In this article, we will look at the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US and take an overview of the trends in educational attainment across the country.
Trends in Educational Attainment Across the US
Intelligence has several measuring markers, with IQ and trends in educational attainment signifying the most prominent ones. The United States of America ranks among the top countries in the world in terms of educational attainment, According to data from the United States Census Bureau, an official website of the U.S. government, less than 8.9% of American citizens had an academic attainment of less than a high school diploma or equivalent educational qualification as of 2021. In comparison, around 14.4% of the country’s residents had a professional, master’s, doctoral, or other advanced degree as of the same year.
Bachelor’s degrees were the highest academic achievement of around 23.5% of Americans, with 10.5% of the country’s population holding an associate degree as their highest educational qualification. A high school graduation certificate was the highest academic qualification of approximately 27.9% of individuals in the country. In addition, 14.9% of individuals completed a college but did not hold a degree as of 2021. The high school graduation rates for individuals aged 25 or older across the country have grown over the years, going from 87.6% to 91.1% between 2011 and 2021, respectively. Similarly, 35% of the population aged 25 and older had at least a bachelor’s degree as of 2021. For more insight, you can also look at our detailed report on 20 Best States for Education in the US.
How Much Does The US Spend on Education?
The positive educational attainment statistics in the USA have a lot to do with the amount the country spends on education. According to a report on the Condition of Education 2023 released by the National Center for Education Statistics, the United States spent $870 billion in total expenses for public elementary and secondary schools in the 2019-2020 school year, considered in constant 2021-2022 US dollars. This translates to an average spending of $17,013 per student enrolled in public schools in the fall of the same school year. Eight states had total educational expenditures of less than $12,500 in the school year 2019-2020, with the lowest being Idaho ($10,709) and Utah ($11,311). In contrast, eleven states and the District of Columbia had educational expenses equal to or higher than $20,000 as of the same school year, with the highest being the District of Columbia ($34,670) and New York ($30,157).
However, college education in the United States is costly, with only a fraction of the country’s population being able to afford it without external aid. That is one of the primary reasons why the popularity of EdTech has been increasing in the country, including platforms such as Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR). It was launched in 2012 with the noble objective of offering universal and unhindered access to learning worldwide. It is one of the largest online platforms to do so, partnering with more than 300 prestigious universities to offer more than 7,000 courses, professional certificates, and degrees. The pandemic increased the company’s popularity, with more and more people shifting to online learning instead of their brick-and-mortar counterparts. Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR)’s user base nearly doubled in 2020, going from 47 million users to 77 million. It has continued to grow ever since, standing at approximately 129 million registered users at the present.
On May 20, Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) announced plans to collaborate with Microsoft Corp. (NASDAQ:MSFT) to offer four new entry-level Professional Certificates tailored to equip learners with the necessary skills to kickstart a new career within months. The Professional Certificates eliminate the immediate need for a college degree, and will help prepare learners for jobs on an exponential growth trajectory. The four new certifications by Coursera Inc. (NYSE:COUR) include IT Support Specialist Professional Certificate, Cloud Support Associate Professional Certificate, Business Analyst Professional Certificate, and Project Manager Professional Certificate.
In addition, the company is leveraging AI to make online learning more accessible and flexible. It has employed AI in the form of a personalized chatbot and learning companion called Coach. Students can ask Coach questions, offer insight on concepts, summarize the learning material, and even create mock problems for practice. The company’s plan of action is to integrate ChatGPT into each of its courses as a personalized tutor for its users, thereby making education more accessible to people and helping increase their educational attainment.
Now that we have taken an overview of the trends in educational attainment across the US, let us look at the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US. You can also look at Top 20 Countries with the Best Education System in the World and 20 Worst States for Education in the US.
20 Cities with the Highest Average IQ in the US
Our Methodology
We have considered the standard IQ scores of US states as a proxy to rank the cities with the highest average IQ. We selected the most populous city in each state with the highest IQ. Data for each state’s standard IQ scores has been derived from a report by Bryan J. Pesta titled Updated IQ and Well-Being Scores for the 50 U.S. States, available at the National Library of Medicine website. The data is as of 2022, and the list is sorted in ascending order.
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20 Cities with the Highest Average IQ in the US
20. Boise, Idaho
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 100.5
Boise ranks in the 20th spot on our list of the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US. The city has an average IQ score of 100.5, and is located in Idaho, of which it is the capital. Boise is the seat of the Ada County.
19. Indianapolis, Indiana
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 100.6
Indianapolis is the capital and the largest city of the state of Indiana. It is also the seat of Marion County, and has a population of 880,621 as of 2022. The city has an average IQ score of 100.6 as of 2022. Indianapolis is colloquially known as Indy, and is famous for the Indianapolis Zoo, Newfields, and the Children’s Museum of Indianapolis.
18. Sioux Falls, South Dakota
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 100.7
With an average IQ score of 100.7, Sioux Falls ranks in the 18th spot on our list of the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US. The city is located in South Dakota, and has a population of 202,078 as of 2022.
17. Portland, Maine
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 100.9
The picturesque city of Portland is located in Maine, on a peninsula that stretches to Casco Bay. The city is famous for its restaurants, mountain and water views, and an average IQ score of 100.9.
16. Newark, New Jersey
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101
Newark ranks in the 16th spot on our list of the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US. The city has an average IQ score of 101 as of 2022, and a population of 282, 090 as of the same year.
15. Billings, Montana
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.1
Billings is located in the southcentral wing of the state of Montana, and is the seat of the Yellowstone County. It is also the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area. Billings has an average IQ score of 101.1.
14. Des Moines, Iowa
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.1
Des Moines has an average IQ score of 101.1, ranking it on our list. The city is located in Iowa, and is the county seat of Polk County. It is a major hub of the insurance companies of the US, with a prominent financial services and publishing industry.
13. Denver, Colorado
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.1
Denver is an American metropolis and the capital of Colorado. Dating back to the Old West era, the city is famous for its mix of 19th-century historic buildings and contemporary architecture. It is also famous among people traveling to ski resorts in the neighboring Rocky Mountains.
12. Milwaukee, Wisconsin
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.2
With an average IQ score of 101.2, Milwaukee ranks on our list. It is the most populated city in the state of Wisconsin and is located on the western shore of Lake Michigan. The city is famous for its breweries and abundant fresh water.
11. Bridgeport, Connecticut
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.2
Bridgeport is the fifth most populous city in New England and the most populous city in the US state of Connecticut. The city’s residents have an average IQ score of 101.2, ranking it amongst the top 30 on our list.
10. Omaha, Nebraska
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.2
Omaha ranks on our list of the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US with an average IQ score of 101.2. It is the county seat of Douglas County, and is located in the Midwestern United States.
9. Virginia Beach, Virginia
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.2
The residents of Virginia Beach have an average IQ score of 101.2, ranking the city in the ninth spot on our list. Virginia Beach has a population of 450,189 people as of 2022, and is the most populous city in Virginia.
8. Salt Lake City, Utah
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.5
Around 200,591 people live in Salt Lake City, which is the most populated city in Utah and is also its capital. The city is often called SLC or Salt Lake by shortening its name. It has an average IQ score of 101.5.
7. Seattle, Washington
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.5
Seattle is the most populous city in Washington, located in the Pacific Northwest on the Puget Sound. The city’s landscape is lined with green forests, mountains, and water, spread over thousands of acres of lush parkland. The city has an average IQ score of 101.5.
6. Cheyenne, Wyoming
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.7
Cheyenne is the capital of the US state of Wyoming, and is also its most populous city with around 63,957 residents as of 2022. The city ranks in the sixth spot on our list and has an average IQ score of 101.7.
5. Fargo, North Dakota
Average IQ Score as of 2022: 101.7
Fargo has a population of 124,844 as of 2022, and is located in North Dakota. The city has an average IQ score of 101.7, ranking it in our list of the 20 cities with the highest average IQ in the US.