Are you headed off to college in 2023? Perhaps your kids are getting ready to start their college career. Which towns and cities are the best?
Wallethub.com put together the list. Their experts based their list on 32 indicators that reflect the “academic, social and economic opportunities” for the students. This includes economic details such as housing costs, average cost pizza and burgers, cost of higher education, and student debt per person. They also factored in the social environment: students per capita, nightlife options per capita, shopping centers per capita, the crime rate, and even cafes per capita.
Finally, they added in the opportunities for students, both academic and economic. This includes the quality of higher education, earning potential for graduates, unemployment rate, “brain drain,” and job-growth rate.
So, putting it all together, what are the top college towns and cities? Florida was well-represented in the top 10.
10. Raleigh, North Carolina
Home of North Carolina State University.
NC State Wolfpack mascot Mr Wuf visits the Empire State Building in New York City. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images for Empire State Realty Trust)
9. Miami, FL
Home to many colleges and universities including University of Miami, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University.
Sebastian the Ibis leads the Miami Hurricanes onto the field in Miami, Florida. (Photo by Doug Benc/Getty Images)
8. Scottsdale, AZ
Arizona State University is in neighboring Tempe. The city of Scottsdale was ranked #1 in Academic and Economic Opportunities.
The Arizona State Sun Devils mascot Sparky the Sun Devil performs on the sideline.
(Photo by David Becker/Getty Images)7. Provo, UT
Brigham Young University has called Provo home since 1875. Wallethub.com ranked BYU #2 in “Cost of Higher Education.”
Brigham Young Cougars mascot Cosmo the Cougar performs. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
5. Tampa, FL
Home to University of Tampa, University of South Florida, along with some other nearby schools such as St. Pete College and Stetson University College of Law.
1: Rocky the Bull from University of South Florida Bulls looks on in a game at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa, Florida. (Photo by Julio Aguilar/Getty Images)
4. Gainesville, FL
University of Florida and Santa Fe College each find their home in Gainesville.
Albert, the mascot for the Florida Gators, performs during a game.. (Photo by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images)
3. Orlando, FL
Schools that find their homes in Orlando include University of Central Florida. Florida A&M University College of Law and
Florida State University College of Medicine.
A UCF Knights helmet sits on the field. (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images)
2. Ann Arbor, MI
Ann Arbor is the home of the University of Michigan. It was also the highest ranked small city on the list.
Michigan Wolverines jump past the Michigan banner prior to game. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
1. Austin, TX
Home of University of Texas at Austin, flagship of the Texas university system.
Bevo, the Texas Longhorn, attends a game at Texas Memorial Stadium.
(Photo by Stephen Dunn/Getty Images)
