NextChapter

Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Midwest

Rolling Meadows leads the Midwest: 26% of its jobs are in occupations that do not typically need a four-year degree, against 14% across all cities in our data.November 2026 edition. Updated monthly, from open jobs we verified on employer career sites.

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Key facts

  • #1 Rolling Meadows, IL: 26%
  • #2 Jeffersonville, IN: 25%
  • #3 Green Bay, WI: 22%
  • 54 cities ranked in the Midwest
  • Data as of November 2026

For comparison: 14% across all cities in our data.

  1. 1Rolling Meadows IL26%
  2. 2Jeffersonville IN25%
  3. 3Green Bay WI22%
  4. 4Appleton WI22%
  5. 5Toledo OH22%
  6. 6Springfield MO22%
  7. 7Evansville IN21%
  8. 8Sioux Falls SD20%
  9. 9Peoria IL20%
  10. 10Oak Brook IL19%

What stands out

  • The top ten is tightly packed: Rolling Meadows leads on 26%, and #10 Oak Brook is at 19%.
  • Rolling Meadows is the largest market in the top ten, with 193 jobs matched to an occupation behind its figure.
  • Cities with fewer than 80 jobs matched to an occupation are not ranked, and small differences between neighbouring ranks are not meaningful.

Why this ranking matters

What it shows

Some cities hire for a bigger share of occupations that need no four-year degree. The share shows where a job seeker without a bachelor's has the largest part of the market to aim at.

How to use it

Use it to compare cities for a search without a four-year degree, and read it beside the count so you do not chase a small market with a high share.

The top 25

  1. 1

    Rolling Meadows IL

    26%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    50
    Share of the city's jobs
    26%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    193

    Hiring most here: Arthur J. Gallagher, Gallagher Bassett, Gallagher

    Based on 193 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rolling Meadows

  2. 2

    Jeffersonville IN

    25%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    23
    Share of the city's jobs
    25%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    92

    Hiring most here: Canadian Solar

    Based on 92 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Jeffersonville

  3. 3

    Green Bay WI

    22%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    22
    Share of the city's jobs
    22%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    99

    Hiring most here: Michels, W.W. Grainger

    Based on 99 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Green Bay

  4. 4

    Appleton WI

    22%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    27
    Share of the city's jobs
    22%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    123

    Hiring most here: Illinois Tool Works, Ducommun, Oshkosh

    Based on 123 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Appleton

  5. 5

    Toledo OH

    22%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    28
    Share of the city's jobs
    22%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    128

    Hiring most here: Owens Corning, Bon Secours Mercy Health, Turner Construction

    Based on 128 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Toledo

  6. 6

    Springfield MO

    22%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    31
    Share of the city's jobs
    22%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    142

    Hiring most here: O'Reilly Auto Parts, Coxhealth, Jack Henry & Associates

    Based on 142 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Springfield

  7. 7

    Evansville IN

    21%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    18
    Share of the city's jobs
    21%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    87

    Hiring most here: Deaconess Homecare, Old National Bank, Deaconess Womens Hospital Of Southern Indiana

    Based on 87 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Evansville

  8. 8

    Sioux Falls SD

    20%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    31
    Share of the city's jobs
    20%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    153

    Hiring most here: Sioux Center Health, Marshfield Clinic, Trinzic

    Based on 153 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Sioux Falls

  9. 9

    Peoria IL

    20%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    22
    Share of the city's jobs
    20%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    112

    Hiring most here: Osf Healthcare System, Caterpillar, Nexstar Media Group

    Based on 112 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Peoria

  10. 10

    Oak Brook IL

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    18
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    93

    Hiring most here: Hub Group, Sotera Health

    Based on 93 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Oak Brook

  11. 11

    Columbia MO

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    20
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    104

    Hiring most here: EquipmentShare, EquipmentShare.com

    Based on 104 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Columbia

  12. 12

    Downers Grove IL

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    20
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    104

    Hiring most here: Zachry, Regal Rexnord, Glanbia

    Based on 104 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Downers Grove

  13. 13

    Mason OH

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    20
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    105

    Hiring most here: Cintas, L3HARRIS Technologies, Procter & Gamble

    Based on 105 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Mason

  14. 14

    Fargo ND

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    20
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    107

    Hiring most here: American Civil Constructors, Mastec, Danaher

    Based on 107 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Fargo

  15. 15

    Wichita KS

    19%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    33
    Share of the city's jobs
    19%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    178

    Hiring most here: Spirit AeroSystems, Shield AI, Cargill

    Based on 178 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Wichita

  16. 16

    Cleveland OH

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    115
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    663

    Hiring most here: Flexjet, Sherwin Williams, KeyBank

    Based on 663 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Cleveland

  17. 17

    Grand Rapids MI

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    57
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    329

    Hiring most here: Corewell Health, Acrisure, BDO USA

    Based on 329 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Grand Rapids

  18. 18

    Kansas City KS

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    17
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    100

    Hiring most here: Dairy Farmers of America, Amazon, Kansas City Kansas Community College

    Based on 100 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Kansas City

  19. 19

    Naperville IL

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    26
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    154

    Hiring most here: KeHE, viaPhoton, Wipfli

    Based on 154 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Naperville

  20. 20

    Rockford IL

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    18
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    107

    Hiring most here: RTX, Woodward, Top Echelon Network (recruiter member boards)

    Based on 107 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Rockford

  21. 21

    Aurora IL

    17%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    14
    Share of the city's jobs
    17%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    84

    Hiring most here: Entegris, HelloFresh

    Based on 84 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Aurora

  22. 22

    Southfield MI

    16%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    30
    Share of the city's jobs
    16%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    182

    Hiring most here: Lucid Motors, Sun Communities, Lear

    Based on 182 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Southfield

  23. 23

    Dayton OH

    16%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    52
    Share of the city's jobs
    16%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    321

    Hiring most here: University of Dayton, Modern Technology Solutions, Odyssey Systems Consulting

    Based on 321 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Dayton

  24. 24

    Akron OH

    16%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    33
    Share of the city's jobs
    16%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    206

    Hiring most here: FirstEnergy Akron, Babcock International Group PLC/ADR, Akron Childrens Hospital

    Based on 206 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Akron

  25. 25

    Omaha NE

    16%

    Jobs that do not need a four-year degree
    64
    Share of the city's jobs
    16%
    Jobs matched to an occupation
    400

    Hiring most here: Conagra Brands, Valmont, Zachry

    Based on 400 openings.

    Jobs and employers in Omaha

Full ranking

All 54 cities that qualified, with the figure each is ranked on.

RankCityScoreSample
1Rolling Meadows IL26%193
2Jeffersonville IN25%92
3Green Bay WI22%99
4Appleton WI22%123
5Toledo OH22%128
6Springfield MO22%142
7Evansville IN21%87
8Sioux Falls SD20%153
9Peoria IL20%112
10Oak Brook IL19%93
11Columbia MO19%104
12Downers Grove IL19%104
13Mason OH19%105
14Fargo ND19%107
15Wichita KS19%178
16Cleveland OH17%663
17Grand Rapids MI17%329
18Kansas City KS17%100
19Naperville IL17%154
20Rockford IL17%107
21Aurora IL17%84
22Southfield MI16%182
23Dayton OH16%321
24Akron OH16%206
25Omaha NE16%400
26Mundelein IL16%184
27Rosemont IL16%83
28Schaumburg IL16%161
29Fort Wayne IN15%208
30Cincinnati OH15%1,002
31Madison WI15%367
32Indianapolis IN15%997
33Carmel IN15%108
34Columbus OH15%1,265
35Springfield IL14%187
36Lenexa KS14%162
37Milwaukee WI14%644
38Chicago IL14%4,922
39Troy MI14%176
40Minneapolis MN14%887
41St. Paul MN13%144
42Lincoln NE13%160
43Rochester MN13%138
44Detroit MI13%489
45Kansas City MO13%640
46Overland Park KS12%327
47Lansing MI12%159
48Eden Prairie MN11%218
49Des Moines IA11%269
50St. Louis MO11%293
51St. Louis MO10%373
52Bloomington MN9%141
53Ann Arbor MI8%269
54Cedar Rapids IA7%278

How this ranking works

A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose occupation typically needs less than a bachelor's degree: an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, some college, a high school diploma or no formal credential (Bureau of Labor Statistics).

A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only cities with at least 12 such jobs and 80 matched jobs are ranked, and a city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score. Our board is professional roles, so these are a small share everywhere.

Sample bar: cities with fewer than 80 openings are not ranked.

Sources: NextChapter job data: open professional roles, matched to standard occupation (SOC) codes; Bureau of Labor Statistics, Employment Projections 2025-35: typical entry-level education and projected employment change by occupation. Data as of November 2026.

Our job data covers professional roles on the career sites of employers we track, so figures describe that market, not every job. Spot an error? Tell us.

Questions

Which city ranks first: cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the midwest?
Rolling Meadows leads the Midwest: 26% of its jobs are in occupations that do not typically need a four-year degree, against 14% across all cities in our data.
How many cities are ranked?
54 cities have at least 80 jobs matched to an occupation, so the list has 54 entries.
How is the ranking calculated?
A city's score is the share of its open professional roles whose occupation typically needs less than a bachelor's degree: an associate degree, a postsecondary certificate, some college, a high school diploma or no formal credential (Bureau of Labor Statistics). A posting does not state a degree. Each is matched to its standard occupation, and the education shown is what the Bureau of Labor Statistics lists as typical for entering that occupation. Some employers ask for more or less, and about one posting in a hundred has an occupation we could not match, which is left out. Only cities with at least 12 such jobs and 80 matched jobs are ranked, and a city where one employer posts at least half the openings is not ranked, so a single company cannot decide a city's score. Our board is professional roles, so these are a small share everywhere.
How often is it updated?
Every month. This is the November 2026 edition. Older editions stay on this site at their own dated addresses.

More rankings

Cite this ranking

NextChapter, “Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Midwest,” November 2026 edition. https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-where-the-most-jobs-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-midwest

Link to it: <a href="https://launchyournextchapter.com/rankings/cities-where-the-most-jobs-do-not-need-a-four-year-degree-in-the-midwest">Cities where the biggest share of jobs do not need a four-year degree in the Midwest (NextChapter, November 2026)</a>

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