Ann Arbor, Michigan

Population: 116,121
Unemployment: 6.10%
Six-year graduation rate University of Michigan: 89.7%

Boasting one of the lowest unemployment rates in Michigan—6.1 percent—the 116,121-resident city also contains a high concentration of brainpower. Ann Arbor’s University of Michigan (U-M) offers an esteemed master of supply chain management degree, as well as a top undergraduate engineering program. Plus, 89.7 percent of U-M students graduate within six years, one of the highest rates in the nation. Nearby Michigan State University similarly possesses top graduate and undergraduate programs for logistics.

Baltimore, Maryland

Population: 621,342
Unemployment: 9.40%
Six-year graduation rate University of Maryland-College Park: 81.5%

Unemployment may remain high in Baltimore at 9.4 percent, but it’s not for lack of talent. Located only 30 miles from University of Maryland-College Park (UM), the 621,342-person city benefits from its proximity to one of the nation’s premier supply management programs. UM, which contains one of academia’s first supply chain management centers, offers highly rated logistics degrees for both undergraduate and graduate students. The university also enjoys an 81.5 percent graduation rate.

Columbus, Ohio

Population: 809,798
Unemployment: 4.80%
Six-year graduation rate Ohio State University: 78.1%

Dubbed the “biggest small town in America,” Columbus is certainly packing a big punch. The city, which is home to 809,798 residents and boasts an unemployment rate of only 4.8 percent, has one of the top supply chain management programs in the country. Ohio State University-Columbus consistently receives rave reviews for its action-based-learning model for logistics. The college currently has more than 475,000 living alumni, many of whom reside in the Columbus area.

Dayton, Ohio

Population: 141,359
Unemployment: 7.20%
Six-year graduation rate Unviersity of Dayton: 76.3%

Dayton may be relatively small, but what it lacks in size, it makes up for in employment opportunities. The city’s current unemployment rate (7.2 percent) aside, Dayton was recently voted one of the best job markets for college graduates. No doubt businesses are attracted to the strong pool of local talent, considering University of Dayton’s top-rated manufacturing engineering program. The university also boasts a solid graduation rate of 76.3 percent.

Fort Worth, Texas

Population: 777,992
Unemployment: 5.50%
Six-year graduation rate University of North Texas: 48.4%

This Texas city is emerging from the shadows of Dallas. Fort Worth benefits from a low unemployment rate—5.5 percent—and access to some of the brightest minds in logistics, thanks to its proximity to the University of North Texas. The Denton-based school’s supply chain management program consistently ranks among the nation’s best, and more than 208,000 of UNT’s 326,000 living alumni currently reside in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Indianapolis, Indiana

Population: 844,220
Unemployment: 6.30%
Six-year graduation rate Purdue University: 69.4%

Location has largely buoyed Indianapolis’ manufacturing and logistics capabilities. In addition to housing the second-largest FedEx operation in the world, Indianapolis is close to Purdue University, which offers top-tier undergraduate and graduate programs in engineering and supply chain management. Currently, Purdue boasts more than 410,000 living alumni, and many of these individuals work in the industrial sector. Access to talent has also kept Indianapolis’ unemployment rate at a modest 6.3 percent.

Marietta, Georgia

Population: 58,359
Unemployment: 7.80%
Six-year graduation rate Emory University: 88.7%

An Atlanta suburb, Marietta is approximately 20 miles from the largest concentration of colleges in the South. From a manufacturing perspective, however, Marietta’s proximity to Georgia Tech is its biggest advantage. Consistently ranked No. 1 for manufacturing/industrial engineering, Georgia Tech offers a dual-degree program with Atlanta’s Emory University, which balances engineering with a liberal arts education. The latter school possesses an impressive graduation rate of 88.7 percent.

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Population: 1,548,000
Unemployment: 7.80%
Six-year graduation rate
University of Pennsylvania: 95.5%

“Brotherly love” may be Philadelphia’s claim to fame, but the city is also known for its educational prowess. Philadelphia’s top schools include Drexel University and University of Pennsylvania, the latter of which houses the prestigious Wharton School of Business. Wharton’s supply chain curriculum is considered world-class, and 79,280 alumni currently live in North America. Philadelphia businesses hope they stay local, however, and help boost the city’s 7.8 percent unemployment rate.

Phoenix, Arizona

Population: 1,489,000
Unemployment: 6.60%
Six-year graduation rate Arizona State University: 59.7%

The sweltering temperatures of Phoenix have nothing on Arizona State University’s logistics program, which is considered one of the nation’s hottest. In addition to offering separate undergraduate degrees for supply chain management and global logistics management, ASU contains a dedicated supply chain management department. The Tempe-based school has also produced more than 300,000 alumni, a majority of which live nearby in Greater Phoenix.

Worcester, Massachusetts

Population: 182,669
Unemployment: 7.50%
Six-year graduation rate Massachusetts Institute of Technology: 92.9%

Located close to both Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Worcester has access to some of the brightest minds in logistics. MIT, for instance, houses the prominent Center for Transportation and Logistics and has established a presence overseas via the MIT Global Supply Chain and Logistics Excellence Network. Numerous Worcester-based businesses are benefitting from the expertise of MIT’s 120,000-plus alumni, although the city’s unemployment rate remains at 7.5 percent.