Students searching for their ideal college may do well to look even farther on their horizon. Many popular college towns not only provide a great environment for students’ college days, but also offer an ideal location for their post-graduation life.
Research by Point2Homes.com identified the “Top 10 Most Dynamic College Towns” based on four categories: Human Capital, Housing, Economic Activity, and Earning Power & Equity. Once all the data was compiled, the “Top 10 Most Dynamic College Towns” were named with Princeton, NJ making the list in 10th place. Just missing out on the top rankings was Hoboken, NJ, home of Stevens Institute of Technology, which garnered 11th place.
In first place is Austin, TX, home to University of Texas at Austin. Next is Seattle, WA, home to University of Washington. Denver, CO holds third place with the University of Denver. Raleigh, NC is next with North Carolina State University, followed by Fort Worth, TX with Texas Christian University.
Nashville, TN earned sixth spot with Vanderbilt University, and Elon, NC followed with Elon University. Durham, NC placed eighth as home to Duke University, with Santa Clara, CA coming in ninth with Santa Clara University.
Of course, the rankings of these college towns, and many others, varied based on the specific criteria being considered. Princeton actually came in first place for population growth and seventh place for its low unemployment rate. The New Jersey college towns of Hoboken and New Brunswick (home to Rutgers University) ranked 6th and 7th for job openings.
Education – specifically the percent of residents with a bachelor’s degree or higher – is another key factor in the sustained success of a college town. Based on this criteria, two Pennsylvania “college towns” ranked in the top five due to an increase of 30% or more in their share of educated people: Philadelphia (home to the University of Pennsylvania) and Pittsburgh (home to University of Pittsburgh).
“The vibrant, on-campus life is underscored by the entire area’s focus on education, research and development – which can be translated into business opportunities, new jobs and economic growth,” according to the report by Point2Homes.com.
Students in search of their ideal college may want to consider the economic and social conditions of the town or city in which it is immersed. It can be quite beneficial to attend college, make lifelong friends and business connections, and establish roots in the setting where you ultimately launch your career and adult life.
Susan Alaimo is the founder and director of Collegebound Review that, for the past 25 years, has offered PSAT/SAT® preparation and private college advising by Ivy League educated instructors. Visit CollegeboundReview.com or call 908-369-5362
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