“College town” is a term thrown around a lot and has a subjective quality to it. If a “college town” is defined as a municipality that contains a college or colleges, then metropolises such as New York City, Los Angeles, Chicago, and many more would be considered college towns. Yet the subjective quality of a “college town” usually entails that the place be smaller than those cities; it usually entails a city that’s heavily dependent on the college or colleges within it. Thus, identifying the biggest college towns across the country can be a difficult proposition.
Hence why BrokeScholar decided to tackle this question. Using data from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) and the Census Bureau’s brand-new 2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates, we zeroed in on what the biggest college towns are in America, specifically the biggest college town in each state. The key factors in our approach are the ratio of college’s (or colleges’) student population to the population of the city that contains the institution(s), as well as the total student population of the college(s). Thus, the "biggest" college town in every state isn't simply the city with the largest population nor is it simply the city that contains the largest school (though in some cases it is). See the methodology section for more details.
Read on to find out the biggest college town in every state in the United States.
Alabama
Biggest college town: Tuscaloosa
Largest college in the town: The University of Alabama
Tuscaloosa just barely beat out Auburn as the biggest college town in Alabama. The total student population of the University of Alabama is an estimated 37,480, while the population of Tuscaloosa is 99,252. This equates to a student population to city population ratio of 38.1%. So, while Tuscaloosa ranks as the No. 1 biggest college town in Alabama, Auburn — home to Auburn University — is a very close second.
Alaska
Biggest college town: Fairbanks
Largest college in the town: University of Alaska Fairbanks
Fairbanks ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in Alaska thanks to the University of Alaska Fairbanks. While the University of Alaska Anchorage has a larger student population, its student population is equivalent to only 4.1% of Anchorage’s population of 292,545. The University of Alaska Fairbanks has a total student population of over 6,800, while the population of Fairbanks is 33,018. This works out to a college student to city population ratio of 20.6%, the highest proportion in the state.
Arizona
Biggest college town: Tempe
Largest college in the town: Arizona State University
Arizona State University has a total student population of nearly 75,000, and an undergraduate population of over 63,000. Tempe has a population of 178,862 people. Based on Arizona State’s total student population of approximately 74,795, the student to city population works out to 41.8%. This ratio along with the number of college students propelled Tempe to rank No. 1 as the biggest college town in Arizona.
Arkansas
Biggest college town: Fayetteville
Largest college in the town: University of Arkansas
Fayetteville is home to the largest college in Arkansas, the University of Arkansas. The university has an undergraduate population of nearly 23,000 students, and a total student population of more than 27,500. Fayetteville’s population is 92,070, which works out to a college population to city population ratio of 29.9%. While some other college towns in Arkansas have slightly higher ratios, our scoring system is based on the combination of the number of college students and the student-to-city population ratio. Hence, Fayetteville is the biggest college town in Arkansas.
California
Biggest college town: Davis
Largest college in the town: University of California, Davis (UC Davis)
This was a close one. Davis ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in California by just barely beating out Berkeley. The deciding factor was the ratio of college students to city population. The University of California, Davis, has a total student population of over 39,000, while the city of Davis has a population of 67,208. This equates to a college student to city population ratio of 58.1%. The University of California, Berkeley, has a higher total student population than UC Davis, but a lower student population to city population ratio, hence Berkeley ranked as the No. 2 biggest college town in California.
Colorado
Biggest college town: Boulder
Largest college in the town: University of Colorado Boulder
The University of Colorado Boulder is the largest college in Colorado. Its total student population is over 37,000. The city of Boulder has a population of 104,930, which works out to a college student to city population ratio of 35.7%. This led to Boulder just beating out Fort Collins, home to Colorado State University, as the biggest college town in Colorado.
Connecticut
Biggest college town: Storrs
Largest college in the town: University of Connecticut (UCONN)
This wasn’t even a close call. The city of Storr easily ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in Connecticut. The University of Connecticut is the largest college in the state, with a total student population of over 27,000. Considering the population of the city of Storrs is 16,784, this equates to a college student to city population ratio of 162.1%.
Delaware
Biggest college town: Newark
Largest college in the town: University of Delaware
Delaware doesn’t have that many four-year public or private colleges, so there weren’t many college towns in competition. In the end, the city of Newark, home to the University of Delaware, came out on top. The University of Delaware has an undergraduate population of over 19,000 and a total student population of over 23,000. The population of Newark is 31,393 and thus works out to a college student population to city population ratio of 75.2%.
Florida
Biggest college town: Gainesville
Largest college in the town: University of Florida
Like California, this was a close one. Although the University of Central Florida and Florida International University both have larger student populations than the University of Florida, they are located in Orlando and Miami, respectively. This led to their ratio of student population to city population being on the low side. Meanwhile, Gainesville, which has a population of 138,741, is home to the University of Florida’s total student population of over 53,300. This worked out to a college student to city population ratio of 38.5%. Hence, Gainesville ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in Florida.
Georgia
Biggest college town: Kennesaw
Largest college in the town: Kennesaw State University
Georgia also saw a tight contest for which city was the biggest college town in the state. Georgia boasts a large number of colleges, including some of the best HBCU colleges in the country. Ultimately, it was Kennesaw, home to Kennesaw State University, that ranked No. 1 as the biggest college town in Georgia. Kennesaw edged out Athens — which is home to the University of Georgia — due to Kennesaw State University having more students than UGA and a higher college student to city population ratio: 124.7% in Kennesaw versus 31% in Athens.
Hawaii
Biggest college town: Laie
Largest college in the town: Brigham Young University-Hawaii
Although Brigham Young University-Hawaii has a total student population of approximately 3,180, which makes it smaller than the University of Hawaii at Manoa, the latter university is located in Honolulu and thus does not dominate the city. In fact, the college student population to city population ratio in Honolulu is very low. In the city of Laie, which has a population of 6,436, the student population to city population ratio was 49.4%. This helped push Laie to rank No. 1 as the biggest college town in Hawaii.
Idaho
Biggest college town: Rexburg
Largest college in the town: Brigham Young University-Idaho
The contest for the biggest college town in Idaho was not a close one. Rexburg, which is home to Brigham Young University-Idaho, has a population of 33,684. The total student population of BYU Idaho is well over 44,000 and nearly double the student population of the second-largest college in Idaho, Boise State University. The college student to city population ratio in Rexburg comes out to 132.1%, helping make Rexburg the biggest college town in Idaho.
Illinois
Biggest college town: Champaign
Largest college in the town: University of Illinois
The University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, or simply the University of Illinois, dominates the city of Champaign. The University of Illinois has the largest student population in the state, with approximately 52,679 students in total, according to NCES data. The population of Champaign is 88,343. This equates to a college student to city population ratio of 59.6%. The combo of this ratio and the University of Illinois’ student population made Champaign rank as the biggest college town in Illinois.
Indiana
Biggest college town: Notre Dame
Largest college in the town: University of Notre Dame
This was another close call. The census-designated place (CDP) of Notre Dame just barely beat out West Lafayette — home to Purdue University — as the biggest college town in Indiana. This was mainly due to the fact that the town of Notre Dame is home to the University of Notre Dame — the best college in Indiana, per another BrokeScholar study — Saint Mary's College, and Holy Cross College. Taken all together, their student populations and their college student population to city population ratio carried Notre Dame to rank as the No. 1 biggest college town in Indiana.
Iowa
Biggest college town: Ames
Largest college in the town: Iowa State University
The biggest college town in Iowa saw a close race between two cities: Ames and Iowa City. In the end, the city of Ames came out on top. Home to Iowa State University, which has a total student population of nearly 32,000, Ames has a population of 65,522. This works out to a college student to city population ratio of 48.6%, which bested the corresponding ratio in Iowa City (40.8%), the home of the University of Iowa.
Kansas
Biggest college town: Hays
Largest college in the town: Fort Hays State University
The city of Hays beat out two other cities to rank as the No. 1 biggest college town in Kansas. Hays is home to Fort Hays State University, which has a total student population in excess of 15,000. Though Fort Hays State is smaller than the University of Kansas (located in Lawrence) and Kansas State University (located in Manhattan), the ratio of college students to city population in Hays — 72% — helped boost that city to take the No. 1 spot; the corresponding ratios for Lawrence and Manhattan were 28.2% and 38.1%,, respectively.
Kentucky
Biggest college town: Williamsburg
Largest college in the town: University of the Cumberlands
The University of the Cumberlands, which is also one of the best colleges with bowling on the varsity level, truly dominates the city of Williamsburg. This helped propel Williamsburg to rank as the No. 1 biggest college town in Kentucky. The University of the Cumberlands has a total student population of over 19,000 and the city of Williamsburg has a population of 5,272. This equates to a college student to city population ratio of 362.5%. That figure beats out the corresponding ratio for Highland Heights (235.1%) — home to Northern Kentucky University — which came in a close second.
Louisiana
Biggest college town: Grambling
Largest college in the town: Grambling State University
Though Louisiana State University has a much larger student body than Grambling State University, LSU doesn’t dominate the city of Baton Rouge like Grambling State does in regard to the city of Grambling. The total student population of Grambling State is a little over 5,400, and the city population of Grambling is 5,127, working out to a college student to city population of 106.1%. The corresponding ratio for LSU in Baton Rouge is only 15.2%. Still, the contest for the biggest college town in Louisiana was a close, three-way race between Grambling, Baton Rouge, and Hammond, the latter of which is home to Southeastern Louisiana University and had a college student to city population ratio of 74.5%.
Maine
Biggest college town: Orono
Largest college in the town: University of Maine
In the case of the biggest college town in Maine, this wasn’t a close call. The city of Orono, with a population of 10,426, is home to the University of Maine. The university’s total student population is in excess of 11,700, according to NCES data. This equates to a college student to city population ratio of 112.6%.
Maryland
Biggest college town: College Park
Largest college in the town: University of Maryland
The University of Maryland is the largest college in Maryland, with a total student population of over 41,000. Since the city of College Park has a population of 34,961, the college student to city population ratio there is approximately 118.1%. The combination of the absolute number of students and the student-to-city population ratio propelled College Park to rank No. 1 as the biggest college town in Maryland.
Massachusetts
Biggest college town: Amherst
Largest college in the town: University of Massachusetts (UMass)
Amherst easily ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in Massachusetts. While Boston is home to countless colleges, the city’s size means that none of the colleges dominate it. Amherst, on the other hand, is home to the main campus of the University of Massachusetts, as well as the excellent Amherst College, which is one of the hardest colleges to get into in the US. The city of Amherst has a population of 39,416, and with the combined student populations of UMass, Amherst College, and Hampshire College, the student population to city population ratio is 86%.
Michigan
Biggest college town: East Lansing
Largest college in the town: Michigan State University
The contest for the biggest college town in Michigan was a fairly close race, but East Lansing emerged as the No. 1 college town. Michigan State University has an undergraduate population of close to 38,500 and a total student population of a little under 50,000, according to NCES data. The city of East Lansing has a population of 47,427, making for a college student to city population ratio of 104.8%. East Lansing ranked No. 1, while University Center (home to Saginaw Valley State University) and Ann Arbor (home to the University of Michigan) came in second and third place, respectively.
Minnesota
Biggest college town: Minneapolis
Largest college in the town: University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minnesota is one of the few states in which the biggest college town is also a major metropolis. Based on our scoring system — which combines colleges’ total student populations and the student population to city population ratio — Minneapolis still emerged as the biggest college town. Including all the colleges with campus housing (i.e. non-online colleges), Minneapolis has a college student to city population of 13.8%. This is much smaller than the No. 2 biggest college town, Collegeville, which is home to the small Saint John's University, had a much higher ratio of 102.3%; but that school’s small total student population kept it from ranking as the biggest college town in Minnesota.
Mississippi
Biggest college town: Mississippi State/Starkville
Largest college in the town: Mississippi State University
This state saw another interesting contest for the biggest college town. Ultimately, the census-designated place (CDP) of Mississippi State and the adjacent city of Starkville came out on top as the No. 1 biggest college towns in Mississippi. Mississippi State University is located primarily in Mississippi State, but spills over into nearby Starkville. Still, the combined cities of Mississippi State and Starkville had a higher student population to city population of 93.5%. Both this ratio and the total student population of Mississippi State University were enough to beat out Oxford, the home of the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).
Missouri
Biggest college town: Parkville
Largest college in the town: Park University
Missouri also saw a very close contest among cities for the No. 1 spot of the biggest college town in the state. In the end, the biggest college town was Parkville, which just edged out Columbia, the city that’s home to the University of Missouri (Mizzou), Columbia College, and Stephens College. Though the total student population at the University of Missouri of over 31,000 makes it the largest college in the state, the college student to city population ratio for Columbia came out to 32.2%. This was just enough to hold Columbia back from ranking No. 1, whereas Park University’s total student population of over 10,000 and Parkville’s population of 7,153, equated to a ratio of 142.1%.
Montana
Biggest college town: Bozeman
Largest college in the town: Montana State University
Montana State University is the largest college in Montana, with a total student population of over 16,000, and much bigger than the second-largest college in the state, the University of Montana. The city of Bozeman has a population of 51,574, which equates to a college student to city population ratio of 31.4%. That’s higher than the corresponding ratio in Missoula, which is where the University of Montana is located.
Nebraska
Biggest college town: Lincoln
Largest college in the town: University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Nebraska, like Minnesota, is one of the few states where a large city ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in the state. The total student population of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln (approximately 24,431) plus that of Union College (approximately 774), combined to make a college student to city population ratio of 8.9%. Though this ratio was less than, say, the student population to city population ratio of Bellevue (20.8%) — home to Bellevue University — based on our scoring system, Lincoln just managed to take the No. 1 spot.
Nevada
Biggest college town: Las Vegas
Largest college in the town: University of Nevada-Las Vegas (UNLV)
Like Minnesota and Nebraska, Nevada is one of a handful of states where the biggest college town is a large city — in fact, it’s the largest city in the state. The total student population of UNLV is more than 31,000, while the population of Las Vegas is 634,786. This makes for a college student to city population of 4.9%. However, with our scoring system which combines scores for the number of college students with the ratio of students to city population, Las Vegas still managed to beat out the college town of Elko, which is home to Great Basin College, and Reno, which is home to the University of Nevada-Reno.
New Hampshire
Biggest college town: Durham
Largest college in the town: University of New Hampshire
New Hampshire was probably the trickiest case of identifying the biggest college town. The main reason is due to Southern New Hampshire University, which is both a brick-and-mortar college but also has a student population that is overwhelmingly composed of online students. Because of SNHU’s dual nature, its home city of Manchester did not rank as the No. 1 biggest college town in New Hampshire. Instead, Durham, home to the University of New Hampshire, came out in first place. The college student to city population ratio in Durham was 123.5%, with the University of New Hampshire having approximately 14,348 total students and the city having a population of 11,616.
New Jersey
Biggest college town: New Brunswick
Largest college in the town: Rutgers University-New Brunswick
New Jersey’s largest college in terms of total students is Rutgers University-New Brunswick, with over 50,000 students. The city of New Brunswick has a population of 55,671, which makes for a college student to city population ratio of 90.6%. This ratio in combination with its total student population made New Brunswick outrank Glassboro (home to Rowan University) and Lawrenceville (home to Rider University) as the biggest college town in New Jersey.
New Mexico
Biggest college town: Portales
Largest college in the town: Eastern New Mexico University
Portales ranked as the No. 1 biggest college town in New Mexico due mainly to its student to city population ratio. The University of New Mexico, with its main campus in Albuquerque, has a much larger student body than Eastern New Mexico University, with a total student population of more than 22,300 compared to the latter’s approximate total student population of 5,266. But the student population to city population ratio of 43.3% in Portales propelled it ahead of Albuquerque to be New Mexico’s biggest college town.
New York
Biggest college town: Stony Brook
Largest college in the town: Stony Brook University
The state of New York has the most colleges in the US. Thus, there were many colleges and many college towns vying to rank as the No. 1 biggest college town in the state. Based on our scoring system of the combination of a university’s total student population and the ratio of student population to city population, the biggest college town in New York turned out to be Stony Brook. Although New York City is, of course, home to dozens of colleges, the sheer size of that city meant that the combined student populations of all the colleges there had a small student to city population ratio. Stony Brook University, which has an estimated total student population of more than 26,600 students, is located in the city of Stony Brook, which has a population of 12,048. That works out to a student to city population ratio of 220.8%. These factors boosted Stony Brook to the top of the list of the biggest college towns in New York state.
North Carolina
Biggest college town: Chapel Hill
Largest college in the town: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (UNC)
It was a close contest for the biggest college town in North Carolina. North Carolina is home to several dozen four-year public and private colleges, including some of the best HBCU colleges in the US. Ultimately, it was Chapel Hill that won out. The total student population of UNC is approximately 31,641, according to NCES data. The population of the city of Chapel Hill is 60,920, which makes for a college student to city population ratio of 51.9%. This ratio helped Chapel Hill beat out Raleigh, which is home to North Carolina State University at Raleigh as well as many other schools, as the No. 1 biggest college town in North Carolina.
North Dakota
Biggest college town: Grand Forks
Largest college in the town: University of North Dakota
The battle for the biggest college town in North Dakota was also close. Grand Forks, which is home to the University of North Dakota, took first place, barely edging out Fargo, which is home to North Dakota State University. Although the latter’s undergraduate population is larger than the University of North Dakota, UND’s total student population is slightly bigger than NDSU’s: Approximately 13,772 versus 12,461, respectively, according to NCES data. The other critical factor was the student to city population ratio of Grand Forks, which, with a population of 58,867, made for a ratio of 23.4%. In Fargo, the college student to city population ratio is only 10%.
Ohio
Biggest college town: Athens
Largest college in the town: Ohio University
Although The Ohio State University is the largest college in Ohio, with more than 61,000 total students, its location in Columbus — a city with a population of 898,143 — meant that its college student to population ratio was very low. The city of Athens, however, with a population of 24,507, is home to Ohio University. This university has a total student population of more than 25,700. This worked out to a college student to city population ratio of 104.9%, thus making Athens the biggest college town in Ohio based on our scoring system.
Oklahoma
Biggest college town: Stillwater
Largest college in the town: Oklahoma State University
The two largest colleges in Oklahoma — the University of Oklahoma and Oklahoma State University — vied for having the biggest college town in Oklahoma. In the end, Stillwater, where Oklahoma State University is located, won out. The city has a population of 48,055 and with Oklahoma State University’s total student population of more than 24,500 students, the student to city population ratio was 51.1%. The University of Oklahoma, though having more students, is located in the city of Norman, which has a population of 125,745, driving down the ratio of college students to the city’s population as a whole. This helped push Stillwater to the No. 1 spot as the biggest college town in Oklahoma.
Oregon
Biggest college town: Corvallis
Largest college in the town: Oregon State University
The city of Corvallis has a population of 59,407. The total student population of Oregon State University, according to NCES data, is a little over 32,300. That equates to a college student-to-city population ratio of 54.4%. The city of Eugene, home to the University of Oregon, has a population of over 170,000, making its ratio of college students to city population around a mere 12.6%.
Pennsylvania
Biggest college town: University Park/State College
Largest college in the town: Pennsylvania State University (Penn State)
This probably doesn’t come as much of a surprise to people who live in Pennsylvania or the Mid-Atlantic states in general. The city of University Park has a population of 40,352, compared to an undergraduate population of nearly 74,500 students and almost 90,000 students in total at Penn State. The ratio of total Penn State student population to the city’s population is roughly 222.6%. And as anyone who has visited University Park (which is part of State College, a home rule municipality) knows, Penn State dominates the town. What's more, Penn State also ranks among the best colleges in Pennsylvania.
Rhode Island
Biggest college town: Kingston
Largest college in the town: University of Rhode Island
The University of Rhode Island has a total student population of over 17,600 students. The city of Kingston has a population of approximately 6,496. That makes for a ratio of college students to city population of roughly 271.7%. No other college or college town in Rhode Island comes close to Kingston as being the biggest college town in the state.
South Carolina
Biggest college town: Clemson
Largest college in the town: Clemson University
While the University of South Carolina has more undergraduate students and total students than Clemson University, the former is located in Columbia, which has a population of 137,276. The city of Clemson, on the other hand, has a population of 17,238. This makes the student population of Clemson University to the city’s population a ratio of 153.2%, with Clemson University having more than 26,000 total students. Hence, Clemson ranks as the biggest college town in South Carolina.
South Dakota
Biggest college town: Vermillion
Largest college in the town: University of South Dakota
Similar to South Carolina’s situation, South Dakota State University has a larger total student population (approximately 11,405) than the University of South Dakota, but the former is located in the city of Brookings, which has a population of 23,432. The University of South Dakota, on the other hand, is located in Vermillion, which has a population of 11,506. Considering the total student population at the University of South Dakota is just under 9,500, this works out to a ratio of college students to city population of 82.2%. This propelled Vermillion to be the biggest college town in South Dakota over Brookings.
Tennessee
Biggest college town: Harrogate
Largest college in the town: Lincoln Memorial University
The biggest college town in Tennessee is tricky. The University of Tennessee has the state’s largest student population, in excess of 30,000, but is located in Knoxville; this makes for a ratio of college students to city population of only 16.1%. In addition, Middle Tennessee State University has a student population of over 22,000, but is located in Murfreesboro, which has a population of 148,970 — equating to a student population to city population ratio of 14.8%. Meanwhile, the city of Harrogate, with a population of 4,296, is home to Lincoln Memorial University, which has a total student population of approximately 4,885. This makes the college student to city population ratio in Harrogate 113.7%.
Texas
Biggest college town: College Station
Largest college in the town: Texas A&M University
Texas is one of the states with the most colleges in the US. What’s more, many colleges in Texas have huge student populations. In the end, however, it is College Station, home to Texas A&M, that took the cake as the biggest college town in Texas. Texas A&M has a total student population of over 70,400, while College Station has a population of 116,276. This equates to a college student to city population ratio of 60.6%, thus making College Station the biggest college town in Texas.
Utah
Biggest college town: Logan
Largest college in the town: Utah State University
While Brigham Young University has a larger student population than Utah State University, the former is located in Provo — population 113,538 — which equates to a student to city population of roughly 32.1%. The city of Logan has a population of 52,420, and is home to Utah State University, which has a total student population of approximately 27,691. This works out to a college student population to city population ratio of 52.8%, hence making Logan the biggest college town in Utah.
Vermont
Biggest college town: Burlington
Largest college in the town: University of Vermont
The biggest college town in Vermont also happened to be the largest city in the state, Burlington. But it was a close contest. What put Burlington in the top spot was the combined student populations of the University of Vermont and Champlain University, both of which are located in the city. Their combined total student populations compared to Burlington’s population (44,703) equated to a college student to city population ratio of 39%.
Virginia
Biggest college town: Lynchburg
Largest college in the town: Liberty University
Lynchburg ranked in our study as the No. 1 biggest college town in Virginia. The state is home to several dozen four-year public and private colleges, with some of them, like the University of Virginia (UVA), ranking among the best in the country as well as being the best college in Virginia. Ultimately, however, it is the city of Lynchburg, which is home to the state’s largest college — Liberty University — that emerged as the biggest college town in Virginia. The total student population of Liberty University is in excess of 94,000, according to NCES data, and that school alone boasts a student population to city population ratio of 119.9%.
Washington
Biggest college town: Pullman
Largest college in the town: Washington State University
Washington State University is the second-largest college in Washington state, behind the University of Washington. But since the University of Washington is located in Seattle, which has a population of 726,054, the college student to city population ratio is very much on the small side. Meanwhile, Pullman, with a population of 32,968, has a college student to city population ratio of 94.5%. Thanks to this ratio and the total student population at Washington State University, which is roughly more than 31,000, Pullman ranked as the biggest college town in Washington state.
West Virginia
Biggest college town: Morgantown
Largest college in the town: West Virginia University
West Virginia University is the largest college in the state, with a total student population of over 26,000. Located in the city of Morgantown, which has a population of 29,316, West Virginia University’s total student population to city population ratio is 89.6%. This ratio along with WVU’s large student population makes Morgantown the biggest college town in West Virginia in our study.
Wisconsin
Biggest college town: Whitewater
Largest college in the town: University of Wisconsin-Whitewater
The University of Wisconsin System encompasses a large number of colleges in the state of Wisconsin. Although the University of Wisconsin-Madison is the largest in the UW System, with an estimated total student population of over 44,000, its hometown of Madison has a population of 265,447, which then brings down the city’s student population to city population ratio. This kept Madison from being the No. 1 biggest college town in Wisconsin and pushed Whitewater — home of the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater — into first place. With a total student population of nearly 12,000 and a city population of 14,369, the student to city population ratio of Whitewater is 83.4%. This helped propel Whitewater above both Madison and Platteville — home to the University of Wisconsin-Platteville — to rank as the biggest college town in Wisconsin.
Wyoming
Biggest college town: Laramie
Largest college in the town: University of Wyoming
Similar to Delaware, Wyoming doesn’t have that many four-year public or private colleges. As such, the contest for the biggest college town in Wyoming wasn’t a close race. Laramie took first place, as home to the University of Wyoming. The university has a total student population of over 11,000, making it the largest college in the state. The city of Laramie has a population of 31,501. This makes the student to city population ratio of Laramie 36.4%, which is the highest ratio in the state.
Methodology
In order to identify the "biggest" college town in every state, each state was analyzed in terms of every four-year public and four-year private, not-for-profit institution that awards at least a bachelor's degree within the state. The two main factors used to determine the "biggest" college town were the following:
- Total student population, sourced from the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)
- Student population-to-city population ratio, with city population figures coming from the Census Bureau’s 2021 American Community Survey 5-Year Estimates
Each college was then given a score for these factors, the scores added up, and all the college towns for each state ranked.
