Austin ranked best large college city in America

Republished with permission from WalletHub

High school seniors face a laundry list of tasks when getting ready for college. Between standardized tests, essays and financial-aid applications, the final months before orientation can be difficult.

One of the most important steps in the process is the campus visit, which often includes a tour of the city or town that will serve as the student’s home for the next several years.

Experts have argued that a school’s geographical location is just as important as a strong curriculum and supportive school environment to a student’s academic success and personal development. As student living expenses can reach up to $28,720 for a 12-month period, students should try to find the most bang for their buck. That’s especially true in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, as money is tight for many people.

While some colleges are cutting tuition costs, or at least not raising them, that’s not the case at all schools. Therefore, it’s in students’ interest to live in a city with a reasonable cost of living, as well as one that provides good academic and work opportunities. The ideal city should also provide a fun social environment to help students deal with the stress of college.

To help prospective college students narrow down their school choices and to follow up our report on 2022’s College & University Rankings, WalletHub compared more than 400 U.S. cities of varying sizes based on 30 key indicators of academic, social and economic opportunities for students. Our data set ranges from the cost of living to the quality of higher education to the crime rate.