Bakersfield, CA, United States

Living in Bakersfield, California is no walk in the park. The city's public university, California State University, Bakersfield, boasts over 11,000 students, but don't let that fool you - this is primarily a commuter campus serving the region. With a mere 5% of students living on-campus, bureaucracy is a persistent headache for those navigating housing and services.

The university does have its upsides, however. It's a designated Hispanic-serving institution and has produced over 59,000 alumni, including politicians like former House Speaker Kevin McCarthy. CSU Bakersfield also punches above its weight, ranking 25th among public universities in the Western U.S. and 9th for "Best Bang for the Buck."

Still, the reality is that Bakersfield is an isolated city in the San Joaquin Valley, far from the glitz of coastal California. If you can stomach the climate and don't mind a healthy dose of red tape, CSU Bakersfield may be the right fit. But for many, this is a tough sell.