According to BadCredit.org, Auburn ranks fifth in the most affordable college towns to watch March Madness. Recently accepting the bid to join the National Invitation Tournament (NIT) tournament, Auburn is expected to host schools in Neville Arena in the coming weeks, and this ranking shows students they can enjoy Auburn basketball to its fullest, all without breaking the bank.
BadCredit.org is a website focusing on helping users build credit and make good financial decisions. The staff recently published an article titled “Most Affordable College Towns to Watch March Madness in 2026,” in which Auburn ranked fifth against college towns such as Purdue’s West Lafayette and Virginia Tech's Blacksburg.
This ranking were judged on 19 categories in a 100-point scoring system. The categories were based on what BadCredit.org determines are the most important factors in making basketball viewership affordable. These include cost of living, housing affordability, transportation costs, local entertainment, job market strength and college student presence, as well as minor factors branching off each major category. Some of these minor factors were double-weighted, such as domestic beer and the number of bars per 10,000 people.
When asked about the reason for this double-weighted system, Bobbi Rebbel, consumer finance expert at BadCredit.org, said, “Well, I think it's a reflection of the college age students. What's their priority? What's the more important thing in terms of the heart of the celebration?”
Barhopping and drinking are ingrained into many traditions surrounding Auburn basketball, but the cost of these experiences shouldn’t worry those interested in partaking. Thankfully, Auburn’s sports bars have specials that draw in students and visitors.
Cole Graney, junior in finance, mentioned Southeastern Bar when asked about which locations have the best deals.
“I’d say South, overall, probably has the best specials,” Graney said. “On Fridays, they have 99-cent Busch Lights, which is pretty affordable for college students.”
For those who would not call the bars their scene, other places across Auburn offer affordable viewing experiences. Anabel Dillingham, graduate student in hospitality management, mentioned Hey Day and the Green Space as a personal favorites for a non-bar options.
“I usually just try to stay home, unless Hey Day isn’t super busy, then I like to go to the Green Space,” Dillingham said. “I love the vibes, it's really fun, but there's a lot of families, so it makes it harder to actually sit and watch the game.”
These reasonable ways to go out and celebrate contribute towards Auburn’s ranking, but they aren’t the only reasons the town made it on the list. Despite Auburn’s cost of living being one of the highest on the list, its economic standing allows for more money to be spent on things like basketball. The walkability of campus and Tiger Transit, Auburn University's free transit system for students, also contributed greatly to its score.
It can be hard to go to a bar or a fast food restaurant when basic entertainment and transportation is expensive, so this, Rebel believes, is why affordability is so vital.
“I know that if you’re stressed out about money and feeling like ‘This was not in the budget’ or ‘I’m secretly in debt,’ you are not enjoying the event,” Rebel said. “If you know that it's totally affordable, and you’re able to participate and fully immerse yourself, you’re gonna have a better time.”
Auburn offers many ways to engage in its basketball programs on a budget. In fact, the easiest way is by attending the games as entry is free for all Auburn University students. Even if students want to participate in Auburn men's basketball tradition of camping out but don’t have the money to buy camping supplies, Auburn Outdoors offers free rentals.
Affordability means that Auburn students can better interact with each other, breaching the divide that can emerge between budgets and celebration without inhibition.
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Emily Edgy, a freshman majoring in social science and history education, is from Centreville, Alabama. She has been with The Auburn Plainsman since the spring of 2026.
