HIGHER-EDUCATION MARKETPLACES - A COMPARISON OF VARIETY, ACCESS, DEPENDENCE, AND QUALITY IN 15 METROPOLITAN-AREAS

An analysis of 15 metropolitan areas in the United States demonstrates that the characteristics of higher education in urban marketplaces are diverse. Nevertheless, metropolitan areas in the West and Southwest rank the highest when dimensions of variety, access, dependence, and quality are used to assess these marketplaces. Size, region, and strategic economic location provide some limited explanation for the variations in marketplaces, although historical case studies of individual areas will need to be completed for a fuller understanding of these marketplaces.