It is not easy being a graduate in some cities. Imagine spending four years of your education program in a controlled environment and suddenly being released into the outside world. It is easier to survive as a graduate in some cities.
Fresh graduates usually find it very hard to resist the urge for large cities and their heavy paychecks. However, small cities tend to offer more job prospects and overall affordability.
A recent study released by experts examined 100 significant cities to determine how accessible they are to graduates.
The accessibility was made based on various metrics, including entry-level job opportunities, average salaries, accommodation availability and cost, monthly expenditure, and ratings of local bars and restaurants.
The ADP Research Institute’s director of people analytics research, Ben Hanowell, said: “The basic idea is these are the questions fresh graduates ask when planning their job search. They ask, ‘Where can I find a job? How much will I earn?’ and ‘How far will it go?'”
10 best cities for new college graduates
According to the study, the following cities are most accessible to fresh graduates.
- Cincinnati, Ohio
- Washington, District of Columbia
- St. Louis, Missouri
- Houston, Texas
- Stockton, California
- Nashville-Davidson, Tennessee
- Toledo, Ohio
- Seattle, Washington
- Minneapolis, Minnesota
- Bakersfield, California
I bet you might be surprised Cincinnati, Ohio, is at the top of the list. Don’t be surprised; the city has over 1,400 entry-level job opportunities with an average salary of $69,471. Fresh graduates can rent as low as $1,156 and have a monthly expenditure of $973.
The CEO of QR Code Generator, Marc Porcar stated: “The findings provide important insights for students and recent graduates who are struggling to decide where to begin their postgraduation lives.”
10 worst cities for new college graduates
At least, now we know some of the best cities where new graduates can comfortably start their careers. Explore some of the worst or most challenging cities for fresh graduates. According to the same metrics used in determining the best cities, some cities will be challenging for new college grads.
- Irvine, California
- Santa Ana, California
- Newark, New Jersey
- Scottsdale, Arizona
- Chesapeake, Virginia
- San Diego, California,
- Jersey City, New Jersey
- Boston, Massachusetts
- Henderson, Nevada
- Chandler, Arizona
According to the metrics, Henderson and Jersey City had the lowest entry-level jobs listing at 275. Boston had the highest average cost of rent at $2,897 per month and the highest monthly cost of living at $1,462 compared to $1,170 in the other states.
Porcar added, “By considering these factors, individuals can better avoid settling in cities that might hinder their professional and financial growth after college.”
Howell said: “There are cities where you could command high salaries as a fresh graduate, however they’re not affordable and hiring isn’t robust, so that’s the trade-off you’re making.” He used Seattle, Washington, as an example, where salaries are higher than 87% of the 55 US biggest metro areas. However, hiring rates are really lower.
