USA TODAY names State College nation’s best small university town. Here’s why
State College landed at the very top of USA TODAY’s best small college town list, a first for the borough in the ranking’s decade-long run.
The publication cited State College’s nightlife, Penn State football and outdoor amenities.
“I thank the USA Today panel for recognizing what so many of us know so well: this is a vibrant, welcoming, and truly special place,” Mayor Ezra Nanes said in a news release.
A Happy Valley Adventure Bureau spokesperson, Lesley Kistner, said in a statement, “When USA Today readers learn about State College, we hope they will be enticed to want to know more about the entire county and ultimately, plan a visit to see for themselves what makes the area so special.”
In an article accompanying the list, the USA TODAY gave recommendations on things to do in State College: hitting Bill Pickle’s Tap Room, throwing a tailgate, visiting the Palmer Museum of Art, strolling through the arboretum. Naturally, most of the festivities revolve around Penn State, the economic engine of State College and Centre County.
USA TODAY specifically looked at college towns with populations of less than 50,000. State College might feel a bit bigger than that since Penn State’s student body alone is just under 50,000, though the Census Bureau says the town has less than 50,000 residents.
The publication said each of the towns on its list could also be vacation destinations. They feel a lot smaller when students are gone on break, though it fills up for summer events, like State College’s Arts Fest.
Under State College on the list, in order, were Blacksburg, Virginia; Murray, Kentucky; Oxford, Mississippi; Cape Girardeau, Missouri; Ruston, Louisiana; Jacksonville, Alabama; Clemson, South Carolina; Charlottesville, Virginia and Burlington, Vermont.
USA TODAY decides its best-of lists based on nominations from “a panel of experts,” often courted by public relations professionals from the industries they’re nominating for, according to one panelist who did not work on the top small college towns list. The publication’s editors then curate a list of 20 for readers to vote on.
This year’s panelists consisted of 10 travel journalists and bloggers.
This story was originally published April 10, 2026 at 10:24 AM.
