WalletHub just released its ranking of Best College Towns and Cities in America and a Southern city has nabbed the top spot.
The top college town for 2026 is none other than Austin, Texas. The Texas Capitol is home to University of Texas at Austin, as well as Huston-Tillotson University, St. Edward’s University, and Concordia University.
Austin tops the charts because it is home to great schools that offer excellent education for reasonable prices, which is always important for college students. Perhaps equally important to the students, if not the parents, is that Austin also has plenty of chances to unwind after class. There’s a killer bar and restaurant scene as well as clubs, college sports, shopping centers and, critically, one of the lowest average pizza prices in the U.S.
Anyone looking towards long-term goals, Austin has a lot of opportunities post-graduation, too, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. and the 27th-best annual job growth rate.
While Ann Arbor, Michigan, came in second, rounding out the top three was Orlando. The experts credited the city, home of the University of Central Florida, for giving students a big bang for their buck. The school had the 14th-cheapest tuition (including room and board) and high-quality education, ranking 54th in school quality among the more than 400 cities included in WalletHub’s survey.
They also noted Orlando’s incredible entertainment options, for when students weren’t studying, including attractions, sports clubs, shopping centers, food trucks, and coffee shops. If students want to stick around, Orlando is also a great place to retire.
Austin and Orlando weren’t the only Southern cities to make the top of the rankings. In fact, Southern cities dominated the top of the list. Tampa and Raleigh made the Top Five, while Atlanta, Charlottesville, and Gainesville all earned spots in the Top 10.
“Picking the right college is crucial, but it’s also important to make sure that the surrounding college town will be a place where you’ll truly love spending your college years,” said WalletHub Analyst Chip Lupo while announcing their findings.
“Towns with a low cost of living, plenty of activities and large student populations can make your college experience a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. In addition, cities with a great economic environment can make it easier to get a job during or immediately after college.”
Check out the full list here.