Surprising Minnesota City Where New College Grads Are Thriving In 2025

It's that time of year again, when college students don their caps and gowns and graduate into the "real world." But where should a new college grad consider moving to give them the best chance at success?

Clearly, a lot of factors go into a decision like this. Job availability, amenities, commute times, rent, and the social scene are all crucial considerations when a college grad is looking at their first move after college.

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Realtor.com recently did some research and just released their Top 10 list of "grad-friendly rental markets," and one Minnesota city ranked 4th as the best place for grads to land after they get their diplomas.

Ranking the Best Cities for New Grads

Looking at all the key factors mentioned earlier, Realtor.com ranked the cities using metrics like rent-to-income ratio, rental vacancies, job data, and average commute times. What they found may help a new grad as they venture into their career.

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Number one on the list is one of the hottest cities in the country right now, Austin, TX. Behind that was Raleigh, NC, and 3rd place is Overland Park, KS. Coming in at number four is a Minnesota city that has been making a lot of lists lately: Minneapolis.

Minneapolis: A Top Spot for New College Graduates

Minneapolis ranks as the second lowest rent-to-income city on the list with 19.7%. However, it also has the lowest rental vacancy rate at 5.2%, meaning less inventory and more competition for renters.

When it comes to the social scene in Minneapolis, Realtor.com looked at the "Share of Recent College Grads," and Minneapolis ranks the highest on the list with 6.3%. They say that this greatly helps with career building and expanding social circles.

Congratulations and good luck to all the college graduates! And for those thinking about moving to Minnesota, go for it, you'll love it here, just don't forget a jacket.