Orlando has once again been recognized as a leading city for college students and young professionals. According to WalletHub’s 2026 rankings, Orlando holds the No. 2 spot among large cities for Best College City in America and is ranked No. 3 overall nationwide, marking its fifth consecutive year in the top five.
WalletHub evaluated over 400 U.S. cities using 31 factors such as quality of higher education, academic resources, social environment, and economic opportunities to determine its rankings. The city’s consistent placement highlights its appeal to prospective college students seeking a supportive environment both academically and socially.
The importance of location in choosing a college is emphasized by WalletHub, which states that a city’s geographical setting can be as significant as its curriculum or campus life. Orlando offers benefits including a reasonable cost of living, diverse activities for students, and strong prospects for both study and employment. The city was also named the No. 1 Best Foodie City in America for 2023 by WalletHub and has remained within the top five since then.
Jean-Thomas Mateesco ’24, an alumnus of advertising and public relations from UCF, commented on the local dining scene: “All of the restaurants [in Orlando] are incredible, and it’s so fun finding ‘hole-in-the-wall’ restaurants and sharing them (with) your friends.”
As one of Central Florida’s fastest-growing cities and home to the University of Central Florida (UCF), Orlando provides numerous opportunities across various industries including hospitality, healthcare, technology, and aerospace. Companies such as Electronic Arts, Lockheed Martin, NASA’s Kennedy Space Center, Nemours Children’s Hospital, and Walt Disney World Resort have established partnerships with UCF.
Shannon Nauta ’24 moved from New Jersey to attend UCF due in part to these industry connections: “I decided on UCF because I am interested in pursuing a career within the themed entertainment industry,” Nauta said. “UCF has amazing programs that provide opportunities for experience and immersion in the creative and hospitality fields, with Orlando as the perfect location [home to world-famous attractions, resorts, restaurants and more].”
WalletHub Analyst Cassandra Happe noted that “some of the best college towns blend great academics with low costs.” In WalletHub’s 2024 release on cost factors related to higher education, Orlando ranks among the top 40 cities nationally for affordability—citing low expenses for tuition, room and board.
Florida remains at the forefront nationally regarding higher education quality; U.S. News & World Report has ranked it No. 1 in this category for nine years running. Within Florida, Orlando offers some of the lowest tuition rates—including room and board—for in-state students.
WalletHub also ranked Orlando as the top city in Florida—and second overall nationally—as Best City to Start a Career based on its relative market strength and livability among more than 180 U.S. cities reviewed across metrics like entry-level job availability and starting salaries.
Nauta mentioned that she was able to gain work experience within her chosen field while studying at UCF thanks to these opportunities in Orlando’s job market. Mateesco added that “other cities are becoming [overly saturated while] Orlando is an ever-growing city with loads of jobs and cool opportunities.”
Current graduates are entering what appears to be a favorable job market due to employment shortages making companies eager to hire new talent.
“Orlando has the highest job growth rate of any city, at 8.69%, so it’s a good place for students to stay even after they’ve graduated,” Happe stated.
