8 reasons East Lansing is the best college town in the Midwest 

Thanks to world-class entertainment, arts, parks and more, it should come as no surprise to Spartans everywhere that East Lansing was recently ranked the top college town in the Midwest.

Thanks to a combination of “affordability, cultural opportunities and a young, diverse population,” RentCafe ranked East Lansing as the top spot in the region for students “seeking a balanced lifestyle and good professional opportunities.” Nationally, Michigan State University’s hometown earned the No. 6 ranking.

From a premier theater that brings in the best acts to public gardens and opportunities for recreation at every turn, here are a few of the reasons why East Lansing is the best college town in the Midwest.

Big Ten sports in big time venues

Tom Izzo is synonymous with East Lansing, and so is elite basketball. The Breslin Student Events Center hosts events for the women’s basketball and volleyball teams along with the two-time national championship men’s basketball team — plus, it hosts fairs, concerts and graduation ceremonies for MSU and area high schools.

If you’re looking for more than basketball and volleyball, Munn Ice Arena is the perfect spot to catch a hockey game, and gyms and fields around campus host MSU’s 23 varsity athletics programs.

Don’t forget to join a tailgate around Spartan Stadium to achieve peak fall fun. And bask in Spartan pride as the Homecoming parade winds its way through East Lansing and campus.

Awe-inspiring art is everywhere

At the corner of Grand River Avenue — the road that connects East Lansing and MSU — and Farm Lane, the MSU Broad Art Museum awes passersby with its stunning angles and steel facade. Inside, the rotating cast of exhibits, including the interactive permanent collection known as The Core, connects people with art through experiences that inspire curiosity.

South of the Broad in the heart of campus, the MSU Museum, which became Michigan’s first Smithsonian Affiliate in 2001, serves the community by creating experiences at the nexus of the arts, sciences, culture and technology. Currently undergoing an 18-month renovation, the MSU Museum is expected to reopen in January 2026.

You don’t have to step foot in a museum to see great art, though. East Lansing has murals across town showcasing inspiring figures from MSU including Barbara Ross-Lee from the class of 1973, who was the first African American woman to serve as dean of a U.S. medical school. There are also art galleries and sculptures in town and around campus that connect art and nature.

Fitness and recreation at every turn

MSU has one of the largest intramural sports programs in the nation across the multiple gymnasiums, fitness centers and fields scattered across campus and East Lansing. And currently under construction is a 293,000-square-foot recreation center that will include several gymnasiums, an indoor running track, strength and fitness studios, a climbing wall, a pool and more.

One of the biggest and greenest campuses in the nation, MSU is home to over 12 miles of pathways and trails on campus, and many of them extend throughout East Lansing and into surrounding towns. The Lansing River Trail hugs the Red Cedar River through campus and connects cyclists, walkers, runners and more to scenic views as well as other off-campus picturesque parts of mid-Michigan.

Adventure awaits in East Lansing’s many natural areas

Operating since 1873, the W.J. Beal Botanical Garden is the oldest, continuously operated university botanical garden in the U.S. The garden hosts events throughout the year, including walking tours and wellness programs in partnership with University Health and Wellbeing.

There are many more green spaces in and around campus and East Lansing, too, with over 700 acres of natural areas distributed across MSU. From the Michigan 4-H Children’s Gardens to the MSU Horticulture Gardens, these special spaces demonstrate how plants play a meaningful role in our daily lives. Additionally, the Baker Woodlot, which encircles the Rachana Rajendra Neotropical Migrant Bird Sanctuary, is an old growth forest covering 78 acres on the south side of campus.

Valley Court Park is a stone’s throw from campus and hosts the East Lansing Farmer’s Market on weekends while the nearby Patriarche Park is home to fields, pickleball courts, trails, and playgrounds.

Food for every palate

Eating on campus? Local, organic and sustainable food options prepared by experienced chefs are available at the dining halls and markets that are easily accessible to students and the public throughout MSU.

The MSU Dairy Store offers the best ice cream in town and was just honored as the Grand Champion at the American Dairy Science Association’s 2025 Ice Cream Competition.

East Lansing brings foodies countless delicious dining options as well, serving up a wide variety of international cuisines, including Indian, Asian, African, Latin American and Mediterranean.

The biggest and best acts

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast,” “The Wiz” and “Back to the Future: The Musical” are all scheduled to wow audiences at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts on campus — and that’s only over the next few months. The performing arts center has hosted multiple hit shows, from “Les Misérables” to “Hamilton.” It also has hosted other notable events, like a 1992 presidential debate and the recent tribute concert to commemorate MSU icons Clifton and Dolores Wharton.

The Wharton Center is one of many spaces for performance on campus. Each June, Summer Circle Theatre offers free entertaining and family-friendly productions performed and produced by student actors, designers, scene shop workers and stage managers in the Department of Theatre. The MSU Auditorium hosts shows and concerts featuring visiting artists as well as performers from across campus, including the College of Music.

Exciting events to pack your calendar

The MSU and East Lansing community have something to look forward to during every season. The East Lansing Art Festival has brought local and national artists to the city for more than six decades. Winter Fest — usually held in December — is a celebration of all things winter, featuring indoor and outdoor activities, a winter farmers and craft market, ice carving and more. The Great Pumpkin Walk welcomes children from the surrounding area, who roam around in costumes for trick-or-treating. The Summer Solstice Jazz Festival will enter its 30th year in 2026, bringing musicians and events to round out East Lansing’s seasonal festival offerings.

From the Izzo 5K and other fun runs that take place through East Lansing and campus to the Summer Concert Series taking place at the Ann Street Plaza, there are a wide variety of events to choose from for some fun.

Capital attractions

Just west of East Lansing is the capital of Michigan, and Lansing is the perfect neighbor. With museums, bike paths, cultural spaces and more, it is an extension of all that East Lansing has to offer, giving the MSU community even more to explore.

The 146-year-old capitol building in Lansing is an architectural feat, and the building and nearby offices are home to many alums who work in state government to make Michigan a better place. The Grand River (and accompanying river trail that connects to campus) cuts through the city and is the perfect spot to kayak. The Potter Park Zoo is terrific for all ages, and the Lansing Center hosts conventions and other exciting events throughout the year.

And the list doesn't end here — East Lansing has plenty more waiting to be explored. As the top college town in the Midwest, it’s the perfect place for MSU to call home.

Want even more reasons? See why MSU students believe East Lansing is the best college town in the Midwest.