Special Report
30 Best College Towns in America
September 4, 2019 4:15 pm
Last Updated: January 15, 2020 9:57 am
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25. Norman, Oklahoma
> Pop. enrolled in college: 21.8% (26,163)
> No. of colleges and universities in the area: 3
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 42.1%
> Median age: 30.1
> 2018 unemployment: 2.8%
> Bars and restaurants: 236 per 100,000 people
The University of Oklahoma — a public research university with undergraduate enrollment of nearly 22,000 — is located in the city of Norman. College towns tend to have highly-educated adult populations, and Norman is no exception. Over 42% of area residents 25 and over have a bachelor’s degree, compared to 30.9% of adults nationwide.
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24. Denton, Texas
> Pop. enrolled in college: 21.9% (28,720)
> No. of colleges and universities in the area: 3
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 38.1%
> Median age: 29.1
> 2018 unemployment: 3.1%
> Bars and restaurants: 241 per 100,000 people
Denton is a city in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area. Nearly 29,000 the city’s residents are enrolled in college or graduate school. The city is home to the University of North Texas.
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23. Lynchburg, Virginia
> Pop. enrolled in college: 22.2% (17,628)
> No. of colleges and universities in the area: 8
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 33.6%
> Median age: 28.3
> 2018 unemployment: 4.0%
> Bars and restaurants: 272 per 100,000 people
Of the more than 79,000 people living in Lynchburg, 22.2% are college students. The city is home to Liberty University and University of Lynchburg, two private Christian institutions.
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22. Muncie, Indiana
> Pop. enrolled in college: 23.4% (16,234)
> No. of colleges and universities in the area: 2
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 23.6%
> Median age: 28.8
> 2018 unemployment: 4.3%
> Bars and restaurants: 226 per 100,000 people
Muncie, Indiana, is home to two postsecondary institutions, Ball State University and Ivy Tech Community College. Of the city’s 69,000 residents, 23.4% are enrolled in college or graduate school.
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21. Tempe, Arizona
> Pop. enrolled in college: 23.7% (42,330)
> No. of colleges and universities in the area: 16
> Adults with a bachelor’s degree: 43.6%
> Median age: 28.8
> 2018 unemployment: 3.8%
> Bars and restaurants: 298 per 100,000 people
Home to a number of higher education institutions, including Arizona State University and Rio Salado College, Tempe, Arizona, has one of the largest student population in the United States, Over 42,330 Tempe residents are enrolled in college or school.
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