ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — A new study says that the city of St. Petersburg is getting recognition as one of the most educated cities in the U.S.
According to Forbes, St. Pete is the third most educated city in the country, just behind Arlington, Virginia at two and Atlanta, Georgia taking the top spot. It is the only Florida city to be listed in the top 10.
The study is based on data involving college graduates, high school dropout rates, graduate degree attainment rates and gender & racial gaps in degree completion.
The article reads that over 65% of adults over 25 years old in the city hold bachelor's degrees, and nearly 39% of them have graduate degrees. That puts St. Pete at number two for highest graduate degree completion in Forbes' survey behind Arlington.
"Known for its sparkling beaches and trendy restaurants, St. Petersburg is also one of the most educated cities in the country," the study reads.
St. Pete, however, also ranks in the top five of cities with the biggest racial college completion gap, with -27.37%.
Other statistics found regarding St. Pete include:
- 6.35% among those 18 and older have dropped out of high school
- 11.49% among those 25 and older have done some college without a degree
- 1.81% in absolute value gender gap
"From coast to coast, diverse cities across the U.S. boast highly educated populations. Yet while the rate of Americans pursuing college degrees has grown in the past decade, this growth has slowed, and disparities remain," Forbes said.
Forbes reports the average percentage of 25-to-64-year-olds with any postsecondary degree increased from 43% in 2012 to 50% in 2022.