city news
Houston soars on 2026 list of best large college towns in America
Houston is the 22nd best large college town in the U.S.
Houston's thriving culture and economy has earned it new fame as the No. 22 best large college town in America for 2026.
WalletHub's annual report "Best College Towns in America (2026)" ranks 415 cities based on their "wallet-friendliness," social environment, and academic and economic opportunities for college graduates. Cities are ranked overall, and are sorted into one of three population categories: large cities with more than 300,000 residents; midsize cities with 125,000-300,000 residents; and small cities with fewer than 125,000 residents.
According to the report's findings, Houston ranks as the No. 81 most "wallet-friendly" city in the U.S. for college students and graduates, and it also ranked No. 118 for its social environment. The city also ranked No. 265 in the category for academic and economic opportunities for college grads.
"Picking the right college is crucial, but it’s also important to make sure that the surrounding college town will be a place where you’ll truly love spending your college years," said WalletHub analyst Chris Lupo. "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."
Houston has no shortage of high-ranking universities to attend, and its challenging graduate schools are also among the best in the nation. The city has also made a name for itself as one of the best places to live for its top-tier quality of life.
Meanwhile, Austin reigns as the No. 1 best college town in America for the fourth year in a row.
"Austin also has a great economic environment, with one of the lowest unemployment rates in the U.S. and the 27th-best annual job growth rate, allowing students to easily find work while in school or helping them transition to a job immediately after," the report said.
Top college towns in Texas
Other than Houston and Austin, only four more Texas cities appeared in the top 100 in the overall list of best college towns for 2026: College Station (No. 45), San Antonio (No. 65), Fort Worth (No. 89), and Plano (No. 91).
In the separate rankings by city size, San Antonio ranked just ahead of Houston as the No. 21 best large college town in America, followed by Fort Worth (No. 27), Corpus Christi (No. 35), Dallas (No. 43), El Paso (No. 46), and Arlington (No. 57). There were 68 total U.S. cities that qualified in the large city category.
The top 10 best college towns in the U.S. for 2026 are:
- No. 1 – Austin, Texas
- No. 2 – Ann Arbor, Michigan
- No. 3 – Orlando, Florida
- No. 4 – Tampa, Florida
- No. 5 – Raleigh, North Carolina
- No. 6 – Tempe, Arizona
- No. 7 – Atlanta, Georgia
- No. 8 – Reno, Nevada
- No. 9 – Charlottesville, Virginia
- No. 10 – Gainesville, Florida
