Sacramento is one of the top college towns in US, new study says. See where it ranked
Sacramento is one of the best college towns in the nation, according to WalletHub.
The personal finance website recently released its 2025 list in the Best College Towns and Cities in America, comparing more than 400 spots based on academic, social and economic opportunities for students.
WalletHub considered key factors such as the city’s cost of living, job opportunities, crime rate and quality of higher education.
Austin, Texas, was No. 1 on the list of top destinations for students, while Ann Arbor, Michigan, came in second place and Orlando was third.
“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,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo said. “In addition, cities with a great economic environment can make it easier to get a job during or immediately after college.”
Here’s where Sacramento ranked on the list:
Why is Sacramento one of the best college towns in the US?
Sacramento landed at No 13 on WalletHub’s list of the best college towns and cities in the nation with an overall score of 57.1 out of 100. It beat out Boise and Charleston, South Carolina, for the spot.
California’s capital is home to Sacramento State, American River College, Sacramento City College and other schools.
Sacramento scored relatively high for its social environment — ranking 22nd in the nation, WalletHub said.
However, the city was No. 99 in the nation in terms of academic and economic opportunities.
It was No. 255 in terms of wallet friendliness.
When compared to other large cities — defined by WalletHub as cities with more than 300,000 residents —Sacramento came in eighth place, ranking above Pittsburgh and San Diego.
Which other California cities made the list?
According to WalletHub, only two California cities cracked the top 20, including Sacramento.
San Diego was No. 20 on the list of the best college towns and cities in the nation, outranking Santa Barbara at No. 27 and Berkeley at No. 30.
Further down the list, Fresno landed at No. 41, while San Luis Obispo was No. 69 and Davis was No. 99.
Modesto was No. 178 and Merced was No. 229.
What are the top 10 college cities in the nation?
WalletHub listed the following cities as the top 10 college towns in the United States.
Austin, Texas
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Orlando
Tampa, Florida
Raleigh, North Carolina
Scottsdale, Arizona
Charlottesville, Virginia
Tempe, Arizona
Gainesville, Florida
Atlanta
How did WalletHub come up with its list?
To determine the best college towns and cities in America, WalletHub evaluated a total of 415 cities based on three key dimensions:
- Wallet friendliness,
- Social environment
- Academic and economic opportunities
Those dimensions were divided into 31 relevant metrics ranging from housing costs and job growth rates to the number of breweries, food trucks and shopping centers per capita.
Each metric was graded on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing “the most favorable conditions for college students,” WalletHub said.
The used data collected from sources including the FBI, TripAdvisor, Yelp, the U.S. Census Bureau, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.