San Antonio’s culture and economy has earned it a shiny new reputation as the No. 21 best large college town in America for 2026.
WalletHub’s annual report “Best College Towns in America (2026)” ranks 415 cities based on their “wallet-friendliness,” social environment, and academic and economic opportunities for college graduates. Cities are ranked overall, and are sorted into one of three population categories: large cities with more than 300,000 residents; midsize cities with 125,000-300,000 residents; and small cities with fewer than 125,000 residents.
The Alamo City moved up eight spots from its 2024 ranking, with the report citing factors like its diverse nightlife scene, thriving economy, and sport-watching opportunities for its continued success. San Antonio ranked No. 65 in the overall list.
According to the report’s findings, San Antonio ranks as the 56th most “wallet-friendly” city in the U.S., and it boasts the 84th best social environment in the country. It ranked No. 305 for its “academic and economic opportunities.”
Meanwhile, Austin reigns as the No. 1 best college town in America for the fourth year in a row.
“Austin also has a great economic environment, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. and the 27th-best annual job growth rate, allowing students to easily find work while in school or helping them transition to a job immediately after,” the report said.
Top college towns in Texas
Other than San Antonio and Austin, only four more Texas cities appeared in the top 100 in the overall list of best college towns for 2026: College Station (No. 45), Houston (No. 67), Fort Worth (No. 89), and Plano (No. 91).
In the separate rankings by city size, Houston ranked right behind San Antonio as the 22nd best large college town in America, followed by Fort Worth (No. 27), Corpus Christi (No. 35), Dallas (No. 43), El Paso (No. 46), and Arlington (No. 57). There were 68 total U.S. cities that qualified in the large city category.
San Marcos, a city situated between Austin and San Antonio, ranked as the No. 51 best small college town in the U.S.
The top 10 best college towns in the U.S. for 2026 are:
No. 1 – Austin, TexasNo. 2 – Ann Arbor, MichiganNo. 3 – Orlando, FloridaNo. 4 – Tampa, FloridaNo. 5 – Raleigh, North CarolinaNo. 6 – Tempe, ArizonaNo. 7 – Atlanta, GeorgiaNo. 8 – Reno, NevadaNo. 9 – Charlottesville, VirginiaNo. 10 – Gainesville, Florida