The past couple of years have without a doubt proved difficult for students as they continue to navigate the murky waters of higher education amidst inflation and crippling tuition costs. But colleges aren’t turning a blind eye to the issues.
Zaneta Encarnacion, chief of staff to the superintendent/president of the Southwestern Community College District, shared with University Business how Southwestern College is investing in its students through impactful student resources such as emergency grants to help them respond to unexpected expenses and a food kitchen students can access to bring home food for their families.
For some students, however, those resources aren’t available. They live on a ramen-dependent budget and hang their hopes on finding a college town that is affordable for their four-plus-year journey.
The Ramen Index, an analysis by Broke Scholar, a resource for students seeking student discounts and scholarship rewards, breaks down the top 25 U.S. cities for students to “thrive on a Ramen budget.” And according to the list, Manhattan, Kansas, tops the rankings with access to low rent and affordable tuition costs.
Here’s a look at the rest of the 24 best cities for college students on a budget:
- Manhattan, Kansas
- Lawrence, Kansas
- State College, Pennsylvania
- Provo, Utah
- Blacksburg, Virginia
- Champaign, Illinois
- Gainesville, Florida
- Normal, Illinois
- Ann Arbor, Michigan
- Kalamazoo, Michigan
- La Crosse, Wisconsin
- College Station, Texas
- Bloomington, Indiana
- Carbondale, Illinois
- Jackson, Michigan
- Iowa City, Iowa
- Madison, Wisconsin
- Berkeley, California
- Waco, Texas
- Eau Claire, Wisconsin
- Hattiesburg, Mississippi
- Alexandria, Louisiana
- Logan, Utah
- Oshkosh, Wisconsin
- Cleveland, Tennessee
Methodology
Broke Scholar analyzed 1,000 top cities in the U.S. across three categories:
- Student Demographics: Percentage of the population in their 20s and percentage of the population never married.
- Affordability: Cost of living, average college tuition and median rent vs. the national zero.
- Fun and Opportunity: Density of bars, unemployment rate and access to walking and biking.
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