Chilliwack has been ranked just outside the top 10 in a ranking of 94 university towns across Canada.
While Chilliwack came in at 11th on the list, neighbouring Abbotsford took the seventh spot.
The rankings were put together by an online learning platform called Preply, and looked at 94 cities across the country. The ranking was based on three categories: wallet friendliness, social environment, and economic opportunity.
Regina placed first, Prince George ranked fourth, and Squamish ranked in last place.
Preply said they looked at things like affordability for rent, fitness clubs, or just to have a beer. They also looked at salaries for graduates and unemployment rates.
In total, they considered 18 different variables of cities with university students. Each town has a total score using data points, with the best score being 100, representing the quality of the university town for students to live and work after graduation.
“Chilliwack’s incredible natural environment appeals to students, but a closer look reveals more than amazing outdoor recreation possibilities,” according to University of the Fraser Valley (UFV) vice-president external Craig Toews. “The city offers a revitalized downtown area with plenty of social activity, expanding housing options, and employment opportunities in agriculture and other robust industries. Chilliwack also has a thriving community of innovative entrepreneurs and creatives. Students coming to UFV have quickly discovered Chilliwack provides a rich, diverse, and economically vibrant environment – one that provides many career paths after graduation.”
Regina ranked top of the list, where a one-bedroom apartment runs for about $1,016, and you can enjoy a beer for $6. For those looking to start work after graduation, the employment rate is high at 66.30 per cent and the average monthly salary is $3,734. It ranked highest of all towns for economic opportunities.
Squamish earned just 32.2 out of 100, and with a score of under 40 for social, affordability, and economic opportunity.
Although great for mountain biking and hiking, it isn’t the most affordable place to live and offers little opportunity. Rent is exceptionally high for a one-bedroom apartment at $1,724 and a beer at $7.25 ($1.25 more than Regina). Earning potential is also relatively low, with the average monthly salary after tax at $2,461.
“If you’re looking for the best cities to study in Canada, then the top 10 schools in our ranking are a great place to start,” said
Amy Pritchett, Student Success Manager of Preply. “In addition to the school tour, take a walk around the campus’s city. Sometimes students and parents become so focused on the school and its campus that they don’t take the time to explore the nearby town during a visit.”
To view ‘Canada’s 10 Best & Worst University Towns’, visit Preply.
READ MORE: Abbotsford ranks in top ten list of Canadian university towns
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