Arlington has ranked at the top of a list of the best places for new college grads to start their careers.
A new study by the website CoworkingCafe put Arlington at the No. 1 spot for “mid-sized cities,” just ahead of neighboring Alexandria at No. 2 and tech hub Bellevue, Washington at No. 3.
Rounding out the top 10 in the category were Overland Park (KS), Frisco (TX), Scottsdale (AZ), Cary (NC), Pittsburgh (PA), St. Louis (MO), and Salt Lake City (UT). The top large cities were San Francisco, Atlanta and Minneapolis, while Cambridge (MA) and Greenville (SC) were the top small cities.
Arlington ranked at the top of its category “thanks to its exceptionally high percentage of residents with bachelor’s degrees and a significant increase in median income.”
“Health insurance coverage and coworking space density further contribute to its leading position,” said CoworkingCafe.
The other of the eight factors considered were jobs for recent graduates, unemployment rate, regional price parity and leisure establishments density.
More, below, from CoworkingCafe.
Arlington, VA, manages to keep its status as the reigning champion in the mid-sized category. A majority of the city’s young population (80%) holds a bachelor’s degree — the most out of all the mid-sized cities analyzed. Notably, Arlington is near several prestigious universities and colleges, such as Georgetown University, George Washington University, and American University, making it convenient for graduates to settle here after completing their studies.
A BA makes 6.5% of Arlington’s jobs accessible to college grads, which was also the case in nearby Alexandria, VA. Arlington’s proximity to Washington D.C. means that many federal agencies, non-profits, and consulting firms that often demand at least a bachelor’s degree, are located in the region.
And speaking of Alexandria, it joins Arlington as its runner-up after jumping three spots from 2023. The small unemployment rate of 1.8% in the region stands testament to the booming employment sector. The lower percentage of population with a BA (65%), however, makes the region less competitive than Arlington. Alexandria benefits from robust local economic policies and initiatives aimed at business development and job creation. Programs to support small businesses and startups, as well as incentives for larger companies, help maintain a dynamic job market.
Rounding out the top three is Bellevue, WA, eclipsing Arlington and Alexandria with the highest median income available for graduates among mid-sized cities – $108,000. Additionally, 85.3% of Bellevue’s residents benefit from employer-based healthcare.
