Houston Named Best Big City For New College Grads

HOUSTON, TX — Affordable rent, projected growth and the number of folks similar in age added up to Houston being named the top destination "big city" for recent college graduates. With data crunched from different categories by online degrees.com, the Bayou City vaulted from No. 3 in last year's rankings to the top city overall for fresh grads.

The site describes Houston in these words: "Although Houston recently suffered considerable damage due to flooding caused by Hurricane Harvey, several factors kept it at the top of our list. Not only does it boast a diverse culture, but it is home to numerous Fortune 500 company headquarters and offers excellent potential for job growth in the future. Houston also features low rent and high earnings — a combination every new graduate looks for in their future city."

Data mined by online degrees.com include this about Houston:

• Percent of population between 20 and 34, 2015: 22%
• Median rent, 2015: $764
• Median earnings for bachelor's degree holders, 2015: $58,244
• Average projected job growth statewide, 2014-24: 17.71%

Austin and San Antonio tied for second on the list, followed by Denver, Colorado, and Columbus Ohio, to round out the top five. Dallas, which finished No. 7 in 2016, did not make the national top 15 this year.

Onlinedegrees.com profiled 59 U.S. metropolitan areas with populations of more than 750,000. Taking the largest city in each of those metro areas, they then ranked the cities on a 10-point scale for factors such as average rent, cost of living, nightlife, percentage of young people, median earnings and the job market.

The site also pointed to a vibrant sports scene in Houston, a great nightlife and having the Johnson Space Center nearby as other factors drawing in new grads. It also helps having a burgeoning energy sector with oil and gas, nearby beaches in Galveston and reachable big-city destinations within a short drive.

Image: The Houston skyline on April 26, 2003 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images for the ATP)