economy
The top 10 large U.S. cities for recent college graduates in 2026, according to new report—3 are in Texas
New York City and LA didn't make the list, published by Glassdoor and Redfin on April 14.
TL;DR
- Glassdoor and Redfin ranked the best large cities for recent college graduates based on housing affordability, career opportunity, and quality of life.
- Cities in the South and Midwest ranked highly due to more affordable housing, while New York City, San Francisco, and Los Angeles were absent from the list.
- Washington, D.C. ranked first, followed by Omaha, Nebraska, and Boston, Massachusetts.
- Factors considered include average early-career earnings, cost of a starter home, years to save for a down payment, and housing costs as a percentage of income.
- Austin, Texas, ranked tenth, had the highest-ranking labor market, with wage growth outpacing housing prices.