Best College Towns In The Gulf Coast
With the states of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Florida at its gorgeous shores, the Gulf Coast may be known for beautiful beaches of soft sand and blue waters, but what is often overlooked are the extraordinary universities the Gulf of Mexico states have to offer, with some of the largest universities in the country being found along the Gulf's Coastline. With a whopping population of 64,008,345, larger than the whole Pacific Coast's combined population of 53,669,422, the Gulf Coast is home to a plethora of residents, and these cities and their youth need education, but no need to worry; these are the best college towns on the gulf coast with some of the largest universities in the country, and they sure do not disappoint!
Houston, Texas
Being the most populous city in the large state of Texas and the largest city on the Gulf Coast, and the fourth largest in the united states of America, Houston is home to over 40 colleges and universities, being the perfect city for students to attend school, create connections and begin to build a future in. Some of the most popular institutions in Houston include the state universities of the Unversity of Houston, U of Houston-Clearlake, U of Houston-Downtown, and Texas Southern University! Houston is generally more affordable than other major U.S. cities, with an average rent of $1224 a month for a 1-bedroom-apartment, compared to 4,000$ a month for a 1-bedroom apartment in New York City. Although Houston as a whole lacks in the walkability aspect, Houston's public transit is consistently improving and s home to some walkable neighborhoods such as Heights, Montrose, Rice, Midtown, Downtown, Upper Kirby, Hyde Park West University and more. After a stressful week of studies, many students take the weekend to party, and Houston has an excellent nightlife and party scene to accommodate
New Orleans, Louisiana
New Orleans is a culturally rich city in the Gulf state of Louisiana, an interesting mix of French, African, Indigenous, Spanish, and many other cultures. New Orleans is a city that not only has English but also French Speakers who generally speak Cajun French; this makes New Orleans appealing to those with an interest in the French language. New Orleans is home to many great universities, such as Tulane University, The University of New Orleans, Loyola University New Orleans, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center New Orleans, Delgado Community College, and many more. New Orleans is one of the more walkable cities on the Gulf Coast, with walkable neighborhoods such as The French Quarter and the Central Business District. You also do not require a car to live in New Orleans, as the city offers streetcar and bus services. On top of walkability and great schools, New Orleans is renowned for its nightlife, drawing in tourists from all over and youth from not just local schools but nationwide to experience the iconic club and bar scene concentrated in the French Quarter from Bourbon to St Anne street which takes pride in being LGBTQ+ friendly, in the ever so fun city of New Orleans.
College Station, Texas
It's no coincidence that the city of College Station in the large state of Texas happens to be a college town! The city of College Station owes its name and entire existence to the location of Texas A&M University, the largest university in Texas, whose location is along a railroad. Texas A&M's triple designation as a Land-, Sea-, and Space-Grant post-secondary institution reflects the vast scope of the research endeavors it delivers to the thriving city, with continuous projects funded by agencies such as NASA, the National Institutes of Health, the National Science Foundation, and the Office of Naval Research. Texas A&M University has an impressive enrollment of 74,869 students within its main College Station Campus, while College Station as a city has 93,857 residents in total. With so many students, these scholars are bound to go party on the weekends, providing tons of business for local clubs, pubs, and bars primarily located on University Dr. beside campus.
Tuscaloosa, Alabama
The University of Alabama, with a whopping enrollment of 40,000 students, the largest university in the state of Alabama and a driver in Tuscaloosa's growth, has long been a part of Tuscaloosa's identity as a city. With a population of about 100,618 residents, the student population forms a large chunk of the cities demographics, creating a youthful and progressive atmosphere, causing the city to be a major location for the civil rights movement, being the destination of many important historical moments within the movement and U.S. history. Other post-secondary institutions include the small yet substantial; Stillman College, which opened in 1875, is a historically black liberal arts college enrolling approximately 1,200 students. Another school is Shelton State Community College, one of the largest community colleges in Alabama, which is inclusive of a variety of income levels and backgrounds and an enrollment of 4,000 students.
Orlando, Florida
Home to more than just Disney World, Orlando claims to be the location of the largest university in Florida; the University of Central Florida has an impressive enrollment of 70,310 students! Being one of the most visited cities in the USA, home to a plethora of amusement parks, thrilling nightlife, and beaches, and is extremely LGBT Friendly., perfect for youth seeking a fun and welcoming new city to study in. On top of excellent education, Orlando is proud of its diverse community with thriving tech, manufacturing, travel & hospitality, and beyond, perfect for students seeking a community to settle down in and begin a successful career after building strong connections and curating opportunities during their spectacular university experience is the thriving city of 307,573 named Orlando!
Tampa, Florida
Tampa is an absolutely underrated city in the south of the populous state of Florida, the location of the main campus of the University of South Florida. The University of South Florida is a high-quality post-secondary institution with an enrollment of 51,000 students with high levels of economic and ethnic diversity. Other great institutions in Tampa include the University of Tampa, with an enrollment of over 9,000 students; Hillsborough Community College, Stetson University College of Law; in Gulfport and a second campus, the Tampa Law Center, in the lovely downtown Tampa. Other amazing choices of colleges and universities in the wider Tampa Bay Area include Jersey College, Eckerd College, Florida College, and St. Petersburg College. All of these amazing schools contribute to the booming nightlife in Tampa, primarily concentrated in Historic Ybor.
Gainesville, Florida
The fourth-largest public university campus by enrollment in the entire United States of America as of the 2021–2022 academic year can be found in none other than the beautiful city of Gainesville in the great coastal state of Florida! With an outstanding 57,841 students enrolled, the University of Florida is a top-tier institution with 16 amazing academic colleges and more than 150 research centers and institutes. The University of Florida offers a whopping 123 master's degree programs and 76 doctoral degree programs in 87 schools and departments. Gainesville itself is home to 141,085 residents and is the largest city in north Central Florida, yet it remains humble and comforting despite having so much to bring to the table. All these students, paired with the constant favorably warm Florida weather, make for great nightlife, principally concentrated in Downtown Gainesville, booming with fun!
Oxford, Mississippi
When established in 1844, an impressive 179 years ago, The University of Mississippi, commonly referred to as 'Ole' Miss' confidently chose Oxford as its official home; although the campus technically is in University, Mississippi, it is an unincorporated enclave of Oxford but is largely still considered part of the city. The University of Mississippi takes great pride in being the largest university in Mississippi, with a total enrollment of 22,967 students who pridefully choose the amazing University of Mississippi as their ideal choice of education. Not far from the campus of Ole Miss,' downtown Oxford carries a plethora of exciting establishments where students and locals take advantage of weekends off from studying and indulge in the lively nightlife of Oxford.
Many tend to forget how amazing the Gulf Coast's colleges are, paired with warm weather, friendly communities, and great nightlife. The Gulf Coast boasts some of the largest post-secondary institutions with student populations the size of small cities! Education is the key to progression, unity, and a thriving society, and thankfully, the Gulf Coast college towns are doing their job really well!
