Advise your seniors: These are the 25 most affordable college towns in the U.S.

The past couple of years have without a doubt proved difficult for students and recent high school graduates as they continue to navigate the murky waters of higher education amidst inflation and crippling tuition costs. But colleges aren’t turning a blind eye to the issues.

Zaneta Encarnacion, chief of staff to the superintendent/president of the Southwestern Community College District, shared with University Business how Southwestern College is investing in its students through impactful student resources such as emergency grants to help them respond to unexpected expenses and a food kitchen students can access to bring home food for their families.

For some students, however, those resources aren’t available. They live on a ramen-dependent budget and hang their hopes on finding a college town that is affordable for their four-plus-year journey.

The Ramen Index, an analysis by Broke Scholar, a resource for students seeking student discounts and scholarship rewards, breaks down the top 25 U.S. cities for students to “thrive on a Ramen budget.” And according to the list, Manhattan, Kansas, tops the rankings with access to low rent and affordable tuition costs.

Here’s a look at the rest of the most affordable cities for high school seniors to consider:

1. Manhattan, Kansas
2. Lawrence, Kansas
3. State College, Pennsylvania
4. Provo, Utah
5. Blacksburg, Virginia
6. Champaign, Illinois
7. Gainesville, Florida
8. Normal, Illinois
9. Ann Arbor, Michigan
10. Kalamazoo, Michigan
11. La Crosse, Wisconsin
12. College Station, Texas
13. Bloomington, Indiana
14. Carbondale, Illinois
15. Jackson, Michigan
16. Iowa City, Iowa
17. Madison, Wisconsin
18. Berkeley, California
19. Waco, Texas
20. Eau Claire, Wisconsin
21. Hattiesburg, Mississippi
22. Alexandria, Louisiana
23. Logan, Utah
24. Oshkosh, Wisconsin
25. Cleveland, Tennessee

Methodology

Broke Scholar analyzed 1,000 top cities in the U.S. across three categories:

• Student demographics: Percentage of the population in their 20s and percentage of the population never married.
• Affordability: Cost of living, average college tuition and median rent vs. the national zero.
• Fun and opportunity: Density of bars, unemployment rate and access to walking and biking.

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