Madison Reporter

The latest Metro Metrics report for June 2025 provides a comprehensive analysis of the Madison Metropolitan Statistical Area's (MSA) workforce, focusing on educational attainment and its comparison with other metropolitan areas. The report examines the origins of the university-educated workforce and tracks long-term trends in education within the region.

According to the data, among adults aged 25 and older in the Madison metro area, 4.1% have less than a high school diploma, while 20.2% have completed high school or an equivalent level of education. Those with some college education but no degree account for 16.6%, whereas 9.7% hold an associate’s degree. A significant portion, 29.9%, have earned a bachelor’s degree, and 19.4% possess a graduate or professional degree.

When compared to Austin, Texas, and Raleigh, North Carolina, Madison shows similar levels of educational attainment among its residents.

The report highlights that individuals moving to Madison from other states or abroad tend to have higher educational qualifications than those who remained within Wisconsin. Data from the Census Bureau indicates that among new arrivals aged 25 and older from other states, 36.9% hold a bachelor’s degree and 31.9% have a graduate or professional degree. In contrast, those who did not relocate in the past year show lower percentages: 29.4% with a bachelor's degree and 19.2% with a graduate or professional degree.

Despite their higher educational levels, these new residents represent only about 4.2% of all adults with at least a bachelor's degree in the metropolitan area as of 2023.

Longitudinal data points to an upward trend in educational attainment within Madison's workforce since 2010. The percentage of residents aged 25 and older holding a bachelor’s degree increased from 25.4% to 29.9%, while those with graduate or professional degrees rose from 16.2% to 19.9%. Simultaneously, there has been a decrease in residents without any college degree from 58.4% in 2010 to 50.7% in recent years.

In terms of fields of study, there is a strong presence of STEM degrees among Madison's university-educated population; over half hold degrees in science, engineering, and related fields—a figure that climbs to nearly 60% for graduates aged between 25-39.

Generational differences are evident as younger graduates are more inclined towards STEM disciplines while older graduates often pursued education-related majors; over one-fifth of those aged over sixty-five majored in education compared to fewer young graduates today pursuing such degrees.