This is a list of college towns: towns and small cities (with a population of less than 350,000) that are socioeconomically dominated by a college or university (but not student quarters or suburbs of larger cities), sorted by continent.
Generally, to be classified as a college town, a town should exhibit one or more of the following:
The town's cultural identity, social life, and public events are strongly shaped by the institution. The college or university is a major or primary employer, and its presence significantly influences the local economy. College or university students form a significant proportion of the town's population, often taken to be 20 per cent or more.
Africa
South Africa
Alice (University of Fort Hare) Empangeni (University of Zululand) Ga-Rankuwa (Sefako Makgatho Health Sciences University) George (Nelson Mandela University) Kimberley (Sol Plaatje University Mahikeng (North-West University) Makhanda (Rhodes University) Mankweng (University of Limpopo) Mbombela (University of Mpumalanga) Mthatha (Walter Sisulu University) Pinetown (University of KwaZulu-Natal – Edgewood Campus) Potchefstroom (North-West University) Stellenbosch (Stellenbosch University) Thohoyandou (University of Venda) Vanderbijlpark (North-West University – Vaal Triangle Campus, Vaal University of Technology) Westville (University of KwaZulu-Natal – Westville Campus)
Ghana
Cape Coast (University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast Technical University) Ho (University of Health and Allied Sciences, Ho Technical University) Winneba (University of Education, Winneba)
Morocco
El Jadida (Chouaib Doukkali University) Settat (Hassan I University)
Asia
India Pilani (Birla Institute of Technology and Science) Saifai (Uttar Pradesh University of Medical Sciences) Kalapet (Pondicherry University, Puducherry Technological University)
Indonesia Jatinangor, Sumedang Regency (Padjadjaran University, Bandung Institute of Technology, Institute of Home Affairs Governance) Purwokerto (Jenderal Soedirman University, Telkom University, Purwokerto, Prof. K.H. Saifuddin Zuhri State Islamic University)
Malaysia Kubang Pasu, Kedah (Universiti Utara Malaysia, Polytechnic of Sultan Abdul Halim Mu'adzam Shah, Malaysia Agricultural College (Kolej Pertanian Malaysia), Industrial Training Institute (ILP), Bandar Darulaman Community College (Kolej Komuniti Bandar Darulaman), Akademi Binaan Malaysia (ABM), Institut Kemahiran Belia Negara (IKBN)). Kampar, Perak (The location of the Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman as well as Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management & Technology main campuses). Pagoh, Muar, Johor (Houses the Bandar Universiti Pagoh higher educational hub). Kota Samarahan, Sarawak (Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Universiti Teknologi MARA Kota Samarahan Campus (2 campuses), Institute of Teacher Education (Tun Abdul Razak Campus), Kota Samarahan Industrial Training Institute (ILPKS) and AAA Zenith Services (English language service provider cum educational consultancy company)).
Philippines Baybay, Leyte (Visayas State University) Batac, Ilocos Norte (Mariano Marcos State University) Dumaguete (Silliman University, Negros Oriental State University, Foundation University, and St. Paul University Dumaguete) La Trinidad, Benguet (Benguet State University) Lopez, Quezon (Lopez Campus of the Polytechnic University of the Philippines, South Luzon Campus of the Philippine Normal University, Quezon Campus of the Technological University of the Philippines, Lopez Campus of Laguna State Polytechnic University) Los Baños, Laguna (University of the Philippines Los Baños) Malolos, Bulacan (Bulacan State University, La Consolacion University Philippines, Malolos campus of Centro Escolar University) Marawi (Mindanao State University) Muñoz (Central Luzon State University) Musuan, Maramag, Bukidnon (Central Mindanao University)
Taiwan Huwei Township (National Formosa University) Puli Township (National Chi Nan University) Miaoli City (National United University) Minxiong Township (National Chiayi University, WuFeng University and National Chung Cheng University) Pingtung City (National Pingtung University) Shoufeng Township (National Dong Hwa University, Taiwan Hospitality and Tourism University)
Europe
Austria Hall in Tirol (UMIT – Private University for Health Sciences, Medical Informatics and Technology) Innsbruck (University of Innsbruck, Medical University of Innsbruck, MCI Management Center Innsbruck) Klagenfurt (University of Klagenfurt) Krems an der Donau (University for Continuing Education Krems, IMC University of Applied Sciences Krems) Kufstein (University of Applied Sciences Kufstein) Linz (Anton Bruckner Private University, Catholic Private University Linz, Johannes Kepler University Linz, University of Art and Design Linz) Leoben (University of Leoben) Salzburg (University of Salzburg, Paracelsus Medical University, Mozarteum University Salzburg, Alma Mater Europaea)
Belgium Ghent (Ghent University) Leuven (Katholieke Universiteit Leuven) Louvain-la-Neuve (Université catholique de Louvain) Mons (Université de Mons, UCLouvain FUCaM Mons)
Bulgaria Blagoevgrad (American University in Bulgaria, South-West University "Neofit Rilski") Veliko Tarnovo (Veliko Tarnovo University)
Croatia Osijek (Josip Juraj Strossmayer University of Osijek) Rijeka (University of Rijeka)
Czech Republic Olomouc (Palacký University) Zlín (Tomas Bata University in Zlín)
Denmark Roskilde (Roskilde University)
Estonia Tartu (University of Tartu, Estonian University of Life Sciences, Tartu Art College)
France Aix-en-Provence (Aix-Marseille University) Arras (Artois University) Chambéry (University of Savoy) Corte, Haute-Corse (University of Corsica Pasquale Paoli)
Germany
Iceland Akureyri (University of Akureyri)
Ireland
Limerick (University of Limerick) Cork (University College Cork) Galway (National University of Ireland, Galway) Maynooth (Maynooth University, St Patrick's College, Maynooth)
Italy
Abruzzo
Chieti (D'Annunzio University of Chieti–Pescara) L'Aquila (University of L'Aquila) Teramo (University of Teramo)
Basilicata Potenza (University of Basilicata)
Campania Benevento (University of Sannio) Caserta (Università degli Studi della Campania Luigi Vanvitelli main campus) Fisciano (University of Salerno main campus)
Emilia-Romagna Ferrara (University of Ferrara) Parma (University of Parma)
Lazio Viterbo (Tuscia University) Cassino (University of Cassino)
Lombardy Bergamo (University of Bergamo) Pavia (University of Pavia)
Marche Camerino (University of Camerino) Macerata (University of Macerata) Urbino (University of Urbino)
Piedmont Vercelli (University of Eastern Piedmont)
Puglia Lecce (University of Salento)
Sicily Enna (Kore University of Enna)
Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol Trento (University of Trento)
Tuscany
Pisa (University of Pisa) Siena (University of Siena)
Umbria Perugia (University of Perugia)
Valle d'Aosta
Aosta (Aosta Valley University)
Liechtenstein
Vaduz (University of Liechtenstein)
Malta Msida (University of Malta)
Netherlands
Delft (Delft University of Technology) Groningen (University of Groningen) Leiden (Leiden University) Nijmegen (Radboud University Nijmegen) Wageningen (Wageningen University & Research)
Norway Tromsø (University of Tromsø) Trondheim (Norwegian University of Science and Technology)
Poland Białystok (University of Białystok, Bialystok University of Technology, Medical University of Białystok) Bydgoszcz (Kazimierz Wielki University in Bydgoszcz, Bydgoszcz University of Science and Technology, Nicolaus Copernicus University Ludwik Rydygier Collegium Medicum in Bydgoszcz) Kielce (Jan Kochanowski University, Kielce University of Technology) Lublin (Maria Curie-Skłodowska University, John Paul II Catholic University of Lublin, Lublin University of Technology, Medical University of Lublin) Rzeszów (University of Rzeszów, Rzeszów University of Technology) Toruń (Nicolaus Copernicus University in Toruń, Rzeszów University of Technology)
Portugal Coimbra (Universidade de Coimbra) Évora (Universidade de Évora) Aveiro (Universidade de Aveiro) Covilhã (Universidade da Beira Interior)
Serbia Novi Sad (University of Novi Sad)
Spain Alcalá de Henares (University of Alcalá) Alcoy (Technical University of Valencia (Historic EPSA premises, Alcoy Campus), University of Alicante) Ávila (University of Salamanca (Ávila Campus), Catholic University of Ávila) Pamplona – (University of Navarra, Public University of Navarre) Salamanca (University of Salamanca) Santiago de Compostela (University of Santiago de Compostela) Segovia (IE University, University of Valladolid (Segovia Campus))
Sweden Gävle (University College of Gävle) Halmstad (Halmstad University) Karlstad (Karlstad University) Linköping (Linköping University) Luleå (Luleå University of Technology) Lund (Lund University) Örebro (Örebro University) Umeå (Umeå University) Uppsala (Uppsala University) Visby (Uppsala University – Campus Gotland) Växjö (Linnaeus University)
Switzerland Fribourg (University of Fribourg) Lausanne (University of Lausanne, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne)
Turkey Çanakkale (Çanakkale Onsekiz Mart University)https://www.canakkalewebhaber.com/gundem/canakkale-ogrenci-dostu-universite-sehri-secildi Edirne (Trakya University)https://www.edirne.bel.tr/gundem/haberdetay?haberid=97501254-5857-450d-9128-4ffce467e5a1 Muğla (Muğla Sıtkı Koçman University)https://www.demecgazetesi.com/haber/uniara-gore-mugla-ogrenci-dostu-universite-sehri-10835
Ukraine Ostroh (National University Ostroh Academy)
United Kingdom An Office for National Statistics analysis of towns and cities in England and Wales in 2021 identified that a high share of 16 to 24 year olds in the population was linked to the presence of a university, across all sizes of town and city outside of London. One of the main findings was that: "While most small towns had a relatively low share of 16- to 24-year-olds, shares were higher in the small number of small towns with a university." The average proportion of 16 to 24 year olds across England and Wales was 10.69 per cent. The presence of a university has also been linked to a high proportion of the population working in education; the top quintile for this across all built-up areas in England and Wales is 14.1 per cent and above.
The UK settlements with the highest proportion (over 30 per cent) of full-time students are St Andrews in Scotland (53 per cent), Aberystwyth and Bangor in Wales (both 42 per cent), and Durham and Canterbury in England (both 35 per cent). With the exception of Canterbury, these towns are dominated by a single institution that was established as a university or university college before the end of the 19th century. Canterbury has three universities – one established in the 1960s and two that became universities in the 21st century.
The Telegraph listed the best eight university towns in Britain in 2025 as Aberystwyth, Bristol, Cambridge, Durham, Glasgow, Newcastle, Norwich and Oxford.
England Towns and cities with a university and a high proportion of 16 to 24 year olds (over 75 per cent above the average across England and Wales) in 2019 are listed below, along with the 2021 population of their built up area (BUA), the 2020/21 enrolment in their universities, the proportion of people in the BUA employed in the education sector and the proportion of people in the BUA who identified in the census as full-time students (England average 7.7 per cent).