Bozeman ranked No. 1 college town again as MSU enrollment grows

BOZEMAN, Mont. —Bozeman is ranked as America’s No. 1 college town for the third straight year in RentCafe.com's latest list.

Bozeman was placed at the top ahead of Pullman, Washington; Clemson, South Carolina; Laramie, Wyoming; and Gainesville, Florida. Western cities held much of the top 10.

The ranking looked at 12 measures across 244 college towns, including affordability, livability and education. Measures included costs and financial aid, entertainment and recreation options, air quality and school outcomes such as retention, graduation rate and student-to-faculty ratio.

"Most students enrolling in college in 2026 belong to Generation Z – digital natives who are reshaping the traditional path from education to career. Notably, Gen Zers spend more time than other generations on sports, wellness and social events. This means they search for universities with sports and social clubs, as well as for towns with venues for entertainment and fun events," RentCafe said in a release.

Montana State University touted the ranking on its website. The school recorded 16,373 students in spring 2026, setting a spring enrollment record and marking a sixth straight year of spring growth. MSU enrolled a record 17,165 students last fall and offers more than 250 undergraduate study areas and more than 115 graduate programs.

"Tuition at Montana State University is around $8,500 for in-state students, which is well below the national average of $18,396. At the same time, MSU places great emphasis on research and innovation with very strong programs in biotech and engineering," RentCafe said.

Wellness played a big role for many Gen Z students and pointed to Bozeman’s setting in the Rocky Mountains, access to Yellowstone National Park and strong air quality as reasons the city stood out.