Best Cities for College Grads 2024

Congratulations, Class of 2024! You’ve just crammed for your last exam, written your last paper, and sat through your last lecture. It’s time to say goodbye to undergrad and embrace life after college. Leaving your college town can be a bittersweet mix of nostalgia and excitement, but — trust us — choosing where you go next is the fun part. 

Do you want to pursue the hustle and bustle of a big city or find an up-and-coming hidden gem? Are you looking for a tech hub that’ll be filled with other former STEM majors? We want to help you make the best decision for you — whether you’re looking to be closer to nature, nightlife, new work opportunities, or a mix of all three.

Keep in mind: As you plan your post-graduation move, you have new financial realities to consider, including paying for rent, utilities, and food — not to mention your student loans. Growing up may mean learning how to manage all these expenses, but life after college is about balancing work and play. Finding the right city to relocate to is an important step in this journey. That’s why we created our data-driven 2024 Best Cities for College Grads list — and for the first time ever — our “Where Should I Move After College?” quiz. 

Below, we've highlighted the top 10 cities on our list. You can find the full-ranked list of all 98 cities we looked at here and our methodology here.

Did you know that the coffee capital of the country is also the best city for new college graduates? That’s right — Seattle isn’t just home to some of the best cups of Joe in the U.S., it’s also the place where tens of thousands of young adults choose to move post grad. According to Census data, 138,000 people in their 20s reside in Seattle — the fifth highest young adult population on our list. Not to mention, it’s also the most educated city on our list, with over 67% of the population reporting having a bachelor’s degree or higher, so recent college grads will enjoy all the intellectual opportunities laid out in front of them in the Emerald City. Those factors, coupled with a high mobility score (it ranks in the top 10 for its walk and bike scores) and abundance of economic opportunity, skyrocketed Seattle to the top of our Best Cities for College Grads list. With major tech companies like Amazon, Microsoft, Expedia, Boeing, Dropbox, and more headquartered in the Seattle area, the city has an overwhelming amount of job opportunities, making it an attractive destination for new grads. Plus, Seattle boasts an incredible food scene, characterized by farm-to-table dining, fresh seafood, and cafes galore.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Seattle is $1,778.

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If you’re looking to work in tech, enjoy the great outdoors on a sunny day, and meet tons of other people your age, then Salt Lake City may be the perfect postgrad city for you. With 21.1% of its population in their 20s, SLC is tied with Ann Arbor for the largest proportion of young adults on our list. Its unsurprising that new grads flock here, given that the city perfectly pairs affordability with excitement; those earning the median income among bachelor’s degree holders ($59,061) can expect to pay only around 25.4% of their income on monthly rent for a one-bedroom apartment ($1,250). Plus, in addition to its proximity to nature (Bryce Canyon, Zion, Arches, Capitol Reef, and Canyonlands national parks are all a quick drive away), Salt Lake City also has a burgeoning entertainment scene — with the 11th highest density of restaurants on our list.

The median rent of a one-bedroom apartment in Salt Lake City, UT is $1,250.

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While DC’s reputation revolves around its history, museums, and national landmarks, there’s much more to the country’s capital than meets the eye. For one, Washington D.C.’s public transit system is often named one of the best in the country and it’s easy to get around without ever owning a car (it’s the No. 5 most transit accessible city on our list, No. 9 most bike-friendly, and No. 6 most walkable). Economic opportunities abound in the District of Columbia as well, with the median earnings for bachelor’s degree holders sitting at $83,903, the fourth highest on our list. Naturally, it’s the place to be if you are looking to work in government or politics, but those hoping to work in industries like business services, finance, real estate, IT, education, and healthcare will also fit right in. The city that works hard is also known to play hard, with a high density of nightlife, restaurants, and arts and entertainment venues to prove it. 

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Washington, DC is $2,237.

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Come to Charleston for the fun, stay for the Southern charm. Charleston has garnered a reputation as a big playground for adults, for good reason. It had the second highest overall density of entertainment options on our list — offering residents a high number of active life opportunities due in part to its many beaches; culture galore with its many arts and entertainment venues like the Gibbes Museum of Art and the South Carolina Aquarium; a nonstop food and drink scene; and the highest density of shopping options per capita on our list. Worried about the numbers? Well, a relatively high median income for bachelor’s degree holders ($70,833) and low unemployment rate for the same cohort (1.24%) round out the city’s economic opportunities. Top industries include aerospace, energy, life sciences, and IT, among others.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Charleston, SC is $1,925.

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Thanks to its status as one of the best college towns in the country, Madison also makes a great setting for new college grads: it ranked fourth on our list for its young adult population and fifth for its percentage of BA holders. Mad City brings together the perks of a college town (affordability, late-night haunts, and tons of people your age) with the benefits of a world-class city (a healthy job market, elevated dining options, and plenty of art and culture). Part of what’s called the Silicon Prairie (a region in the Midwest with a high concentration of manufacturing and tech companies) Madison boasts plenty of STEM opportunities for job seekers — perfect for those who want to work at a tech hub but live in a more affordable part of the country. Plus, if you aren’t convinced yet, it has one of the biggest craft brewery scenes in the country.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Madison, WIis $1,361.

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If you’ve ever been on a trip down to Florida, basking in the sun while surrounded by beautiful beaches, you may have asked yourself: Should I move here? The idea of living in vacation mode is tempting — and with all Tampa has to offer, it may be worth it to make that dream a reality (many already have, with Tampa showing one of largest the jumps in population YoY on our list). Besides its average of 240-plus sunny days per year and proximity to the ocean (and all the water sports that come with it), Tampa also presents a favorable business climate, leading to a growing number of employment opportunities in recent years due to its burgeoning tech scene and dominant defense and security and financial services industries. The vibrant professional sports culture also adds excitement to the area, with three pro teams — the Buccaneers, the Lightning, and the Rays — calling Tampa home.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Tampa, FL is $1,550. 

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Fun in the sun is the name of the game in Miami, FL — and who says you shouldn’t call this tourism hotspot home? Despite a higher cost of living, Miami is a friendlier environment for new grads than you may initially think. Its mobility score is actually relatively high, making it possible to get around without a car if you need to, its entertainment options are off the charts (its No. 3 overall on our list for entertainment, and its number of restaurants is second only to New York City), and the tourism, finance, healthcare, real estate, and fashion industries offer ample employment opportunities. The city is quickly establishing itself as a creative powerhouse, proving that New York is no longer the only place for young professionals and artists to start their careers in the US.  

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Miami, FL is $2,096.

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Why do new grads love Atlanta? It could be due to its wide breadth of restaurants, earning it the title of a top foodie city in the U.S., or the fact that Atlanta hosts 11 times more music festivals than the average U.S. city. Maybe, on top of the nightlife, it’s the economic opportunities that have people in their 20s migrating south to the city — because Atlanta pairs one of the largest economies out of any city in the country with one of the lowest costs of living of any big city on our list. That’s right: There may be other cities on our list with higher densities of entertainment options, but in Atlanta, where we estimate only 23% of a bachelor degree holder’s earnings go to monthly rent, you’ll have plenty of cash left over for having fun. 

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Atlanta, GA is $1,560.

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Portland, the most populous city in Maine, may be small but it packs a big punch. Because of its small size but high density of restaurants, active life activities, arts and entertainment venues, nightlife, and shopping options, it ranked No. 1 on our list for entertainment (and in the top 5 for each of these individual categories as well). In fact, Bon Appétit once called it the “foodiest” small town in America. It’s also a young city, with 20% of its roughly 68,000 residents being in their 20s. What Portland lacks in public transit, it also makes up in walkability and bike-ability — so you wouldn’t need a car for all of your errands. If you’re looking for a city with small town charm (and don’t mind a harsh winter), then come up to Portland and enjoy all the coastal city has to offer. 

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in Portland, ME is $1,925. 

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San Francisco has a storied reputation: The California city has been known for its high prices, but it’s still a land of opportunity for those willing to explore. Of course, if you are looking to work at a flashy Silicon Valley startup, living in SF is a no-brainer — but the city has more to offer than its proximity to tech. Its robust transit system, walkability, and bike infrastructure gave it the highest mobility score on our list, and its entertainment options aren’t too shabby either. Plus, on top of the thousands of restaurants with cuisine hailing from all over the world, San Franciscans also have easy access to incredible nature. For example, a quick shuttle will bring you to the Muir Woods in Marin, where you can hike among redwood trees as tall as the eye can see. And if you’re experiencing sticker shock when looking at the rent prices, just keep in mind that the city also has the highest median income for BA holders on our list: We estimate that a BA holder earning the median income ($106,552) will spend 32% of their income on monthly rent.

The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment in San Francisco, CA is $2,853.

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To take the quiz in a new window, click here.

Below is the full-ranked list of all 98 cities we analyzed.

For the 2024 Best Cities for College Grads report, we analyzed 98 major cities in the U.S. for which all required data was available.

The metrics used to create the “Opportunity Score” were the YoY population change between 2021 to 2022, the size of the young adult population (residents in their 20s), the percentage of the population with a bachelor’s degree or above, and the percentage of bachelor degree holders who are unemployed.

The metrics used to create the “Cost of Living Score” were median individual yearly earnings for bachelor degree holders, a rent-to-earnings ratio based on the median monthly rent over the last three months, and the cost-of-living index.

The metrics used to create the “Mobility Score” were the Walkscore, Bikescore, and Transitscore.

The metrics used to create the “Entertainment Score” were the densities per capita of: active life, arts and entertainment venues, nightlife, restaurants, and shopping locations.

Population, earnings, and unemployment data came from the U.S. Census Bureau. The cost-of-living index came from C2ER (The Council for Community and Economic Research). Mobility data came from Walkscore. Entertainment data came from Yelp. Rental data came from ApartmentAdvisor.

We averaged the min/max normalized metric values to compute each score.

The Final Score was calculated with a weighted average of the Opportunity Score (35%), the Cost of Living Score (25%), the Mobility Score (15%), and the Entertainment Score (25%). The highest Final Score is considered the “best.”

For more information about this study, please contact pr@apartmentadvisor.com.