College graduation season 2025 is already behind us and newly minted degree holders who don’t yet have work lined up must now face their first adult challenge: finding a satisfying job with a good salary in a place they’d like to live.
This year could be especially challenging for some. A list of surveys compiled by the publication Inside Higher Ed reported that while many were optimistic, over half of seniors felt pessimistic because of a competitive job market and a lack of job security, while Gen Y and Gen Z workers were more worried than older workers about losing their job or having it eliminated by AI. Among young adults, 79% considered health benefits from their new job a high or very high priority and 73% said desired location is a top priority. A diverse and tolerant community was important to 64%.
A new analysis from CoworkingCafe highlights U.S. cities of different sizes that new graduates may be attracted to because they offer many of these attributes. Criteria were selected based on their potential influence on career prospects and the quality of life of recent college graduates.
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Among the nation’s biggest cities, Atlanta grabbed the top ranking, overtaking last year’s leader, San Francisco. Atlanta achieved this because of its relatively stable affordability, dynamic cultural scene and economic vitality. The median income for graduates was $82,201. However, the city experienced a small decline in the share of young adults with bachelor’s degrees and a decline in the number covered by employer health insurance.
Washington, DC jumped from No. 7 in the previous ranking to No. 2 this year. Median income for individuals with a bachelor’s degree – 63% of the population -- soared $12,000 to $95,628. The city’s appeal was buttressed by strong health insurance and robust economic indicators, which could be affected by changes in government policy.
Other high scorers in the large city category were Minneapolis, San Francisco, Austin, Seattle, Denver, Boston, Tampa and Kansas City, MO.
Among mid-sized cities with populations ranging from 150,000 to 400,000, Arlington, VA remained at the top as a launchpad for young professionals, outperforming most cities in overall job quality and a median income for graduates of more than $101,000.
Sunnyvale, CA, followed, leaping from 15th to second place, helped by a $28,803 spike in median income to a total of $132,150 as its tech base expands. “While entry-level hiring in the tech sector has shifted with companies increasingly favoring professionals who can hit the ground running, this also opens up new pathways for graduates who bring specialized skills, internships or project-based experience,” the report noted.
Perhaps more surprisingly, St. Louis moved into third place from ninth. The city saw a 10 percentage point increase in young adults with bachelor’s degrees to 53%. Median income for graduates climbed $6,700, and there was a slight decline in youth unemployment. There were also signs of a more dynamic urban environment for young professionals.
Eighth-ranked Durham, NC recorded the largest overall score increase among the top 10 mid-sized cities, with a $7,800 increase in median income for young degree holders and improved access to employer-based health insurance. In nearby Cary – also within the Research Triangle Park region – salaries rose $12,000 year-over-year, though health insurance quality dipped.
Other mid-sized cities in the top 10 were Bellevue WA, Overland Park, KS, Alexandria, VA, Pittsburgh, PA and Scottsdale, AZ.
Unsurprisingly, the top 10 small US cities for new graduates were led by Cambridge, MA and Ann Arbor, MI. Others in this category were Santa Clara, CA, Stamford, CT, Milpitas, CA, Springfield, IL, Boulder, CO, Albany, NY, Fargo, ND and Columbia, MO.
Interestingly, the median income for graduates of Cambridge ($71,968) and Ann Arbor ($57,056) was significantly below that of some other small cities, including Stamford ($81,653), Livonia, MI ($74,158) and Arvada, CO ($82,119). As might be expected given the cost of living, small California cities had the highest graduate median incomes, including Milpitas ($104,038) and Santa Clara ($120,714).
“This year sees a shift toward mid-sized cities and emerging tech hubs that offer more affordable living while still providing strong career opportunities,” the report noted. “The landscape is wide open – and more than ever, where you start can shape where you go.”
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