Old Main, University of Arkansas / Photo: Todd Gill
Students working their way through college have a much better chance of success by choosing Fayetteville, according to data from a recent study.
After evaluating 227 U.S. cities with a four-year college or university, SmartAsset ranked Fayetteville as the sixth best city for working students.
The New York-based financial technology company recently released the findings of the study, which factored in minimum wage and unemployment rates, as well as housing costs and overall value of the local college.
With a recent population estimate of 80,621 people, Fayetteville added over 1,600 residents during the year ending July 1, 2014, more than any other city in Arkansas. It’s the third straight year Fayetteville has led the state in population growth estimates.
According to SmartAsset, a large reason for that rapid growth is the region’s strong economy. Using data from the U.S. Census Bureau and the Bureau of Labor Statistics, researchers found that overall unemployment in Fayetteville is less than 4 percent. For educated workers, things are even better as Fayetteville has the lowest unemployment rate of 1 percent for workers with at least some college education.
Rapid City, SD, home of the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, was listed as the No. 1 best city for working college students. Other top cities include Seattle and Spokane, WA; Omaha and Lincoln, NE; and Duluth and Minneapolis, MN.
The Best Cities for Working Students
1. Rapid City, SD
2. Seattle, WA
3. Spokane, WA
4. Lincoln, NE
5. Duluth, MN
6. Fayetteville, AR
7. Chico, CA
8. Lowell, MA
9. Minneapolis, MN
10. Omaha, NE
11. Provo, UT
12. Athens, GA
13. Eugene, OR
14. Worcester, MA
15. Kansas City, MO
16. Cambridge, MA
17. Pasadena, CA
18. Buffalo, NY
19. Lubbock, TX
20. Portland, OR
21. Eau Claire, WI
22. Santa Barbara, CA
23. Albany, NY
24. Providence, RI
25. Fort Collins, CO
Source: SmartAsset
