Best Cities for Students (And Not One Being NYC!)

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Oct 16, 2021

Best Cities for Students (And Not One Being NYC!)

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A recent review by MrQ out of the UK analyzed college towns and university cities around the world to provide a definitive ranking of the best ones for students. Looking at affordability, social settings, inclusivity and nightlife, they found the best of the best. (And not one of them includes New York City!)

Here's a look at the world's best cities for students.

In this article

The top 10 best cities for students

Rank	City	Country	Overall Score
1	Montreal	Canada	6.79
2	London	United Kingdom	6.77
3	Champaign, Illinois	United States	6.69
4	Ithaca, New York	United States	6.62
5	Madison, Wisconsin	United States	6.62
6	Durham, North Carolina	United States	6.55
7	Oxford	United Kingdom	6.26
8	Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania	United States	6.12
9	Toronto	Canada	6.12
10	Ann Arbor, Michigan	United States	6.09

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1. Montreal

Home to more than 200,000 students and 35,000 international students, Montreal comes out on top as the best global city for students thanks to its reasonable living costs, options for nightlife and inclusivity. The average cost of a single room for studios is around $900 per month, which may sound steep but half that in larger cities worldwide.

Home to: 97 colleges, including the University of Montreal, McGill University, Concordia University and HEC Montreal

2. London

After Tokyo, London was ranked the world's best city for student nightlife. While education is top of mind for students, so is the full college experience that includes a good night blowing off steam. London's mix of options for fun and budget-friendly pints got the U.K. capital city its ranking. It has more than 1,000 nightclubs - twice that of the Big Apple - and a beer will cost you less than $7.

Home to: 48 colleges, including Royal Academy of Dramatic Art, Imperial College London, King's College London and Queen Mary University of London

3. Champaign, Illinois

Of all the cities on the review, Champaign clocked in as the cheapest, with the average cost of a single room hovering around $800 per month. This is a far cry from the nearly $1,800 rents in larger cities like New York and London. The farm town city in central Illinois is also big for cheap eats. The average price of a meal is less than $6.

Home to: University of Illinois and Parkland College

4. Ithaca, New York

Located in the remote area of the Finger Lakes, Ithaca is the largest city surrounded by the unbelievable beauty of snow-covered ski areas, spectacular foliage-covered parks and splendid waterfalls. But when not outside enjoying nature or sitting in a classroom, the college town comes together in its nightlife to ward off the cold winters by having a great time and spirits to warm from the inside.

Home to: Cornell University, Ithaca College, SUNY Cortland and Tompkins Cortland Community College

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5. Madison, Wisconsin

Madison, also making the list for cheap rent just over $1,000 per month, is the capital of Wisconsin. Despite that distinction, it feels like one big college town and its nightlife filled with live music events is renowned across the Midwest. Not only do students love it but Livability recently named it the No. 1 most liveable town in the U.S.

Home to: University of Wisconsin-Madison, Edgewood College, Madison Area Technical College and Herzing University, Madison

6. Durham, North Carolina

Give the schools of Durham some credit because they practically built Durham and the North Carolina triangle with Raleigh and Chapel Hill into the bustling and still-growing "it" region of the South. There is so much to see and do in this city, the 4th largest in the state, that MrQ's analysis found it tops too.

Home to: 13 colleges, including the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Duke University, North Carolina State University and Meredith College

7. Oxford, England

Just because Oxford is home to arguably, one of the most prestigious and top universities in the world doesn't mean the students of nearly 50 different colleges don't like to let loose. While London isn't too far by train, why make the schlep when Oxford itself offers so much fun when class is out of session? The only downside? It gets pricey to live here.

Home to: 45 colleges, including Christ Church, St. John's College, Exeter College and Trinity College

8. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

The steel town in Western Pennsylvania was No. 10 on the cheapest cities list, and its monthly cost of living was closer to $1,150. The city also appeared on the world's best for junk food. An average price of a quick meal is about $7.50.

Home to: 22 colleges, including Carnegie Mellon University, University of Pittsburgh, Duquesne University and Washington & Jefferson College

9. Toronto

A hotspot for the film industry and often touted for being a cleaner, friendlier, Canadian version of Manhattan, Toronto also appeared in the top 10 for nightlife. Although it only has 172 nightclubs, it is the highest-ranked in the country. A cocktail here averages $11 with beers closer to $5.

Home to: 8 colleges, including the University of Toronto, York University, Seneca College and Ryerson University

10. Ann Arbor, Michigan

Rounding out the list is the town the University of Michigan built. Over 50,000 students go to school in Ann Arbor, making up nearly half of the population. And with college kids come breweries, nightclubs, coffeehouses, and sports arenas.

Home to: 7 colleges, including the University of Michigan, Concordia University Ann Arbor, Eastern Michigan University and Cleary University

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Lissa Poirot is an award-winning journalist and editor with a focus on finance, travel and health. Her work has appeared online and in print, and she has often been cited as a source on both. She currently resides in Pennsylvania.

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