This Montana city was just named the best college town in America—for the second year in a row

LOS ANGELES - It’s not just about where you study—it’s about where you live while you do it. And according to a new national ranking, Bozeman, Montana offers the best of both.

A new study by RentCafe evaluated 235 U.S. towns on 12 key metrics—including affordability, education quality, and quality of life—and found that Bozeman tops the list again in 2025. The home of Montana State University scored especially high on access to nature, low crime, and student-friendly cost of living.

Why Bozeman ranks No. 1 again

The backstory:

Bozeman isn’t just a scenic town surrounded by the Rocky Mountains—it’s also an affordable, youth-driven community where Montana State University plays a central role. With strong programs in biotech and engineering, a booming job market in renewable energy and healthcare, and one of the highest natural amenity scores in the country, Bozeman offers students a well-rounded lifestyle on and off campus.

Its high share of young adults, walkability, and access to cultural and outdoor activities helped keep it in the top spot.

How the rankings were calculated

By the numbers:

RentCafe’s ranking looked at 12 data points across three categories:

• Affordability: tuition, cost of living, financial aid
• Livability: air quality, natural amenities, arts and recreation
• Education: graduation rates, student-to-faculty ratio, and university quality

To qualify, towns had to have a population under 300,000 and at least 10% of residents enrolled in a local college or university. 

FILE - Students attend a lecture in a college classroom during the spring 2025 semester. (Photo by Brandon Bell/Getty Images)

Data came from the U.S. Census, the EPA, USDA, and the National Center for Education Statistics.

Top 10 college towns in America (2025)

Big picture view:

These towns stood out not just for academic excellence, but for offering students a balanced lifestyle—with strong local communities, access to nature, and affordable living.

• 1. Bozeman, MT – Montana State University
• 2. Pullman, WA – Washington State University
• 3. Gainesville, FL – University of Florida
• 4. Boone, NC – Appalachian State University
• 5. Clemson, SC – Clemson University
• 6. East Lansing, MI – Michigan State University
• 7. Moscow, ID – University of Idaho
• 8. Provo, UT – Brigham Young University
• 9. Ann Arbor, MI – University of Michigan
• 10. Stanford, CA – Stanford University

Midwestern and Western college towns dominated the list, while cities in the Northeast struggled to make the top 20—likely due to higher costs of living and more competitive housing and job markets.