For the second year in a row, Bozeman, home to Montana State University, has been ranked the No. 1 college town in America by RentCafe.com, reaffirming its reputation as one of the best places in the country for students to live, learn, and launch their careers.
Bozeman topped the rankings based on several factors, including affordability, quality of education, a highly educated population, and access to outdoor recreation. The town’s growing economy—bolstered by a strong network of startups and major employers—also played a role, providing MSU students with ample internship and career development opportunities.
MSU, the state’s largest university, continues to grow, setting a new spring enrollment record of 16,237 students in 2025. This marks the fifth consecutive year of spring semester growth. With more than 250 undergraduate programs and 115 graduate programs, MSU is also Montana’s leading research institution and holds a Carnegie top-tier research classification.
Bozeman’s ranking places it ahead of other top college towns in the western U.S., including Pullman, Washington (No. 2, home of Washington State University), Moscow, Idaho (No. 7, home of the University of Idaho), and Provo, Utah (No. 8, home of Brigham Young University).
The rankings, based on data from the U.S. Census and RentCafe.com, solidify Bozeman’s status as a premier college town, offering academic excellence, career opportunities, and an unmatched quality of life for students.
By: DNU staff