College graduates staying in Dallas are in the right place, according to a new WalletHub study. Dallas has made the top-15 on a new list of the best places in America for starting a career.

Dallas ranked 12th out of 182 U.S. cities based on its quality of life and vast opportunities for new college graduates transitioning into the workforce. The study compared each city based on 25 relevant metrics, like the availability of entry-level jobs, each city's annual job growth rate, workforce diversity, median annual income, housing affordability, and others.

Atlanta, Orlando, and Austin respectively comprised the top three best places to start a career.

Dallas ranked No. 11 nationwide for its professional opportunities for new college graduates, and appeared 69th overall for its quality of life. Whether its starting a new business or entering a high-earning job field, Dallas has many more opportunities than the vast majority of other cities on the list.

"The best cities for starting a career not only have a lot of job opportunities but also provide substantial income growth potential and satisfying work conditions," said WalletHub analyst Chip Lupo. "It’s also important to consider factors such as how fun a city is to live in or how good of a place it is for raising a family, to ensure life satisfaction outside of your career."

Three more North Texas cities made it into the top 100 best U.S. cities for early career professionals include Plano (No. 32), Irving (No. 42), and Fort Worth (No. 64).

Other Texas hotspots for early career professionals
Austin boasts the best quality of life out of all 182 cities in the report, and the 10th best professional opportunities. The state capital also outperformed all other U.S. cities with the highest monthly average starting salaries for early career workers after being adjusted for the city's cost of living. Austin also offers the 15th highest number of entry level jobs per capita, the report said.

"In addition, Austin’s median annual household income is the 10th-highest in the nation, providing strong earning potential for those starting a career or a business," the report said. "Austin is also the sixth best city for singles, offering a vibrant social scene alongside strong career opportunities for young professionals."

Elsewhere in Texas, Houston ranked 51st on the list, Amarillo ranked 73rd, and San Antonio was No. 85.

The top 10 best cities for starting a career are:

• No. 1 – Atlanta, Georgia
• No. 2 – Orlando, Florida
• No. 3 – Austin, Texas
• No. 4 – Tampa, Florida
• No. 5 – Miami, Florida
• No. 6 – Charleston, South Carolina
• No. 7 – Pittsburgh
• No. 8 – Knoxville, Tennessee
• No. 9 – Salt Lake City, Utah
• No. 10 – Columbia, South Carolina