With world-class universities and an unmistakable city energy, the Chicago area has long been a magnet for college students. From DePaul University and Loyola to the University of Chicago and Northwestern just up the lake in Evanston, the Windy City offers a blend of academic prestige, cultural diversity and career opportunity that few places can match.
But a college’s setting is more than just a backdrop. It can shape a student’s experience both in and out of the classroom. The local cost of living, job market and social scene all play a role in how well students thrive academically and personally. With annual living expenses topping $36,000 for many, choosing a city that offers affordability, opportunity and a vibrant atmosphere can make all the difference.
To help prospective students make informed choices, WalletHub analyzed more than 400 U.S. cities of all sizes for its 2026 Best College Cities and Towns in America report. The study evaluated 31 key indicators of student life, from cost of living and safety to academic quality and economic potential, offering a data-driven look at where students can get the most out of their college years — both inside and outside the classroom.
What Chicago suburb made the top 100?
Evanston ranked 72 on the list with a score of 52.12, a Wallet Friendliness Rank of 356, a Social Environment Rank of 233 and an Academic & Economic Opportunities Rank of 7. Evanston is home to the popular Northwestern University.
Chicago ranked much lower on the list at 156 with a score of 49.4, a Wallet Friendliness Rank of 275, a Social Environment Rank of 78 and an Academic & Economic Opportunities Rank of 220.
Other Illinois cities and Chicago suburbs worth nothing:
- Champaign: Ranked 28 with a score of 54.64
- Urbana: Ranked 119 with a score of 50.26
- Normal: Ranked 144 with a score of 49.71
- Charleston: Ranked 173 with a score of 48.93
- Springfield: Ranked 208 with a score of 47.97
- Naperville: Ranked 244 with a score of 46.85
Methodology
To identify the best college towns and cities in the U.S., WalletHub analyzed 415 locations of varying sizes across three major categories: Wallet Friendliness, Social Environment and Academic & Economic Opportunities.
Each of these dimensions was evaluated using 31 key metrics, weighted according to their importance. Every factor was scored on a 100-point scale, with 100 representing the most favorable conditions for college students. For certain indicators (marked with an asterisk *), WalletHub used the square root of the population to ensure that small variations in city size didn’t skew the results.
Researchers then calculated a weighted average score for each city across all metrics to produce an overall ranking. For simplicity, the term “cities” in this report includes both cities and towns.
Only places with a college or university population of at least 7,500 students were considered. Some eligible cities were excluded due to insufficient data. To allow fair comparison, each location was categorized by population size:
- Large Cities: More than 300,000 residents
- Midsize Cities: 125,000 to 300,000 residents
- Small Cities: Fewer than 125,000 residents
It’s also worth noting that WalletHub evaluated only the city proper — not surrounding suburbs or metro areas — to maintain consistency in the analysis.
