Atlanta Tops Forbes List as the Most Educated City in the U.S.

A new report by Forbes has named Atlanta as the most educated city in the United States, placing the Georgia capital at the top of its rankings for 2024. The list, released on August 28, evaluated 100 cities across the country, with Atlanta emerging as the leader due to a combination of key educational factors.

Forbes’ rankings considered several criteria, including high school dropout rates, rates of graduate degree attainment, and disparities in educational achievement across gender and racial lines.

These factors contributed to Atlanta’s top spot, with the city described as being “primed to produce more innovation and tax revenue.” As a result, companies with a presence in Atlanta are increasingly seeking out educated workers, attracting a growing number of qualified individuals to the city.

According to the report, nearly 60% of Atlanta residents aged 25 and older have completed a bachelor’s degree, and over 26% hold graduate degrees. Forbes also highlighted the city’s esteemed universities, such as Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University, as major contributors to its highly educated population.

“Home to major colleges like Emory University, Georgia Institute of Technology, and Georgia State University, it’s no surprise that Atlanta is a highly educated city,” the report noted.

However, the report also pointed out some challenges, particularly a significant racial gap in bachelor’s degree attainment. In Atlanta, there is a -22.32 percentage point difference between racial groups in obtaining a bachelor’s degree.

By comparison, the second-ranked city, Arlington, Virginia, has a much narrower gap of 10.27%. Arlington also surpasses Atlanta in bachelor’s and graduate degree attainment, with 78.22% and 42.56% of its residents holding these degrees, respectively. Additionally, Arlington has a smaller percentage of residents aged 25 and older with some college experience but no degree, at just 7.50%.

Despite these disparities, Atlanta’s relatively low high school dropout rate of 5.71% and a higher percentage of residents with some college education helped secure its top position. The city also boasts a diverse population, with over 47% of its residents identifying as Black, according to Data USA.

Rounding out the top five cities on Forbes’ list are St. Petersburg, Florida; San Antonio, Texas; and San Diego, California. While these cities also feature high rates of bachelor’s degree attainment, Atlanta remains the number one city for its educated and diverse population.