Top 50 College Towns You'll Want To Live In From Sea To Shining Sea

By

Lisette Marie

February 18, 2026

32. Morgantown, West Virginia: Appalachian Energy near Pittsburgh's Renaissance

A view of Downtown Morgantown, WV as seen from the Western bank of the Monongahela River. Photo Credit: Wikimedia Commons @Jae120163

Morgantown, home to West Virginia University, is a spirited mountain town where Appalachian grit meets Big 12 passion. Perched along the Monongahela River and surrounded by rolling hills, it offers stunning natural beauty and some of the best whitewater rafting in the East. The town's revitalized downtown, strong engineering and health sciences programs, and fiercely loyal community create an immersive college experience. Just 75 minutes north lies Pittsburgh, one of America's greatest comeback stories—a former steel giant transformed into a tech and healthcare powerhouse with world-class museums, a thriving food scene, and major career opportunities in robotics, medicine, and innovation. This pairing offers the best of Appalachian spirit and rust-belt reinvention: authentic college town energy with direct access to a city that's redefining what the future looks like.

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