (favoring Women)
1. Anchorage, AK
2. Durham, NC
3. Vallejo, CA
4. Jackson, MS
5. Salinas, CA

Largest (favoring Men)

Largest (favoring Men)
146. North Port, FL
147. Manchester, NH
148. Myrtle Beach, SC
149. Buffalo, NY
150. Albany, NY

In-Depth Look at the Most Educated Cities

Ann Arbor, MI

The Ann Arbor, MI, metro area is the most educated in the country, with nearly 96% of adults ages 25 and older having at least a high school diploma, over 58% having a bachelor’s degree and 31% having an advanced degree, all of which are among the highest rates in the country.

Ann Arbor also ranks ninth in the country when it comes to the quality of its universities, and it has the 18th-best public-school system. In addition, the metro area has a lot of equality in educational attainment, with only a 1.3% gap between the share of women and men who have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Durham, NC

The Durham, NC metro area is the second-most educated in America, with residents pursuing higher education at high rates. Over 52% of adults ages 25 and older have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 26% have a graduate or professional degree.

Durham also ranks eighth in the country for university quality and has the 16th-most summer learning opportunities per capita.

Madison, WI

The Madison, WI metro area is the third-most educated in the country, with over 49% of the population ages 25 and older having at least a bachelor’s degree and over 19% having an advanced degree.

Madison also ranks 11th among metro areas for university quality and has a decent 2% gap between the share of women and men who have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Ask the Experts

Research shows that a skilled and educated workforce provides a significant boost to the economy. For strategies aimed at increasing a city’s brainpower and the best approaches to educational development, we asked a panel of experts to share their thoughts on the following key questions:

Should local authorities target policies and programs to attract highly educated people? If so, what works?
Are highly educated cities better able to withstand economic shocks?
In your opinion, what is the most important step we can take as a country to develop a more educated and skilled workforce?
What are the top education issues in 2025?
How can the U.S. reform its immigration policy in order to attract and retain highly educated workers from abroad?

Ask the Experts

Dr. Cornell Thomas
Administrator Mentor/ Consultant and Professor at Texas Christian University
Read More

Daniel Katz
Ph.D., Assistant Professor, College of Human Development Culture and Media - Seton Hall University
Read More

Brett S. Sharp
Ph.D., MPA Director, Professor, Political Science/Public Administration - University of Central Oklahoma
Read More

Laura K. Rogers
Associate Professor of Education, Department of Education Leadership, Foundations, & Policy, School of Education & Human Development - University of Virginia
Read More

Dr. Stephen M. Brown
Professor Emeritus of Management, John F. Welch College of Business - Sacred Heart University
Read More

Luke M. Cornelius
Professor and Director of Higher Education Administration at the University of North Florida and a practicing immigration attorney
Read More

More Experts

Methodology

To identify the most and least educated cities in America, WalletHub compared the 150 most populated U.S. metropolitan statistical areas, or MSAs, across two key dimensions, including “Educational Attainment” and “Quality of Education & Attainment Gap.”

We evaluated those dimensions using 11 relevant metrics, which are listed below with their corresponding weights. Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with a score of 100 representing the highest educational attainment and quality of education. For metrics marked with two asterisks (**), we used the square root of the population to calculate the population size in order to avoid overcompensating for minor differences across cities.

Finally, we determined each metro area’s weighted average across all metrics to calculate its overall score and used the resulting scores to rank-order our sample.

Educational Attainment - Total Points: 80

Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with a High School Diploma or Higher: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with at Least Some College Experience or an Associate's Degree or Higher: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with a Bachelor's Degree or Higher: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)
Share of Adults Aged 25 & Older with a Graduate or Professional Degree: Full Weight (~20.00 Points)

Quality of Education & Attainment Gap - Total Points: 20

Quality of Public School System: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)
Note: This metric is based on GreatSchools.org’s ratings of U.S. public schools.
Average Quality of Universities: Double Weight (~4.44 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub's “College & University” rankings report.
Enrolled Students in Top 822 Universities per Capita: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric is based on WalletHub's “College & University” rankings report.
Number of Summer Learning Opportunities per Capita**: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Racial Education Gap*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric specifically measures the difference between the percentage of black bachelor’s degree holders and the percentage of their white counterparts.
Gender Education Gap*: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: This metric specifically measures the difference between the percentage of female bachelor’s degree holders and the percentage of their male counterparts.
Education Equality Index Score: Full Weight (~2.22 Points)
Note: The Education Equality Index (EEI) is a comparative measure of the achievement gap between students from low-income families, as measured by participation in the free and reduced price lunch program, and their more advantaged peers. The EEI compares the proportion of students from low-income families who are proficient on a state assessment to all students across the state who took that same grade or subject level assessment.

*Additional context: In metro areas where women have an advantage over men and black people have an advantage over white people, we gave extra credit compared to the metro areas with no gender-based/racial inequality.

Sources: Data used to create this ranking were collected as of June 2, 2025 from the U.S. Census Bureau, GreatSchools.org, GreatSchools.org - Education Equality Index, Yelp and WalletHub research.

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