Love it or hate it, higher education still holds a major place in American life. While some might see a degree as just a status symbol, the reality is that certain degrees can genuinely boost an individual’s earning potential. On a larger scale, the overall education level of a population can have a big impact on the country’s economic stability.
Back in 2020, WalletHub conducted a study to find the most and least educated cities in the United States. They analyzed the top 150 metropolitan areas by population size, focusing on the education levels of people aged 25 and older. Cities were scored based on the types of degrees held, the quality of local schools, the number of students, and how accessible higher education was for marginalized groups. Extra points were awarded for closing racial and gender education gaps, especially when those gaps favored minorities or women.
So, did your city make the cut? Let’s find out!
Least: Beaumont, Texas
Beaumont, Texas, lands in the bottom 10, ranking 140 out of 150. The city scored the lowest in the percentage of residents with bachelor’s degrees and graduate or professional degrees, meaning higher education is pretty rare here.
On the bright side, Beaumont earned extra credit for its significant gender education gap, favoring women. In this city, women are outpacing men when it comes to pursuing higher education—a small win in an otherwise low-ranking spot.
Most: Austin, Texas
Austin, Texas, may not have cracked the top five in any specific category, but it still secured its spot as the 9th most educated city overall.
Interestingly, Austin is the only Texas city to make the top 10, while the state also has several cities landing in the bottom 10. Curious to see where Texas fell short when it comes to education? Keep reading to find out!
Least: Corpus Christi, Texas
Corpus Christi, Texas, came dangerously close to landing in the bottom 10, ranking 139 out of 150 metropolitan areas.
While the city didn’t stand out for anything particularly negative, it did earn extra credit from WalletHub for having a significant racial education gap that favors Black residents. In Corpus Christi, Black individuals are more educated than the majority of white residents—a positive distinction that isn’t often seen in other parts of the country.
Most: Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan, topped the charts in several categories tested by WalletHub, earning the title of the most educated city in the United States. The city boasts the highest population percentage with high school diplomas, associate degrees or college experience, bachelor’s degrees, and professional or graduate degrees. Talk about a well-educated community!
Ann Arbor also ranked among the top five cities for the highest quality universities. As for education gaps by race and gender, the city didn’t rank positively or negatively, indicating fairly equal opportunities for everyone across the board.
Least: McAllen, Texas
McAllen, Texas, sits right on the border with Mexico, but when it comes to education, it’s struggling to keep up. The city has the lowest percentage of high school diplomas in the nation and ties with Brownsville for the smallest share of residents with associate degrees or college experience. Out of 150 metro areas, McAllen ranks near the bottom at 148.
It doesn’t stop there—McAllen is also in the bottom five for the percentage of professional or graduate degrees. While the city offers opportunities for those crossing the border in search of education and employment, it’s clear there’s still a long way to go to match the educational standards seen elsewhere in the United States.
Most: San Jose, California
San Jose, California, proudly claims the title of the second-most educated city in the United States. One of its standout achievements is tying with Ann Arbor and a few others for the highest percentage of residents holding professional or graduate degrees.
The city also shines as one of the top five in the nation for the percentage of bachelor’s degree holders. While it didn’t make the top five for high school diplomas, it’s clear that San Jose has plenty of high school graduates, given its impressive numbers of bachelor’s and graduate degree earners.
Least: Brownsville, Texas
Brownsville, Texas, holds the unfortunate title of the second least educated city in the United States, ranking 149 out of 150. It scored the lowest in the nation for the percentage of residents with associate degrees or college experience, as well as for university quality.
The city also landed in the bottom five for the percentage of high school diplomas, bachelor’s degrees, and professional or graduate degrees. It seems the phrase “Don’t mess with Texas” doesn’t quite extend to their education system.
Most: Washington D.C.
Washington, D.C., unsurprisingly boasts a highly educated population, being home to the nation’s capital. It’s part of the notable tie for the highest percentage of residents with professional or graduate degrees.
The city also ranks among the top five metropolitan areas with the highest percentage of bachelor’s degree holders. This level of education contributes to D.C.’s abundance of high-paying job opportunities and its elevated standards of living. Overall, Washington, D.C., secures an impressive 3rd place in the rankings.
Least: Lafayette, Louisiana
Kicking off the list of the least educated cities in the United States is Lafayette, Louisiana, which ranks 136 out of 150 metropolitan areas in WalletHub’s study.
The city also finds itself in the bottom five for the lowest percentage of residents with an associate degree or college experience. While there are colleges in the area, it seems many students either move away after graduation or find that pursuing higher education locally isn’t as accessible as it could be.
Most: Durham, North Carolina
Durham, North Carolina, is part of the tie for the highest percentage of residents with professional or graduate degrees, earning it an impressive 4th place overall.
Home to the prestigious Duke University and several other highly-rated institutions, Durham stands out as one of the top five metropolitan areas in the country for university quality.
Least: San Bernardino, California
San Bernardino, California, earns a spot among the least educated cities in the United States, ranking 137 out of 150 metropolitan areas. It’s also listed as one of the worst college towns in the country.
While the city didn’t score particularly low in any specific category studied by WalletHub, its overall population lacks educational attainment. Coupled with its reputation as a poor college town, it’s clear that the local educational system falls short of expectations.
Most: San Francisco, California
A population’s education level is often closely tied to the strength of the local economy, and San Francisco is a prime example. Known for its high cost of living, the city also ranks as the 5th most educated in the United States. That's hardly a coincidence.
San Francisco is among the top five cities with the highest percentage of bachelor’s degree holders, which also reflects its strong numbers of high school graduates. With such an educated population, it’s no surprise that the city’s local prices match its high standards.
Least: Lakeland, Florida
Lakeland, Florida, may not have ranked particularly low in any specific category, but it still finds itself among the bottom 15 least educated cities in the United States, coming in at 138 out of 150.
Located just outside of Tampa, Lakeland is known as a less affluent area and lacks the presence of any high-ranking universities, which likely contributes to its lower educational standing.
Most: Madison, Wisconsin
Madison, Wisconsin, stands out as one of the top cities in the nation for the percentage of residents with a high school diploma and those with an associate degree or some college experience. While the city doesn’t have a particularly large percentage of higher degree earners, these numbers still place Madison ahead of much of the country in overall education.
However, this success isn’t shared equally. WalletHub’s findings reveal a significant racial education gap in Madison, with white residents far outpacing Black residents in educational attainment. There’s certainly room for improvement to make education more inclusive and equitable for all. Despite this, Madison ranks an impressive 6th out of 150 cities.
Least: Fresno, California
Fresno, California, ranks as the ninth least educated city in the United States, coming in at 141 out of 150 in WalletHub’s 2020 study.
While the city didn’t score particularly low in any single category, its overall educational attainment places it near the bottom of the list. That said, Fresno is home to two universities, offering opportunities for higher education within the area.
Most: Boston, Massachusetts
Boston, Massachusetts, is among the cities tied for having the highest percentage of residents over 25 with professional or graduate degrees.
Although it didn’t break into the top five in other categories, its overall ranking remains impressive, suggesting a generally high percentage of degree holders across the board. Boston currently holds the 7th spot on the list of most educated cities.
Least: Salinas, California
Salinas, California, ranks among the bottom five cities for the lowest percentage of high school diploma holders, coming in at 142 out of 150.
With a population of over 150,000, the city is served by just two high schools, highlighting a significant challenge in educational access. This stands in stark contrast to its northern neighbor, San Francisco, which ranks as one of the most educated cities in the United States.
Most: Seattle, Washington
Seattle, Washington, may not have placed in the top five for any specific category in WalletHub’s study, but it still secures an impressive 8th place overall.
This ranking indicates that Seattle performs consistently well across all studied areas of educational attainment among residents over 25, earning its spot as one of the top 10 most educated cities in the United States.
Least: Ocala, Florida
Ocala, Florida, ranks 143 out of 150 metro areas, placing it among the bottom 15 least educated cities in the United States. Located just north of Lakeland, another city on the same list, both are situated in central Florida, north of Tampa and Orlando.
While Florida is known for many things, it seems education isn’t one of its stronger points.
Most: Norwalk, Connecticut
Unlike the previous cities, Norwalk, Connecticut, earned a spot in the top five of one of WalletHub’s studied categories. The Norwalk metropolitan area boasts a notably high percentage of residents with bachelor’s degrees, securing the 10th spot overall.
This statistic also includes nearby cities like Bridgeport and Stamford, all of which are close to New Haven and home to Yale University. It’s no surprise that the presence of such a prestigious institution contributes to the area’s high level of educational attainment.
Most: Colorado Springs, Colorado
Colorado Springs, Colorado, earned an impressive ranking of 11th in the category for the highest percentage of residents with associate degrees or some college experience.
While it doesn’t quite break into the top 10 most educated cities in the United States, it remains near the top, outperforming many other metropolitan areas across the country.
Least: Stockton, California
Here’s another California city landing in the bottom 15. Stockton is ranked 144 out of 150. While California is home to two of the most educated cities in the United States, it also claims six of the least educated.
Like Salinas, Stockton is located near San Francisco, sitting just south of the state capital, Sacramento, and east of the Bay Area. Although Stockton didn’t rank particularly low in any specific category, it’s surprising to see some of the nation’s most and least educated cities situated so close to one another.
Most: Raleigh, North Carolina
Raleigh, North Carolina, was evaluated separately from its close neighbors Durham and Chapel Hill, which ranked 4th overall in the WalletHub study. While Raleigh ranks slightly lower than Durham, it still holds an impressive spot in the top 12.
Durham and Chapel Hill are home to several universities, and although Raleigh boasts North Carolina State University, it doesn’t quite match the educational ranking of its nearby counterparts. Nevertheless, Raleigh remains one of the most educated cities in the United States.
Least: Hickory, North Carolina
Hickory, North Carolina, is a smaller metro area located far west of Durham and Raleigh, two of the most educated cities in the United States. Unfortunately, Hickory finds itself near the opposite end of the spectrum, ranking 145 out of 150 metro areas.
While it narrowly avoided landing in the bottom five overall, it didn’t rank particularly low in any specific category. However, its placement suggests that a significant portion of the population lacks higher education degrees.
Most: Provo, Utah
Provo, Utah, ranks 13th overall among the most educated cities in the United States. It also stands out in the top five for the highest percentage of residents with high school diplomas and those with associate degrees or some college experience.
Despite being a smaller city located south of Salt Lake, Provo is home to a major university and boasts one of the highest concentrations of educated individuals over the age of 25 in the country. This charming and picturesque city truly shines in educational achievement.
Least: Modesto, California
We’ve reached the bottom five, all located in either California or Texas. Modesto, California, ranks among the lowest for the percentage of bachelor’s degrees and professional or graduate degrees.
Interestingly, WalletHub awarded Modesto extra credit for having the largest racial education gap in the U.S. that favors Black residents. However, this distinction doesn’t offset the city’s overall lack of educational attainment. Out of 146 metro areas, Modesto lands near the very bottom, ranked 149th.
Most: Denver, Colorado
Just a few spots behind its neighbor Colorado Springs, Denver, Colorado, secures the 14th spot overall among the most educated cities in the United States.
Home to several universities, Denver didn’t place in any specific categories studied by WalletHub, but its high overall ranking highlights the city’s strong educational standing.
Least: Bakersfield, California
Next up in California’s bottom five least educated cities is Bakersfield, which ranked 147 out of 150. Bakersfield landed in the bottom five across multiple categories, including some of the lowest percentages of high school diplomas, associate degrees or college experience, bachelor’s degrees, and professional or graduate degrees.
Additionally, it tied with Brownsville, Texas, for the lowest university quality among all 150 cities studied.
Most: Trenton, New Jersey
Trenton, New Jersey, holds the 15th spot among the most educated cities in the United States and can proudly claim the top ranking for university quality on this list.
However, that pride is tempered by a troubling statistic: Trenton also ranks in the top five for the largest racial education gaps favoring white residents. This highlights the challenges minorities face in accessing education in the area. After all, what’s the value of having top-tier universities if they aren’t accessible to everyone?
Least: Visalia, California
The Visalia, California, metropolitan area holds the unfortunate title of the least educated city in the United States as of 2020. Ranked dead last among the 150 metro areas studied, Visalia also placed at the very bottom for the percentage of bachelor’s degrees and professional or graduate degrees.
Additionally, it landed in the bottom five for the lowest percentage of high school diplomas and associate degrees or college experience. While Visalia did receive extra credit in WalletHub’s scoring system for having a racial education gap that favors Black residents—indicating the Black population is more educated than the white population—this distinction wasn’t enough to offset the city’s overall lack of educational attainment.
