Stevens Point named fifth in nation among small college cities

STEVENS POINT — Stevens Point has been ranked fifth among small U.S. cities with universities as part of Wallet Hub’s 2020 list, the university announced this week.

Wallet Hub examined 415 cities of varying sizes across three key dimensions: wallet friendliness, social environment, and academic and economic opportunities. Within these, it compared cities based on 30 key indicators, such as students per capita, population ages 18-25, restaurants, festivals, night life, crime rate, quality of education, earnings potential for graduates, median income and share of part-time jobs, entrepreneurial activity and unemployment rate.

Stevens Point scored highly for “wallet friendliness,” indicating a low cost of education, adjusted cost of living for young people, housing costs, entertainment costs and student loan debt, according to UWSP.

“Our community offers students so many opportunities for personal and professional growth, all with UW-Stevens Point’s affordable tuition. That’s why UW-Stevens Point is a great value and a great place for students to discover their purpose,” said UWSP Chancellor Bernie Patterson in a news release.

“I’m very proud to see that people are recognizing all the great things Stevens Point has to offer,” said Mayor Mike Wiza in the release. “Anyone who attended UW-Stevens Point already knows our community is top notch, but now the rest of the country knows too.”

The university’s economic impact to Wisconsin is $671 million, according to the most recent study by NorthStar Consulting in Madison. UW-Stevens Point also generates $40.9 million in state and local tax annually, according to the university.

WalletHub is a web-based service that offers advice and reviews of financial products and professionals and credit reports.

View Wallet Hub’s 2020 list here: https://wallethub.com/edu/e/best-worst-college-cities-and-towns-in-america/8974.

Photo courtesy UW-Stevens Point. UW-Stevens Point students enjoy making Stevens Point their second home. The community ranked highly in a list of best college and university cites by WalletHub.