These Florida Cities Are Among The 'Best College Towns' In America

By Zuri Anderson

December 11, 2020

High school seniors have to do a lot of preparation for college, from financial aid applications to orientation. Campus visits are considered essential, too. After all, this is where students will spend several years of their life.

Experts claim the school's geographical location should be a factor in selecting the school as well, especially when it comes to expenses and other factors. So, WalletHub conducted a study to see which American cities and towns have the considered the best colleges towns in the nation.

Florida clocked in a lot of college hubs! Twenty-four names on the list call the Sunshine State their home. Below are the city and town rankings by size:

Large Cities

  • Tampa (No. 4)
  • Jacksonville (No. 13)
  • Miami (No. 29)

Midsized Cities

  • Gainesville (No. 2)
  • Orlando (No. 4)
  • Tallahassee (No. 18)
  • Port St. Lucie (No. 29)
  • Cape Coral (No. 38)
  • St. Petersburg (No. 51)
  • Coral Springs (No. 93)
  • Fort Lauderdale (No. 102)
  • Pembroke Pines (No. 129)
  • Hollywood (No. 130)
  • Miramar (No. 144)
  • Hialeah (No. 150)

Small Cities

  • Boca Raton (No. 46)
  • Daytona Beach (No. 50)
  • Coral Gables (No. 92)
  • Lakeland (No. 111)
  • Brandon (No. 132)
  • Davie (No. 152)
  • Sunrise (No. 171)
  • Kendall (No. 198)
  • Miami Gardens (No. 199)


Writer Adam McCann said, "It’s in students’ interest to live in a city with a reasonable cost of living, as well as one that provides good academic and work opportunities. The ideal city should also provide a fun social environment to help students deal with the stress of college.

Photo: Getty Images

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