Boulder ranked as one of America's most dangerous college towns

A study by Lesson Maker Pro has identified Boulder, Colorado, as one of the most dangerous college towns in the United States. The research evaluated 174 college towns using seven safety metrics, including hate crimes, robberies, aggravated assaults, and Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) violations.

Data sourced from the U.S. Department of Education’s Campus Safety and Security Database revealed that Shreveport, Louisiana, home to the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, was ranked as the most dangerous. Boulder followed as the runner-up, specifically noting that the University of Colorado, Boulder, recorded the second-highest number of rapes nationwide in 2024 with 96 reported incidents.

Additionally, a 2024 survey indicated that nearly one-in-five women at CU-Boulder reported experiencing sexual assault since arriving on campus, an increase from 15% in 2021. In contrast, the study identified Gainesville, Florida, as one of the safest college towns.