Laramie and UW Rank Highly on Best College Cities List

The home of the University of Wyoming continues to receive recognition as one of the best college towns in the country.

Laramie ranks as the nation’s sixth-best small college city in a new list released by the personal finance website WalletHub, which compared more than 400 U.S. cities based on 31 indicators across three dimensions: wallet friendliness, social environment and academic/economic opportunities.

“A big part of picking your ideal college is finding a town you can truly love being in during your school years,” WalletHub analyst Cassandra Happe says. “The best college towns blend great academics with low costs, abundant activities, a high degree of safety and plenty of job opportunities.”

In particular, Laramie ranked highly for its low unemployment rate, low crime rate, job opportunities, the cost of higher education and “brain drain” -- the annual change in the share of the population holding a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Among small college cities on the WalletHub list -- those with populations smaller than 125,000 -- Laramie ranks behind only Ann Arbor, Mich.; Charlottesville, Va.; West Lafayette, Ind.; College Station, Texas; and Provo, Utah. Among all 400-plus college cities, Laramie ranks 21st.

Earlier this year, an article in Outside magazine identified Laramie as “the perfect affordable mountain town,” noting the cost of living; access to outdoor activities; food, art and culture; and the influence of UW, including its academic and other offerings.