Ann Arbor, East Lansing among top college towns. Where they rank for 2025

Four cities in Michigan based on a current survey, it is among the prime 100 faculty cities within the nation, with Ann Arbor topping the record of “small” faculty cities.

Highschool college students are actually making use of to varsity, and researchers at WalletHub, a private finance web site, ranked more than 400 American college towns to search out one of the best surroundings for college kids, together with 12 cities in Michigan.

“Choosing the proper faculty is essential, nevertheless it’s additionally essential to verify the encircling faculty city is a spot the place you will truly get pleasure from spending your faculty years,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo mentioned on-line. “Cities with a low value of dwelling, numerous actions and a big pupil inhabitants could make your faculty expertise loads much less irritating and much more enjoyable. Plus, cities with a great financial local weather could make it simpler to discover a job throughout or proper after faculty.”

WalletHub ranked the cities general after which divided them into massive cities with greater than 300,000 residents, mid-sized cities with 125,000 to 300,000 residents, and small cities with fewer than 125,000 residents. The highest 5 cities nationally among the many 415 cities ranked had been Austin, Texas, at No. 1, with an general rating of 64.54; Ann Arbor, Michigan, at No. 2, with an general rating of 62.22; Orlando, Florida, at No. 3, with an general rating of 60.55; and Raleigh, North Carolina, at No. 5, with a complete rating of 60.18.

“As the price of dwelling for college kids can improve over $36,000 over a twelve-month interval, college students ought to attempt to discover essentially the most bang for his or her buck,” WalletHub urged. “Due to this fact, it’s best for college kids to reside in a metropolis with an inexpensive value of dwelling, and likewise in a metropolis that gives good educational and work alternatives. The best metropolis also needs to present a enjoyable social surroundings to assist college students address the stress of learning.”

Austin, Texas, stood out for its employment alternatives, abundance of actions (reminiscent of malls or golf equipment for college kids), high quality training and comparatively inexpensive tuition of $31,433 per yr with housing, based on WalletHub.

Town is dwelling to many schools, together with the University of Texas at Austin, Huston-Tillotson University, St. Edward’s University And Concordia University Texas.

Ann Arbor, dwelling of the University of Michigan Wolverinesranked #2 – and #1 amongst “small” faculty cities – for its high quality training and affordability.

“Town’s faculties rank tenth within the nation in training high quality, and the common value of a yr of tuition plus room and board is $34,782,” based on WalletHub. ‘Whereas that’s nonetheless loads, it’s a lot decrease than the greater than $91,000 per yr you may anticipate in the most costly cities.

“Ann Arbor additionally has a big pupil inhabitants – 348 per 1,000 residents – making it simpler for younger folks to construct friendships and communities. There’s additionally a lower than 4% distinction in pupil gender stability, the twenty seventh greatest ratio among the many greater than 400 cities in our research,” WalletHub added.

Ann Arbor ranked 186th for “pockets friendliness,” however tenth for tutorial and financial alternative and 14th for social surroundings.

East Lansing, dwelling to Michigan State College, ranked fortieth general (53.69 factors) – and thirteenth amongst small cities – and ranked thirty first for wallet-friendliness, 319th for tutorial and financial alternative and thirty eighth for social surroundings.

Different Michigan faculty cities within the prime 100 general included Mount Nice at 88th and Grand Rapids at 96th.

Be taught extra about WalletHub’s faculty metropolis rankings right here.

Which Michigan faculty cities are listed in WalletHub’s rankings?

A dozen faculty cities in Michigan are among the many 415 U.S. cities ranked, together with:

• Ann Arbor: quantity 2 with a complete rating of 62.22. #1 small city
• East Lansing: No. 40 with a complete rating of 53.69. Small city in thirteenth place
• Mount Nice: No. 88 with a complete rating of 51.34. Small city ranked thirty ninth
• Grand Rapids: No. 96 with a complete rating of fifty.98. Medium-sized metropolis in twenty eighth place
• Kalamazoo: No. 162 with a complete rating of 49.22. Small city ranked 66th
• Ypsilanti: No. 182 with a complete rating of 48.67. Small city ranked 76th
• Lansing: No. 190 with a complete rating of 48.42. Small city ranked eightieth
• Sterling heights: No. 278 with a complete rating of 45.76. Medium-sized metropolis ranked 93rd
• Warren: No. 292 with a complete rating of 45.29. Medium-sized metropolis ranked 99th
• Detroit: No. 319 with a complete rating of 44.32. Massive metropolis in 66th place
• Dearborn: No. 321 with a complete rating of 44.21. Small city ranked 141st
• Flint: No. 382 with a complete rating of 40.78. Small city ranked 169th

WalletHub mentioned Lansing was 108th general in wallet-friendliness, but additionally mentioned it had the third-best value of dwelling for younger folks.

Why is Ann Arbor the second greatest faculty city within the US?

Ann Arbor, dwelling to the College of Michigan, took second place for its high quality training, value of tuition and housing at $34,782 and NCAA Division 1 sports activities.

Ann Arbor’s inhabitants consists of 348 college students for each 1,000 residents, making it simpler for freshmen to affix teams and make pals, based on WalletHub.

“And if you wish to seize a slice whereas watching a sport, town has the third-lowest common pizza value within the U.S.,” based on WalletHub.

Ann Arbor can also be dwelling to Washtenaw Community College And Concordia University Ann Arbor.

What are one of the best small faculty cities within the US?

Listed below are WalletHub’s rankings for one of the best small faculty cities, with populations underneath 125,000:

1. Ann Arbor, Michigan
2. Charlottesville, Virginia
3. Berkley, California
4. West Lafayette, Indiana
5. Laramie, WY
6. Champaign, Ailing
7. Pullman, Washington
8. St. Charles, Missouri
9. Wilmington, North Carolina
10. Cambridge, MA

What are one of the best mid-sized faculty cities within the US?

Listed below are WalletHub’s rankings for one of the best mid-sized faculty cities, with 125,000 to 300,000 residents:

1. Tempe, Arizona
2. Reno, Nev
3. Gainesville, FL
4. Scottsdale, Ariz
5. Tallahassee, Florida
6. Salt Lake Metropolis, Utah
7. Madison, Wis
8. Charlestown, South Carolina
9. New Haven, Connecticut
10. Boise, Idaho

What are one of the best massive faculty cities within the US?

Listed below are WalletHub’s rankings for one of the best massive faculty cities, with populations over 300,000:

1. Austin, Texas
2. Orlando, FL
3. Tampa, Fla
4. Raleigh, North Carolina
5. Atlanta, Georgia
6. Pittsburgh, Pa
7. Phoenix, Ariz
8. Miami, FL
9. Seattle, Washington
10. Sacramento, California

Which American faculty cities scored the bottom?

Listed below are the underside 10 faculty cities, based on WalletHub’s rankings:

• Palmdale, California: ranked No. 406 with an general rating of 38.72.
• Inglewood, California: ranked No. 407 with an general rating of 38.49.
• Macon-Bibb County, Georgia: ranked No. 408 with an general rating of 38.49.
• Pueblo, Colorado: ranked No. 409 with an general rating of 38.37.
• Germantown, Maryland: Ranked at quantity 410 with an general rating of 37.78.
• Norwalk, California: ranked No. 411 with an general rating of 37.43.
• Daly metropolis, California: ranked No. 412 with an general rating of 37.4.
• Carson, California: ranked No. 413 with a rating of 36.92.
• Compton, California: ranked No. 414 with a rating of 35.7.
• East Los Angeles, California: ranked No. 415 with a rating of 34.39.

What was WalletHub’s methodology?

Researchers used three predominant dimensions: wallet-friendliness; social surroundings; and educational and financial alternatives. Components had been evaluated in opposition to 31 related measures – reminiscent of housing prices, leisure per capita, job development, pupil debt per individual and extra – and rated on a 100-point scale, with 100 factors being essentially the most favorable. Every metropolis or city was weighed and given an general rating rating.

The full of 415 pupil cities had been ranked based mostly on 31 measures that decided educational high quality, sociality and financial alternatives. The college cities had been additionally divided based mostly on measurement and ranked individually.

Information for the research was collected on September 23, 2025 from sources such because the US Census Bureau, Nationwide Middle for Training Statistics, US Division of Housing and City Growth, TripAdvisor and extra.

Portfolio friendliness consists of issues like housing prices, variety of rental properties, health membership prices, pizza and hamburger prices, film and bowling prices, and training prices.

The social surroundings consists of the scholar inhabitants, singles, gender stability, nightlife, cafes, breweries, meals vans, outlets and sports activities.

Educational and financial alternatives embrace high quality of training, incomes potential, part-time jobs, median revenue, unemployment, job development, and mind drain.

Contact Sarah Moore @ smoore@lsj.com