If you look at the underlying data (here: http://wallethub.com/edu/most-and-least-educated-cities/6656/ ) Provo is actually only 23rd in the amount of education its residents are getting. Salt Lake is 36th in overall education received by its residents. The difference between Provo's #4 overall ranking and Salt Lake's #46 ranking is the QUALITY of education. Provo's (primarily BYU) is #8. Salt Lake (U of U) is #74.