Laramie, Univ. of Wyoming Shoot Up List of ‘Best College Towns’
LARAMIE -- The University of Wyoming and its home community of Laramie continue to ascend in national rankings.
The website RentCafe has placed Laramie No. 4 on its “Best College Towns” list for 2026, a “spectacular” climb from No. 16 last year.
The reason? An increase in UW student retention and graduation rates, the website says.
“Having climbed 12 positions compared to last year, Laramie ranks No. 4 thanks to its blend of affordable education and livability. For instance, tuition and fees at the University of Wyoming are much lower than the national average at around $6,914 for in-state students, and the colleges offer a variety of programs and dozens of organizations for students to live their best lives,” the website says. “As a quiet, mountain college town, Laramie has a great natural amenity rank, as well as a high number of arts and entertainment establishments relative to its population. This makes it a very attractive destination for Gen Zers who are looking for a serene background for their college years.”
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RentCafe says its rankings are based on affordability, including cost of attendance and cost of living; livability, including natural amenities and the ratio of arts, entertainment and recreation establishments to the community’s population; and education, including student retention and graduation rates, the student-to-faculty ratio and admissions yield.
“The towns that rank well in our list reflect the values of Gen Zers, who want authenticity, identity and purpose,” the website says. “These towns are generally centered around one university with a strong presence as the town’s cultural engine. As such, they are extremely welcoming of students and give newcomers the impression of belonging in a community of peers.
“Additionally, Gen Z is one of the most wellness-aware generations, thereby placing a great deal of emphasis on mental health and well-being. To that end, towns that rank well generally feel calmer and less overstimulating with a slower pace of living than major urban hubs, as well as with immediate access to nature.
“Finally, these towns offer a perceived affordability that matters to Gen Z -- a generation that’s wary of debt and overspending and interested in building financial security from very early on. With a lower cost of living than major coastal or large cities and lower tuition and fees than prestigious universities, these college towns offer the best of both worlds to college freshmen.”
The only communities ranking above Laramie are Bozeman, Mont.; Pullman, Wash.; and Clemson, S.C. Among those ranking below Laramie are Gainesville, Fla.; Provo, Utah; Athens, Ohio; and Moscow, Idaho. A total of 244 college towns were analyzed.
Earlier this year, TIME Magazine ranked UW as the 99th best U.S. university overall -- and the nation’s No. 61 public university -- in its list of “The World’s Top Universities of 2026.” That’s significantly higher than a number of flagship and land-grant universities in neighboring states.
Additionally, Laramie ranks as the nation’s fifth-best small college city in a list released by the personal finance website WalletHub.
In 2024, a website called TheTravel put Laramie at the top of its list of the “10 Best College Towns in America in 2024,��� after looking at factors that include campus offerings, vibrant downtown areas, a strong sense of community and outdoor recreation.
* University of Wyoming press release
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