Show me a state with world class universities or colleges, and I will show you a blue state

[Yavin4]

or at the very least a purple one. From just a cursory examination of US News and World Report's ranking of top universities and colleges, there seems to be a correlation between number of highly ranked universities in a state and how blue the state is.

Is this causation or just correlation?

/www.usnews.com/best-colleges/rankings/national-universities

[scheming daemons]

1. Correlation: The more educated one is, the more likely they are to be liberal

[greymattermom]

2. Like these?

North Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Georgia, Missouri, Indiana, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Virginia, Ohio, Louisiana, Wisconsin, Florida?

[Yavin4]

4. Taking each state one by one.

Tennesse does not fit, but only has one world class university.
Texas doesn't fit, but their cities are more Democratic than you think. Nearly Purple.
Georgia doesn't fit but it may be purple soon.
Missouri does not fit but also does not have many top universities/colleges according the rankings
Indiana does not fit but also does not have many top universities/colleges according the rankings
Louisiana does not fit, but also does not have many top universities/colleges according the rankings


Penn., Mich., Ohio, Wisc., and Fla are all swing states. Some have Democratic governors, US Senators, etc. They are definitely purple so they fit.

Virginia is blue.


So, I would argue that six of the examples that you've pointed out do not fit, but they also really don't have that many top universities according to the rankings. Five of the states definitely fit because they are purple, and one state VA is blue.

[Sgent]

22. I'm not sure about that

Indiana has 3 in the top 100 (IU, Purdue, Notre Dame) as well as some nationally ranked colleges (Rose-Hulman, Depaw). Given the population of IN that's pretty impressive.

MO has Wash U with UM and St Louis U just outside the Top 100. Per capital they are probably pretty good.

[Yavin4]

24. Okay. They don't fit. A few exceptions don't negate the model. n/t

[Kurt V.]

27. Missouri S&T my alma mater

is #2 in most underrated universities.

[blogslut]

3. Correction: Show me a CITY with world class educational facilities and it will likely be a blue city

Cities where the state capitol resides also tend to be blue.

[Blue_true]

10. Sort of agree.

But, I would say where the state Capitol is AND one or more major universities are. Ohio, Columbus Capitol and home of the Ohio State University, Lousiana, Baton Rouge Capitol and home of LSU, Arkansas, Fayetteville Capitol and home of the Unicersity of Arkansas, Florida (some exceptions, but is is also the third most populous state) Tallahassee Capitol and home of Florida A&M and Florida State University, but Gainesville, home of the University of Florida (around 54,000 students) is very blue, as are Orlando (Central Florida U) and Miami (University of Miami, Florida Atlantic U, others)

[TomSlick]

15. The University of Arkansas is in Fayetteville - which is blue.

The capital of Arkansas is Little Rock - which is also blue. So you get partial credit.

[Blue_true]

16. Thanks, I can use partial credit this week.

I somehow lost a day, eventhough I knew it was that day when I started the morning of that day. Should have just looked at my phone's home page.

[TomSlick]

17. I feel your pain down here in the South Arkansas piney woods.

It's getting to the point that remaining oriented to time is a challenge.

[Blue_true]

19. Are you retired? Heard that is a problem when people retire.

My issue is that I have been advocating for my oldest brother, while working on another project as well as run the activities of my company. Last week I actually felt discombobulated on some days. I have the situation with my brother corrected and him happy, so maybe next week life gets back to normal for me. Have a great weekend.

[TomSlick]

20. Nope. If I was retired, I don't think I'd care which day of the week it is.

When you spend all day jumping through your ass, it's hard to keep up with little things like the day of the week. With all the jumping through my ass, I have a hard enough time keeping up with whether I'm right side out.

Glad you got your brother's situation straightened out.

[Blue_true]

21. My brother is set, he will be ok.

Your first paragraph described my situation so well. Sometime a person can take on too many things at once and lose track of some things. It is like the mind skips somewhat.

[pnwmom]

5. University of North Carolina. Is NC blue?

[Yavin4]

8. NC is purple. Democratic governor.

Obama won in 2008.

[aikoaiko]

6. And I'll show you super high tuition.

[pnwmom]

9. UWashington and UNC were listed at the top of WSJ's list for "best value,"

along with a small private college that gives free tuition.

So the tuition doesn't have to be super high. It depends on how much the state's voters want to support higher education through taxes.

[aikoaiko]

14. Sure. not everyone. Its helps to have supportive state legislators or billion dollar endowments

Or both in the case of Udub

[Totally Tunsie]

7. Blue Rhode Island: Brown/Pembroke

...and host of other good schools.

[Blue_true]

11. Where is Seton Hall located? nt

[jmowreader]

12. It's in New Jersey

[Blue_true]

13. Thanks, I was clueless on it. nt

[GulfCoast66]

18. You premise has lots of holes. Indiana for instance.

Purdue University is a top 10 engineering school and top 5 Agriculture/Biological Science school. It is also an affordable school for instate students.

Then there are the small Liberal Arts schools like DePauw which are top notch.

Not bad for a state of less than 7 million residents.

[Yavin4]

25. Granted Indiana, MO are holes. They are the two exceptions.

Just like Hawaii and New Mexico are holes on the other side. Blue states without a highly ranked university.

Exceptions don't negate the pattern.

[nolabear]

23. Nope. Duke and UNC. Tulane.

To name only the ones friends and relatives have gone to (and I worked at).

[Yavin4]

26. NC is a purple state. It's becoming VA. n/t