Crossword Genius

Top university city worried when river's rising (3,5)

Ross

I believe the answer is:

new haven

I'm a little stuck... Click here to teach me more about this clue!

'top university city' is the definition.
'New Haven' can be an answer for 'city' (New Haven is an example). I am unsure of the 'top university' bit.

'worried when river's rising' is the wordplay.
I cannot quite see how this works, but
an anagram of 'when' is 'newh' which is within the answer.
This may be the basis of clue (or it may be nonsense).

Can you help me to learn more?

(Other definitions for new haven that I've seen before include "Ferry port" , "Location of US university" , "English port" , "Port in East Sussex" , "E. Sussex port" .)

I've seen this clue in The Independent.
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