It’s Z ya later to NYC!

Times Square’s twinkle and the bright lights of Broadway may fascinate googly-eyed Gen Zers. But it’s an allure most whippersnappers — namely, recent college graduates — simply can’t afford, owing to the sky-high cost of Big Apple living.

So, rather than letting the 20-somethings go for broke in the boroughs, experts ranked the top 10 best major US cities for new grads in an April 2026 analysis .

New York City is not one of the best major cities for recent college graduates, according to startling new data. nathsegato – stock.adobe.com

And, unfortunately, luxe locales like New York City and Los Angeles — hotspots that folks are fleeing , en masse, due to priciness — failed to make the grade.

“Washington, D.C. ranks as the best big city in the U.S.…