EDINBURG, TEXAS - Edinburg, home to the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, ranks as the most wallet-friendly college town, according to WalletHub’s “Best College Towns and Cities in America” study.
"We are immensely proud of the collaborative efforts put forth by UTRGV and our vibrant community that have contributed to Edinburg's recognition as the 'Most Affordable College Town' in the country,” Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza Jr. said.
“Edinburg is a place where accessible education and a high quality of life intersect, and we look forward to welcoming students and residents alike to experience the exceptional value our city offers. This recognition is a testament to the strong relationship between our university and the City of Edinburg.”
Garza said the three-time All-America City continues to shine as a beacon of affordability, quality education, and vibrant community life. He said WalletHub's latest accolade further underscores Edinburg's position as a premier destination for students and families seeking an enriching college experience without breaking the bank.
In the same rankings, Brownsville, also home to UTRGV, came in third, and McAllen, home to South Texas College, came in fifth.
To determine the most affordable college towns, WalletHub evaluated 415 cities of various sizes that had a college or university population of at least 7,500 students.
Wallet Hub said several factors were used to rank the cities, including housing costs; monthly fitness club fees; the average price of pizza, burgers, movies and bowling; and the cost of higher education.
According to the latest Census data, Edinburg, has a population of around 104,300. Of these, nearly 30 percent are younger than 18. The median household income is around $53,000 and median rent is about $850.
Kelly McFaden, a University of North Georgia professor, said that when deciding where to attend college, the surrounding community is an important factor to consider.
“You have to think about what resources the town has and what resources you have,” McFaden told Wallet Hub.
“For example, if you don’t have a car and you’re contemplating attending a university in a town without decent public transit, are you going to be able to get around and conduct the daily business of life?”
Michael T. Miller, a University of Arkansas professor, told Wallet Hub that college towns aren’t just for students — they can be great for families and retirees as well. Miller pointed out that universities can offer a variety of quality, low-cost activities such as sports games, plays, concerts and lectures that the local community can enjoy.
“Many college towns have a strong orientation toward students. You can typically find affordable dining and entertainment, and the cost of living is often reasonable,” Miller said.
Miller said there is an often overlooked benefit of living in a college town: the predictability of the school year.
Since the beginning and end of the semester usually falls around the same time from year to year, people living in the community can easily make plans around when students are on or off campus, Miller added.
Vicki L. Baker, an Albion College professor, told Wallet Hub: “I personally love a good college/university town given the excitement and options related to arts, athletics and overall cultural experiences. You are never at a loss for fun activities or academic and life enrichment with little to no travel required.”
Edinburg Mayor Ramiro Garza later added: “Well, I think it's great. It speaks to what our city is about. There's so much growth happening in our city. This obviously has to do with students that come to school here. Being home to University of Texas Rio Grande Valley is really what we're known for, what we're about, but also it just speaks about the city in general.”
Garza said Edinburg is a great place to study and to live and work.
“People that come here to get education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, we're hoping they stay here and they start a business here and they enter the workforce here.
“We have so much population growth. We're seeing also some commercial (development), establishments for people to go out to eat, to have variety of options. And I think that's what this reflects. I think it just tells us, let's keep doing what we're doing. I think we're being recognized and I think it's great for the community. And my congratulations to all of Edinburg.”
