UNC
UVA
Auburn
UGA

Hanover, NH

Best college towns according to Time Out magazine

https://www.timeout.com/usa/things-to-do/best-college-towns-usa

Best college towns in the U.S.

1. Durham, New Hampshire

2. Athens, Georgia

3. Columbus, Ohio

4. Columbia, South Carolina

5. San Luis Obispo, California

6. Fayetteville, Arkansas

7. Fargo, North Dakota

8. Oxford, Mississippi

9. Charlottesville, Virginia

10. Anchorage, Alaska

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

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Anonymous wrote:So many of these are not “towns” but cities

True. There is a difference between "college town" and "cool city to go to college in."

For example, my DD really loves going to college in New Orleans- it is totally part of the draw for Tulane. But I wouldn't consider NOLA a college town. Just a very cool city that's fun to be a college student in. UCLA? Incredible location in a city with endless things to do and see. But I definitely wouldn't consider LA a college town.

While I kind of agree with your general premise, I partially disagree with your UCLA example. Los Angeles isn't a college town, but I'd argue that Westwood Village is. It's like a small island in the middle of LA--e.g., it's contiguous with the campus, brimming with UCLA students, and the shops, restaurants, and bars cater to those students. I think it's possible for some some colleges to have their own well-established town/micro-community within yet also distinct from a larger city/urban area.

100% agree. DD is a senior at UCLA and I have spent a lot of time in Westwood. It is absolutely a college town dropped in the middle of a world-class city. I was just there this past weekend visiting DD and a we were just talking about this with a group of her friends. They all talked about how UCLA was a great place to go to school becuase of Westwood being a great college town, but also having access to the beach, mountains, and great city.

'world class'- LA is a hellhole.

You lose all crediblity when you make statements like this. All cities have warts, some more than others. All cities have awesome things about them. Some more than others.

oh, I hurt your feelings. All you have to do is go to the 'worst college towns' thread to see I'm not alone.

Love Claremont, CA but it's definitely not a rah-rah kind of college town.

Madison, WI

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Walla Walla, Washington

I like Walla Walla a lot, but Whitman (which I also like quite a lot!) is kind of an afterthought there, so I wouldn't call Walla Walla a college town.

Yup--_Walla Walla is a Wine town in the middle of nowhere. Not much is "college townie" about it. You have to fly to Seattle to get a connecting flight. Good school but defiantly a place to visit and spend 2-3 days there before deciding to attend. iT's remote and you are going to drive 3-4 hours before you get to much of anything. And in reality, what college kid is actually into wine? Not many and it will be late Junior year before you can participate. Most restaurants are not College type---not affordable.

Anonymous wrote:We liked Madison WI and Burlington VT
Charlottesville in nice
Chapel Hill is small and boring

I'd agree with this. Boulder is nice too.

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Anonymous wrote:Blacksburg

How does Harrisonburg compare to Blacksburg?

Who cares?

Please go away.

Anonymous wrote:Just adding onto thread for worst ones!

University City, Missouri (WUSTL)

Evanston, Illinois (Northwestern)

Lawrence, Kansas (University of Kansas)

Melbourne, Florida (Florida Institute of Technology)

Anonymous wrote:I’ve heard Princeton is lovely.

I remember touring the town, seeing the shops with the Polo shirts and noping out. One kid’s paradise is another kid’s hell.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of these are not “towns” but cities

True. There is a difference between "college town" and "cool city to go to college in."

For example, my DD really loves going to college in New Orleans- it is totally part of the draw for Tulane. But I wouldn't consider NOLA a college town. Just a very cool city that's fun to be a college student in. UCLA? Incredible location in a city with endless things to do and see. But I definitely wouldn't consider LA a college town.

While I kind of agree with your general premise, I partially disagree with your UCLA example. Los Angeles isn't a college town, but I'd argue that Westwood Village is. It's like a small island in the middle of LA--e.g., it's contiguous with the campus, brimming with UCLA students, and the shops, restaurants, and bars cater to those students. I think it's possible for some some colleges to have their own well-established town/micro-community within yet also distinct from a larger city/urban area.

100% agree. DD is a senior at UCLA and I have spent a lot of time in Westwood. It is absolutely a college town dropped in the middle of a world-class city. I was just there this past weekend visiting DD and a we were just talking about this with a group of her friends. They all talked about how UCLA was a great place to go to school becuase of Westwood being a great college town, but also having access to the beach, mountains, and great city.

'world class'- LA is a hellhole.

You lose all crediblity when you make statements like this. All cities have warts, some more than others. All cities have awesome things about them. Some more than others.

I've lived in Ithaca, Charlottesville and Chapel Hill, and Ithaca is the best college town of the three.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So many of these are not “towns” but cities

RE towns, I would say Brunswick, Maine.

Same point here: Brunswick is charming, but it's hardly all about Bowdoin.

Anonymous wrote:Walla Walla, Washington

I like Walla Walla a lot, but Whitman (which I also like quite a lot!) is kind of an afterthought there, so I wouldn't call Walla Walla a college town.