University of Iowa

Founded in 1847 as one of the first public universities west of the Mississippi, Iowa carries a legacy of accessible education that predates Iowa's statehood, evolving from a modest campus on the Iowa River into a Big Ten powerhouse with 30,000 students. You'll thrive here if you're pragmatic and creative—perhaps a budding writer drawn to the famed Iowa Writers' Workshop or a future nurse eyeing the top-ranked program—embracing a personality that's intellectually curious yet unpretentious, blending small-town charm with spirited athletics. Iowa City, a compact UNESCO City of Literature packed with indie bookstores and the pedestrian-only Pedestrian Mall, wraps around campus like a cozy quilt, but tradeoffs hit hard: brutal winters bury the bike paths under snow, and the small-city vibe means no big-league urban energy for those craving constant hustle.