Website Ranks Laramie No. 1 Among Small College Towns

Once again, Laramie ranks highly on a list of the nation’s best college and university communities.

This time, the city can say, “We’re No. 1.”

A website called College Values Online ranks Laramie at the top of its list of the “50 Best Small College Towns in America,” after looking at factors including cost of living, unemployment rate, crime rate and “wow” factors.

“Located on the Laramie River and between Snowy Range and Laramie Range, the number one small college town on our list is a hotspot for outdoor enthusiasts who find it ideal for recreational activities such as skiing, snowmobiling, mountain biking and trout fishing,” the website says.

In the top five, Laramie ranks ahead of Manhattan, Kan.; Normal, Ill.; Chapel Hill, N.C.; and Corvallis, Ore.

The full College Values Online list, along with an explanation of its methodology, may be found at www.collegevaluesonline.com/features/best-small-college-towns-in-america/.

Last year, WalletHub.com ranked Laramie No. 6 on its list of “2014’s Best College Cities & Towns in America,” after considering 23 metrics including quality of higher education, crime rates and cost of living.