The top 15 cities for American college students

If you're a prospective college student looking for a great city to spend the next four years, look no further than San Francisco.

"The city by the bay" - with its prime access to some of the country's best bars and restaurants, its diverse population, and its wealth of cultural activities - is the top major metropolitan area for college students, according to a new ranking from American Institute for Economic Research (AIER).

The rankings are calculated using 11 criteria that included economic vitality, availability of entertainment, and rent. AIER defines major metropolitan cities as having over 2.5 million residents.

Scroll through to find out the 15 best major cities for college students.