WalletHub Ranks Best and Worst College Cities in America

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 Rank	City	Overall Score	‘Wallet Wellness’ Rank	‘Youth-Oriented Environment’ Rank	‘Opportunities’ Rank
1	Ann Arbor, MI	67.32	131	2	8
2	College Station, TX	66.03	18	5	11
3	Iowa City, IA	63.62	42	7	19
4	Provo, UT	63.08	14	119	4
5	Gainesville, FL	61.28	43	13	30
6	Pittsburgh, PA	61.17	142	10	18
7	Atlanta, GA	61.02	161	9	15
8	Austin, TX	60.29	124	65	9
9	Cambridge, MA	60.20	312	1	1
10	Columbia, MO	58.70	16	40	33
11	Champaign, IL	58.25	80	27	36
12	Cincinnati, OH	58.07	13	24	57
13	Berkeley, CA	57.85	298	8	6
14	Madison, WI	57.27	134	44	28
15	Houston, TX	57.20	58	186	12
16	Athens, GA	57.17	27	48	55
17	Minneapolis, MN	57.06	162	59	17
18	Salt Lake City, UT	57.02	84	51	39
19	Tempe, AZ	56.72	61	20	65
20	Orlando, FL	56.65	72	16	70
21	Columbus, OH	56.63	51	130	22
22	Tallahassee, FL	56.51	34	61	51
23	Durham, NC	56.37	210	196	2
24	Lawrence, KS	56.33	64	60	43
25	Buffalo, NY	56.11	4	75	62
26	St. Louis, MO	56.08	168	58	24
27	Davis, CA	56.07	273	6	25
28	Fayetteville, AR	55.95	21	43	60
29	Boulder, CO	55.94	242	4	40
30	Tampa, FL	55.69	88	28	58
31	Fort Collins, CO	55.62	152	37	44
32	Kalamazoo, MI	55.57	7	33	80
33	Nashville, TN	55.54	172	187	10
34	Columbia, SC	54.88	89	31	68
35	Seattle, WA	54.86	250	26	14
36	Evanston, IL	54.77	295	62	3
37	Baton Rouge, LA	54.47	48	63	64
38	Syracuse, NY	54.34	139	47	56
39	New Orleans, LA	54.19	182	55	38
40	Tuscaloosa, AL	54.00	24	84	50
41	Albany, NY	53.98	103	11	88
42	New Haven, CT	53.85	292	85	7
T-43	Providence, RI	53.70	228	50	26
T-43	Pasadena, CA	53.70	322	41	5
45	Cleveland, OH	53.39	126	126	31
46	Lincoln, NE	53.21	95	128	47
47	Richmond, VA	53.08	106	39	76
48	Knoxville, TN	52.84	25	78	78
49	Norman, OK	52.82	40	86	71
50	Rochester, NY	52.73	154	46	66
51	Denver, CO	52.59	192	49	54
52	Irvine, CA	52.47	302	36	13
53	Raleigh, NC	52.45	110	167	48
54	Waco, TX	52.27	130	170	35
55	Greenville, NC	52.05	20	74	92
56	Dayton, OH	51.93	112	81	69
57	Fargo, ND	51.93	11	87	75
58	Dallas, TX	51.63	215	162	20
59	Bethlehem, PA	51.08	224	56	49
60	Muncie, IN	51.07	5	100	91
61	Richardson, TX	50.99	140	188	32
62	Baltimore, MD	50.79	188	148	37
63	Flagstaff, AZ	50.67	127	15	141
64	Boston, MA	50.48	294	45	23
65	Lubbock, TX	50.33	31	163	79
66	Bloomington, IN	50.23	54	3	242
67	Edinburg, TX	50.13	1	302	63
68	Missoula, MT	50.09	33	30	155
69	Eugene, OR	49.92	178	73	74
70	Milwaukee, WI	49.84	85	214	67
71	Los Angeles, CA	49.73	260	150	16
72	Tucson, AZ	49.68	60	131	87
73	Charlotte, NC	49.55	86	142	77
74	Washington, DC	49.49	278	54	34
75	St. Paul, MN	49.39	209	96	52
76	San Diego, CA	49.33	247	42	61
77	Orem, UT	49.31	17	151	82
78	Denton, TX	49.23	99	83	81
79	Las Cruces, NM	49.15	3	136	98
80	Santa Barbara, CA	49.01	301	29	41
81	Chicago, IL	48.98	233	111	42
82	Reno, NV	48.88	116	52	124
83	Boca Raton, FL	48.72	246	14	84
T-84	Fort Worth, TX	48.30	207	323	27
T-84	Tulsa, OK	48.30	151	246	59
86	McAllen, TX	48.15	9	173	95
87	Winston-Salem, NC	48.13	216	321	21
88	Greensboro, NC	48.08	32	185	106
89	San Francisco, CA	48.02	323	17	29
90	Las Vegas, NV	47.92	122	19	237
91	Philadelphia, PA	47.82	240	146	45
92	Grand Rapids, MI	47.66	102	92	94
93	Pearland, TX	47.57	69	234	73
94	Louisville, KY	47.56	97	205	83
95	Birmingham, AL	47.51	41	220	101
96	West Palm Beach, FL	47.27	184	64	104
97	Wilmington, NC	47.08	174	35	134
98	San Antonio, TX	46.99	56	218	105
99	Lafayette, LA	46.62	70	141	127
100	Miami, FL	46.52	135	38	229
101	Kansas City, MO	46.43	91	208	103
102	Worcester, MA	46.39	245	152	53
103	Riverside, CA	46.23	194	191	72
104	Bryan, TX	46.08	6	114	174
105	Edmond, OK	45.98	15	181	113
106	Lynchburg, VA	45.90	50	95	170
107	Charleston, SC	45.90	193	34	152
108	Omaha, NE	45.88	67	133	178
109	Murfreesboro, TN	45.85	30	158	139
110	Indianapolis, IN	45.68	62	274	107
111	Portland, OR	45.68	195	32	187
112	Bellingham, WA	45.59	191	25	166
113	Erie, PA	45.50	10	101	231
114	Springfield, MO	45.49	19	176	154
115	League City, TX	45.36	74	260	85
116	Overland Park, KS	45.31	82	165	115
117	Duluth, MN	45.24	71	88	137
118	Rochester, MN	45.23	175	105	97
119	Scranton, PA	45.22	125	66	194
120	Oklahoma City, OK	45.02	44	278	130
T-121	Eau Claire, WI	44.98	105	69	153
T-121	St. Cloud, MN	44.98	83	104	109
123	Boise City, ID	44.92	117	112	128
124	El Paso, TX	44.84	45	217	190
125	Fort Lauderdale, FL	44.82	237	53	117
126	Huntsville, AL	44.77	123	211	119
127	Chico, CA	44.44	259	23	140
128	Corpus Christi, TX	44.19	93	257	129
129	Oshkosh, WI	44.15	36	57	246
T-130	Dearborn, MI	43.99	26	222	149
T-130	Missouri City, TX	43.99	78	129	180
132	Laredo, TX	43.96	23	317	93
133	Sterling Heights, MI	43.85	38	263	144
134	Plano, TX	43.75	196	171	99
135	Scottsdale, AZ	43.72	223	67	147
136	Greeley, CO	43.60	37	200	176
137	Phoenix, AZ	43.58	101	241	165
138	Jonesboro, AR	43.54	2	243	186
139	Akron, OH	43.49	55	182	253
140	Albuquerque, NM	43.49	98	286	136
141	Irving, TX	43.48	111	281	112
142	McKinney, TX	43.48	144	294	86
143	Olathe, KS	43.22	47	265	133
144	Rock Hill, SC	43.20	12	161	232
145	Arlington, TX	43.11	115	233	175
146	Wichita Falls, TX	43.10	56	194	207
147	Gilbert, AZ	43.10	189	226	96
148	Davie, FL	43.09	177	117	126
149	St. Charles, MO	43.01	165	94	177
150	Chandler, AZ	42.99	157	154	164
151	Lansing, MI	42.90	87	113	241
152	Temecula, CA	42.83	198	123	121
153	New York, NY	42.74	316	107	46
154	Johnson City, TN	42.73	76	156	267
155	Pasadena, TX	42.67	92	301	135
156	Redlands, CA	42.59	206	80	162
157	Abilene, TX	42.55	107	177	200
158	St. Petersburg, FL	42.51	119	304	118
159	Cedar Rapids, IA	42.45	169	209	123
160	Sacramento, CA	42.35	203	71	249
161	Amarillo, TX	42.25	66	308	131
162	Lexington-Fayette, KY	42.19	132	139	189
163	Peoria, AZ	42.13	163	235	160
164	Sioux Falls, SD	42.01	160	223	146
165	Roseville, CA	41.96	225	116	111
166	Des Moines, IA	41.94	90	197	212
167	Henderson, NV	41.90	171	221	172
168	Mesa, AZ	41.90	118	242	209
169	Newark, NJ	41.86	159	249	173
170	Murrieta, CA	41.84	185	143	167
171	Somerville, MA	41.72	314	18	114
172	Tyler, TX	41.71	35	307	159
173	Brownsville, TX	41.55	8	305	238
174	Fort Wayne, IN	41.54	79	230	220
175	Peoria, IL	41.53	104	155	248
T-176	Lowell, MA	41.28	256	135	100
T-176	San Marcos, CA	41.28	248	97	120
178	Toledo, OH	41.20	73	309	247
179	Carrollton, TX	41.14	146	252	142
180	Vancouver, WA	41.06	155	77	292
181	Flint, MI	40.92	59	198	277
182	Sunrise, FL	40.92	219	158	158
183	Glendale, AZ	40.82	100	319	204
184	Savannah, GA	40.80	133	124	271
185	Spokane, WA	40.62	114	134	280
186	North Charleston, SC	40.60	128	270	179
187	Stockton, CA	40.53	229	251	108
188	Honolulu, HI	40.52	305	12	184
189	Corona, CA	40.48	221	110	185
190	Evansville, IN	40.36	52	253	274
191	Wichita, KS	40.35	77	314	269
192	Newport News, VA	40.34	149	212	266
193	Colorado Springs, CO	40.33	164	169	235
194	Tacoma, WA	40.31	190	106	275
195	Virginia Beach, VA	40.20	205	160	225
196	Rockford, IL	40.19	22	244	250
197	Rancho Cucamonga, CA	40.16	218	190	156
198	Costa Mesa, CA	40.12	306	21	196
199	Killeen, TX	40.11	39	258	283
200	Garland, TX	40.11	120	295	169
201	Lakeland, FL	39.93	147	166	264
202	Bellevue, WA	39.90	281	82	131
203	West Jordan, UT	39.82	63	325	163
204	Grand Prairie, TX	39.76	121	297	183
205	Aurora, CO	39.70	197	284	151
206	Coral Springs, FL	39.65	226	229	143
207	Norfolk, VA	39.61	141	121	309
208	Naperville, IL	39.57	251	179	122
209	Warren, MI	39.40	138	272	255
210	Hampton, VA	39.31	173	259	226
211	Chattanooga, TN	39.30	81	237	288
212	Santa Monica, CA	39.21	313	22	198
213	Topeka, KS	39.13	29	213	293
214	Brooklyn Park, MN	39.11	150	303	193
215	Rialto, CA	39.08	176	261	191
216	Little Rock, AR	39.04	53	312	297
217	Manchester, NH	39.00	204	109	245
218	Bakersfield, CA	38.96	187	285	182
219	Hollywood, FL	38.78	201	193	251
220	Jackson, MS	38.74	28	268	323
221	Springfield, IL	38.67	143	219	278
222	Mobile, AL	38.66	49	236	321
223	Burbank, CA	38.60	300	79	148
224	Santa Rosa, CA	38.59	287	103	138
225	Cary, NC	38.54	255	255	110
226	Lakewood, CO	38.53	213	248	202
227	Orange, CA	38.49	309	68	157
228	Long Beach, CA	38.43	253	90	257
229	Elk Grove, CA	38.41	220	277	150
230	Santa Clara, CA	38.40	325	76	89
231	Alexandria, VA	38.35	275	70	252
232	Jacksonville, FL	38.33	179	264	233
233	Detroit, MI	38.29	75	322	294
234	High Point, NC	38.20	186	262	262
235	Victorville, CA	38.17	156	290	244
236	Torrance, CA	38.16	310	93	116
237	Salem, OR	38.15	181	115	279
238	El Cajon, CA	38.03	232	98	261
239	Fayetteville, NC	37.99	109	232	299
240	San Bernardino, CA	37.91	136	289	268
241	Joliet, IL	37.89	199	250	211
242	Chino Hills, CA	37.84	263	178	168
243	Fontana, CA	37.83	211	291	217
244	Fresno, CA	37.74	153	203	298
245	Anaheim, CA	37.72	270	108	215
246	Oakland, CA	37.58	269	149	201
247	Aurora, IL	37.58	243	240	197
248	Oceanside, CA	37.58	244	207	219
249	North Las Vegas, NV	37.57	148	311	265
250	Chino, CA	37.54	221	216	223
251	Pembroke Pines, FL	37.46	239	224	205
252	Buena Park, CA	37.25	291	125	161
253	Whittier, CA	37.22	284	99	206
254	Escondido, CA	37.17	235	174	236
255	Memphis, TN	37.15	46	320	316
256	Mesquite, TX	37.12	166	316	259
257	Rio Rancho, NM	37.12	65	269	303
258	Pomona, CA	37.08	236	228	216
259	Vacaville, CA	37.04	266	172	181
260	Montgomery, AL	36.97	113	298	296
261	Chula Vista, CA	36.93	257	189	218
262	Fremont, CA	36.91	308	120	125
263	Miramar, FL	36.85	230	299	203
264	Clarksville, TN	36.76	129	227	300
265	Huntington Beach, CA	36.68	315	72	188
266	Quincy, MA	36.52	299	118	171
267	Augusta, GA	36.45	96	313	308
268	Santa Ana, CA	36.44	254	199	256
269	Allentown, PA	36.43	231	122	302
270	Macon, GA	36.41	94	324	287
271	San Jose, CA	36.41	318	138	102
272	Sunnyvale, CA	36.36	325	127	90
273	Fullerton, CA	36.21	304	89	208
274	Gresham, OR	36.21	170	266	290
275	Modesto, CA	36.17	180	273	263
276	Moreno Valley, CA	36.12	208	283	272
277	Santa Clarita, CA	36.11	265	254	192
278	Ontario, CA	36.08	217	247	285
279	Hayward, CA	35.88	274	168	214
280	Downey, CA	35.88	277	164	213
281	Hawthorne, CA	35.79	272	180	222
282	Jersey City, NJ	35.78	280	175	224
283	Shreveport, LA	35.76	108	279	315
284	Hartford, CT	35.75	183	132	320
285	Portsmouth, VA	35.63	158	306	307
286	Palmdale, CA	35.50	249	293	234
287	Westminster, CA	35.38	297	102	239
288	Chesapeake, VA	35.27	214	315	273
289	Port St. Lucie, FL	35.16	145	296	281
290	Stamford, CT	35.02	317	137	145
291	Hialeah, FL	34.99	167	310	306
292	Columbus, GA	34.86	137	288	314
293	Lancaster, CA	34.84	227	225	304
294	Lakewood, CA	34.74	290	183	228
295	Antioch, CA	34.72	261	292	210
296	Garden Grove, CA	34.66	293	153	240
297	Miami Gardens, FL	34.51	212	300	301
298	Concord, CA	34.26	282	195	254
299	Norwalk, CT	34.20	311	91	258
300	Danbury, CT	34.18	307	145	227
301	Simi Valley, CA	33.82	289	239	221
302	Vallejo, CA	33.76	241	282	286
303	Salinas, CA	33.75	258	202	282
304	Anchorage, AK	33.74	286	210	260
305	Alhambra, CA	33.27	288	206	270
306	Daly City, CA	33.19	321	147	195
307	West Covina, CA	33.16	279	192	289
308	Elizabeth, NJ	33.11	234	231	313
309	Springfield, MA	32.93	200	280	305
310	Norwalk, CA	32.86	267	245	291
311	Thousand Oaks, CA	32.69	320	144	230
312	Glendale, CA	32.68	303	157	276
313	Oxnard, CA	32.63	276	287	243
314	Visalia, CA	32.61	202	275	319
315	Newton, MA	32.51	319	184	199
316	Albany, GA	32.50	68	238	325
317	Inglewood, CA	32.31	262	276	295
318	Baldwin Park, CA	31.92	252	201	312
319	El Monte, CA	31.21	264	215	317
320	Carson, CA	30.59	268	204	322
321	Compton, CA	30.01	238	318	311
322	Arlington, VA	29.86	296	140	324
323	Bridgeport, CT	28.37	285	271	318
324	Germantown, MD	27.74	271	326	310
325	Yonkers, NY	27.18	324	256	284
326	Paterson, NJ	25.70	283	267	326

Source: WalletHub

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