Deciding which college to attend is like ordering a latte from a coffee shop: there are many choices to pick from! After you receive your pile of acceptance and rejection letters, you’ll begin to weigh the pros and cons of each university to spend the next 4 or some-odd years to study at. When evaluating your options, you must think about the type of environment you envision yourself thriving in. Most college towns are either located in an urban jungle, suburbia, or no-mans lands (also known as the middle of nowhere). Most of America’s top universities are located in major cities like New York City, Boston and the San Francisco Bay Area. Moving to a large city with lots of people exposes you to new cultures, activities, and events. Here are the best college towns you’ll be interested in moving to in America:
Manhattan – New York, New York
New York City is referred to as the big apple because of the dense population, sprawling city landscape, and the diversity of people, buildings, cultures, and events. Students choosing to move to New York City will have access to historic landmarks to deepen their education like the New York City Library and the Museum of Modern Art. The city also has one of the most active nightlifes in the world with Broadway shows playing nightly in Times Square and lively bars in the Meatpacking district. While cost of living is expensive in New York, you will be living amongst some of the most world-renowned artists, television stars, politicians, business influencers, and dreamers who can help leverage your career after college.
Population:
1,600,000+
Major universities and college in New York City include:
- New York University
- Columbia University
- The Julliard School
- The New School
- Pace University
- Fordham University
Major Landmarks:
- Lincoln Center
- Radio City Hall
- Times Square
- The Statue of Liberty
- The Village
- The Empire State Bulding
- The Metropolitan Museum of Art
- Yankee Stadium
- American Museum of Natural History
Image credit: Time Square Caught Napping by Nana B Agyei on flickr
San Francisco Bay Area, California
Home of the Giants, the San Francisco Bay Area has many parks, museums, and cultural events that will keep you busy during your weekends when you need to take a break from studying. There are many opportunities to jumpstart your career while you’re still taking English 101 because you can intern at some of the most highly regarded technology companies in the world like Facebook, Linkedin, Twitter, and hundreds of other small venture funded start-up companies.
Population:
837,000+
Major universities and college in the San Francisco Bay Area include:
- San Francisco State University
- US San Francisco
- Golden Gate University
Berkeley, California
- UC Berkley
Stanford, California
- Stanford
Major Landmarks:
- Golden Gate Bridge
- Palace of Fine Arts
- Academy of Sciences
- AT&T Ball Park
- Golden Gate Park
Image credit: San Francisco Bay and The Golden Gate by Trey Ratcliff on flickr
Austin, Texas
Austin is one of the most lively cities for college students to engage with their professors and colleagues inside and outside of the classroom. Students can attend film festivals, try the latest gastronomy or down-home bbq joint, or attend a concert from talented local artists. Austin also has a growing start-up community for students to engage in entrepreneurship before they graduate college.
Population:
885,000+
Major universities and college in the Austin include:
- University of Texas at Austin
- Acton School of Business
- Austin Graduate School of Theology
- National American University
Major Landmarks:
- Beerland
- The Victory Grill
- Lady Bird Lake
- Draft House Cinema
- Darrell K Royal-Texas Memorial Stadium
Image credit: The State Capitol of Texas at Dusk by Trey Ratcliff on flickr
Boston, Massachusetts
Boston is home to some of the most educated people and institutions in the world. Students can learn from world-renown researchers and network with high profile CEOs and artists. Boston has an active nightlife for students to watch Red Sox and New England Patriot games. When your parents drop you off at the dorm, make sure they don’t confuse their car keys with your khakis.
Population:
645,000+
Major universities and college in the Boston include:
- Harvard University
- Tufts University
- Berklee College of Music
- Boston College
- Boston Conservatory
- Boston Unversity
- Brandeis University
- Emerson College
Image credit: Boston (Photogra)phy Party by Nathan Lanier on flickr
Chicago, Illinois
Midwesterners are welcoming to newcomers and Chicago offers the pleasures of a great metropolitan city with excellent food, shopping, concerts, and sporting events. Students can enjoy the low cost of living in a large city and have access to live theatre, deep-dish pizza joints, and talented thought-leaders from universities like Northwestern and the University of Chicago.
Population:
2.7+ million
Major universities and college in the Chicago include:
- University of Chicago
- Northwestern University
- Purdue University
- DePaul University
- Roosevelt University
- Columbia College Chicago
Image credit: Chicago Skyline by memories_by_mike on flickr
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is the 5th happiest city in the United States according to the Daily Beast. The citizens of Ann Arbor are reputable for their hospitality and value for education. Students will enjoy local craft fairs and festivals in addition to coffee shops to study at when its below zero degrees during the winter.
Population:
117,000+
Major universities and college in the Ann Arbor include:
- University of Michigan
- Concordia University–Ann Arbor
Image credit: Muffler Shop by Ross on flickr
Consider Your Values and Interests
When you consider which town to move to for college, consider your values and interests. If you like to be around a lot of people and events a large city will be the best choice for you. Otherwise, a smaller town with less distractions might be more up your alley. In either scenario, consider your social and long term career goals since both of those factors have a major impact on your college experience. Photo credits:
Main Image credit: Twinkle Eyes… JH Images.co.uk on flickr
Featured photo credit: Twinkle Eyes, jhimages.co.uk via flickr.com
