AUSTIN (KXAN) — Austin, once again, took the crown as the “Best College Town” in the United States, according to a recent study.
WalletHub, a personal finance company, said it looked at more than 400 U.S. cities and based its findings on 31 key indicators of academic, social and economic opportunities for students.
“It’s best to live in a city with a reasonable cost of living, along with good academic and work opportunities,” the study said. “The ideal city should also provide a fun social environment to help students deal with the stress of college.”
According to the study, the top 5 college towns in America are Austin, TX (No. 1); Ann Arbor, MI (No. 2); Orlando, FL (No. 3); Tampa, FL (No. 4); and Raleigh, NC (No. 5).
WalletHub said Austin ranked 17th in the nation for the quality of higher education, as well as the 94th-cheapest in-state tuition at $30,138 per year.
Austin, which is no stranger to college students, is home to schools like the University of Texas at Austin, Concordia University, St. Edward’s University, Austin Community College and Huston-Tillotson University.
“Austin has a great economic environment, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. and the fifth-best annual job growth rate, allowing students to easily find work while in school or helping them transition to a job immediately after,” the study said.
WalletHub said the city also had many attractions, sports clubs and shopping centers, which can help students destress after class.
