{"id":6851,"date":"2024-08-19T12:34:19","date_gmt":"2024-08-19T17:34:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/publichealth\/?p=6851"},"modified":"2024-08-19T12:34:22","modified_gmt":"2024-08-19T17:34:22","slug":"milwaukee-is-one-of-the-best-cities-for-college-students-and-recent-grads-forbes-says","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uwm.edu\/publichealth\/milwaukee-is-one-of-the-best-cities-for-college-students-and-recent-grads-forbes-says\/","title":{"rendered":"Milwaukee is one of the best cities for college students and recent grads, Forbes says"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

By Claire Reid
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel<\/a>
August 1, 2024<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The city you choose to settle in during or right after college can have important impacts on your life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

According to research from Tallo<\/a>, 61% of college students plan on finding jobs close to their college towns after graduation. Many colleges incentivize students to stay local by tailoring programs to address regional needs and connecting students with community organizations, Forbes explains<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

From affordable rent to educational opportunities to entertainment and recreation options, many factors influence where folks in their 20s want to live.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes evaluated America’s largest cities on rent, food, entertainment, transportation and employment metrics, as well as proximity to colleges and universities, to determine its list of the “Best Cities for College Students and Graduates”<\/a> in 2024. Milwaukee ranked fifth on the list for its low cost of living and unemployment rates and the numerous colleges in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s what makes Milwaukee a great place for young people to call home.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milwaukee is the fifth-best city for college students and grads<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Students make up nearly one-quarter of Milwaukee’s population, and there are 19 colleges within a 10-mile radius of the city, Forbes reported. Milwaukee also has one of the lowest unemployment rates for residents ages 16 to 24 at 8.3%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

At $1,054 per month, median rent prices are some of the highest in Forbes’ study, but Milwaukee also has one of the lowest hourly living wages: $20.11 per hour, the 10th lowest in the report. Milwaukee makes up for its high rent prices with lower food and transportation costs of about $4,300 and $9,400 per year, respectively. Food costs were highest in Arlington, Va. (over $5,600\/year), and transportation costs were highest in Nashville, Tenn. (nearly $11,000\/year).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Milwaukee’s rental vacancy rate of 5% put it ahead of nearby Chicago (3.8%) and Madison (2.5% \u2015 the lowest rate in the study). Milwaukee boasts the fifth-most fitness establishments per capita in the report: nearly 600 per 100,000 residents. It also has greater-than-average numbers of entertainment and food establishments per resident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Forbes gave Milwaukee above-average walk and bike scores (61.5 and 57.6, respectively) and a below-average transit score (48.7). All scores were out of 100.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where to make friends after college in Milwaukee<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

One of the biggest challenges young adults face when moving to a new city is meeting new people. Unlike in high school, it’s much less common to regularly interact with numerous similarly aged peers, especially if you work or attend classes remotely.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here are some popular options for those new to Milwaukee:<\/p>\n\n\n\n