The 10 Best Cities for New Grads to Launch Their Careers
Irving tops the list, thanks to its first place ranking in professional opportunities, and a strong quality of life score. Located in the Dallas-Fort Worth metro area, Irving has easy access to the Metroplex but a slightly lower cost of living.
Flickr/Jaredten
Another North Texas City, Grand Prairie also has access to all the employment opportunities of the metro area while offering residents small town amenities like farmers markets and a main street. Millennials will find plenty to keep them busy socially, too, from concerts at the Verizon Theater to horse races at Lone Star Park.
Flcikr/Nicholas Henderson
Austin ranks 11th for professional opportunities but moves up to third overall thanks to its top-ranking on quality of life. Young workers can take advantage of all the cultural amenities offered in the “Live Music Capital of the World.”
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The Mile High City has one of the most educated populations in the country and offers relatively high wages to new grads. It holds plenty of job opportunities for those working in aviation, broadcasting/telecommunications, energy or health care.
Flickr/Kathy McCray
The energy industry in Texas’ largest city has contributed to the city’s booming job growth in recent years with lots of new jobs in oil and gas extraction and engineering. The city has a booming nightlife and dozens of spring and summer festivals during the day.
Flickr/Norm Lanier
Located on the Southern Coast of Texas, Corpus Christi offers residents lots of employment opportunities and a chance to live by the beach. There’s plenty of nightlife and other social activities throughout the city’s Sports, Entertainment and Arts district.
Flickr/Terry Ross
Located in the San Francisco metro area, Fremont gives its 220,000 residents easy access to Bay Area employment. The city was recognized earlier this year as being the third best in the country for women in tech.
Wikimedia Commons
Like the other Texas cities on this list, Fort Worth has a booming economy and plenty for young residents to do socially. Its Sundance Square offers a bevy of shopping and dining opportunities for locals.
Flickr/Ron Cole
The largest city in South Dakota may not have the moderate climate found in most of the cities atop this list, but it does have the lowest cost of living, which means young graduates’ starting salaries go even further. Residents here make the most of the summer, with live music, sporting events and lots of outdoor recreation.
Flickr/zman_z78
A surprising hot spot for entrepreneurs, Tulsa gives small businesses plenty of support with pro-business policies and low startup costs. The city has a highly educated workforce and workers tend to work fewer hours than in other big cities.
Flickr/Daniel Jeffries