UW students pause atop Medicine Bow Peak in the Snowy Range during a UW Outdoor Program excursion last fall. Access to natural amenities is one of the factors in the ranking of UW and Laramie as No. 4 on RentCafe’s 2026 “Best College Towns” list. (UW Photo)
The University of Wyoming and its home community of Laramie continue to ascend in
national rankings.
The website RentCafe has placed Laramie No. 4 on its “Best College Towns” list for 2026, a “spectacular” climb from No. 16 last year.
The reason? An increase in UW student retention and graduation rates, the website
says.
“Having climbed 12 positions compared to last year, Laramie ranks No. 4 thanks to
its blend of affordable education and livability. For instance, tuition and fees at
the University of Wyoming are much lower than the national average at around $6,914
for in-state students, and the colleges offer a variety of programs and dozens of
organizations for students to live their best lives,” the website says. “As a quiet,
mountain college town, Laramie has a great natural amenity rank, as well as a high
number of arts and entertainment establishments relative to its population. This makes
it a very attractive destination for Gen Zers who are looking for a serene background
for their college years.”
RentCafe says its rankings are based on affordability, including cost of attendance
and cost of living; livability, including natural amenities and the ratio of arts,
entertainment and recreation establishments to the community’s population; and education,
including student retention and graduation rates, the student-to-faculty ratio and
admissions yield.
“The towns that rank well in our list reflect the values of Gen Zers, who want authenticity,
identity and purpose,” the website says. “These towns are generally centered around
one university with a strong presence as the town’s cultural engine. As such, they
are extremely welcoming of students and give newcomers the impression of belonging
in a community of peers.
“Additionally, Gen Z is one of the most wellness-aware generations, thereby placing
a great deal of emphasis on mental health and well-being. To that end, towns that
rank well generally feel calmer and less overstimulating with a slower pace of living
than major urban hubs, as well as with immediate access to nature.
“Finally, these towns offer a perceived affordability that matters to Gen Z -- a generation
that’s wary of debt and overspending and interested in building financial security
from very early on. With a lower cost of living than major coastal or large cities
and lower tuition and fees than prestigious universities, these college towns offer
the best of both worlds to college freshmen.”
The only communities ranking above Laramie are Bozeman, Mont.; Pullman, Wash.; and
Clemson, S.C. Among those ranking below Laramie are Gainesville, Fla.; Provo, Utah;
Athens, Ohio; and Moscow, Idaho. A total of 244 college towns were analyzed.
Earlier this year, TIME Magazine ranked UW as the 99th best U.S. university overall
-- and the nation’s No. 61 public university -- in its list of “The World’s Top Universities of 2026.” That’s significantly higher than a number of flagship and land-grant universities
in neighboring states.
Additionally, Laramie ranks as the nation’s fifth-best small college city in a list
released by the personal finance website WalletHub.
In 2024, a website called TheTravel put Laramie at the top of its list of the “10 Best College Towns in America in 2024,” after looking at factors that include campus offerings, vibrant downtown areas, a strong sense of community and outdoor recreation.
