A new study names Gainesville as one of the top college destinations among cities its size, but it lags behind some other major college towns.
The American Institute for Economic Research study ranked Gainesville as the fourth best college destination among small cities. The category included metropolitan areas with populations between 250,000 and 1 million.
The study places Ann Arbor, Mich., on the top of the category, with Madison, Wis. ranked second and Boulder, Colo. ranked third. Those cities are sometimes mentioned in discussions about improving Gainesville, with community leaders even traveling to Madison in 2005 to get ideas.
The research institute based its study on factors measuring the academic environment, quality of life and professional opportunities of cities.
The study placed Boston as the top college destination among major metropolitan areas; San Jose, Calif. as the leader among mid-sized metros; and Ithaca, N.Y. as highest-ranked destination among small college towns.
A map showing the top 75 cities is below. Visit the institute’s website to download the study.
Source: American Institute for Economic Research
