These Are the Worst Big College Towns in America

Brag about your status on US News and World Report all you want, but everyone knows what really matters is the college town. After all, you've got to live in one of these places for four whole years (or longer...), so picking the right place for life purposes certainly means something.

Wallet Hub recently ranked the worst large college cities and towns in America for 2015, and it seems you don't want to commit to Anchorage, AK, which was named the absolute worst. Not really a surprise, since it's in Alaska (no offense, Alaska). The rankings examined college towns with more than 300,000 people living in them, basing the tally on 23 metrics, which included housing costs, nightlife options, accessibility, and percentage of part-time jobs.

Despite being in the tech hub of the Silicon Valley, San Jose, CA sucks for college kids, coming in second. Santa Ana, CA, followed in third, which makes total sense, being that the most famous thing about Santa Ana is the wind blowing out of town.

For the most part, California is full of terrible college towns, as the state fills up most of the top 10. But the big surprise here is that Memphis, TN sits in 4th.  Apparently, barbecue and blues does not a good college town make. 

Check out the list of the top 10 worst big college towns below, and no matter how cheap it is, please don't go to college in Fresno. 

Top 10 Worst Big College Towns

10. Long Beach, CA 
9. Jacksonville, FL
8. Detroit, MI 
7. Fresno, CA 
6. Anaheim, CA 
5. Oakland, CA 
4. Memphis, TN 
3. Santa Ana, CA 
2. San Jose, CA 
1. Anchorage, AK 

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Kara King is a News Writer at Thrillist and deeply misses her California college town. Send news tips to news@thrillist.com and follow her at @karatillie.