A February 2020 article from Business Insider ranked College Station's economy as the
11th fastest-growing in the nation. The city has also been named America's
No. 1 college town and was a
finalist for the nation's friendliest. With a population of almost 125,000, it is the largest city in the metropolitan area and boasts one of the 10 lowest property tax rates in the state.
College Station is home to Texas A&M University, one of the country's largest public universities. The Aggies are members of the mighty Southeastern Conference, which makes high-level college sports a major attraction. A&M's international influence supplies a healthy diversity of race, culture, and nationality that reflects much of the vibrancy, tradition, and spirit that make the community a special and unique place.
Texas A&M is a top research university with several nationally acclaimed academic programs — No. 11 for business management, No. 15 for undergraduate engineering, No. 11 for aerospace engineering, No. 5 for biological/agricultural engineering, No. 10 for civil engineering, No. 12 for industrial/manufacturing engineering, and No. 1 in petroleum engineering. As a result, our community has one of the nation's most reliable professional workforces.
College Station is located in the heart of central Texas within a three-hour drive of five of the nation's 20 largest cities. A network of well-maintained highways and a regional airport served by major airlines provide convenient access from just about anywhere. College Station is the only city in the country with nationally accredited departments in parks, public works, water, fire, police and public safety telecommunications. In 2020, it was ranked as the best-performing small metro in Texas and No. 16 in the country.
Resources for high-quality living
Education is a significant focus in College Station. The College Station Independent School District has received many state and national awards, including more than 100 national merit semifinalists in the last decade. Niche.com ranks our public schools as the 15th-best in the country.
The George Bush Presidential Library and Museum is one of the region's most popular tourist attractions with more than 125,000 annual visitors. For many years, former President George H. W. Bush and first lady Barbara made College Station their second home. They are buried next to each other on the library grounds.
College Station's 61 public parks cover almost 1,400 acres. Many provide amenities such as tennis and basketball courts, swimming pools, splash pads, hiking trails, dog parks, playgrounds, picnic pavilions, walking/jogging, and nature trails, along with a competition-quality skate park and a large outdoor amphitheater and festival site. The city offers a variety of adult and youth recreational programs such as softball, basketball, volleyball and kickball leagues, summer swim lessons, and a competitive swim team, just to name a few.
Promising business climate
College Station ranks No. 2 nationally on Forbes' list of the Best Small Places for Business and Careers. The city has worked closely with Texas A&M and the City of Bryan to develop the Research Valley and BioCorridor, which continues to attract high-tech businesses from around the world. Meanwhile, Texas A&M has produced more Top 10 Fortune 500 CEO's than any other university.
Small businesses here grow and expand because our community consistently provides a highly educated workforce, with a work ethic driven by Texas principles. FUJIFILM Diosynth Biotechnologies recently announced the expansion of its gene therapy facility in College Station, and Frogslayer, one of the nation's top software companies, consistently ranks as one of the best places to work in Texas.
K2Share, a renowned cybersecurity firm, was ranked first in the same award cycle. Accomplished companies such as Safe2Save, EcoZapp, and Lone-Star Roofing also call College Station home. Nift, a Boston-based company, came to College Station to expand, citing our educated workforce as a significant driver.