The Most Educated City in Every State

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36. Oklahoma
> Most educated city: Oklahoma City
> Pct. of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 29.8%
> Median household income: $55,065
> Unemployment rate: 4.2%
> Number of postsecondary institutions: 42

Oklahoma City has a higher percentage of degree-holding adults than any other metro area in Oklahoma at 29.8%. Still, the city’s college attainment rate is below the national share of adults with a degree at 31.3%.

Home to 42 higher learning institutions, Oklahoma City provides more postsecondary education options than any other area in Oklahoma. Many of those with a college degree in Oklahoma City likely work in government. Oklahoma City is the state capital and 6.2% of the area labor force work in the state government, the largest share of any city in the state.

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37. Oregon
> Most educated city: Corvallis
> Pct. of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 54.2%
> Median household income: $55,459
> Unemployment rate: 3.4%
> Number of postsecondary institutions: 2

Corvallis is not just the most educated city in Oregon, but also one of the most educated cities nationwide. It is one of the few metro areas where the majority of adults have a college degree at 54.2%. The high college attainment rate is likely partly due to the fact that Oregon State University is located Corvallis. The university has nearly 25,000 enrolled students.

Corvallis has the highest percentage of local government workers of any metro area in the nation. Some 23.6% of its workforce is employed by the local government. Such public policy jobs often require a college education.

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38. Pennsylvania
> Most educated city: State College
> Pct. of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 48.3%
> Median household income: $60,266
> Unemployment rate: 3.4%
> Number of postsecondary institutions: 5

Aptly named, State College has the highest percentage of people who graduated from college of any city in Pennsylvania. State College also ranks first in Pennsylvania and 10th nationally in high school graduation rate as well.

The benefits of education are apparent in State College. The metro area boasts the lowest unemployment rate, and food stamps or SNAP benefit recipiency rate of all metro areas in Pennsylvania.

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39. Rhode Island
> Most educated city: Providence-Warwick
> Pct. of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 32.4%
> Median household income: $61,948
> Unemployment rate: 4.2%
> Number of postsecondary institutions: 37

Providence-Warwick is the only metro area in Rhode Island, and the most educated by default. The area’s bachelor’s degree attainment rate of 32.4% is actually lower than the state rate of 34.1%.

Providence-Warwick’s unemployment rate of 4.2% is fairly close to the state’s 4.3% rate. The same goes for the area’s median household income of $61,948 a year, which is not much higher than the state median of $60,596. The metro area’s poverty rate of 12% also trends closely to the state poverty rate of 12.8%.

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40. South Carolina
> Most educated city: Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort
> Pct. of adults with a bachelor’s degree or higher: 38.0%
> Median household income: $63,756
> Unemployment rate: 3.9%
> Number of postsecondary institutions: 2

Like many cities on this list, Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort’s highest in the state college attainment rate appears to have a positive impact on economic conditions. The metro area also has the highest median income and lowest poverty rate of any of South Carolina’s eight metro areas.

Located at the southern tip of South Carolina, the Hilton Head Island-Bluffton-Beaufort relies heavily on its tourist industry. The economy is one of the most dependent on leisure and hospitality in the country. More than 21% of its workforce is in the business of helping people relax.