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Personal Finance Reports

LendEDU’s Safest College Towns in the United States

Updated Apr 06, 2023   |   10-min read

College towns are places of beauty, inspiration, diversity, sport, and home to thousands of students each year. But unfortunately, over the last few years college towns have come under scrutiny when it comes to safety. Whether you are just entering college, just graduating, or are just living in a college town safety is always of critical importance. And increasingly, prospective students and families are considering safety during the college selection process.

At LendEDU, we work to help students and families make educated decisions when it comes to higher education. This month, the LendEDU team did some research to find out which college towns provided the safest environment for students and residents. After analyzing thousands of lines of data in Excel, we were able to put together a list of the safest college towns in the United States.

In our research, we included towns that are home to at least one 2-year or 4-year college campus. We used the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s newest Crime in the United States data to compile our report, including both the violent crime and property crime statistics.

Below, we calculated the safest college towns by summing the number of violent and property crimes, then dividing the summation by the population living in the town. This calculation yielded the number of violent and property crimes per person in the town. Please note, there may be more than one college campus located in each town. But we only included one college for each town in the table below.

Here are the top 325 Safest College Towns in the United States:

RankCity, StateSchool NamePopulationTotal Number of CrimesNumber of Crimes Per Person
1Malta,ILKishwaukee College115410.000866551
2McPherson,KSCentral Christian College of Kansas13369270.002019598
3Wenham,MAGordon College5114110.002150958
4Mansfield,PAMansfield University of Pennsylvania360180.002221605
5Bridgewater,VABridgewater College5938150.002526103
6Broadview Heights,OHVatterott College19318490.002536494
7El Dorado,KSButler Community College12809360.002810524
8Parkersburg,WVWest Virginia University at Parkersburg31139880.002826038
9Imperial,CAImperial Valley College16535510.003084366
10Clarks Summit,PASummit University6558210.003202196
11Franklin,MADean College328571100.003347841
12Fort Kent,MEUniversity of Maine at Fort Kent4013140.003488662
13Winona,MNMinnesota State College-Southeast Technical27546970.003521382
14Dallas,PAMisericordia University2806100.003563792
15New Town,NDNueta Hidatsa Sahnish College248290.003626108
16Boaz,ALSnead State Community College9747360.003693444
17Weston,MARegis College12015450.003745318
18Glen Cove,NYWebb Institute272411030.003781065
19New Concord,OHMuskingum University156770.004467135
20Glenville,WVGlenville State College154870.004521964
21Purcellville,VAPatrick Henry College8821410.004647999
22Brecksville,OHStautzenberger College13505650.004813032
23North Newton,KSBethel College180090.005
24Bedford,MAMiddlesex Community College14179720.005077932
25Norton,MAWheaton College194771000.005134261
26Jenkintown,PAManor College4441230.005179014
27Paxton,MAAnna Maria College4875260.005333333
28Linn,MOState Technical College of Missouri143480.005578801
29Rangely,COColorado Northwestern Community College2447140.005721291
30Cleveland,WILakeshore Technical College148490.00606469
31Aliso Viejo,CASoka University of America506713080.006078428
32Charleston,ILEastern Illinois University219851350.00614055
33Seven Hills,OHDeVry University11713730.006232391
34Cottleville,MOSt. Charles Community College3836240.006256517
35Orange City,IANorthwestern College6211390.006279182
36Kirtland,OHLakeland Community College6841430.006285631
37Tishomingo,OKMurray State College3072200.006510417
38Wellesley,MAWellesley College294121920.006527948
39Needham,MAFranklin W. Olin College of Engineering299901990.006635545
40Mequon,WIConcordia University Wisconsin233891560.006669802
41New London,NHColby-Sawyer College4620310.006709957
42Grand Rapids,MIDavenport University19338513810.007141195
43Barbourville,KYUnion College3152230.007296954
44Northfield,VTNorwich University6144450.007324219
45Wheaton,ILWheaton College538063980.007396945
46Warner,OKConnors State College1619120.007411983
47Cumberland,KYSoutheast Kentucky Community and Technical College2157160.00741771
48Deerfield,ILTrinity International University183091360.007428041
49Durham,NHUniversity of New Hampshire155711160.007449746
50Pinehurst,NCSandhills Community College153911150.007471899
51Palos Hills,ILMoraine Valley Community College176731330.007525604
52Merrimack,NHThomas More College of Liberal Arts256201930.007533177
53Lake Forest,ILLake Forest College193431470.007599648
54Colchester,VTSaint Michael’s College173461340.007725124
55Caldwell,NJCaldwell University7882620.007866024
56Warner,NHNortheast Catholic College2873230.008005569
57Henniker,NHNew England College4773390.008170962
58Canyon,TXWest Texas A&M University140551150.008182142
59Madison,NJFairleigh Dickinson University, College at Florham163801350.008241758
60Lexington,VAVirginia Military Institute7203600.008329863
61Demorest,GAPiedmont College2032170.008366142
62Rexburg,IDBrigham Young University-Idaho267732280.008516042
63Springboro,OHMiami-Jacobs Career College179661570.008738729
64Pepper Pike,OHUrsuline College6194550.008879561
65Los Altos Hills,CAFoothill College8408750.008920076
66Moorpark,CAMoorpark College352993160.008952095
67Long Beach,NYRabbinical College of Long Island336133040.00904412
68Amherst,MAUniversity of Massachusetts Amherst389773530.009056623
69Newton,MAMount Ida College888818100.009113309
70Rochester,MIOakland University130571190.009113885
71Longmeadow,MABay Path University159011460.009181812
72Friendswood,TXBrightwood College, Friendswood Campus380123500.009207619
73Alpine,TXSul Ross State University6058560.009243975
74Moon Township,PARobert Morris University255142370.009289018
75Moraga,CASaint Mary’s College of California169531580.009319884
76Hancock,MIFinlandia University4584430.009380454
77Bluffton,OHBluffton University4237400.009440642
78Rosemount,MNDakota County Technical College228502160.009452954
79Palatine,ILHarper College695336590.009477514
80Collegeville,PAUrsinus College5375510.009488372
81Mission Viejo,CASaddleback College971249350.009626869
82Blacksburg,VAVirginia Polytechnic Institute and State University438424260.00971671
83Saratoga,CAWest Valley College311223070.009864405
84Princeton,NJPrinceton University291542900.009947177
85Dudley,MANichols College115621160.010032866
86Smithfield,RIBryant University214822160.01005493
87Petoskey,MINorth Central Michigan College5779590.010209379
88Milton,MACurry College274052800.010217114
89Richland Center,WIUniversity of Wisconsin-Richland5055520.010286845
90Arlington Heights,ILITT Technical Institute762007860.010314961
91Marietta,OHMarietta College140511470.010461889
92Prairie View,TXPrairie View A&M University5920620.010472973
93Bristol,RIRoger Williams University223332350.010522545
94Dillon,MTThe University of Montana Western4239450.010615711
95Crookston,MNUniversity of Minnesota, Crookston7905840.010626186
96Walnut,CAMt. San Antonio College302823230.010666402
97Elon,NCElon University95371030.010800042
98Atherton,CAMenlo College7221780.010801828
99Highland Heights,KYNorthern Kentucky University6934750.010816268
100Madison,MSITT Technical Institute255722780.010871265
101Mokena,ILRasmussen College Mokena/Tinley Park192712100.010897203
102Toledo,OHDavis College28115030680.010912324
103Morrison,ILMorrison Institute of Technology4106450.010959571
104Ellendale,NDTrinity Bible College1361150.011021308
105Mount Prospect,ILChristian Life College548916060.011040061
106North Andover,MAMerrimack College295023260.011050098
107Ephraim,UTSnow College6506720.011066708
108Winona Lake,INGrace College4945550.011122346
109Davidson,NCDavidson College119541330.011125983
110Berea,OHBaldwin Wallace University189812130.011221748
111Ramsey,NJEastwick College147831660.011229115
112Easton,MAStonehill College239282690.01124206
113Wilmore,KYAsbury University6124690.011267146
114Wilburton,OKEastern Oklahoma State College2735310.011334552
115Elmhurst,ILElmhurst College459065260.011458197
116Schuylkill Haven,PAPenn State Schuylkill5319610.011468321
117Bloomfield Hills,MIOakland Community College3987460.011537497
118Carterville,ILJohn A. Logan College5710660.011558669
119Hoffman Estates,ILAmbria College of Nursing525126080.011578306
120Rancho Palos Verdes,CAMarymount California University426454960.011630906
121State College,PASouth Hills School of Business & Technology565516580.011635515
122Franklin Springs,GAEmmanuel College1116130.011648746
123Cary,NCMiller-Motte College15497818090.011672625
124Newtown,PABucks County Community College2227260.011674899
125Columbia,KYLindsey Wilson College4526530.011710119
126Wilmington,MAITT Technical Institute234102780.011875267
127Lakeville,MNMinnesota School of Business-Lakeville591947040.011893097
128Naperville,ILDeVry University14551017470.012006048
129Seward,NESt. Gregory the Great Seminary7155860.012019567
130Palos Heights,ILTrinity Christian College126331520.01203198
131Norwood,MAITT Technical Institute291143520.012090403
132Decorah,IALuther College8079980.012130214
133Los Alamos,NMUniversity of New Mexico-Los Alamos Branch177032160.012201322
134West Lafayette,INPurdue University311923810.01221467
135East Greenwich,RINew England Institute of Technology131781610.012217332
136Pemberton,NJRowan College at Burlington County1388170.012247839
137River Grove,ILTriton College102911270.01234088
138Sayre,OKSouthwestern Oklahoma State University at Sayre4699580.012343052
139Ripon,WIRipon College7768960.012358393
140Orono,MEUniversity of Maine107571330.012364042
141Washington,NJWarren County Community College6461800.012381984
142Slippery Rock,PASlippery Rock University of Pennsylvania3673460.012523822
143Menomonee Falls,WIHerzing University Online359974510.012528822
144Eureka,ILEureka College5397700.012970169
145Burton,OHKent State University at Geauga1462190.012995896
146Irvine,CAFIDM/Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising, Orange County Campus24297131650.013026246
147Graceville,FLThe Baptist College of Florida2226290.013027853
148Glen Ellyn,ILCollege of DuPage278543630.01303224
149Des Plaines,ILOakton Community College590417710.013058722
150Edinboro,PAEdinboro University of Pennsylvania6655870.013072878
151Highland Heights,OHATS Institute of Technology83161090.013107263
152Niceville,FLNorthwest Florida State College144071900.013188034
153Middletown,PAPenn State Harrisburg88651170.01319797
154Williamsburg,VAThe College of William and Mary154942050.013230928
155Houghton,MIMichigan Technological University76321010.013233753
156Santa Clarita,CACollege of the Canyons20693027440.013260523
157North Manchester,INManchester University5989800.013357823
158Thousand Oaks,CACalifornia Lutheran University12917517270.01336946
159Clarion,PAClarion University of Pennsylvania4857650.013382747
160Centennial,CONational American University10748514400.013397218
161Beverly,MAMontserrat College of Art410235500.013407113
162Mount Vernon,IACornell College4602620.013472403
163Wells,MEYork County Community College99301340.013494461
164Elizabethtown,PAElizabethtown College116721590.013622344
165Marquette,MINorthern Michigan University215242940.013659171
166Downers Grove,ILDeVry University498606820.013678299
167Millersville,PAMillersville University of Pennsylvania82801140.013768116
168Olathe,KSMidAmerica Nazarene University13334118470.013851704
169Waltham,MABentley University627568700.013863216
170Yellow Springs,OHAntioch University Midwest3519490.01392441
171Ankeny,IAFaith Baptist Bible College and Theological Seminary530997400.013936232
172Forty Fort,PAFortis Institute4161580.013938957
173Northfield,MNSt. Olaf College207142890.013951917
174Grayslake,ILCollege of Lake County211322980.014101836
175Midland,MINorthwood University, Michigan Campus422565960.014104506
176Woodland Park,NJBerkeley College-Woodland Park Campus123951750.014118596
177Edwardsville,ILSouthern Illinois University Edwardsville247573500.014137416
178Pullman,WAWashington State University-Global Campus318104500.014146495
179Wheeling,ILWorsham College of Mortuary Science380955440.014280089
180Jackson,KYKentucky Mountain Bible College2157310.014371813
181Williamsburg,KYUniversity of the Cumberlands5314770.014490026
182North Canton,OHWalsh University175032540.014511798
183New Philadelphia,OHKent State University at Tuscarawas174252540.014576758
184Mars Hill,NCMars Hill University2194320.014585232
185Bettendorf,IAScott Community College350455130.014638322
186Meridian,IDBroadview University-Boise8573312560.014650135
187Geneseo,NYState University of New York College at Geneseo79141160.014657569
188Kenmore,WABastyr University218863210.01466691
189La Mirada,CABiola University492777240.014692453
190Southlake,TXThe King’s University286404210.014699721
191Madison,SDDakota State University70571040.01473714
192Great Barrington,MABard College at Simon’s Rock69711030.014775498
193Estherville,IAIowa Lakes Community College6073900.014819694
194Keene,TXSouthwestern Adventist University6072900.014822134
195Yonkers,NYCochran School of Nursing20062429830.01486861
196Plymouth,MNMinnesota School of Business-Plymouth7483311130.014873117
197Grove City,PAGrove City College81721220.014929026
198Westfield,MAWestfield State University413486190.014970494
199Beloit,KSNorth Central Kansas Technical College3852580.015057113
200Cresson,PAMount Aloysius College1656250.015096618
201Belmont,CANotre Dame de Namur University269474080.015140832
202South Hadley,MAMount Holyoke College177472690.015157491
203Ada,OHOhio Northern University5790880.015198618
204Wadena,MNMinnesota State Community and Technical College-Wadena4145630.015199035
205Novi,MIThe Art Institute of Michigan586549000.015344222
206Franklin,TNWilliamson College7048510890.015450096
207Forest City,IAWaldorf College3969620.015621063
208Camarillo,CACalifornia State University Channel Islands6627210370.015647634
209Parma,OHBryant & Stratton College-Parma Campus8016812550.015654625
210Laguna Hills,CAAllied American University310354860.015659739
211Brookline,MAHellenic College594139310.015669971
212Hackettstown,NJCentenary College95761510.015768588
213Port St. Lucie,FLFortis Institute17245327410.015894186
214Maryville,MONorthwest Missouri State University120761920.015899304
215Sisseton,SDSisseton-Wahpeton College2451390.015911873
216Ely,MNVermilion Community College3454550.015923567
217Middleton,WIGlobe University-Madison West186472970.015927495
218Chesterfield,MOLogan University478117640.015979586
219Lakewood,OHVirginia Marti College of Art and Design509238150.016004556
220Hayward,WILac Courte Oreilles Ojibwa Community College2310370.016017316
221Athens,OHOhio University240833860.016027904
222Fairmont,WVPierpont Community & Technical College188353020.016033979
223Montclair,NJMontclair State University380306120.016092559
224Bowie,MDBowie State University571889210.016104777
225Dixon,ILSauk Valley Community College152402460.016141732
226Melrose Park,ILLincoln College of Technology255414130.016170079
227Rindge,NHFranklin Pierce University5865950.016197783
228Cypress,CATrident University International493708030.016264938
229Santee,CASan Diego Christian College567379240.016285669
230Wentzville,MOMidwest University332825430.016315125
231San Marcos,CAPalomar College9079914820.016321766
232St. Peter,MNGustavus Adolphus College115021890.016431925
233Brookings,SDSouth Dakota State University231453810.016461439
234Hackensack,NJEastwick College444517320.016467571
235Canton,MOCulver-Stockton College2368390.016469595
236Lodi,NJFelician University246484060.016471925
237Dublin,VANew River Community College2484410.016505636
238Glendale,CAGlendale Community College19707932590.016536516
239Bryn Athyn,PABryn Athyn College of the New Church1385230.016606498
240Medford,MATufts University575519570.016628729
241Leadville,COColorado Mountain College2579430.016673129
242Centerville,OHFortis College239494000.016702159
243Kennesaw,GAITT Technical Institute324295450.016805945
244Hanover,NHDartmouth College113371910.016847491
245Troy,MIWalsh College of Accountancy and Business Administration8327914090.016919031
246Orange,CAITT Technical Institute14076723830.016928684
247Lenexa,KSGrantham University508768630.016962812
248South Orange,NJSeton Hall University163232770.01696992
249Tinley Park,ILDeVry University574059750.016984583
250Hesston,KSHesston College3739640.017116876
251Swartz Creek,MIITT Technical Institute5607960.017121455
252East Lansing,MIMichigan State University485558330.017155803
253Fulton,MSItawamba Community College4011690.017202693
254Carlsbad,CAGolf Academy of America11229719350.017231093
255Berlin,NHWhite Mountains Community College95131640.017239567
256Falls Church,VAMedtech College137942380.017253878
257Howell,MICleary University95771660.017333194
258Newton,NJSussex County Community College78971370.01734836
259Alma,MIAlma College92601610.017386609
260New Rochelle,NYIona College8003013920.017393477
261Gallatin,TNVolunteer State Community College327565700.017401392
262West Boylston,MASalter College79711390.017438214
263Santa Paula,CAThomas Aquinas College302695320.017575738
264Clayton,MOCourt Reporting Institute of St. Louis158712790.017579233
265Broomfield,CORedstone College-Denver6069310670.017580281
266Cupertino,CADe Anza College6056410660.017601215
267North Wales,PALansdale School of Business3234570.017625232
268Aurora,ILRasmussen College Aurora20041935400.017662996
269Pella,IACentral College103471830.017686286
270Capitol Heights,MDMaple Springs Baptist Bible College and Seminary4508800.017746229
271Danbury,CTWestern Connecticut State University8428115020.017821336
272Columbus,NECentral Community College-Columbus Campus226144040.017865039
273Cisco,TXCisco College3799680.017899447
274Monmouth,ORWestern Oregon University99971800.018005402
275Winterville,NCPitt Community College95941730.018032103
276Rocklin,CASierra College6037110890.018038462
277Addison,ILDeVry University374806770.018062967
278Seaside,CACalifornia State University, Monterey Bay343506230.018136827
279Enfield,CTAsnuntuck Community College447698130.018159887
280Waukesha,WIUniversity of Wisconsin-Waukesha7109312940.018201511
281Woodbury,MNGlobe University-Woodbury6653912130.01822991
282Eagan,MNArgosy University, Twin Cities6575412010.018265049
283Edmond,OKUniversity of Central Oklahoma8838316190.018318002
284Overland Park,KSJohnson County Community College18310833600.018349826
285Stamford,CTBais Binyomin Academy12738523390.01836166
286Bar Harbor,MECollege of the Atlantic5334980.018372703
287Macomb,ILWestern Illinois University192623540.018378154
288Edina,MNMinneapolis Media Institute497279160.018420576
289Fremont,CAOhlone College22757541940.018429089
290Monterey Park,CAEast Los Angeles College6128411300.018438744
291Urbandale,IAKaplan University, Des Moines423367810.018447657
292Mechanicsburg,PAMessiah College89811670.018594811
293California,PACalifornia University of Pennsylvania69761300.018635321
294Godfrey,ILLewis and Clark Community College178413330.018664873
295Torrington,WYEastern Wyoming College68421280.01870798
296Shippensburg,PAShippensburg University of Pennsylvania55541040.018725243
297Marshfield,WIUniversity of Wisconsin-Marshfield/Wood County186683500.018748661
298Independence,OHMiami-Jacobs Career College71471340.018749126
299Torrance,CAEl Camino College14797127780.018773949
300Los Alamitos,CATouro University Worldwide117082200.018790571
301Folsom,CAFolsom Lake College7332913840.018873843
302Willimantic,CTEastern Connecticut State University178263390.019017166
303Ames,IAIowa State University of Science and Technology6251411920.019067729
304Parkville,MOPark University60181150.019109339
305Southington,CTLincoln College of New England437868390.019161376
306Hillsdale,MIHillsdale College81881570.019174402
307Weatherford,OKSouthwestern Oklahoma State University121312330.01920699
308Media,PADelaware County Community College53431030.019277559
309Florissant,MOSaint Louis Christian College5238710100.019279592
310Williamstown,MAWilliams College75611460.019309615
311Fountain Valley,CACoastline Community College5702411090.019447952
312Lindsborg,KSBethany College3488680.019495413
313Lower Burrell,PACareer Training Academy115982270.01957234
314Sellersburg,INIvy Tech Community College-Southern Indiana61671210.019620561
315Fairfield,CTSacred Heart University6114612000.019625159
316Napa,CANapa Valley College7957215640.019655155
317Ironwood,MIGogebic Community College51341010.01967277
318Sheldon,IANorthwest Iowa Community College50681000.01973165
319Chula Vista,CASouthwestern College25989451360.019761903
320Canton,ILSpoon River College143712840.019762021
321Stow,OHAmerican National University347556870.01976694
322Whitewater,WIUniversity of Wisconsin-Whitewater148202930.01977058
323White Plains,NYBerkeley College-White Plains Campus5810311510.019809648
324Middletown,CTMiddlesex Community College472569370.01982817
325Yucaipa,CACrafton Hills College5279410490.019869682

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