Some of the most educated metropolitan statistical areas across the country are also home to major academic medical centers, according to a June 29 WalletHub ranking.
Personal finance website WalletHub compared the 150 most populated metropolitan statistical areas across 11 key metrics and graded each on a 100-point scale to develop the ranking. Metrics included the share of adults with bachelor’s and graduate degrees, quality of the public school system, quality of universities and education equality index scores.
Some of the most educated areas in the U.S. are also home to major academic medical centers: Ann Arbor, Mich., which ranked No. 1, is home to Michigan Medicine. Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C., at No. 2, is home to Duke University Health System and UNC Health.
The public school systems matter, too, as health systems work to build long-term pipelines with local high schools amid an aging U.S. population, which could exacerbate workforce shortages.
The ranking also follows a wave of new medical schools being built or opened across the country in recent years. Health system leaders in communities with new medical schools recently told Becker’s that it creates an opportunity for hospitals that have not traditionally been teaching hospitals to partner with the school to support training and a workforce pipeline.
Here are the 10 most and least educated metropolitan statistical areas in the U.S., according to WalletHub:
10 most educated
1. Ann Arbor, Mich.
2. Durham-Chapel Hill, N.C.
3. San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, Calif.
4. Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria, Va.
5. Madison, Wis.
6. San Francisco-Oakland-Berkeley, Calif.
7. Raleigh-Cary, N.C.
8. Boston-Cambridge-Newton, Mass.
9. Austin-Round Rock-Georgetown, Texas
10. Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue, Wash.
10 least educated
141. Hickory-Lenoir-Morganton, N.C.
142. Beaumont-Port Arthur, Texas
143. Stockton, Calif.
144. Fresno, Calif.
145. Salinas, Calif.
146. Modesto, Calif.
147. Bakersfield, Calif.
148. Brownsville-Harlingen, Texas
149. McAllen-Edinburg-Mission, Texas
150. Visalia, Calif.
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