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Beth Day, ARCHE
404.651.2668 (o), 770 315 2041 (m) or bday@atlantahighered.org
Manning Fairey, Jackson Spalding
404.214.3596 or mfairey@jacksonspalding.com

New Report Ranks Top U.S. Metros for Higher Education

ATLANTA - May 20, 2008 - A select group of eight metropolitan areas dominates a new ranking that identifies mega-centers of higher education. Some of these are growing at significant rates, according to the study, released today by the Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education (ARCHE). 

The report, which ranks the 50 largest U.S. metro areas in 22 different measures, shows that the eight "higher education hubs" collectively award 22 percent of all degrees in America (at the bachelor's level and higher) and enroll 19 percent of the nation's college students. The eight were the only metro areas to award 15,000+ degrees and enroll 100,000+ students in 1989, the study's benchmark year, and they continue to top the lists in 2005, the latest year data was available for the report.

Of those higher ed hubs, metro San Diego has grown fastest in academic degrees awarded - 97 percent since 1989 - followed by metro Atlanta (75 percent) and metro New York (67 percent). Metro Atlanta has grown fastest in student enrollment (62 percent since 1989), followed by metro San Diego (41 percent) and metro Los Angeles (34 percent).

As of 2005, the following metro areas were producing the most college graduates in the U.S.:
RANK METRO AREA       DEGREES AWARDED 2005
1. New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ     97,166
2. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA     68,478
3. Chicago-Naperville-Joliet, IL      66,701
4. Boston-Quincy, MA and Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA  57,195
5. Washington-Arlington-Alexandria, DC-VA-MD-WV   46,330
6. Philadelphia, PA        43,134
7. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA     35,802
8. San Diego-Carlsbad-San Marcos, CA     30,175

According to the study, five higher education centers had more than $1 billion in research expenditures in 2005: 

RANK METRO AREA       FY 2005 RESEARCH SPENDING
1. Boston-Quincy, MA and Cambridge-Newton-Framingham, MA $2.02 billion
2. New York-White Plains-Wayne, NY-NJ    $1.42 billion
3. Baltimore-Towson, MD      $1.13 billion
4. Los Angeles-Long Beach-Glendale, CA    $1.09 billion
5. Atlanta-Sandy Springs-Marietta, GA    $1.01 billion

While many people think of higher learning as a small "college-town" experience, more than half of all students, degrees awarded and higher education spending happens in the 50 largest U.S. metro areas.  Metro New York continues to dominate the rankings overall, finishing first in 14 of the 22 categories the report measures.   

Based on U.S. Department of Education data, "Higher Education in America's Metropolitan Areas: A Statistical Profile," is available online at www.AtlantaHigherEd.org/MetroAreas.

The report details the number of degrees granted in specific academic fields including health professions, biomedical sciences, engineering, foreign languages, theology, education, business, math and journalism. It also documents higher education institution expenditures, federal grants and contracts, and employment numbers.

ARCHE produced the report to raise awareness among metro leaders nationally of the importance of colleges and universities in their regions.  In ARCHE's home region of Atlanta, for instance, the annual financial benefits of higher education growth and leadership total nearly $6 billion in direct spending, comparable to a Fortune 500 company. 

"Great cities need great colleges and universities," said ARCHE President Michael A. Gerber. "Higher ed resources are key to promoting economic prosperity, educating a skilled workforce and improving quality of life. But a region can't fully leverage these strengths unless it recognizes what it has."

The Atlanta Regional Council for Higher Education brings together 19 of the Atlanta region's public and private colleges and universities. Founded in 1938, ARCHE builds awareness of the size, scope, impact and value of higher education and helps its members share strengths through cooperative programs such as cross registration for courses and library sharing. Visit www.atlantahighered.org for information about ARCHE, its members and its research reports.

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