The Most and Least Educated Cities in America

Education is often an important factor in determining the health of local economies. The quality of local education, as well as the size and reach of schools, can directly influence the number and type of businesses, jobs, and social opportunities in an area. In our deep dive into education in the United States, we took a look at educational attainment levels across different metropolitan areas around the nation and examined which cities were the most and least educated.

Our study was based on data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. We analyzed data from 511 metropolitan areas and assigned a composite score to each one based on a proprietary scoring model. Our scoring model assigned points to each city based on the percentage of the population that had attained different educational attainment levels. These educational attainment levels were: high school graduate, associate’s degree holder, bachelor’s degree holder, and graduate or professional degree holder. Graduate or professional degrees include master’s degrees, doctoral graduate degrees, and professional degrees like juris doctor degrees and master of social work degrees.

Our study only included adults aged 25 or older in the study. Nationwide, 219.8 million people fit into this category. Out of those people, 197.4 million, or 89.8% of adults aged 25 or older, have attained at least a high school diploma. Also, 76.9 million people, or 35.0%, have at least a bachelor’s degree, and 28.7 million people, or 13.1%, have a graduate or professional degree.

Most Educated Cities by City Size

The population used for each city was the number of adults aged 25 or older within the metropolitan statistical area. Cities were segmented into small (<150,000 population), midsize (population between 150,000 and 500,000), and large (over 500,000 population) based on these adjusted numbers.

The majority of the most educated cities in America were small and midsize cities with major universities, but the top 50 consisted of a fairly even mix of small, midsize, and large cities.

Most Educated Cities in America

1. Boulder, CO

Boulder is a midsize city in northern Colorado that is home to the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Naropa University, a private university. University of Colorado, Boulder, is the largest university in Colorado and enrolls approximately 36,000 students every year. It is known for its research and graduate school programs and is the only university in the Rocky Mountain region to gain acceptance into the Association of American Universities. Outside the school, Boulder fields a lively atmosphere with plenty of outdoor opportunities, including ski slopes and miles of walking and biking trails.

In our study, Boulder was the city with the highest percentage of people attaining a bachelor’s degree or higher at 62.5% of the metro area population. Boulder had the fourth-highest percentage of population with a graduate or professional degree at 27.8%.

2. Lawrence, KS

Lawrence, Kansas, is a small city in northeast Kansas that is home to the University of Kansas and Haskell Indian Nations University, a tribal university. The University of Kansas is the largest public university in the state and enrolls more than 27,000 students every year. It is known for its comprehensive research and teaching facilities, and it offers more than 170 different academic programs between its undergraduate and graduate schools. The sizable student population at the University of Kansas lends Lawrence a small college town feel.

Lawrence had the second-highest percentage of population with a graduate or professional degree at 29.3%. It also had the third-highest percentage of people with a bachelor’s degree or higher at 56.2%, and the third-highest percentage with a high school diploma or higher at 96.6%. Overall, Lawrence was the most educated small city in the study.

3. Ann Arbor, MI

Ann Arbor, Michigan, is a midsize city in southern Michigan that is home to the University of Michigan, one of the top research universities in the nation and the oldest university in Michigan. Much of life and work in Ann Arbor revolve around the University of Michigan, which enrolls over 45,000 students per year and serves as an employer for over 30,000 people in the region. Ann Arbor is also a college town like many of the other cities in the top five.

Ann Arbor is the second-most educated midsize city in our study. 95.3% of people in the Ann Arbor metropolitan area have attained a high school diploma or higher. 56.4% of the population have attained at least a bachelor’s degree, which is the second-highest percentage for that educational attainment level in the nation. Lastly, 29.2% of people in the Ann Arbor metropolitan area have a graduate or professional degree, the third-highest percentage in the nation.

4. Ithaca, NY

Ithaca is a small city in central New York known for being the host of Cornell University, an Ivy League school and one of the top universities in the nation. Every year, more than 20,000 students study at Cornell University, directly bolstering the local economy and businesses. The large influx of students is also supported by students at Ithaca College, a private university, and Tompkins Cortland Community College. Together, these three schools contribute to the high rates of educational attainment in the Ithaca metropolitan area.

Among all cities in our study, Ithaca had the highest percentage with a graduate or professional degree at 30.9% of the metro area population. It also had the sixth-highest percentage with a bachelor’s degree or higher at 51.9%, and one of the highest percentages with a high school diploma or higher at 93.7% of the metro area population.

5. Corvallis, OR

Corvallis, Oregon, is a small city in western Oregon that serves as the home of Oregon State University, Oregon’s largest public research university. Oregon State University is home to more than 30,000 students every school year and functions as a major employer in the area like many other college towns. Located only an hour away from the Pacific Coast and surrounded by lush forests, Corvallis enjoys an amenable small town atmosphere with a variety of outdoor opportunities.

Corvallis had the fourth-highest percentage with a high school diploma or higher at 96.1% of the metro area population. It also had the fourth-highest percentage of people with at least a bachelor’s degree at 53.4% of the population.

Top 50 Most Educated Cities

Listed below are the top 50 most educated cities in the U.S. We include the population aged 25 and over, along with the percentage of residents with the following education levels: less than 9th grade, 9th to 12th grade with no diploma, high school graduates, some college but no degree, associate’s degree holders, bachelor’s degree holders, and graduate or professional degree holders. We also list our educational attainment score for each city.

Rank	City	City Size	Total Score	Less than 9th grade	9th to 12th grade, no diploma	High school graduate (includes equivalency)	Some college, no degree	Associate's degree	Bachelor's degree	Graduate or professional degree	Population 25 years old and over
1	Boulder, CO	Midsize	70.0	1.4%	2.8%	10.9%	16.6%	5.7%	34.7%	27.8%	216,163
2	Lawrence, KS	Small	68.3	0.9%	2.5%	14.9%	18.9%	6.6%	26.9%	29.3%	71,392
3	Ann Arbor, MI	Midsize	67.9	1.0%	3.7%	14.4%	17.4%	7.1%	27.2%	29.2%	232,636
4	Ithaca, NY	Small	66.3	2.9%	3.4%	19.3%	13.2%	9.4%	21.0%	30.9%	59,759
5	Corvallis, OR	Small	66.3	2.0%	1.9%	14.9%	20.6%	7.2%	28.2%	25.2%	55,736
6	Ames, IA	Small	66.2	1.0%	1.8%	16.0%	16.9%	13.5%	28.9%	21.8%	51,425
7	Iowa City, IA	Small	64.9	2.4%	2.3%	16.9%	18.8%	10.3%	24.2%	25.1%	103,619
8	Columbia, MO	Small	63.4	1.5%	3.3%	19.0%	20.6%	7.3%	26.0%	22.4%	107,408
9	Washington, DC	Large	63.4	4.2%	4.5%	17.9%	15.8%	6.1%	26.1%	25.4%	4,268,088
10	San Jose, CA	Large	63.2	6.1%	4.8%	14.1%	14.8%	7.4%	28.0%	24.8%	1,390,276
11	Bozeman, MT	Small	63.1	1.5%	1.8%	17.9%	23.3%	7.0%	30.2%	18.3%	71,796
12	Fort Collins, CO	Midsize	62.8	1.3%	3.5%	16.5%	21.7%	9.3%	28.3%	19.3%	232,676
13	State College, PA	Small	62.6	2.2%	3.2%	28.9%	11.6%	7.4%	23.5%	23.2%	97,947
14	Boston, MA	Large	62.2	4.3%	4.0%	21.1%	14.4%	7.0%	26.4%	22.7%	3,417,972
15	San Francisco, CA	Large	62.0	5.1%	4.8%	15.7%	16.8%	6.6%	29.9%	21.1%	3,432,405
16	Madison, WI	Midsize	61.9	1.9%	3.4%	20.8%	18.0%	10.2%	27.1%	18.6%	443,182
17	Durham, NC	Midsize	61.8	4.7%	4.7%	19.2%	15.3%	8.0%	24.4%	23.7%	391,802
18	Raleigh, NC	Large	61.5	3.3%	4.3%	17.6%	18.0%	8.8%	30.3%	17.7%	914,534
19	Bridgeport, CT	Large	61.1	5.4%	4.5%	20.6%	14.5%	6.7%	26.8%	21.6%	645,814
20	Burlington, VT	Small	61.0	1.3%	4.9%	22.9%	16.2%	9.0%	28.6%	17.1%	149,236
21	Manhattan, KS	Small	60.9	1.3%	4.1%	20.5%	22.3%	6.9%	25.7%	19.1%	51,924
22	Charlottesville, VA	Midsize	60.7	2.9%	7.6%	21.2%	15.6%	4.8%	23.9%	24.0%	159,172
23	Bloomington, IL	Small	60.4	1.0%	3.2%	25.3%	19.4%	8.1%	26.8%	16.2%	117,675
24	Barnstable Town, MA	Midsize	60.4	1.3%	4.2%	24.0%	18.7%	10.0%	22.6%	19.2%	166,596
25	Champaign, IL	Small	60.2	1.3%	4.8%	23.0%	20.2%	8.8%	20.8%	21.0%	140,821
26	Bloomington, IN	Small	60.1	1.7%	5.3%	23.6%	18.2%	8.5%	21.9%	20.8%	98,957
27	Seattle, WA	Large	59.8	3.0%	4.1%	19.1%	20.8%	9.3%	26.8%	16.8%	2,769,714
28	Portland, ME	Midsize	59.7	2.0%	2.9%	24.7%	19.5%	9.5%	25.8%	15.7%	394,599
29	Minneapolis, MN	Large	59.6	2.7%	3.5%	20.9%	19.8%	10.5%	27.8%	14.8%	2,466,476
30	Gainesville, FL	Midsize	59.5	3.9%	4.0%	21.4%	17.8%	11.4%	23.2%	18.4%	181,137
31	Missoula, MT	Small	59.5	1.2%	3.2%	20.3%	25.1%	10.6%	23.8%	15.9%	81,094
32	Denver, CO	Large	59.4	3.7%	4.9%	19.6%	19.3%	7.8%	28.3%	16.5%	2,039,409
33	Austin, TX	Large	59.2	4.9%	5.0%	18.7%	18.5%	6.3%	29.6%	16.9%	1,458,805
34	Provo, UT	Midsize	59.1	2.0%	3.6%	17.1%	24.9%	11.0%	28.3%	13.1%	315,665
35	Rochester, MN	Small	59.1	2.6%	3.6%	23.2%	17.8%	13.7%	23.0%	16.1%	149,921
36	Lincoln, NE	Midsize	58.9	2.9%	3.2%	21.6%	20.0%	11.7%	26.1%	14.4%	208,853
37	Helena, MT	Small	58.6	1.5%	4.1%	22.1%	22.9%	10.4%	23.0%	16.0%	56,224
38	Pinehurst, NC	Small	58.6	2.6%	4.6%	20.9%	20.5%	11.8%	23.3%	16.3%	71,231
39	Colorado Springs, CO	Midsize	58.2	2.1%	4.5%	19.7%	23.8%	11.3%	23.0%	15.6%	483,326
40	Olympia, WA	Midsize	58.2	1.4%	3.8%	21.6%	24.9%	10.0%	23.1%	15.1%	202,731
41	Albany, NY	Large	58.2	2.4%	5.1%	25.8%	16.8%	12.1%	20.1%	17.8%	608,198
42	Fargo, ND	Midsize	58.1	2.7%	3.1%	20.7%	20.3%	15.0%	28.1%	10.2%	154,615
43	Baltimore, MD	Large	58.1	3.0%	5.8%	24.7%	18.5%	6.7%	22.7%	18.6%	1,943,831
44	Hartford, CT	Large	58.0	3.4%	5.0%	26.1%	16.6%	8.8%	22.1%	18.0%	842,589
45	Greenfield Town, MA	Small	57.8	2.2%	5.7%	25.3%	18.1%	9.2%	22.7%	16.8%	53,672
46	Portland, OR	Large	57.7	3.1%	4.7%	20.0%	23.0%	9.2%	24.9%	15.1%	1,750,298
47	Hilton Head Island, SC	Midsize	57.6	2.3%	5.9%	25.1%	19.0%	7.8%	23.3%	16.6%	153,838
48	Des Moines, IA	Midsize	57.5	3.3%	3.5%	24.6%	19.0%	10.9%	27.0%	11.9%	434,042
49	La Crosse, WI	Small	57.5	1.9%	2.4%	27.6%	21.3%	11.6%	21.8%	13.5%	89,492
50	Morgantown, WV	Small	57.4	1.6%	5.4%	32.9%	16.0%	6.0%	18.7%	19.3%	91,251

Top 50 Least Educated Cities

Listed below are the top 50 least educated cities in the U.S.

Rank	City	City Size	Total Score	Less than 9th grade	9th to 12th grade, no diploma	High school graduate (includes equivalency)	Some college, no degree	Associate's degree	Bachelor's degree	Graduate or professional degree	Population 25 years old and over
1	Hobbs, NM	Small	35.5	11.9%	16.6%	31.3%	22.4%	6.2%	6.4%	5.2%	41,300
2	El Centro, CA	Small	35.8	14.4%	15.6%	25.5%	24.1%	6.2%	9.5%	4.6%	111,825
3	Merced, CA	Midsize	36.1	17.0%	13.2%	27.2%	21.9%	6.1%	9.3%	5.4%	163,014
4	Madera, CA	Small	36.1	20.3%	11.1%	23.2%	22.2%	7.9%	10.8%	4.6%	99,401
5	McAllen, TX	Midsize	36.2	20.0%	13.7%	24.0%	18.5%	5.2%	13.2%	5.5%	489,388
6	Laredo, TX	Midsize	36.8	18.7%	15.4%	21.4%	17.3%	7.3%	14.7%	5.2%	153,546
7	Brownsville, TX	Midsize	37.1	17.3%	13.2%	27.6%	17.8%	7.2%	11.8%	5.2%	250,704
8	Dalton, GA	Small	37.1	14.3%	13.8%	32.1%	17.9%	6.7%	10.4%	4.8%	93,514
9	Visalia, CA	Midsize	37.6	18.5%	10.4%	25.5%	21.4%	8.3%	10.1%	5.8%	275,220
10	Opelousas, LA	Small	38.2	9.0%	14.2%	41.6%	16.9%	4.6%	8.7%	5.1%	53,097
11	Gallup, NM	Small	38.5	7.6%	14.2%	34.1%	25.7%	6.5%	6.1%	5.8%	44,305
12	Hanford, CA	Small	38.5	12.6%	13.3%	25.0%	24.4%	10.0%	10.1%	4.7%	94,303
13	Bakersfield, CA	Large	38.7	12.5%	13.7%	26.8%	23.0%	7.8%	10.4%	5.8%	547,240
14	Yakima, WA	Midsize	39.1	13.9%	12.7%	27.7%	20.7%	8.3%	10.2%	6.6%	152,659
15	Odessa, TX	Small	39.3	10.2%	13.9%	30.0%	23.0%	6.9%	10.8%	5.3%	96,980
16	Martinsville, VA	Small	39.3	9.3%	13.9%	33.5%	19.3%	9.9%	9.9%	4.3%	47,747
17	Lumberton, NC	Small	39.4	8.0%	14.7%	30.0%	23.0%	10.6%	9.2%	4.5%	85,742
18	Yuma, AZ	Small	39.6	11.7%	12.7%	27.1%	23.6%	8.0%	11.5%	5.3%	135,113
19	Roswell, NM	Small	39.8	12.8%	10.4%	25.2%	28.1%	7.4%	10.2%	5.9%	42,081
20	Moses Lake, WA	Small	39.8	15.6%	8.4%	26.3%	24.6%	7.8%	12.6%	4.7%	59,642
21	Fort Payne, AL	Small	39.9	13.9%	10.3%	29.8%	19.8%	11.4%	8.2%	6.7%	48,169
22	Houma, LA	Small	40.4	9.2%	12.1%	39.5%	17.4%	5.3%	10.6%	6.0%	139,779
23	Talladega, AL	Small	40.6	3.6%	15.2%	35.3%	24.8%	6.5%	9.2%	5.3%	66,908
24	Cullman, AL	Small	41.1	4.7%	12.9%	31.1%	26.8%	12.5%	8.4%	3.7%	58,319
25	Roanoke Rapids, NC	Small	41.3	6.4%	11.7%	40.2%	18.6%	9.0%	8.9%	5.3%	50,219
26	Modesto, CA	Midsize	41.3	9.9%	9.9%	31.0%	25.0%	7.7%	11.4%	5.2%	348,796
27	Lufkin, TX	Small	41.4	10.5%	8.6%	31.4%	25.2%	7.4%	12.4%	4.4%	57,205
28	Vineland, NJ	Small	41.5	8.1%	12.8%	35.8%	17.6%	9.2%	9.8%	6.8%	102,903
29	North Wilkesboro, NC	Small	41.6	6.8%	13.7%	28.7%	23.2%	11.0%	11.7%	4.9%	49,741
30	Danville, VA	Small	41.6	6.1%	11.8%	36.2%	22.2%	8.4%	10.4%	4.9%	72,884
31	Athens, TX	Small	41.7	4.8%	12.4%	33.4%	28.0%	5.2%	11.8%	4.6%	57,739
32	Show Low, AZ	Small	41.8	5.8%	10.5%	31.3%	30.5%	7.6%	8.2%	6.0%	72,071
33	Palatka, FL	Small	41.8	4.9%	9.9%	43.5%	18.5%	10.8%	8.2%	4.0%	52,404
34	Yuba City, CA	Small	42.2	10.0%	10.8%	21.8%	28.4%	10.9%	11.9%	6.1%	113,305
35	Stockton, CA	Midsize	42.3	11.0%	8.9%	30.8%	21.5%	9.9%	12.4%	5.5%	475,624
36	Sevierville, TN	Small	42.3	5.8%	9.4%	36.5%	26.0%	7.4%	9.6%	5.2%	70,273
37	Morristown, TN	Small	42.5	8.6%	9.6%	39.0%	17.7%	8.1%	10.9%	6.2%	83,120
38	Hermiston, OR	Small	42.5	10.2%	8.8%	29.7%	23.8%	9.7%	11.9%	5.8%	57,129
39	London, KY	Small	42.6	7.0%	11.0%	39.4%	18.8%	6.5%	8.9%	8.3%	84,821
40	Salinas, CA	Midsize	42.6	18.1%	9.5%	21.0%	18.1%	8.5%	14.7%	10.1%	277,909
41	Lake City, FL	Small	42.6	5.2%	8.7%	36.9%	25.7%	10.9%	7.9%	4.7%	49,290
42	Russellville, AR	Small	42.6	6.1%	10.8%	38.1%	20.9%	6.5%	12.4%	5.2%	56,350
43	Rome, GA	Small	42.6	6.7%	11.9%	36.8%	18.5%	9.2%	10.0%	7.0%	65,529
44	Fresno, CA	Large	42.7	13.6%	9.7%	22.6%	23.0%	9.3%	14.4%	7.4%	614,887
45	LaGrange, GA	Small	42.8	5.4%	9.2%	38.2%	25.7%	5.6%	10.0%	5.9%	44,510
46	Mount Airy, NC	Small	43.1	8.2%	10.5%	30.7%	20.7%	12.5%	12.0%	5.4%	50,905
47	Marion, OH	Small	43.1	2.9%	6.8%	47.7%	23.7%	7.7%	6.9%	4.4%	45,697
48	Lake Havasu City, AZ	Midsize	43.1	3.6%	9.4%	34.5%	30.0%	8.3%	9.7%	4.6%	160,767
49	Coos Bay, OR	Small	43.1	2.3%	11.9%	27.4%	35.1%	7.8%	10.2%	5.3%	48,685
50	Portsmouth, OH	Small	43.2	3.2%	10.8%	44.9%	18.4%	7.6%	9.1%	6.0%	52,325

Cities with the Most High School Graduates or Above

Cities with the highest proportion of high school graduates are listed in this following table. The top 10 cities were mostly small cities, many of which host universities.

Rank	City	Percent high school graduate or higher
1	Ames, IA	97.1%
2	Bozeman, MT	96.7%
3	Lawrence, KS	96.6%
4	Corvallis, OR	96.1%
5	Marquette, MI	96.1%
6	Truckee, CA	96.0%
7	Billings, MT	95.9%
8	Bloomington, IL	95.8%
9	Boulder, CO	95.8%
10	La Crosse, WI	95.8%
11	Missoula, MT	95.7%
12	Bremerton, WA	95.4%
13	Oak Harbor, WA	95.4%
14	Ann Arbor, MI	95.3%
15	Iowa City, IA	95.3%
16	Columbia, MO	95.2%
17	Portland, ME	95.2%
18	Fort Collins, CO	95.1%
19	Madison, WI	94.8%
20	Kalispell, MT	94.7%
21	Olympia, WA	94.7%
22	State College, PA	94.7%
23	Manhattan, KS	94.6%
24	Barnstable Town, MA	94.5%
25	Bismarck, ND	94.4%
26	Helena, MT	94.4%
27	Pittsburgh, PA	94.4%
28	Provo, UT	94.4%
29	Rapid City, SD	94.4%
30	Anchorage, AK	94.2%
31	Duluth, MN	94.2%
32	Fargo, ND	94.2%
33	Brainerd, MN	94.1%
34	Cheyenne, WY	94.1%
35	Grand Forks, ND	94.1%
36	Traverse City, MI	94.0%
37	Burlington, VT	93.9%
38	Lincoln, NE	93.9%
39	Cedar Rapids, IA	93.8%
40	Champaign, IL	93.8%
41	Midland, MI	93.8%
42	Minneapolis, MN	93.8%
43	Port Angeles, WA	93.8%
44	Stevens Point, WI	93.8%
45	Augusta, ME	93.7%
46	Concord, NH	93.7%
47	Eau Claire, WI	93.7%
48	Ithaca, NY	93.7%
49	Lewiston, ID	93.7%
50	Rochester, MN	93.7%
51	Appleton, WI	93.6%
52	Casper, WY	93.6%
53	Lansing, MI	93.6%
54	Fairbanks, AK	93.5%
55	Torrington, CT	93.5%
56	Colorado Springs, CO	93.4%
57	Logan, UT	93.4%
58	Sioux Falls, SD	93.4%
59	Spokane, WA	93.4%
60	Des Moines, IA	93.3%
61	Muskegon, MI	93.3%
62	St. George, UT	93.3%
63	Sheboygan, WI	93.2%
64	Ogden, UT	93.1%
65	Bloomington, IN	93.0%
66	Claremont, NH	93.0%
67	Mankato, MN	93.0%
68	Monroe, MI	93.0%
69	Morgantown, WV	93.0%
70	Pittsfield, MA	93.0%
71	Seattle, WA	92.9%
72	Pinehurst, NC	92.8%
73	Quincy, IL	92.8%
74	Clarksville, TN	92.7%
75	Grants Pass, OR	92.6%
76	Keene, NH	92.6%
77	Pensacola, FL	92.6%
78	Springfield, IL	92.6%
79	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	92.6%
80	Albany, NY	92.5%
81	Altoona, PA	92.5%
82	Bend, OR	92.5%
83	Green Bay, WI	92.5%
84	Pocatello, ID	92.5%
85	Watertown, WI	92.5%
86	Wheeling, WV	92.5%
87	Bellingham, WA	92.4%
88	Grand Rapids, MI	92.4%
89	Hilo, HI	92.4%
90	Kahului, HI	92.4%
91	Manchester, NH	92.4%
92	Ocean City, NJ	92.4%
93	Raleigh, NC	92.4%
94	Stillwater, OK	92.4%
95	Boise City, ID	92.3%
96	Idaho Falls, ID	92.3%
97	Akron, OH	92.2%
98	Coeur d'Alene, ID	92.2%
99	Dubuque, IA	92.2%
100	Great Falls, MT	92.2%
101	Johnstown, PA	92.2%
102	Kansas City, MO	92.2%
103	St. Louis, MO	92.2%
104	Wausau, WI	92.2%
105	Wilmington, NC	92.2%
106	Columbus, OH	92.1%
107	Gainesville, FL	92.1%
108	Greenfield Town, MA	92.1%
109	Oshkosh, WI	92.1%
110	Portland, OR	92.1%
111	Auburn, AL	92.0%
112	Bangor, ME	92.0%
113	Fond du Lac, WI	92.0%
114	Kalamazoo, MI	92.0%
115	Kapaa, HI	92.0%
116	Palm Bay, FL	92.0%
117	Peoria, IL	92.0%
118	St. Cloud, MN	92.0%
119	Virginia Beach, VA	92.0%
120	Waterloo, IA	92.0%
121	Bloomsburg, PA	91.9%
122	Canton, OH	91.9%
123	Erie, PA	91.9%
124	Eugene, OR	91.9%
125	North Port, FL	91.9%
126	Athens, OH	91.8%
127	Charleston, SC	91.8%
128	Findlay, OH	91.8%
129	Hilton Head Island, SC	91.8%
130	Lafayette, IN	91.8%
131	Meadville, PA	91.8%
132	Urban Honolulu, HI	91.8%
133	Boston, MA	91.7%
134	Columbus, IN	91.7%
135	Topeka, KS	91.7%
136	Cumberland, MD	91.6%
137	Norwich, CT	91.6%
138	Omaha, NE	91.6%
139	Watertown, NY	91.6%
140	Carbondale, IL	91.5%
141	Hartford, CT	91.5%
142	Milwaukee, WI	91.5%
143	The Villages, FL	91.5%
144	Buffalo, NY	91.4%
145	Cincinnati, OH	91.4%
146	Denver, CO	91.4%
147	Beaver Dam, WI	91.3%
148	Crestview, FL	91.3%
149	Dayton, OH	91.3%
150	Glenwood Springs, CO	91.3%
151	Janesville, WI	91.3%
152	Mount Pleasant, MI	91.3%
153	Salt Lake City, UT	91.3%
154	Washington, DC	91.3%
155	Worcester, MA	91.3%
156	Baltimore, MD	91.2%
157	Battle Creek, MI	91.2%
158	Deltona, FL	91.2%
159	Marinette, WI	91.2%
160	Owensboro, KY	91.2%
161	Terre Haute, IN	91.2%
162	Eureka, CA	91.1%
163	Manitowoc, WI	91.1%
164	Philadelphia, PA	91.1%
165	San Luis Obispo, CA	91.1%
166	Williamsport, PA	91.1%
167	Davenport, IA	91.0%
168	Harrisburg, PA	91.0%
169	Saginaw, MI	91.0%
170	Chico, CA	90.9%
171	Cleveland, OH	90.9%
172	Flint, MI	90.9%
173	Lima, OH	90.9%
174	Columbia, SC	90.8%
175	Evansville, IN	90.8%
176	Mount Vernon, WA	90.8%
177	Myrtle Beach, SC	90.8%
178	New Castle, PA	90.8%
179	Racine, WI	90.8%
180	Toledo, OH	90.8%
181	Asheville, NC	90.7%
182	California, MD	90.7%
183	Jacksonville, FL	90.7%
184	Morehead City, NC	90.7%
185	Sandusky, OH	90.7%
186	Savannah, GA	90.7%
187	Durham, NC	90.6%
188	Faribault, MN	90.6%
189	Fayetteville, NC	90.6%
190	Hot Springs, AR	90.6%
191	Kingston, NY	90.6%
192	Springfield, MO	90.6%
193	Weirton, WV	90.6%
194	Binghamton, NY	90.5%
195	Corning, NY	90.5%
196	Danville, IL	90.5%
197	Grand Junction, CO	90.5%
198	Jackson, MI	90.5%
199	Plattsburgh, NY	90.5%
200	Rochester, NY	90.5%
201	Scranton, PA	90.5%
202	Indiana, PA	90.4%
203	Jacksonville, NC	90.4%
204	Jefferson City, MO	90.4%
205	Lexington, KY	90.4%
206	New Haven, CT	90.4%
207	Owosso, MI	90.4%
208	Wichita, KS	90.4%
209	Allentown, PA	90.3%
210	Marion, OH	90.3%
211	Minot, ND	90.3%
212	Paducah, KY	90.3%
213	Parkersburg, WV	90.3%
214	Syracuse, NY	90.3%
215	Daphne, AL	90.2%
216	Detroit, MI	90.2%
217	Hutchinson, KS	90.2%
218	Key West, FL	90.2%
219	Longview, WA	90.2%
220	Ogdensburg, NY	90.2%
221	Panama City, FL	90.2%
222	Salem, OH	90.2%
223	Whitewater, WI	90.2%
224	Atlanta, GA	90.1%
225	Austin, TX	90.1%
226	Bridgeport, CT	90.1%
227	Holland, MI	90.1%
228	Huntsville, AL	90.1%
229	Killeen, TX	90.1%
230	Little Rock, AR	90.1%
231	Lynchburg, VA	90.1%
232	Pueblo, CO	90.1%
233	San Francisco, CA	90.1%
234	East Stroudsburg, PA	90.0%
235	Gulfport, MS	90.0%
236	Hinesville, GA	90.0%
237	Nashville, TN	90.0%
238	York, PA	90.0%
239	Youngstown, OH	90.0%
240	Sherman, TX	89.9%
241	Blacksburg, VA	89.8%
242	Homosassa Springs, FL	89.8%
243	Lewiston, ME	89.8%
244	Louisville, KY	89.8%
245	Reno, NV	89.8%
246	Tampa, FL	89.8%
247	Tulsa, OK	89.8%
248	Sacramento, CA	89.7%
249	Somerset, PA	89.7%
250	Sunbury, PA	89.7%
251	Tuscaloosa, AL	89.7%
252	Utica, NY	89.7%
253	Adrian, MI	89.6%
254	Cape Coral, FL	89.6%
255	Decatur, IL	89.6%
256	Indianapolis, IN	89.6%
257	Medford, OR	89.6%
258	Monroe, LA	89.6%
259	Niles, MI	89.6%
260	Oklahoma City, OK	89.6%
261	Prescott, AZ	89.6%
262	Roanoke, VA	89.6%
263	Charlottesville, VA	89.5%
264	Elizabethtown, KY	89.5%
265	Jackson, MS	89.5%
266	Orangeburg, SC	89.5%
267	Orlando, FL	89.5%
268	Richmond, VA	89.5%
269	South Bend, IN	89.5%
270	St. Joseph, MO	89.5%
271	Centralia, WA	89.4%
272	Charlotte, NC	89.4%
273	Enid, OK	89.4%
274	Flagstaff, AZ	89.4%
275	Gettysburg, PA	89.4%
276	Olean, NY	89.4%
277	Punta Gorda, FL	89.4%
278	Tallahassee, FL	89.3%
279	Bay City, MI	89.2%
280	Fort Wayne, IN	89.2%
281	Roseburg, OR	89.2%
282	San Jose, CA	89.1%
283	Shawnee, OK	89.1%
284	Texarkana, TX	89.1%
285	Vallejo, CA	89.1%
286	Zanesville, OH	89.1%
287	Birmingham, AL	89.0%
288	Chicago, IL	89.0%
289	Greeley, CO	89.0%
290	New Bern, NC	89.0%
291	Ottawa, IL	89.0%
292	Huntington, WV	88.9%
293	Knoxville, TN	88.9%
294	Pottsville, PA	88.9%
295	Frankfort, KY	88.8%
296	Jamestown, NY	88.8%
297	Pine Bluff, AR	88.8%
298	Salisbury, MD	88.8%
299	Santa Rosa, CA	88.8%
300	Carson City, NV	88.7%
301	Sebastian, FL	88.6%
302	Sioux City, IA	88.6%
303	Athens, GA	88.5%
304	Auburn, NY	88.5%
305	Chambersburg, PA	88.5%
306	Glens Falls, NY	88.5%
307	Muncie, IN	88.5%
308	San Angelo, TX	88.5%
309	Albuquerque, NM	88.4%
310	Redding, CA	88.4%
311	Santa Fe, NM	88.4%
312	Grand Island, NE	88.3%
313	Tucson, AZ	88.3%
314	Baton Rouge, LA	88.2%
315	Chattanooga, TN	88.2%
316	Hagerstown, MD	88.2%
317	Lawton, OK	88.2%
318	Michigan City, IN	88.2%
319	Warner Robins, GA	88.2%
320	Cape Girardeau, MO	88.1%
321	Charleston, WV	88.1%
322	Gadsden, AL	88.1%
323	Port St. Lucie, FL	88.1%
324	Rockford, IL	88.1%
325	Branson, MO	88.0%
326	Burlington, NC	88.0%
327	Cookeville, TN	88.0%
328	Phoenix, AZ	88.0%
329	Springfield, OH	88.0%
330	Memphis, TN	87.9%
331	Providence, RI	87.9%
332	Walla Walla, WA	87.9%
333	Atlantic City, NJ	87.8%
334	Clarksburg, WV	87.8%
335	DuBois, PA	87.8%
336	Elmira, NY	87.8%
337	Florence, AL	87.8%
338	Rocky Mount, NC	87.8%
339	Ukiah, CA	87.8%
340	Winchester, VA	87.8%
341	Aberdeen, WA	87.7%
342	Albany, OR	87.7%
343	Augusta, GA	87.7%
344	Jackson, TN	87.7%
345	Kokomo, IN	87.7%
346	Lebanon, PA	87.7%
347	New Orleans, LA	87.7%
348	Ocala, FL	87.7%
349	Richmond, KY	87.7%
350	Wichita Falls, TX	87.7%
351	Greenville, NC	87.6%
352	Richmond, IN	87.6%
353	Columbus, GA	87.5%
354	Joplin, MO	87.5%
355	Kankakee, IL	87.5%
356	Johnson City, TN	87.4%
357	Sierra Vista, AZ	87.4%
358	Wooster, OH	87.4%
359	Abilene, TX	87.3%
360	Jefferson, GA	87.3%
361	San Diego, CA	87.3%
362	Staunton, VA	87.3%
363	College Station, TX	87.2%
364	Greensboro, NC	87.2%
365	Muskogee, OK	87.2%
366	Springfield, MA	87.2%
367	Dunn, NC	87.1%
368	Klamath Falls, OR	87.1%
369	Lake Charles, LA	87.1%
370	Lake Havasu City, AZ	87.1%
371	Naples, FL	87.1%
372	New York, NY	87.1%
373	Amarillo, TX	87.0%
374	Warsaw, IN	87.0%
375	Trenton, NJ	86.9%
376	Fayetteville, AR	86.8%
377	Hammond, LA	86.8%
378	Jonesboro, AR	86.8%
379	Kingsport, TN	86.8%
380	Shreveport, LA	86.8%
381	Spartanburg, SC	86.8%
382	Farmington, MO	86.7%
383	Alexandria, LA	86.6%
384	Sebring, FL	86.6%
385	Elizabeth City, NC	86.5%
386	Montgomery, AL	86.5%
387	Greenville, SC	86.4%
388	New Philadelphia, OH	86.4%
389	Reading, PA	86.4%
390	Mansfield, OH	86.3%
391	Santa Cruz, CA	86.3%
392	Lubbock, TX	86.2%
393	Winston-Salem, NC	86.2%
394	Dallas, TX	86.1%
395	Harrisonburg, VA	86.1%
396	Lake City, FL	86.1%
397	Miami, FL	86.1%
398	Salem, OR	86.1%
399	Statesboro, GA	86.1%
400	Tyler, TX	86.1%
401	Hattiesburg, MS	86.0%
402	Huntsville, TX	86.0%
403	Meridian, MS	86.0%
404	Portsmouth, OH	86.0%
405	Bowling Green, KY	85.9%
406	Chillicothe, OH	85.9%
407	Las Vegas, NV	85.9%
408	Coos Bay, OR	85.8%
409	Mobile, AL	85.8%
410	Macon, GA	85.7%
411	Napa, CA	85.7%
412	Searcy, AR	85.7%
413	Marshall, TX	85.6%
414	LaGrange, GA	85.4%
415	Victoria, TX	85.4%
416	Farmington, NM	85.3%
417	Marion, IN	85.3%
418	Oxnard, CA	85.3%
419	Sumter, SC	85.3%
420	Tullahoma, TN	85.3%
421	Ashtabula, OH	85.2%
422	Palatka, FL	85.2%
423	Valdosta, GA	85.2%
424	Lakeland, FL	85.1%
425	San Antonio, TX	85.1%
426	Greeneville, TN	85.0%
427	Waco, TX	85.0%
428	Beaumont, TX	84.9%
429	Lancaster, PA	84.9%
430	Dothan, AL	84.8%
431	Seneca, SC	84.8%
432	Anniston, AL	84.7%
433	Longview, TX	84.7%
434	Sevierville, TN	84.7%
435	Alamogordo, NM	84.6%
436	Kennewick, WA	84.6%
437	Bluefield, WV	84.5%
438	Brunswick, GA	84.4%
439	Cleveland, TN	84.3%
440	Goldsboro, NC	84.3%
441	Beckley, WV	84.2%
442	Florence, SC	84.2%
443	Twin Falls, ID	84.1%
444	Clearlake, CA	84.0%
445	Lafayette, LA	84.0%
446	Shelby, NC	84.0%
447	Dover, DE	83.9%
448	Decatur, AL	83.8%
449	Hickory, NC	83.8%
450	Laurel, MS	83.8%
451	Forest City, NC	83.7%
452	Houston, TX	83.7%
453	Show Low, AZ	83.7%
454	Midland, TX	83.6%
455	Fort Smith, AR	83.3%
456	Greenwood, SC	83.3%
457	Russellville, AR	83.1%
458	Tupelo, MS	83.0%
459	Athens, TX	82.9%
460	Albany, GA	82.8%
461	Albertville, AL	82.7%
462	Wenatchee, WA	82.7%
463	Corpus Christi, TX	82.6%
464	Cullman, AL	82.5%
465	Nacogdoches, TX	82.3%
466	Danville, VA	82.1%
467	London, KY	82.0%
468	Morristown, TN	81.9%
469	Roanoke Rapids, NC	81.9%
470	Riverside, CA	81.8%
471	Elkhart, IN	81.7%
472	Santa Maria, CA	81.5%
473	Rome, GA	81.4%
474	Mount Airy, NC	81.3%
475	Talladega, AL	81.1%
476	Hermiston, OR	81.0%
477	Los Angeles, CA	81.0%
478	Lufkin, TX	80.9%
479	Modesto, CA	80.2%
480	Stockton, CA	80.2%
481	Wilson, NC	80.0%
482	Las Cruces, NM	79.6%
483	North Wilkesboro, NC	79.5%
484	Vineland, NJ	79.2%
485	Yuba City, CA	79.2%
486	Houma, LA	78.8%
487	Gainesville, GA	78.7%
488	Gallup, NM	78.2%
489	El Paso, TX	77.9%
490	Lumberton, NC	77.3%
491	Martinsville, VA	76.8%
492	Opelousas, LA	76.8%
493	Roswell, NM	76.8%
494	Fresno, CA	76.7%
495	Moses Lake, WA	76.0%
496	Odessa, TX	75.9%
497	Fort Payne, AL	75.7%
498	Yuma, AZ	75.6%
499	Hanford, CA	74.1%
500	Bakersfield, CA	73.8%
501	Yakima, WA	73.5%
502	Salinas, CA	72.4%
503	Dalton, GA	71.9%
504	Hobbs, NM	71.5%
505	Visalia, CA	71.1%
506	El Centro, CA	69.9%
507	Merced, CA	69.8%
508	Brownsville, TX	69.5%
509	Madera, CA	68.6%
510	McAllen, TX	66.3%
511	Laredo, TX	65.9%

Cities with the Most College Graduates or Above

Below, the cities with the highest proportion of residents who hold a bachelor’s or above are ranked. This metric includes those who have completed a graduate or professional degree. Boulder, CO, home of the University of Colorado, takes the top spot. The small and midsize college towns in the top 10 are joined by the big cities of Washington, D.C.; San Jose; and San Francisco.

Rank	City	Percent bachelor's degree or higher
1	Boulder, CO	62.5%
2	Ann Arbor, MI	56.4%
3	Lawrence, KS	56.2%
4	Corvallis, OR	53.4%
5	San Jose, CA	52.9%
6	Ithaca, NY	51.9%
7	Washington, DC	51.6%
8	San Francisco, CA	51.0%
9	Ames, IA	50.7%
10	Iowa City, IA	49.3%
11	Boston, MA	49.1%
12	Bozeman, MT	48.5%
13	Bridgeport, CT	48.4%
14	Columbia, MO	48.4%
15	Durham, NC	48.1%
16	Raleigh, NC	48.0%
17	Charlottesville, VA	47.8%
18	Fort Collins, CO	47.6%
19	State College, PA	46.7%
20	Austin, TX	46.6%
21	Burlington, VT	45.7%
22	Madison, WI	45.7%
23	Manhattan, KS	44.9%
24	Denver, CO	44.8%
25	Seattle, WA	43.6%
26	Bloomington, IL	43.0%
27	Bloomington, IN	42.6%
28	Minneapolis, MN	42.6%
29	Trenton, NJ	42.2%
30	Barnstable Town, MA	41.8%
31	Champaign, IL	41.8%
32	Gainesville, FL	41.6%
33	Portland, ME	41.5%
34	Provo, UT	41.4%
35	Baltimore, MD	41.2%
36	New York, NY	41.1%
37	College Station, TX	40.6%
38	Lincoln, NE	40.6%
39	Athens, GA	40.4%
40	Huntsville, AL	40.3%
41	Hartford, CT	40.1%
42	Santa Cruz, CA	40.1%
43	Portland, OR	40.0%
44	Hilton Head Island, SC	39.9%
45	Missoula, MT	39.7%
46	Glenwood Springs, CO	39.6%
47	Pinehurst, NC	39.6%
48	Greenfield Town, MA	39.5%
49	Atlanta, GA	39.4%
50	Santa Fe, NM	39.4%
51	Rochester, MN	39.1%
52	Des Moines, IA	38.9%
53	Helena, MT	38.9%
54	Colorado Springs, CO	38.6%
55	Manchester, NH	38.6%
56	Chicago, IL	38.5%
57	San Diego, CA	38.4%
58	Fargo, ND	38.3%
59	Naples, FL	38.3%
60	Lexington, KY	38.2%
61	Olympia, WA	38.2%
62	Morgantown, WV	38.1%
63	Philadelphia, PA	38.1%
64	Richmond, VA	38.1%
65	Wilmington, NC	38.1%
66	Logan, UT	38.0%
67	Albany, NY	37.9%
68	Columbus, OH	37.7%
69	Stillwater, OK	37.7%
70	Truckee, CA	37.4%
71	Claremont, NH	37.1%
72	Kansas City, MO	37.0%
73	Charleston, SC	36.5%
74	Omaha, NE	36.5%
75	Tallahassee, FL	36.4%
76	Rochester, NY	36.3%
77	Asheville, NC	36.2%
78	Charlotte, NC	36.1%
79	Lafayette, IN	36.1%
80	Santa Rosa, CA	36.1%
81	Flagstaff, AZ	36.0%
82	Milwaukee, WI	36.0%
83	Bend, OR	35.9%
84	Nashville, TN	35.9%
85	Worcester, MA	35.9%
86	Dallas, TX	35.5%
87	Pittsburgh, PA	35.5%
88	La Crosse, WI	35.3%
89	Salt Lake City, UT	35.2%
90	Urban Honolulu, HI	35.2%
91	New Haven, CT	35.1%
92	Indianapolis, IN	35.0%
93	Concord, NH	34.9%
94	Napa, CA	34.9%
95	Ocean City, NJ	34.8%
96	Santa Maria, CA	34.8%
97	St. Louis, MO	34.8%
98	California, MD	34.7%
99	Pittsfield, MA	34.7%
100	San Luis Obispo, CA	34.7%
101	Los Angeles, CA	34.6%
102	Kalamazoo, MI	34.5%
103	Auburn, AL	34.3%
104	Lansing, MI	34.3%
105	Sacramento, CA	34.3%
106	Oak Harbor, WA	34.2%
107	Cincinnati, OH	34.0%
108	Bellingham, WA	33.9%
109	Key West, FL	33.9%
110	Sioux Falls, SD	33.9%
111	Anchorage, AK	33.7%
112	Bremerton, WA	33.7%
113	Buffalo, NY	33.7%
114	Grand Rapids, MI	33.7%
115	Blacksburg, VA	33.3%
116	Columbus, IN	33.3%
117	Traverse City, MI	33.3%
118	Akron, OH	33.2%
119	Torrington, CT	33.2%
120	Houston, TX	33.1%
121	Miami, FL	33.1%
122	Norwich, CT	33.1%
123	Orlando, FL	33.1%
124	Mankato, MN	33.0%
125	Springfield, IL	33.0%
126	Virginia Beach, VA	33.0%
127	Billings, MT	32.9%
128	Springfield, MA	32.9%
129	Albuquerque, NM	32.8%
130	Cleveland, OH	32.7%
131	Harrisburg, PA	32.7%
132	Jackson, MS	32.6%
133	Oxnard, CA	32.5%
134	North Port, FL	32.4%
135	Hattiesburg, MS	32.2%
136	Boise City, ID	32.1%
137	Keene, NH	32.1%
138	Marquette, MI	32.0%
139	Midland, MI	32.0%
140	Ogden, UT	32.0%
141	Stevens Point, WI	32.0%
142	Greenville, NC	31.9%
143	Phoenix, AZ	31.9%
144	Providence, RI	31.9%
145	Syracuse, NY	31.9%
146	Bismarck, ND	31.8%
147	Detroit, MI	31.8%
148	Jacksonville, FL	31.7%
149	Kingston, NY	31.7%
150	Rapid City, SD	31.7%
151	Fayetteville, AR	31.6%
152	Cedar Rapids, IA	31.5%
153	Tucson, AZ	31.5%
154	Daphne, AL	31.4%
155	Kapaa, HI	31.4%
156	Reno, NV	31.3%
157	Wichita, KS	31.2%
158	Kalispell, MT	31.1%
159	Palm Bay, FL	31.1%
160	St. George, UT	31.1%
161	Columbia, SC	31.0%
162	Savannah, GA	30.9%
163	The Villages, FL	30.9%
164	Dubuque, IA	30.8%
165	Greenville, SC	30.8%
166	Tampa, FL	30.8%
167	Crestview, FL	30.7%
168	Oklahoma City, OK	30.7%
169	Dayton, OH	30.6%
170	New Orleans, LA	30.6%
171	Harrisonburg, VA	30.4%
172	Appleton, WI	30.2%
173	Birmingham, AL	30.2%
174	Louisville, KY	30.2%
175	Eugene, OR	30.1%
176	Spokane, WA	30.1%
177	Eureka, CA	30.0%
178	Grand Junction, CO	30.0%
179	Greensboro, NC	30.0%
180	Idaho Falls, ID	29.9%
181	South Bend, IN	29.9%
182	Sebastian, FL	29.8%
183	Bloomsburg, PA	29.7%
184	Port Angeles, WA	29.7%
185	Roanoke, VA	29.7%
186	Hilo, HI	29.6%
187	Little Rock, AR	29.6%
188	Allentown, PA	29.5%
189	Kahului, HI	29.5%
190	Niles, MI	29.5%
191	Waterloo, IA	29.5%
192	Cape Coral, FL	29.3%
193	Lubbock, TX	29.2%
194	Fairbanks, AK	29.0%
195	Athens, OH	28.9%
196	Montgomery, AL	28.9%
197	Jefferson City, MO	28.8%
198	Atlantic City, NJ	28.7%
199	Knoxville, TN	28.7%
200	Las Cruces, NM	28.7%
201	Baton Rouge, LA	28.6%
202	Peoria, IL	28.6%
203	Lancaster, PA	28.5%
204	Memphis, TN	28.5%
205	Morehead City, NC	28.5%
206	Mount Pleasant, MI	28.5%
207	Faribault, MN	28.4%
208	Richmond, KY	28.3%
209	Topeka, KS	28.3%
210	Tyler, TX	28.3%
211	Watertown, WI	28.3%
212	Statesboro, GA	28.2%
213	Binghamton, NY	28.1%
214	Duluth, MN	28.1%
215	Grand Forks, ND	28.1%
216	Medford, OR	28.1%
217	Bangor, ME	28.0%
218	Carbondale, IL	28.0%
219	Erie, PA	27.8%
220	Pocatello, ID	27.8%
221	Warner Robins, GA	27.8%
222	Clarksville, TN	27.7%
223	Davenport, IA	27.7%
224	Fort Wayne, IN	27.7%
225	Lynchburg, VA	27.7%
226	Pensacola, FL	27.7%
227	Vallejo, CA	27.7%
228	Walla Walla, WA	27.7%
229	Wausau, WI	27.7%
230	Tulsa, OK	27.6%
231	Johnson City, TN	27.5%
232	Midland, TX	27.5%
233	San Antonio, TX	27.5%
234	Greeley, CO	27.4%
235	Kennewick, WA	27.4%
236	Cape Girardeau, MO	27.3%
237	Eau Claire, WI	27.3%
238	Glens Falls, NY	27.3%
239	Tuscaloosa, AL	27.3%
240	St. Cloud, MN	27.2%
241	Augusta, ME	27.1%
242	Green Bay, WI	27.0%
243	Plattsburgh, NY	26.9%
244	Port St. Lucie, FL	26.9%
245	Quincy, IL	26.9%
246	Salisbury, MD	26.9%
247	Mount Vernon, WA	26.8%
248	Toledo, OH	26.8%
249	Springfield, MO	26.7%
250	Brunswick, GA	26.6%
251	Chattanooga, TN	26.6%
252	Whitewater, WI	26.6%
253	Cheyenne, WY	26.5%
254	Minot, ND	26.4%
255	Myrtle Beach, SC	26.4%
256	Prescott, AZ	26.4%
257	Amarillo, TX	26.3%
258	Winchester, VA	26.3%
259	Augusta, GA	26.2%
260	Chico, CA	26.2%
261	Seneca, SC	26.0%
262	Evansville, IN	25.9%
263	Coeur d'Alene, ID	25.8%
264	Fayetteville, NC	25.8%
265	Winston-Salem, NC	25.8%
266	Burlington, NC	25.7%
267	Racine, WI	25.7%
268	Wenatchee, WA	25.7%
269	York, PA	25.6%
270	Utica, NY	25.5%
271	Findlay, OH	25.4%
272	Scranton, PA	25.4%
273	Bowling Green, KY	25.3%
274	Frankfort, KY	25.3%
275	Oshkosh, WI	25.2%
276	Hutchinson, KS	25.1%
277	Reading, PA	25.1%
278	Staunton, VA	25.1%
279	Casper, WY	25.0%
280	Muncie, IN	25.0%
281	Williamsport, PA	25.0%
282	Salinas, CA	24.8%
283	Abilene, TX	24.7%
284	Deltona, FL	24.7%
285	Jonesboro, AR	24.7%
286	Las Vegas, NV	24.6%
287	Salem, OR	24.5%
288	Brainerd, MN	24.4%
289	Corning, NY	24.4%
290	Indiana, PA	24.4%
291	Great Falls, MT	24.3%
292	Lafayette, LA	24.3%
293	New Bern, NC	24.3%
294	Enid, OK	24.2%
295	Gainesville, GA	24.2%
296	San Angelo, TX	24.1%
297	Sheboygan, WI	24.0%
298	Waco, TX	24.0%
299	Jacksonville, NC	23.8%
300	Ukiah, CA	23.7%
301	Jefferson, GA	23.6%
302	El Paso, TX	23.5%
303	Gettysburg, PA	23.5%
304	Punta Gorda, FL	23.5%
305	Grand Island, NE	23.4%
306	Gulfport, MS	23.4%
307	Shreveport, LA	23.4%
308	Dover, DE	23.3%
309	Holland, MI	23.3%
310	Charleston, WV	23.2%
311	Columbus, GA	23.2%
312	Decatur, AL	23.2%
313	Lawton, OK	23.2%
314	Spartanburg, SC	23.2%
315	Killeen, TX	23.1%
316	Ogdensburg, NY	23.0%
317	Searcy, AR	23.0%
318	Macon, GA	22.9%
319	Wichita Falls, TX	22.9%
320	Wooster, OH	22.9%
321	Jackson, TN	22.8%
322	Rockford, IL	22.8%
323	Sioux City, IA	22.8%
324	Watertown, NY	22.7%
325	Wheeling, WV	22.7%
326	Albertville, AL	22.6%
327	Monroe, MI	22.6%
328	Panama City, FL	22.6%
329	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	22.6%
330	Kokomo, IN	22.5%
331	Sandusky, OH	22.5%
332	Carson City, NV	22.4%
333	Huntington, WV	22.4%
334	Paducah, KY	22.4%
335	Wilson, NC	22.4%
336	Mobile, AL	22.3%
337	Flint, MI	22.2%
338	Laurel, MS	22.2%
339	Redding, CA	22.2%
340	Youngstown, OH	22.2%
341	Janesville, WI	22.1%
342	Joplin, MO	22.1%
343	Monroe, LA	22.1%
344	Adrian, MI	22.0%
345	East Stroudsburg, PA	22.0%
346	Battle Creek, MI	21.9%
347	Cookeville, TN	21.9%
348	Elizabeth City, NC	21.9%
349	Hot Springs, AR	21.9%
350	Riverside, CA	21.9%
351	St. Joseph, MO	21.9%
352	Tupelo, MS	21.9%
353	Florence, SC	21.8%
354	Fresno, CA	21.8%
355	Greenwood, SC	21.8%
356	Manitowoc, WI	21.8%
357	Muskogee, OK	21.8%
358	Pueblo, CO	21.8%
359	Sierra Vista, AZ	21.8%
360	Terre Haute, IN	21.8%
361	Warsaw, IN	21.8%
362	Albany, OR	21.7%
363	Jamestown, NY	21.7%
364	Lake Charles, LA	21.7%
365	Nacogdoches, TX	21.7%
366	Owensboro, KY	21.7%
367	Auburn, NY	21.4%
368	Dunn, NC	21.4%
369	Hagerstown, MD	21.4%
370	Johnstown, PA	21.4%
371	Canton, OH	21.3%
372	Decatur, IL	21.3%
373	Florence, AL	21.3%
374	Klamath Falls, OR	21.3%
375	Fond du Lac, WI	21.2%
376	Kingsport, TN	21.2%
377	Corpus Christi, TX	21.1%
378	Shawnee, OK	21.1%
379	Sherman, TX	21.1%
380	Jackson, MI	21.0%
381	Chambersburg, PA	20.9%
382	Lewiston, ID	20.8%
383	Meadville, PA	20.8%
384	New Castle, PA	20.7%
385	Alamogordo, NM	20.6%
386	Lebanon, PA	20.6%
387	Saginaw, MI	20.6%
388	Altoona, PA	20.5%
389	Elmira, NY	20.5%
390	Valdosta, GA	20.5%
391	Victoria, TX	20.3%
392	Parkersburg, WV	20.1%
393	Rocky Mount, NC	20.1%
394	Sumter, SC	20.1%
395	Elkhart, IN	20.0%
396	Huntsville, TX	20.0%
397	Marshall, TX	20.0%
398	Roseburg, OR	20.0%
399	Gadsden, AL	19.9%
400	Laredo, TX	19.9%
401	Ocala, FL	19.9%
402	Dothan, AL	19.7%
403	Hickory, NC	19.7%
404	Kankakee, IL	19.7%
405	Lakeland, FL	19.7%
406	Muskegon, MI	19.7%
407	Lewiston, ME	19.5%
408	Twin Falls, ID	19.5%
409	Bay City, MI	19.4%
410	Clarksburg, WV	19.4%
411	Cumberland, MD	19.4%
412	Michigan City, IN	19.3%
413	Branson, MO	19.2%
414	Springfield, OH	19.2%
415	Texarkana, TX	19.2%
416	Elizabethtown, KY	19.1%
417	Fort Smith, AR	19.1%
418	Hammond, LA	19.1%
419	Tullahoma, TN	19.1%
420	Cleveland, TN	18.9%
421	New Philadelphia, OH	18.8%
422	Olean, NY	18.8%
423	McAllen, TX	18.7%
424	Salem, OH	18.7%
425	Alexandria, LA	18.6%
426	Bluefield, WV	18.6%
427	Centralia, WA	18.6%
428	Richmond, IN	18.5%
429	Clearlake, CA	18.4%
430	Owosso, MI	18.4%
431	Shelby, NC	18.4%
432	Albany, GA	18.3%
433	Homosassa Springs, FL	18.3%
434	Mansfield, OH	18.3%
435	Beaumont, TX	18.2%
436	Anniston, AL	18.0%
437	Yuba City, CA	18.0%
438	Greeneville, TN	17.9%
439	Stockton, CA	17.9%
440	Orangeburg, SC	17.8%
441	Ottawa, IL	17.8%
442	Hermiston, OR	17.7%
443	Russellville, AR	17.7%
444	Lima, OH	17.4%
445	Longview, TX	17.4%
446	Mount Airy, NC	17.4%
447	London, KY	17.3%
448	Moses Lake, WA	17.3%
449	Sebring, FL	17.2%
450	Morristown, TN	17.1%
451	Beckley, WV	17.0%
452	Brownsville, TX	17.0%
453	Goldsboro, NC	17.0%
454	Longview, WA	17.0%
455	Ashtabula, OH	16.9%
456	Lufkin, TX	16.9%
457	Rome, GA	16.9%
458	Yakima, WA	16.8%
459	Yuma, AZ	16.8%
460	Hinesville, GA	16.7%
461	Marinette, WI	16.7%
462	Pottsville, PA	16.7%
463	Weirton, WV	16.7%
464	Houma, LA	16.6%
465	Modesto, CA	16.6%
466	North Wilkesboro, NC	16.6%
467	Vineland, NJ	16.6%
468	Beaver Dam, WI	16.5%
469	Athens, TX	16.4%
470	Forest City, NC	16.4%
471	Pine Bluff, AR	16.4%
472	Grants Pass, OR	16.3%
473	Bakersfield, CA	16.2%
474	Farmington, NM	16.2%
475	Sunbury, PA	16.2%
476	Zanesville, OH	16.2%
477	Danville, IL	16.1%
478	Odessa, TX	16.1%
479	Roswell, NM	16.1%
480	Chillicothe, OH	16.0%
481	LaGrange, GA	16.0%
482	Meridian, MS	15.9%
483	Visalia, CA	15.9%
484	Farmington, MO	15.8%
485	Somerset, PA	15.7%
486	Coos Bay, OR	15.5%
487	Danville, VA	15.4%
488	DuBois, PA	15.4%
489	Madera, CA	15.4%
490	Dalton, GA	15.2%
491	Portsmouth, OH	15.2%
492	Fort Payne, AL	14.9%
493	Marion, IN	14.9%
494	Sevierville, TN	14.8%
495	Hanford, CA	14.7%
496	Merced, CA	14.6%
497	Talladega, AL	14.5%
498	Lake Havasu City, AZ	14.3%
499	Show Low, AZ	14.3%
500	Martinsville, VA	14.2%
501	Aberdeen, WA	14.1%
502	El Centro, CA	14.1%
503	Roanoke Rapids, NC	14.1%
504	Opelousas, LA	13.8%
505	Lumberton, NC	13.7%
506	Lake City, FL	12.7%
507	Palatka, FL	12.3%
508	Cullman, AL	12.1%
509	Gallup, NM	11.9%
510	Hobbs, NM	11.6%
511	Marion, OH	11.3%

Cities with the Most People with Graduate Degrees

In the table below, we list the cities with the highest percentage of residents who hold a graduate or professional degree. The top 10 cities are mostly college towns, led by Ithaca, NY, which is home to Cornell University, but the large cities of Washington, D.C. and San Jose, CA take the 5th and 8th spots on this list.

Rank	City	Graduate or professional degree
1	Ithaca, NY	30.9%
2	Lawrence, KS	29.3%
3	Ann Arbor, MI	29.2%
4	Boulder, CO	27.8%
5	Washington, DC	25.4%
6	Corvallis, OR	25.2%
7	Iowa City, IA	25.1%
8	San Jose, CA	24.8%
9	Charlottesville, VA	24.0%
10	Durham, NC	23.7%
11	State College, PA	23.2%
12	Boston, MA	22.7%
13	Columbia, MO	22.4%
14	Ames, IA	21.8%
15	Bridgeport, CT	21.6%
16	San Francisco, CA	21.1%
17	Champaign, IL	21.0%
18	Bloomington, IN	20.8%
19	Santa Fe, NM	20.4%
20	Trenton, NJ	20.2%
21	Athens, GA	19.9%
22	Fort Collins, CO	19.3%
23	Morgantown, WV	19.3%
24	Barnstable Town, MA	19.2%
25	Manhattan, KS	19.1%
26	College Station, TX	18.8%
27	Baltimore, MD	18.6%
28	Madison, WI	18.6%
29	Gainesville, FL	18.4%
30	Bozeman, MT	18.3%
31	Hartford, CT	18.0%
32	Albany, NY	17.8%
33	Raleigh, NC	17.7%
34	New York, NY	17.3%
35	Blacksburg, VA	17.2%
36	Burlington, VT	17.1%
37	Claremont, NH	17.0%
38	Austin, TX	16.9%
39	Santa Cruz, CA	16.9%
40	Greenfield Town, MA	16.8%
41	Seattle, WA	16.8%
42	Concord, NH	16.6%
43	Hilton Head Island, SC	16.6%
44	New Haven, CT	16.6%
45	Denver, CO	16.5%
46	Rochester, NY	16.4%
47	Pinehurst, NC	16.3%
48	Bloomington, IL	16.2%
49	Lexington, KY	16.2%
50	Rochester, MN	16.1%
51	Helena, MT	16.0%
52	Missoula, MT	15.9%
53	Tallahassee, FL	15.8%
54	Portland, ME	15.7%
55	Colorado Springs, CO	15.6%
56	Naples, FL	15.6%
57	Philadelphia, PA	15.6%
58	Chicago, IL	15.5%
59	Athens, OH	15.3%
60	San Diego, CA	15.3%
61	Huntsville, AL	15.1%
62	Olympia, WA	15.1%
63	Portland, OR	15.1%
64	Atlanta, GA	15.0%
65	Buffalo, NY	14.9%
66	Minneapolis, MN	14.8%
67	Syracuse, NY	14.8%
68	Flagstaff, AZ	14.7%
69	Richmond, VA	14.7%
70	Santa Maria, CA	14.7%
71	Stillwater, OK	14.7%
72	Albuquerque, NM	14.5%
73	Lafayette, IN	14.5%
74	Manchester, NH	14.5%
75	Oak Harbor, WA	14.5%
76	Lincoln, NE	14.4%
77	Pittsfield, MA	14.4%
78	Springfield, MA	14.4%
79	Midland, MI	14.3%
80	Plattsburgh, NY	14.2%
81	Santa Rosa, CA	14.2%
82	St. Louis, MO	14.2%
83	Auburn, AL	14.1%
84	California, MD	14.1%
85	Key West, FL	14.1%
86	Torrington, CT	14.1%
87	Worcester, MA	14.1%
88	Carbondale, IL	14.0%
89	Pittsburgh, PA	14.0%
90	The Villages, FL	14.0%
91	Columbus, OH	13.9%
92	Norwich, CT	13.9%
93	Asheville, NC	13.8%
94	Kingston, NY	13.8%
95	Lansing, MI	13.7%
96	Kansas City, MO	13.6%
97	La Crosse, WI	13.5%
98	Columbus, IN	13.4%
99	Kalamazoo, MI	13.4%
100	Milwaukee, WI	13.4%
101	North Port, FL	13.4%
102	Logan, UT	13.3%
103	Cincinnati, OH	13.2%
104	Anchorage, AK	13.1%
105	Bend, OR	13.1%
106	Dayton, OH	13.1%
107	Harrisonburg, VA	13.1%
108	Mount Pleasant, MI	13.1%
109	Provo, UT	13.1%
110	Salt Lake City, UT	13.1%
111	Tucson, AZ	13.1%
112	Jackson, MS	13.0%
113	Akron, OH	12.9%
114	Charleston, SC	12.9%
115	Omaha, NE	12.9%
116	San Luis Obispo, CA	12.9%
117	Savannah, GA	12.9%
118	Bellingham, WA	12.8%
119	Cleveland, OH	12.8%
120	Nashville, TN	12.8%
121	Providence, RI	12.8%
122	Statesboro, GA	12.8%
123	Virginia Beach, VA	12.8%
124	Corning, NY	12.7%
125	Detroit, MI	12.7%
126	Glens Falls, NY	12.6%
127	Springfield, IL	12.6%
128	Bloomsburg, PA	12.5%
129	Fayetteville, AR	12.5%
130	Miami, FL	12.5%
131	Binghamton, NY	12.4%
132	Dallas, TX	12.4%
133	Indianapolis, IN	12.4%
134	Port Angeles, WA	12.4%
135	Fairbanks, AK	12.3%
136	Richmond, KY	12.3%
137	Traverse City, MI	12.2%
138	Columbia, SC	12.1%
139	Oxnard, CA	12.1%
140	Sacramento, CA	12.1%
141	Urban Honolulu, HI	12.1%
142	Wilmington, NC	12.1%
143	Harrisburg, PA	12.0%
144	Houston, TX	12.0%
145	Los Angeles, CA	12.0%
146	Montgomery, AL	12.0%
147	Ocean City, NJ	12.0%
148	Charlotte, NC	11.9%
149	Des Moines, IA	11.9%
150	Hattiesburg, MS	11.9%
151	Louisville, KY	11.9%
152	Ogdensburg, NY	11.9%
153	Reno, NV	11.9%
154	South Bend, IN	11.9%
155	St. George, UT	11.9%
156	Crestview, FL	11.8%
157	Little Rock, AR	11.8%
158	Truckee, CA	11.8%
159	Bremerton, WA	11.7%
160	Indiana, PA	11.7%
161	Muncie, IN	11.7%
162	Phoenix, AZ	11.7%
163	Knoxville, TN	11.6%
164	Orlando, FL	11.6%
165	Wichita, KS	11.6%
166	Winchester, VA	11.6%
167	Eugene, OR	11.5%
168	Greenville, SC	11.5%
169	Johnson City, TN	11.5%
170	Palm Bay, FL	11.5%
171	Jacksonville, FL	11.4%
172	Dubuque, IA	11.3%
173	Grand Rapids, MI	11.3%
174	Keene, NH	11.3%
175	Oklahoma City, OK	11.3%
176	Utica, NY	11.3%
177	Allentown, PA	11.2%
178	Brunswick, GA	11.2%
179	Napa, CA	11.2%
180	Tuscaloosa, AL	11.2%
181	New Orleans, LA	11.1%
182	Warner Robins, GA	11.1%
183	Birmingham, AL	11.0%
184	Kennewick, WA	11.0%
185	Cape Coral, FL	10.9%
186	Roanoke, VA	10.9%
187	Salisbury, MD	10.9%
188	Sebastian, FL	10.9%
189	Tampa, FL	10.9%
190	Erie, PA	10.8%
191	Daphne, AL	10.7%
192	Grand Junction, CO	10.7%
193	Greenville, NC	10.7%
194	Spokane, WA	10.7%
195	Walla Walla, WA	10.7%
196	Glenwood Springs, CO	10.6%
197	Lancaster, PA	10.6%
198	Las Cruces, NM	10.6%
199	Lynchburg, VA	10.6%
200	Medford, OR	10.6%
201	Memphis, TN	10.6%
202	Rapid City, SD	10.6%
203	Springfield, MO	10.6%
204	Atlantic City, NJ	10.5%
205	Hilo, HI	10.5%
206	Morehead City, NC	10.5%
207	Sioux Falls, SD	10.5%
208	Toledo, OH	10.5%
209	Boise City, ID	10.4%
210	Kahului, HI	10.4%
211	Mankato, MN	10.4%
212	Niles, MI	10.4%
213	Peoria, IL	10.4%
214	Cape Girardeau, MO	10.3%
215	Gettysburg, PA	10.3%
216	Lawton, OK	10.3%
217	Port St. Lucie, FL	10.3%
218	Bowling Green, KY	10.2%
219	Fargo, ND	10.2%
220	Greensboro, NC	10.2%
221	Tyler, TX	10.2%
222	Augusta, GA	10.1%
223	Augusta, ME	10.1%
224	Bangor, ME	10.1%
225	Baton Rouge, LA	10.1%
226	Columbus, GA	10.1%
227	Cookeville, TN	10.1%
228	Kalispell, MT	10.1%
229	Lubbock, TX	10.1%
230	Prescott, AZ	10.1%
231	Salinas, CA	10.1%
232	San Antonio, TX	10.0%
233	Charleston, WV	9.9%
234	Pensacola, FL	9.9%
235	Seneca, SC	9.9%
236	Dover, DE	9.8%
237	Frankfort, KY	9.8%
238	Jefferson City, MO	9.8%
239	Ogden, UT	9.8%
240	Duluth, MN	9.7%
241	Findlay, OH	9.7%
242	Jamestown, NY	9.7%
243	Wenatchee, WA	9.7%
244	Chattanooga, TN	9.6%
245	Eureka, CA	9.6%
246	Fort Wayne, IN	9.6%
247	Marquette, MI	9.6%
248	Pocatello, ID	9.6%
249	Topeka, KS	9.6%
250	Billings, MT	9.5%
251	St. Cloud, MN	9.5%
252	Huntington, WV	9.4%
253	Stevens Point, WI	9.4%
254	Waterloo, IA	9.4%
255	Appleton, WI	9.3%
256	Idaho Falls, ID	9.3%
257	Punta Gorda, FL	9.3%
258	Scranton, PA	9.3%
259	Whitewater, WI	9.3%
260	Clarksville, TN	9.2%
261	Holland, MI	9.2%
262	Kapaa, HI	9.2%
263	Macon, GA	9.2%
264	Staunton, VA	9.2%
265	Watertown, NY	9.2%
266	Casper, WY	9.1%
267	Davenport, IA	9.1%
268	Jefferson, GA	9.1%
269	Myrtle Beach, SC	9.1%
270	Olean, NY	9.1%
271	Quincy, IL	9.1%
272	Racine, WI	9.1%
273	Winston-Salem, NC	9.1%
274	Wooster, OH	9.1%
275	Coeur d'Alene, ID	9.0%
276	East Stroudsburg, PA	9.0%
277	Mount Vernon, WA	9.0%
278	Reading, PA	9.0%
279	Wausau, WI	9.0%
280	Cedar Rapids, IA	8.9%
281	Chico, CA	8.9%
282	Eau Claire, WI	8.9%
283	Fayetteville, NC	8.9%
284	Hutchinson, KS	8.9%
285	New Bern, NC	8.9%
286	Paducah, KY	8.9%
287	Rockford, IL	8.9%
288	Vallejo, CA	8.9%
289	Elizabethtown, KY	8.8%
290	Elmira, NY	8.8%
291	Gulfport, MS	8.8%
292	Sierra Vista, AZ	8.8%
293	Tulsa, OK	8.8%
294	Ukiah, CA	8.8%
295	York, PA	8.8%
296	Cheyenne, WY	8.7%
297	Gainesville, GA	8.7%
298	Jonesboro, AR	8.7%
299	Laurel, MS	8.7%
300	Sandusky, OH	8.7%
301	Warsaw, IN	8.7%
302	Auburn, NY	8.6%
303	Evansville, IN	8.6%
304	Florence, SC	8.6%
305	Great Falls, MT	8.6%
306	Elizabeth City, NC	8.5%
307	Faribault, MN	8.5%
308	Grand Forks, ND	8.5%
309	Las Vegas, NV	8.5%
310	Waco, TX	8.5%
311	Watertown, WI	8.5%
312	Wichita Falls, TX	8.5%
313	Deltona, FL	8.4%
314	Greeley, CO	8.4%
315	Owensboro, KY	8.4%
316	Redding, CA	8.4%
317	Searcy, AR	8.4%
318	Shawnee, OK	8.4%
319	Altoona, PA	8.3%
320	Chambersburg, PA	8.3%
321	Farmington, MO	8.3%
322	London, KY	8.3%
323	Salem, OR	8.3%
324	Spartanburg, SC	8.3%
325	Jackson, TN	8.2%
326	Terre Haute, IN	8.2%
327	Tullahoma, TN	8.2%
328	Twin Falls, ID	8.2%
329	Albertville, AL	8.1%
330	Sheboygan, WI	8.1%
331	Tupelo, MS	8.1%
332	Anniston, AL	8.0%
333	El Paso, TX	8.0%
334	Flint, MI	8.0%
335	New Philadelphia, OH	8.0%
336	Sherman, TX	8.0%
337	Wisconsin Rapids, WI	8.0%
338	Youngstown, OH	8.0%
339	Abilene, TX	7.9%
340	Green Bay, WI	7.9%
341	Kingsport, TN	7.9%
342	Midland, TX	7.9%
343	Shreveport, LA	7.9%
344	Valdosta, GA	7.9%
345	Williamsport, PA	7.9%
346	Albany, GA	7.8%
347	Bismarck, ND	7.8%
348	Hot Springs, AR	7.8%
349	Kankakee, IL	7.8%
350	Killeen, TX	7.8%
351	Orangeburg, SC	7.8%
352	Panama City, FL	7.8%
353	Riverside, CA	7.8%
354	Cleveland, TN	7.7%
355	Enid, OK	7.7%
356	Florence, AL	7.7%
357	Gadsden, AL	7.7%
358	Janesville, WI	7.7%
359	Kokomo, IN	7.7%
360	Monroe, MI	7.7%
361	Saginaw, MI	7.7%
362	Wilson, NC	7.7%
363	Clarksburg, WV	7.6%
364	Lima, OH	7.6%
365	Meadville, PA	7.6%
366	Mobile, AL	7.6%
367	Wheeling, WV	7.6%
368	Alamogordo, NM	7.5%
369	Amarillo, TX	7.5%
370	Cumberland, MD	7.5%
371	Decatur, AL	7.5%
372	Klamath Falls, OR	7.5%
373	Brainerd, MN	7.4%
374	Canton, OH	7.4%
375	Fresno, CA	7.4%
376	Jacksonville, NC	7.4%
377	Lafayette, LA	7.4%
378	Pueblo, CO	7.4%
379	Albany, OR	7.3%
380	Battle Creek, MI	7.3%
381	Corpus Christi, TX	7.3%
382	Decatur, IL	7.3%
383	Nacogdoches, TX	7.3%
384	Parkersburg, WV	7.3%
385	Richmond, IN	7.3%
386	Beckley, WV	7.2%
387	Hagerstown, MD	7.2%
388	Jackson, MI	7.2%
389	Sioux City, IA	7.2%
390	Sumter, SC	7.2%
391	Bay City, MI	7.1%
392	Clearlake, CA	7.1%
393	Dunn, NC	7.1%
394	Greenwood, SC	7.1%
395	Johnstown, PA	7.1%
396	Dothan, AL	7.0%
397	Monroe, LA	7.0%
398	Rome, GA	7.0%
399	Burlington, NC	6.9%
400	Farmington, NM	6.9%
401	Lake Charles, LA	6.9%
402	Marion, IN	6.9%
403	Oshkosh, WI	6.9%
404	Owosso, MI	6.9%
405	San Angelo, TX	6.9%
406	Adrian, MI	6.8%
407	Elkhart, IN	6.8%
408	Lakeland, FL	6.8%
409	Lebanon, PA	6.8%
410	Mansfield, OH	6.8%
411	Vineland, NJ	6.8%
412	Weirton, WV	6.8%
413	Ashtabula, OH	6.7%
414	Centralia, WA	6.7%
415	Chillicothe, OH	6.7%
416	Fort Payne, AL	6.7%
417	Muskogee, OK	6.7%
418	Salem, OH	6.7%
419	Shelby, NC	6.7%
420	Fort Smith, AR	6.6%
421	Huntsville, TX	6.6%
422	Ocala, FL	6.6%
423	Yakima, WA	6.6%
424	Minot, ND	6.5%
425	Muskegon, MI	6.5%
426	Alexandria, LA	6.4%
427	Bluefield, WV	6.4%
428	Branson, MO	6.4%
429	Hinesville, GA	6.4%
430	Michigan City, IN	6.4%
431	Carson City, NV	6.3%
432	Grand Island, NE	6.3%
433	Greeneville, TN	6.3%
434	Homosassa Springs, FL	6.3%
435	Joplin, MO	6.3%
436	DuBois, PA	6.2%
437	Morristown, TN	6.2%
438	Sebring, FL	6.2%
439	Springfield, OH	6.2%
440	St. Joseph, MO	6.2%
441	Fond du Lac, WI	6.1%
442	Yuba City, CA	6.1%
443	Danville, IL	6.0%
444	Houma, LA	6.0%
445	Portsmouth, OH	6.0%
446	Show Low, AZ	6.0%
447	Victoria, TX	6.0%
448	Zanesville, OH	6.0%
449	Forest City, NC	5.9%
450	LaGrange, GA	5.9%
451	Manitowoc, WI	5.9%
452	Meridian, MS	5.9%
453	Roswell, NM	5.9%
454	Texarkana, TX	5.9%
455	Bakersfield, CA	5.8%
456	Gallup, NM	5.8%
457	Hermiston, OR	5.8%
458	Hickory, NC	5.8%
459	Lewiston, ID	5.8%
460	Longview, TX	5.8%
461	Marshall, TX	5.8%
462	Visalia, CA	5.8%
463	Grants Pass, OR	5.7%
464	Hammond, LA	5.7%
465	Lewiston, ME	5.7%
466	Roseburg, OR	5.7%
467	McAllen, TX	5.5%
468	Pine Bluff, AR	5.5%
469	Stockton, CA	5.5%
470	Sunbury, PA	5.5%
471	Longview, WA	5.4%
472	Merced, CA	5.4%
473	Mount Airy, NC	5.4%
474	Ottawa, IL	5.4%
475	Rocky Mount, NC	5.4%
476	Somerset, PA	5.4%
477	Coos Bay, OR	5.3%
478	Odessa, TX	5.3%
479	Roanoke Rapids, NC	5.3%
480	Talladega, AL	5.3%
481	Yuma, AZ	5.3%
482	Brownsville, TX	5.2%
483	Hobbs, NM	5.2%
484	Laredo, TX	5.2%
485	Marinette, WI	5.2%
486	Modesto, CA	5.2%
487	Russellville, AR	5.2%
488	Sevierville, TN	5.2%
489	Opelousas, LA	5.1%
490	Beaumont, TX	5.0%
491	Pottsville, PA	5.0%
492	Danville, VA	4.9%
493	Goldsboro, NC	4.9%
494	New Castle, PA	4.9%
495	North Wilkesboro, NC	4.9%
496	Dalton, GA	4.8%
497	Hanford, CA	4.7%
498	Lake City, FL	4.7%
499	Moses Lake, WA	4.7%
500	Aberdeen, WA	4.6%
501	Athens, TX	4.6%
502	El Centro, CA	4.6%
503	Lake Havasu City, AZ	4.6%
504	Madera, CA	4.6%
505	Lumberton, NC	4.5%
506	Beaver Dam, WI	4.4%
507	Lufkin, TX	4.4%
508	Marion, OH	4.4%
509	Martinsville, VA	4.3%
510	Palatka, FL	4.0%
511	Cullman, AL	3.7%

Methodology

AdvisorSmith’s study on the Most and Least Educated Cities in America was based upon data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s American Community Survey. This data set provided data on educational attainment levels for 511 U.S. metropolitan and micropolitan areas, which we refer to as cities.

In particular, the data provides an estimate for 2018 of each city’s population aged 25 or older. It also provides an estimate of the percentage of the population in each city with the following levels of educational attainment: less than 9th grade; 9th to 12th grade, no diploma; high school graduates, including high school equivalency diplomas; some college, no degree; associate’s degree holders; bachelor’s degree holders; and graduate or professional degree holders.

Our study applied a scoring model to each city, assigning points for high school graduates, associate’s degree holders, bachelor’s degree holders, and graduate or professional degree holders. Higher point scores were allocated to each successively higher level of educational attainment. We multiplied the scores for each level of educational attainment by the proportion of the population who had attained that level of education to produce a composite score for each city.

We ranked all 511 cities by our educational attainment score to produce this study. Additionally, we also provided a ranking of cities by population. Cities were sorted into three classifications: small cities with populations of 150,000 or less, midsize cities with populations between 150,000-500,000, and large cities with populations above 500,000. The populations used were the metropolitan statistical area population of adults aged 25 or older, so city size did not consider the population of residents under 25 years of age.

As supplemental data, we also provided the rank of cities by the proportion of high school graduates and above, college graduates and above, and graduate/professional school graduates and above.

Sources

[1] U.S. Census Bureau American Community Survey