Study ranks Columbus among five best cities for college graduates

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A recent study has ranked Columbus among the five best U.S. cities for new college graduates. 

Zumper, a rental platform, analyzed the 100 largest U.S. cities based on seven key metrics. Those metrics include rent costs, number of “young people” (18-34-year-olds), population of 25-year-olds with bachelor’s degrees, median income of those 25 and younger, the unmarried population, restaurants per 1,000 people, and the unemployment rate.

The study ranked Columbus as the fourth-best city for college graduates. Zumper notes Columbus has a large population of young people and 25-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree. Columbus did, however, rank lower for median income of those aged 25 and younger, with an average annual salary of $32,108.

In first place is Minneapolis. With a low unemployment rate, affordable rent and a variety of restaurants, the study says the Twin Cities is a desirable location for emerging professionals to enter the workforce.

Taking second place is Denver. A low unemployment rate and high median earnings of those 25 and younger helped boost Denver to a second-place ranking. The study also states Denver has numerous restaurants and a vibrant social scene. 

The third-best city for new graduates is Seattle, according to the study. The city has a high percentage of 25-year-olds with a bachelor’s degree and a low unemployment rate. The Emerald City is also home to large employers such as Starbucks and Amazon. 

In fifth place is San Francisco. It is at the top of the list for median income of those 25 and younger, with an average annual income of $87,946. San Francisco also ranks high in both the population of young people and restaurants per capita.

Completing the top 10 is Phoenix; Raleigh, North Carolina; Washington, D.C.; Atlanta; and Oklahoma City. The worst cities for new graduates according to Zumper are Laredo, Texas; Augusta, Georgia; Providence, Rhode Island; Newark, New Jersey; and Boise, Idaho.

See the full list of the best cities for new college graduates featuring letter grades for each metric, provided by Zumper, below: