These 2 North Carolina Cities Are Best In Country For College Grads
Big cities and the big paychecks that often come with jobs there may be appealing for young people, but new graduates may want to think small to boost their chance of success. To find a job, get hired and actually be able to afford to live there, new degree holders may be better off in a smaller city and new research reveals the top options. 2 North Carolina cities are the best cities in the country for college grads. Raleigh, North Carolina landed at #1 on the list while Charlotte was at #5 according to CBS News.
- A new study from the ADP Research Institute highlights the best and worst cities for new college grads to start their careers.
- They looked at 55 metro areas, ranking them on factors including average wages, overall affordability and hiring rates.
- Topping the list as the best city for new college graduates is Raleigh, North Carolina, which has the best hiring rate for new grads of all the metro areas studied.
- Raleigh is located between three universities and is home to around 300 science and technology companies, plus, it’s relatively affordable and offers wages above the 80th percentile.
- On the flip side, the worst city for new grads is Rochester, New York, which has the lowest hiring rate of all 55 metros in the study.
Top 10 best cities for new grads
- Raleigh, North Carolina
- Baltimore, Maryland
- Austin, Texas
- Atlanta, Georgia
- Charlotte, North Carolina
- New York, New York
- San Francisco, California
- Cleveland, Ohio
- Nashville, Tennessee
- Indianapolis, Indiana
Top 10 worst cities for new graduates
- Rochester, New York
- Virginia Beach, Virginia
- New Orleans, Louisiana
- Fresno, California
- Portland, Oregon
- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
- Hartford, Connecticut
- Memphis, Tennessee
- Seattle, Washington
- Salt Lake City, Utah
This North Carolina City Is The 4th Most Educated In The Country
8. Hickory
Ranking 8th amongst North Carolina cities and 144th overall is Hickory. Despite flying under the radar on this study many consider Hickory a beautiful and affordable place to live!
Total Score: 26.91
Educational Rank: 141
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 140
7. Winston Salem
Ranking 113th overall is Winston-Salem. Which is home to Wake Forest University a prestigious private institution. So this ranking is a little surprising to me. I guess many graduates are not staying in the area post-grad!
Total Score: 45.56
Educational Rank: 119
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 39
6. Fayetteville
Yay Fayetteville! The city beat out two other NC cities and ranked 6th in the state and 106th overall. And that quality of education and attainment rank is in the top 10!
Total Score: 47.95
Educational Rank: 118
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 9
5. Greensboro
Greensboro marks the 4th NC city to rank in the 100s of this study. They came in at 101. Don’t worry it goes up from here (way up!)
Total Score: 48.90
Educational Rank: 108
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 35
4. Charlotte
Are you shocked the largest city in the state is only 4th in this study? Perhaps it’s due to the expansive population. Or more likely the plethora of nearby universities surrounding the top 2 cities. But ranking 45th overall and 4th in the state feels like Charlotte may be underachieving.
Total Score: 60.42
Educational Rank: 56
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 23
3. Asheville
In some ways, this shocks me. But then I remember how expensive it is to live in Asheville and it makes more sense!
Total Score: 63.31
Educational Rank: 35
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 46
2. Raleigh
And second in the state 9th overall is a city near and dear to my heart. And one home to my alma mater- Raleigh. So that does give me a sense of pride!
Total Score: 79.56
Educational Rank: 5
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 30
1. Durham
And the highest-ranking NC city and 4th in the country? Durham home to Duke University.
Total Score: 81.32
Educational Rank: 8
Quality of Education & Attainment Rank: 1
