Ann Arbor, Michigan, has retained its title as the most educated city in America for the second consecutive year, according to a recent study by WalletHub. The study analyzed the educational attainment levels and quality of education across 150 of the most populous metropolitan areas in the United States.
WalletHub’s rankings consider factors such as the percentage of adults with high school diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, and advanced degrees, as well as metrics for educational equality across gender and racial lines.
In Ann Arbor, over 95% of residents aged 25 and older hold a high school diploma, with 57% possessing a bachelor’s degree and approximately 30% holding an advanced degree—the highest rates among all cities surveyed. The city also boasts a minimal 1.9% gap between men and women with at least a bachelor’s degree.
Following Ann Arbor, the San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California, metro area secured the second spot, recognized for its high educational attainment levels. Washington, D.C., ranked third in the study, highlighting its robust educational infrastructure and attainment.
Stephanie Helms Pickett, head of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Antioch University and a WalletHub expert, emphasized the need for communities to rethink their public education systems to better support local economies. Pickett advocated for partnerships between higher education institutions, industry stakeholders, and local businesses to align educational programs with workforce needs effectively.
On the other end of the spectrum, WalletHub identified Visalia, California, and McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas, as the least educated cities in the U.S., reflecting significant gaps in educational attainment and quality compared to the top-ranked cities.
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