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Austin, TX

Austin is the best college town in America, study says. See where your Texas town ranks

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Austin is the best college town in America, study says. See where your Texas town ranks


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Sorry, Lubbock, Dallas, San Antonio, Corpus Christi and everyone else — Austin has been named the best college town in the country. But don’t worry; several Texas cities scored high in other categories.

A great college experience depends on a variety of factors, such as students’ living expenses, academic and employment opportunities, and social environment. A WalletHub analysis considered these to determine the best college towns in America for 2025.

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“Picking the right college is crucial, but it’s also important to make sure that the surrounding college town will be a place where you’ll truly love spending your college years,” WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo explained. “Towns with a low cost of living, plenty of activities and large student populations can make your college experience a lot less stressful and a lot more enjoyable. In addition, cities with a great economic environment can make it easier to get a job during or immediately after college.”

WalletHub gathered data on more than 400 U.S. cities based on 31 academic, social and economic indicators.

How did Texas cities rank among others? Here’s a breakdown.

People are also reading: These 5 Texas universities rank among top 100 US News best colleges for 2025. See list

LIST: Top 5 college towns in America

Joining Austin among the top five college towns were two in Florida, one in Michigan and one in North Carolina:

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  1. Austin
  2. Ann Arbor, Mich.
  3. Orlando, Fla.
  4. Tampa, Fla.
  5. Raleigh, N.C.

Austin scores high in academic, economic opportunities and social environment

Overall, Austin scored 65.16 points out of 100 and ranked 14th for academic and economic opportunities. The Texas capital has one of the lowest unemployment rates in the country and claims the fifth-best annual job growth rate.

The capital of Texas also ranked high (17th) for its social environment. It has plenty of attractions, sports clubs and shopping centers to help students relax from the stress of a classroom. Did we mention Austin also has one of the lowest average prices for pizza? Students can also participate in or watch several top-level sports teams.

Austin ranks 17th for its quality of higher education. And with an annual average of $30,138, it has the 49th cheapest in-state tuition (including room and board).

However, like several high-ranking cities, Austin was somewhere in the middle in terms of wallet friendliness (191 out of 415).

Read more: UT-Austin ranks second in best Texas colleges, study shows. See which school ranks first

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Brownsville has lowest cost of living for young people

Brownsville claimed the cheapest cost of living for college-age people, according to the WalletHub analysis. Its cost was three times lower than that of Stanford, the college town with the highest cost of living. Five California towns tied for the highest cost of living for this demographic: Stanford, Sunnyvale, Santa Monica, San Francisco and Santa Clara.

The college towns with the lowest cost of living for young people are as follows:

  1. Brownsville
  2. Springfield, Mo.
  3. Lansing, Mich.
  4. Jackson, Miss.
  5. Cleveland

College Station is fourth-best small college town

The WalletHub analysis also categorized U.S. college towns by size. While Austin was named the best large college town, College Station ranked fourth among small college towns.

However, some other Texas cities ranked low among the roughly 200 small college towns, including Huntsville (157th), Beaumont (155th), San Angelo (149th) and Nacogdoches (144th).

LIST: Best and worst college towns in Texas

Here’s how Texas college towns ranked overall:

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  1. Austin (1st overall)
  2. College Station (23rd overall)
  3. Houston (54th overall)
  4. San Antonio (81st overall)
  5. Fort Worth (86th overall)
  6. Dallas (98th overall)
  7. San Marcos (100th overall)
  8. Killeen (102nd overall)
  9. Bryan (109th overall)
  10. McAllen (122nd overall)
  11. Carrollton (124th overall)
  12. Corpus Christi (134th overall)
  13. Pasadena (135th overall)
  14. Lubbock (136th overall)
  15. Laredo (156th overall)
  16. McKinney (165th overall)
  17. Brownsville (166th overall)
  18. Denton (168th overall)
  19. Amarillo (170th overall)
  20. El Paso (176th overall)
  21. Waco (177th overall)
  22. Irving (182nd overall)
  23. Arlington (209th overall)
  24. Garland (218th overall)
  25. Grand Prairie (226th overall)
  26. Pearland (237th overall)
  27. Richardson (248th overall)
  28. Wichita Falls (250th overall)
  29. Tyler (262nd overall)
  30. Edinburg (292nd overall)
  31. Abilene (317th overall)
  32. Mesquite (325th overall)
  33. Nacogdoches (327th overall)
  34. San Angelo (339th overall)
  35. Beaumont (355th overall)
  36. Huntsville (359th overall)



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Austin, TX

Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love

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Bread winners: 10 Austin bakeries you'll love


Craving something sweet? Maybe something flaky? Austin may be known for tacos and barbecue, but its bakeries are the unsung heroes of the local food scene. We think it’s time to give them the spotlight they deserve.

Whether you’re looking for pastries by day or celebratory cakes by night, these locally owned bakeries are proof that life is butter with carbs.

Comadre Panadería, 1204 Cedar Ave. | Try something new at this Mexican-American bakery (which is a two-time James Beard semi-finalist) like the highly raved-about concha and pink cake.

La Pâtisserie, multiple locations | A case full of colorful macarons is the main attraction at this French bakery, which also offers pastries, cake, scones, buns, croissants, and wine.

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If you’re lucky (like City Editor Morgan was), you may be able to find a frowning gingerbread man at Quack’s 43rd Street Bakery.

Quack’s Bakery, multiple locations | Keeping Austin sweet since 1983, these beloved bakeries make pies, cakes, pastries, and more from scratch with no additives. Be sure to check out seasonal offerings like Pride, Halloween, and Christmas-themed cookies.

Rockman Coffee + Bakeshop, 2400 E. Cesar Chavez St., Ste. #200 | Owned by award-winning pastry chef Amanda Rockman, this newly opened bakeshop is all about caffeine, gluten, butter, sugar, and booze. Grab a rip ‘n’ dip bagel, strawberry cheesecake croissant, or focaccia sandwich.

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Sour Duck Market, 1814 E. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. | The neighborhood bakery within this American restaurant + beer garden is not to be missed. Snag a traditional bite like a savory Danish pastry or a creative concoction like the sweet potato-chai bearclaw.

Sugar Mama’s Bakeshop, 1905 S. 1st St. | Desserts are king at this sugary locale that offers classic cupcakes, cookies, lemon + pecan bars, cakes, and mini-pies in-store, with custom offerings available for larger orders.

Texas French Bread, 2900 Rio Grande St. | Currently housed in an Airstream trailer, this small but mighty bakery (serving Austinites since 1981) sells goods on a first-come, first-served basis. You’ll have to visit in person to see the full menu of bread, pastries, and sweets available each day.

Upper Crust Bakery, 4508 Burnet Rd. | This family-owned scratch bakery has it all, whether you want a cup of coffee and a pastry, a smoked turkey sandwich for lunch, or a layered cake to take home and enjoy.

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The counter and display glass display case at Walton's Fancy and Staple in Austin; there are pastries inside the case and you can see the menu behind the counter detailing the dishes. The building's signature red brick wall can be seen behind the counter, and the restaurant's logo is scrolled across the window to the right.

The inside of Walton’s Fancy and Staple is charming as ever.

Walton’s Fancy & Staple, 609 W. 6th St. | Amid a cluster of bars on West 6th Street, this bakery + deli owned by Sandra Bullock is a beacon of sweetness. Its pastries and sweet treats are made daily, but you can also order custom cakes.

Zucchini Kill Bakery, multiple locations | Calling all vegan, gluten, and soy-free folks with a sweet tooth. This woman-owned bakery is a haven for those with dietary restrictions and incorporates the spirit of punk music into its delicacies.

What’s your favorite bakery in Austin? Let us know and we might add it to this list in the future.

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Austin, TX

Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats

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Texas Longhorns Release First Injury Report vs. Kentucky Wildcats


AUSTIN — The Texas Longhorns and Kentucky Wildcats have released their initial student-athlete availability report ahead of Saturday’s meeting in Austin.

Texas is listing receiver DeAndre Moore Jr. as questionable due to a foot injury while linebacker Morice Blackwell Jr. is questionable after sitting out for the 20-10 win over the Arkansas Razorbacks last week.

“He’s progressing this week,” Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian said of Moore Jr. during Wednesday’s SEC Weekly Teleconference. “We’ll see if he’ll be ready to go here Saturday, but we’re surely a better team when he’s out there.”

Fortunately for Texas, running back Jaydon Blue was not listed on the report after being seen in a sling following the Arkansas game.

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Here’s the full report for both teams:

Texas vs. Kentucky injury report

Texas vs. Kentucky injury report / secsports.com
Texas vs. Kentucky injury report

Texas vs. Kentucky injury report / secsports.com

Sarkisian provided an injury update on Moore Jr., Blue and Blackwell Jr. on Monday during his weekly press conference.

“I think Blue’s good,” Sarkisian said. “Like I said, he went with us today and worked this morning. So we’ll see how it goes. … Mo Blackwell was out last week. … I’m hopeful we can get him back this week. We’ll see how it goes. … DeAndre got nicked up during the game with a foot injury. Again, those two guys (Blackwell) are integral parts to our program, not only on offense and defense, but on special teams. They’re critical. So hopefully we get both those guys back.”

No. 3 Texas and Kentucky will kick off from DKR on Saturday at

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Other Texas Longhorns News:

MORE: Here Is What The College Football Playoff Bracket Looks Like After Nov. 19 Rankings

MORE: Texas A&M Aggies Coach Slips Up In Press Conference When Asked About Texas Longhorns

MORE: Brent Venables Blasting 5-Star Commit For Visiting Texas Longhorns? ‘Not Committed!’

MORE: Texas Longhorns Remain at No. 3 in Latest College Football Playoff Rankings

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MORE: Texas Longhorns Announce Home and Home Matchup vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish



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Austin, TX

UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply

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UT Energy Expertise To Guide New Gulf Coast Hydrogen Hub, Bolster U.S. Energy Supply


AUSTIN, Texas — The University of Texas at Austin will partner with industry and the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations to build and expand a hub for hydrogen energy production along the Texas Gulf Coast that will help increase and diversify the nation’s energy supply. UT serves as founding member and lead academic organization.

The HyVelocity Hub (HyV), a regional energy consortium, aims to become the largest hydrogen hub in the nation. It will leverage the region’s high concentration of existing hydrogen production and end-use assets to develop low-carbon intensity hydrogen that can power trucks, industrial processes, ammonia production, refining and petrochemical production, and marine shipping fuel.

“Texas is the nation’s energy capital, and UT is the energy university, and we are no stranger to playing a leading role in America’s energy innovation,” said UT President Jay Hartzell. “The success of the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub is critical to our nation’s future energy security. We are excited to work with our industry partners and apply our vast energy, business and policy expertise to develop the hydrogen workforce and accelerate production along the Gulf Coast.”

UT will provide expertise to support community benefits activities and hydrogen workforce development efforts. UT, through the IC2 Institute and the RESET lab in the Cockrell School of Engineering, has a significant track record of working with over 80 communities in Texas and bordering states to understand community needs and connect these to economic development initiatives to improve the lives of all community members. The hydrogen proto-hub demonstration facility at the Center for Electromechanics will serve as a key resource for hands-on workforce training activities. UT researchers will also conduct life-cycle and techno-economic analyses for the projects. For example, they will provide the analyses required for meeting emissions criteria, clean hydrogen standards, and cost benchmarks, and will report these data to the Department of Energy.

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“UT Austin’s role in the HyVelocity Hydrogen Hub will be vital to both providing the research and expertise needed to accelerate the global market for hydrogen, and to developing the workforce needed to support the industry’s advancement over the long term in Texas and the Gulf Coast,” said Brian Korgel, the Rashid Engineering Regents Chair Professor in the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering and the director of the UT Energy Institute. “We are proud to be part of this important project that will advance secure and sustainable energy in the U.S. and all over the world.”

HyV’s work will be at the forefront of maintaining and expanding Texas as a global leader in hydrogen energy development. With $22 million in the first tranche of funding, HyVelocity is expected to create up to 45,000 well-paying jobs over its lifetime and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7 million metric tons per year — equivalent to the annual emissions of more than 1.5 million gasoline-powered cars. The Department of Energy is investing $1.2 billion in the project.

As the nation’s premier university for energy innovation and excellence, UT brings an unmatched scale, depth and breadth of expertise and a pragmatic approach to advancing solutions across the full spectrum of energy. Situated in the heart of Texas, UT is in the center of the energy capital of the world. The University boasts numerous top-10 academic programs and a vast community of minds spanning a multitude of energy departments, centers and institutes. UT’s extensive industry partnerships and field research extend from the oil fields of West Texas to the other side of the world, with faculty, students and staff engaged in applied research in hydrogen, carbon capture, wind, solar, batteries and more.



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