UCF School Seal, Orlando, Florida — Courtesy: Shutterstock — Image by: Jillian Cain Photography
With a goal to be the ultimate place to work and learn, UCF is in the perfect spot. For the second year in a row, Orlando, Florida, is ranked the number one Best College City in America among midsize cities. According to WalletHub’s 2023 list, the City Beautiful moved up one spot to No. 3 among all cities in the nation, making this the second year in a row that Orlando has made it to the top five nationally and No. 1 in Florida.
Seniors in high school typically use the annual rating while deciding where to go to college. The study examines more than 400 cities across the U.S. using 32 key characteristics of academic, economic, and social opportunity to identify the greatest college towns and cities.
“Experts have argued that a school’s geographical location is just as important as a strong curriculum and supportive school environment to a student’s academic success and personal development,” WalletHub stated in the rankings release. “It’s in students’ interest to live in a city with a reasonable cost of living, as well as one that provides good academic and work opportunities. The ideal city should also provide a fun social environment to help students deal with the stress of college.”
Orlando is also ranked No. 138 for Wallet Friendliness, No. 93 for Academic and Economic Opportunities, No. 46 for Quality of Higher Education, No. 26 for Cost of Higher Education, and No. 2 for Social Environment. Tuition costs, student loan debt, housing costs, city accessibility, student population demographics, the presence of NCAA Division 1 sports teams, graduates’ earning potential, and entrepreneurial activity are some of the variables taken into account when determining the rankings.
Knight Nation is not only a terrific environment to acquire a college degree, but one that sets students up for success beyond graduation. At UCF, 57 percent of first-time in-college students graduate debt-free. Major aerospace and technology firms like EA, Lockheed Martin, and Siemens have their corporate headquarters in Orlando, and NASA’s Kennedy Space Center is close. UCF offers the education and professional connections graduates need to earn lucrative employment, as well as the talent these digital businesses require, with over 17,000 Knights graduating each year.
UCF was ranked 133rd out of 500 Best Colleges and Universities by WalletHub in October.
UCF was voted No. 7 in the southeast for Best Bang for the Buck College in September by Washington Monthly, which also placed UCF as the 47th Best National University. Additionally, UCF was recently recognized by U.S. News & World Report as the nation’s No. 64 Public School, which is the best ranking the university has ever received in this category, and 41st for socioeconomic mobility among public schools. UCF was ranked second in the country for its influence on social mobility by Education Reform Now earlier this year.
Stories that matter are our priority. At Florida Insider, we make sure that the information we provide our readers is accurate, easy-to-read, and informative. Whether you are interested in business, education, government, history, sports, real estate, nature or travel: we have something for everyone. Follow along for the best stories in the Sunshine State.
Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.
