Austin, Texas, home of the University of Texas Longhorns, was ranked the No. 1 college city in America for the fourth year in a row.
WHICH COLLEGE TOWN IS BEST FOR YOU?
So, which college town is right for you? It all depends on what you’re looking for.
Do you want to stick close to home or get as far away as a plane will take you? A large city or close community? Great job prospects after graduation, or a prestigious education from a branded school?
Another factor students should consider when choosing their college (and hence college town) is in-state versus out-of state costs, experts say.
“One of the greatest advantages of attending college in-state is the in-state tuition. Historically, costs at public colleges are more affordable for in-state students than out-of-state students. Affordability matters and is the most important factor for many families,” says Becket C. Duncan a PhD candidate at the University of Denver.
“For some students, the best employment opportunities are at colleges and universities outside of their residential state. Colleges that have majors closely linked with employment sectors in outside states provide additional opportunities for students to gain an internship or full-time employment.”
At the end of the day, choosing the right college town is finding a school where you feel secure and safe and that offers the academic programs you are most interested in. Don’t pick a school out of state just for the sake of moving far away.
“Going out of state just to go out of state is not a wise move without doing one’s due diligence to ensure a good fit,” says Vicki L. Baker, E. Maynard Aris Endowed Professor in Economics and Management at Albion College Community Collaborative. “Visit the campus, and meet with faculty and students to learn more. Spend the night if you have that option and attend a class or two. Getting as close to a realistic job preview as possible is necessary to make an informed decision.”
BEST VS WORST
WalletHub’s ranking offers a slew of data for students to sift through, if so inclined. Students can parse cities and towns by the factors most important to them.
For example, Richmond, Va., still has the lowest cost of a two-bedroom apartment rental (same as last year) at $78332 per month, WalletHub’s analysis found. That’s more than four times lower than in Santa Cruz, California where apartments go for $3,293 per month. Savannah, Ga., meanwhile, has the lowest cost of higher education at $17,414 per year compared to Evanston, Ill., at $81,283 per year. And Stony Brook University, NY, has the most enrolled students per capita at 954, more than 22 times higher than in Cape Coral, Fla., with 42.
If money is a major concern, Edinburg, Texas, is the best college town in terms of wallet friendliness on WalletHub’s list. However, it ranks 202nd in social environment and 388th in academics and economics. Its overall rank is 211.
For students looking for a great social environment, Honolulu, Hawaii, ranks at the top. But, it’s also very expensive, ranking 382 out of 415 for wallet friendliness.
And for the second straight year, Scottsdale, Ariz.,ranks No. 1 in academic and economic opportunities, and No. 8 overall. However, it only scores 327th for wallet and 92nd for social.
SMALL, MEDIUM OR LARGE?
WalletHub also ranks the best cities by size:
- Large Cities: More than 300,000 people
- Midsize Cities: 125,000 to 300,000 people
- Small Cities: Fewer than 125,000 people
Austin, Orlando and Ann Arbor, Mich., top the list for best large, midsize and small cities respectively. On the flip size, the worst cities by size are New York City; Bridgeport, Conn.; and Flint, Mich.
See the 10 best and worst cities by size in the charts below. Then, click to page 3 for WalletHub’s top 50 overall college cities and towns.
NEXT PAGE: WalletHub's 50 Best College Cities in the U.S.
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