AI in Higher Education

🏆 32.9% Gap in Educational Support Growth — ALEX Intelligence, 2026. The fastest-growing educational support hubs in the U.S. are not in traditional tech or academic centers — they're in unexpected metros where AI-driven education infrastructure is outpacing demand. This data reveals a new frontier: where AI is not just used in education, but where it's shaping where support systems grow. The top 10 metros in this metric — from Nashville to Provo to Albuquerque — are not leading in research, but in operationalizing AI at scale. This shift suggests that the next wave of academic competitiveness isn’t about prestige, but about infrastructure agility. How does your institution prepare for a world where support systems are the real differentiator? Spread Between Fastest and Slowest Growth in Educational Support Providers (ALEX Intelligence — 2026) #10 Albuquerque, NM <- this market #1 Nashville-Davidson--Murfreesboro--Franklin, TN #2 Asheville, NC #3 Oklahoma City, OK #4 Riverside-San Bernardino-Ontario, CA #5 Durham-Chapel Hill, NC #6 Charlotte-Concord-Gastonia, NC-SC #7 Baltimore-Columbia-Towson, MD #8 Houston-Pasadena-The Woodlands, TX #9 Provo-Orem-Lehi, UT Source: https://alex-companies.com/data/2026-09-16-ai-higher-ed-dive-611710-msa View and join any or all of our communities — AI, quantum, and real estate: https://alex-companies.com/reports/linkedin-groups If there's an AI, quantum, or real estate community you'd like to see us convene, tell us — this portfolio grows by request.