6 best college towns for computer engineering grad students
These places are a fusion of high-tech research, strong employment markets, and great networking opportunities for computer engineers.
6. Atlanta, GA
University: Georgia Institute of Technology
Median rent: $1,037/mo
Nightlife rating: 5 stars
Unemployment rate: 8.9%
Average Internet speed: 49 Mbps
Whether it’s the everyday technologies we love or the wild challenges of the future, Georgia Institute of Technology (Georgia Tech) impacts all kinds of technology. Georgia Tech students and faculty are dreamers, experimenters, and creators in search of the next innovation that will fundamentally change the world.
In the epicenter of Atlanta, Georgia Tech is the backbone of a rapidly expanding high-tech scene. There are plenty of opportunities for networking and careers because almost every industry, from aerospace to robotics, can be found here.
Young professionals, students, and researchers in tech love Atlanta because of the global city amenities that are available. The diversity of tinkerers, creators, and visionaries gives you the opportunity to see how engineering problems are solved from all kinds of perspectives.
5. Ann Arbor, MI
University: University of Michigan
Median rent: $1,166/mo
Nightlife rating: 4.7 stars
Unemployment rate: 5.3%
Average Internet speed: 45 Mbps
The University of Michigan (Michigan) has been contributing to advances in computer engineering since the earliest days of the field. And often, this research is aimed at some of the planet’s most pressing issues. From healthcare to energy to sustainability, Michigan students and faculty aren’t afraid to revolutionize technology.
Close enough to Detroit for weekend trips yet far enough to have a strong independent identity, Ann Arbor is a blend between tech hub and cultural melting pot. It’s a place where art meets science and both thrive.
The micro-urban community of budding innovators is just one of the reasons why young professionals, students, and researchers in tech love Ann Arbor. University researchers are poised to tackle big challenges with creative approaches.
4. Pittsburgh, PA
University: Carnegie Mellon University
Median rent: $887/mo
Nightlife rating: 5 stars
Unemployment rate: 7%
Average Internet speed: 73 Mbps
Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) is the seed for a growing tech scene in Pittsburgh. From cutting-edge research on the brain to trailblazing autonomous cars, CMU students and faculty have a knack for creating the future. And in this scene, computer engineering takes the forefront through transcending innovations in robotics and software.
Not far from downtown, CMU is tucked in one of Pittsburgh’s oldest neighborhoods, but its impact reaches the entire city. Nearby are the offices of Google, Uber, and Apple as well as a strong startup ecosystem that includes Duolingo.
Young professionals, students, and researchers in tech love Pittsburgh not only because of the low cost of living, but also the startup accelerators and networking opportunities that make up this innovative community. It’s a great place to make a difference with a fast-paced organization or fuel your own entrepreneurial ambitions.
3. Berkeley, CA
University: University of California, Berkeley
Median rent: $1,523/mo
Nightlife rating: 3.3 stars
Unemployment rate: 6.8%
Average Internet speed: 66 Mbps
In the heart of the Bay Area, University of California, Berkeley (Berkeley) is also at the heart of innovation. Coming from diverse places and backgrounds, Berkeley students unite to create a better world for everyone. This social commitment is evident in the technology that emerges from this kinetic community.
Just minutes away from campus are hundreds of the world’s most impactful and disruptive companies. Dropbox, Lyft, and Twitter are just some of the major organizations headquartered across the bridge in San Francisco. Berkeley is a place where high ambitions are welcomed.
The dynamic urban setting and opportunities to network with some of the world’s leading innovators are just some of the reasons why young professionals, students, and researchers in tech love Berkeley. The university and its community embrace imagination from inside the classroom to beyond.
2. Champaign, IL
University: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Median rent: $904/mo
Nightlife rating: 3.8 stars
Unemployment rate: 5.2%
Average Internet speed: 47 Mbps
At the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (Illinois), research and innovation isn’t just a mission, it’s an identity. The pursuit of improvement is baked into the foundation. Illinois students and faculty are driven to explore new ideas, create new knowledge, and find better ways for people all around the globe to live and work.
In the local community, Champaign’s entrepreneurial scene rivals those of much larger cities. From startups to Fortune 500 companies, Research Park buzzes with brilliant minds who have cultivated a community that fosters world-changing impact.
Low cost of living, micro-urban convenience, and a long line of trailblazing alumni make up some of the top reasons young professionals, students, and researchers in tech give for why they love Champaign. It’s the perfect combination of value, prestige, and excitement.
1. Cambridge, MA
University: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Median rent: $1,880/mo
Nightlife rating: 5 stars
Unemployment rate: 5.2%
Average Internet speed: 27 Mbps
Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) brings talented people from all around the world together. Then, this community rallies around a shared purpose: to use innovation to improve that world. With a commitment to uncovering new possibilities, MIT students and faculty invent technologies and launch industries with a global influence.
Located in Cambridge, just across the river from Boston, MIT sits in a vibrantly diverse neighborhood that’s packed with history and intellect. And the several other research universities nearby make for the perfect ecosystem to collaborate on big ideas.
Young professionals, students, and researchers in tech love Cambridge because the community is inventive yet artistic, methodic yet quirky, and patriotic yet global. It’s a place where you can leverage your talent regardless of where you come from.
Which of these college towns is best for you? MapTitan helps you find the places you’ll love to live, work, and learn based on what’s important to you.
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