Raleigh-Cary Metro Area Ranked No. 7 for Adults with College Degrees


Graduation season means thousands of new graduates from North Carolina’s 16 public universities and colleges as well as nearly 40 private colleges across the state. The importance of earning a higher-education degree was featured in a May 30 New York Times article, which noted having a population rich in college graduates is an essential ingredient for economic rebound.

The national average number of adults with college degrees in metro areas is 32 percent. At 41 percent, the Raleigh-Cary area has the seventh highest concentration of adults with college degrees. The area boasted one of the highest increases in the nation, according to the Brookings Institution analysis cited in the article, which compared 2010 data to statistics from 1970.

The capital area illustrates the correlation between college degrees and economic development well. It’s only been a month since Forbes rated the area seventh best big city for jobs. In November, Raleigh was ranked by Forbes as the fourth best city for technology jobs.

“My top priority is creating jobs, and BSH’s announcement is another testament to the strong partnership between economic development and education,” Gov. Perdue said in a December 2011 press release.  “Our past commitment to investments in education, workforce development and creating a top-notch business climate are reasons globally competitive companies choose to locate or expand in North Carolina.”