May 13, 2015 11:13 AM EDT By Russell Westerholm, UniversityHerald Reporter

It should come as little surprise that a number of the American Institute for Economic Research's (AIER) best cities for college graduates are traditionally considered college towns.

For example, big cities like Boston and New York City took up four spots in the top 10, whereas small cities occupied the other six spots, including the top three. Even in the cases of NYC, Boston, D.C. and San Francisco, those cities have some of the most prestigious schools in the nation.

Arguably the most important of AIER's factors is average salary for residents with at least a bachelor's degree aged 22-35. Other factors include racial diversity and employment rates.

"A growing technology corridor has improved economic opportunity in Iowa City, and low rents, more restaurants and bars, as well as a diverse population, also attract young people," Rosalind Greenstein, AIER's director of research and education, told the Huffington Post.

Here are the top 10 cities for college graduates to live in for the year 2015.

1.     Iowa City, Iowa

Type of metro: smallest

Major school(s): University of Iowa

2.     Ithaca, N.Y.

Type of metro: smallest

Major school(s): Cornell University

3.     Ann Arbor, Mich.

Type of metro: small

Major school(s): University of Michigan

4.     Washington, D.C.

Type of metro: major

Major school(s): American University, Georgetown University, Howard University

5.     San Francisco, Calif.

Type of metro: major

Major school(s): San Francisco State University, University of California, San Francisco, University of San Francisco

6.     New York City, N.Y.

Type of metro: Major

Major school(s): New York University, Columbia University, St. John's University

7.     Lawrence, Kansas

Type of metro: smallest

Major school(s): University of Kansas

8.     Boston, Mass.

Type of metro: major

Major school(s): Boston College, Boston University, Harvard

9.     Champaign-Urbana, Ill.

Type of metro: smallest

Major school(s): University of Illinois

10.  Bloomington, Ind.

Type of metro: smallest

Major school(s): Indiana University

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