The Brief
- Ann Arbor, Michigan ranked No. 2 among America’s top college towns for 2027 in WalletHub’s study of 415 cities across 31 metrics, including affordability, academic quality and career opportunities.
- Austin, Texas, placed first, with Charlottesville, Virginia ranking third, followed by Raleigh, North Carolina, and Atlanta, Georgia, rounding out the top five.
- The rankings considered factors such as cost of living, university quality, employment prospects, crime rates and recreational activities to help students find cities that balance academic success with affordability and quality of life.
With college costs continuing to climb, new data is highlighting the U.S. cities that offer students the strongest combination of affordability, academic excellence, career opportunities and a vibrant social scene.
To help students make informed decisions, WalletHub compared more than 400 U.S. cities using 31 key indicators. The study assessed three main categories: wallet friendliness, social environment, and academic and economic opportunities. Factors included the cost of living, crime rates, higher quality of education, employment prospects and recreational activities.
Ann Arbor ranked second-best college town of 2027
Big picture view:
Ann Arbor, home to the University of Michigan, claimed the No. 2 spot among the top college towns, supported by its concentration of higher education institutions, large number of students attending the college, and its incredible access to top-level NCAA Division 1 athletics.…