Personal finance website WalletHub on Tuesday released its report on the “Best & Worst College Towns in America for 2026,” and Charleston ranked as the eighth-best midsize city in the nation (15th overall). The ranking is lower than last year’s.
Student-Friendliness of Charleston (1=Best; 208=Avg.):
- 180th – Quality of Higher Education
- 121st – Cost of Higher Education
- 67th – Change in Population Age 25+ With Bachelor’s Degree or Higher
- 169th – City Accessibility
- 150th – Crime Rate
- 162nd – Students per Capita
- 85th – Unemployment Rate
Charleston ranks No. 19 overall and No. 8 among midsize cities.
To read the full report, click here.