The top college destinations in the US aren’t all in warmer climates. Going away for college is a tradition amongst US high school graduates. College is one of the most defining periods in one’s life, not only because it helps guide academic achievement, but also because the college environment helps the individual grow as a person.
While furthering your career and getting the best possible education should be two main factors when choosing a college, any future student should also take into account the location. Today, we would like to present you with a list we have compiled of the top 20 college destinations in the US, based on the College Destination Index, released earlier this year by the American Institute of Economic Research.
Curious to see the top college destinations in the US? Let’s take a look at the countdown of the top college destinations in the US
NOTE: Because the College Destination Index ranks college destinations according to the population of towns, we have chosen to focus solely on small college towns (with a population of 250,000 or less).
No. 20: Bloomington (Illinois)
Student density: 157.6 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $39,055
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $726
No. 19: Waterloo (Iowa)
Student density: 118.4 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $36,605
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $635
No. 18: Bloomington (Indiana)
Student density: 237.8 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $30,252
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $747
No. 17: Logan (Utah)
Student density: 145 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $26,872
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $631
No. 16: Manhattan (Kansas)
Student density: 194.2 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $41,208
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $830
No. 15: Burlington (Vermont)
Student density: 118.8 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $41,770
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $1,280
No. 14: Fargo (North Dakota)
Student density: 148.8 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $39,470
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $639
No. 13: College Station (Texas)
Student density: 261.9 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $28,943
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $837
No. 12: Morgantown (West Virginia)
Student density: 183.5 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $33,452
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $742
No. 11: Columbia (Missouri)
Student density: 205.5 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $35,947
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $704
No. 10: Lafayette (Indiana)
Student density: 211.3 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $30,002
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $749
No. 9: Lawrence (Kansas)
Student density: 270.6 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $33,793
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $860
No. 8: Charlottesville (Virginia)
Student density: 145.6 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $42,558
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $1,099
No. 7: Blacksburg (Virginia)
Student density: 247.5 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $28,788
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $765
No. 6: Champaign Urbana (Illinois)
Student density: 232.3 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $34,406
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $785
No. 5: Corvalis (Oregon)
Student density: 249.3 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $37,171
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $757
No. 4: Iowa City (Iowa)
Student density: 200.6 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $38,556
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $853
No. 3: State College (Pennsylvania)
Student density: 272.8 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $33,473
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $964
No. 2: Ames (Iowa)
Student density: 302.8 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $35,053
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $720
No. 1: Ithaca (New York)
Student density: 279.7 students per 1,000 people
Income per capita (yearly): $34,643
Average rent (2 bedroom apartment per month): $1,001
Enjoy our ranking of the top college destinations in the US? You’ll love our “Top 20 Universities in Europe.“
