Lincoln, NE, United States

While Lincoln boasts a thriving university, the tax burden is heavy and the bureaucracy a persistent headache. With 19,552 undergraduate and 4,879 graduate students, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln is a behemoth, yet the state's reliance on agriculture means the economy can be volatile. And though the school has avoided the violent student protests seen elsewhere, the campus still grapples with the legacy of the Vietnam War. Overall, Lincoln offers a stable, Midwestern college town experience, but one that may prove a poor fit for those seeking an urban oasis or carefree campus life.