With college-application deadlines approaching and students scheduling campus visits for the spring, the personal finance website WalletHub conducted an in-depth analysis of 2015’s Best& Worst College Cities& Towns in America.To identify the college cities and towns offering the best combination of academic, social and economic growth potential for college students, WalletHub ranked 326 U.S. cities based on 23 key metrics, ranging from the quality of higher education to crime rates to cost of living.Key Stats The cost of renting a two-bedroom apartment is three times more expensive in Irvine, Calif., than in Las Cruces, N.M. The adjusted cost of living for young people in Santa Monica, Calif., is two times higher than in Edinburg, Texas. The cost of higher education in Providence, R.I., is 10 times higher than in Provo, Utah.
Bloomington, Ind., has 9 times as many students per capita as Pasadena, Texas. Boulder, Colo., has 32 times as many cafés per capita as Pasadena, Texas. The number of violent crimes per capita is 46 times higher in Detroit than in Orem, Utah.
The percentage of part-time jobs in Bloomington, Ind., is three times higher than in Paterson, N.J.Overall RankCityOverall Score’Wallet Wellness’ Rank’Youth-Oriented Environment’ Rank’Opportunities’ Rank1Ann Arbor, MI67.32131282College Station, TX66.03185113Iowa City, IA63.62427194Provo, UT63.081411945Gainesville, FL61.284313306Pittsburgh, PA61.1714210187Atlanta, GA61.021619158Austin, TX60.291246599Cambridge, MA60.203121110Columbia, MO58.7016403311Champaign, IL58.2580273612Cincinnati, OH58.0713245713Berkeley, CA57.852988614Madison, WI57.27134442815Houston, TX57.20581861216Athens, GA57.1727485517Minneapolis, MN57.06162591718Salt Lake City, UT57.0284513919Tempe, AZ56.7261206520Orlando, FL56.6572167021Columbus, OH56.63511302222Tallahassee, FL56.5134615123Durham, NC56.37210196224Lawrence, KS56.3364604325Buffalo, NY56.114756226St. Louis, MO56.08168582427Davis, CA56.0727362528Fayetteville, AR55.9521436029Boulder, CO55.9424244030Tampa, FL55.6988285831Fort Collins, CO55.62152374432Kalamazoo, MI55.577338033Nashville, TN55.541721871034Columbia, SC54.8889316835Seattle, WA54.86250261436Evanston, IL54.7729562337Baton Rouge, LA54.4748636438Syracuse, NY54.34139475639New Orleans, LA54.19182553840Tuscaloosa, AL54.0024845041Albany, NY53.98103118842New Haven, CT53.85292857T-43Providence, RI53.702285026T-43Pasadena, CA53.7032241545Cleveland, OH53.391261263146Lincoln, NE53.21951284747Richmond, VA53.08106397648Knoxville, TN52.8425787849Norman, OK52.8240867150Rochester, NY52.73154466651Denver, CO52.59192495452Irvine, CA52.47302361353Raleigh, NC52.451101674854Waco, TX52.271301703555Greenville, NC52.0520749256Dayton, OH51.93112816957Fargo, ND51.9311877558Dallas, TX51.632151622059Bethlehem, PA51.08224564960Muncie, IN51.0751009161Richardson, TX50.991401883262Baltimore, MD50.791881483763Flagstaff, AZ50.671271514164Boston, MA50.48294452365Lubbock, TX50.33311637966Bloomington, IN50.2354324267Edinburg, TX50.1313026368Missoula, MT50.09333015569Eugene, OR49.92178737470Milwaukee, WI49.84852146771Los Angeles, CA49.732601501672Tucson, AZ49.68601318773Charlotte, NC49.55861427774Washington, DC49.49278543475St. Paul, MN49.39209965276San Diego, CA49.33247426177Orem, UT49.31171518278Denton, TX49.2399838179Las Cruces, NM49.1531369880Santa Barbara, CA49.01301294181Chicago, IL48.982331114282Reno, NV48.881165212483Boca Raton, FL48.722461484T-84Fort Worth, TX48.3020732327T-84Tulsa, OK48.301512465986McAllen, TX48.1591739587Winston-Salem, NC48.132163212188Greensboro, NC48.083218510689San Francisco, CA48.02323172990Las Vegas, NV47.921221923791Philadelphia, PA47.822401464592Grand Rapids, MI47.66102929493Pearland, TX47.57692347394Louisville, KY47.56972058395Birmingham, AL47.514122010196West Palm Beach, FL47.271846410497Wilmington, NC47.081743513498San Antonio, TX46.995621810599Lafayette, LA46.6270141127100Miami, FL46.5213538229101Kansas City, MO46.4391208103102Worcester, MA46.3924515253103Riverside, CA46.2319419172104Bryan, TX46.086114174105Edmond, OK45.9815181113106Lynchburg, VA45.905095170107Charleston, SC45.9019334152108Omaha, NE45.8867133178109Murfreesboro, TN45.8530158139110Indianapolis, IN45.6862274107111Portland, OR45.6819532187112Bellingham, WA45.5919125166113Erie, PA45.5010101231114Springfield, MO45.4919176154115League City, TX45.367426085116Overland Park, KS45.3182165115117Duluth, MN45.247188137118Rochester, MN45.2317510597119Scranton, PA45.2212566194120Oklahoma City, OK45.0244278130T-121Eau Claire, WI44.9810569153T-121St.
Cloud, MN44.9883104109123Boise City, ID44.92117112128124El Paso, TX44.8445217190125Fort Lauderdale, FL44.8223753117126Huntsville, AL44.77123211119127Chico, CA44.4425923140128Corpus Christi, TX44.1993257129129Oshkosh, WI44.153657246T-130Dearborn, MI43.9926222149T-130Missouri City, TX43.9978129180132Laredo, TX43.962331793133Sterling Heights, MI43.8538263144134Plano, TX43.7519617199135Scottsdale, AZ43.7222367147136Greeley, CO43.6037200176137Phoenix, AZ43.58101241165138Jonesboro, AR43.542243186139Akron, OH43.4955182253140Albuquerque, NM43.4998286136141Irving, TX43.48111281112142McKinney, TX43.4814429486143Olathe, KS43.2247265133144Rock Hill, SC43.2012161232145Arlington, TX43.11115233175146Wichita Falls, TX43.1056194207147Gilbert, AZ43.1018922696148Davie, FL43.09177117126149St. Charles, MO43.0116594177150Chandler, AZ42.99157154164151Lansing, MI42.9087113241152Temecula, CA42.83198123121153New York, NY42.7431610746154Johnson City, TN42.7376156267155Pasadena, TX42.6792301135156Redlands, CA42.5920680162157Abilene, TX42.55107177200158St. Petersburg, FL42.51119304118159Cedar Rapids, IA42.45169209123160Sacramento, CA42.3520371249161Amarillo, TX42.2566308131162Lexington-Fayette, KY42.19132139189163Peoria, AZ42.13163235160164Sioux Falls, SD42.01160223146165Roseville, CA41.96225116111166Des Moines, IA41.9490197212167Henderson, NV41.90171221172168Mesa, AZ41.90118242209169Newark, NJ41.86159249173170Murrieta, CA41.84185143167171Somerville, MA41.7231418114172Tyler, TX41.7135307159173Brownsville, TX41.558305238174Fort Wayne, IN41.5479230220175Peoria, IL41.53104155248T-176Lowell, MA41.28256135100T-176San Marcos, CA41.2824897120178Toledo, OH41.2073309247179Carrollton, TX41.14146252142180Vancouver, WA41.0615577292181Flint, MI40.9259198277182Sunrise, FL40.92219158158183Glendale, AZ40.82100319204184Savannah, GA40.80133124271185Spokane, WA40.62114134280186North Charleston, SC40.60128270179187Stockton, CA40.53229251108188Honolulu, HI40.5230512184189Corona, CA40.48221110185190Evansville, IN40.3652253274191Wichita, KS40.3577314269192Newport News, VA40.34149212266193Colorado Springs, CO40.33164169235194Tacoma, WA40.31190106275195Virginia Beach, VA40.20205160225196Rockford, IL40.1922244250197Rancho Cucamonga, CA40.16218190156198Costa Mesa, CA40.1230621196199Killeen, TX40.1139258283200Garland, TX40.11120295169201Lakeland, FL39.93147166264202Bellevue, WA39.9028182131203West Jordan, UT39.8263325163204Grand Prairie, TX39.76121297183205Aurora, CO39.70197284151206Coral Springs, FL39.65226229143207Norfolk, VA39.61141121309208Naperville, IL39.57251179122209Warren, MI39.40138272255210Hampton, VA39.31173259226211Chattanooga, TN39.3081237288212Santa Monica, CA39.2131322198213Topeka, KS39.1329213293214Brooklyn Park, MN39.11150303193215Rialto, CA39.08176261191216Little Rock, AR39.0453312297217Manchester, NH39.00204109245218Bakersfield, CA38.96187285182219Hollywood, FL38.78201193251220Jackson, MS38.7428268323221Springfield, IL38.67143219278222Mobile, AL38.6649236321223Burbank, CA38.6030079148224Santa Rosa, CA38.59287103138225Cary, NC38.54255255110226Lakewood, CO38.53213248202227Orange, CA38.4930968157228Long Beach, CA38.4325390257229Elk Grove, CA38.41220277150230Santa Clara, CA38.403257689231Alexandria, VA38.3527570252232Jacksonville, FL38.33179264233233Detroit, MI38.2975322294234High Point, NC38.20186262262235Victorville, CA38.17156290244236Torrance, CA38.1631093116237Salem, OR38.15181115279238El Cajon, CA38.0323298261239Fayetteville, NC37.99109232299240San Bernardino, CA37.91136289268241Joliet, IL37.89199250211242Chino Hills, CA37.84263178168243Fontana, CA37.83211291217244Fresno, CA37.74153203298245Anaheim, CA37.72270108215246Oakland, CA37.58269149201247Aurora, IL37.58243240197248Oceanside, CA37.58244207219249North Las Vegas, NV37.57148311265250Chino, CA37.54221216223251Pembroke Pines, FL37.46239224205252Buena Park, CA37.25291125161253Whittier, CA37.2228499206254Escondido, CA37.17235174236255Memphis, TN37.1546320316256Mesquite, TX37.12166316259257Rio Rancho, NM37.1265269303258Pomona, CA37.08236228216259Vacaville, CA37.04266172181260Montgomery, AL36.97113298296261Chula Vista, CA36.93257189218262Fremont, CA36.91308120125263Miramar, FL36.85230299203264Clarksville, TN36.76129227300265Huntington Beach, CA36.6831572188266Quincy, MA36.52299118171267Augusta, GA36.4596313308268Santa Ana, CA36.44254199256269Allentown, PA36.43231122302270Macon, GA36.4194324287271San Jose, CA36.41318138102272Sunnyvale, CA36.3632512790273Fullerton, CA36.2130489208274Gresham, OR36.21170266290275Modesto, CA36.17180273263276Moreno Valley, CA36.12208283272277Santa Clarita, CA36.11265254192278Ontario, CA36.08217247285279Hayward, CA35.88274168214280Downey, CA35.88277164213281Hawthorne, CA35.79272180222282Jersey City, NJ35.78280175224283Shreveport, LA35.76108279315284Hartford, CT35.75183132320285Portsmouth, VA35.63158306307286Palmdale, CA35.50249293234287Westminster, CA35.38297102239288Chesapeake, VA35.27214315273289Port St.
Lucie, FL35.16145296281290Stamford, CT35.02317137145291Hialeah, FL34.99167310306292Columbus, GA34.86137288314293Lancaster, CA34.84227225304294Lakewood, CA34.74290183228295Antioch, CA34.72261292210296Garden Grove, CA34.66293153240297Miami Gardens, FL34.51212300301298Concord, CA34.26282195254299Norwalk, CT34.2031191258300Danbury, CT34.18307145227301Simi Valley, CA33.82289239221302Vallejo, CA33.76241282286303Salinas, CA33.75258202282304Anchorage, AK33.74286210260305Alhambra, CA33.27288206270306Daly City, CA33.19321147195307West Covina, CA33.16279192289308Elizabeth, NJ33.11234231313309Springfield, MA32.93200280305310Norwalk, CA32.86267245291311Thousand Oaks, CA32.69320144230312Glendale, CA32.68303157276313Oxnard, CA32.63276287243314Visalia, CA32.61202275319315Newton, MA32.51319184199316Albany, GA32.5068238325317Inglewood, CA32.31262276295318Baldwin Park, CA31.92252201312319El Monte, CA31.21264215317320Carson, CA30.59268204322321Compton, CA30.01238318311322Arlington, VA29.86296140324323Bridgeport, CT28.37285271318324Germantown, MD27.74271326310325Yonkers, NY27.18324256284326Paterson, NJ25.70283267326Source: WalletHub
