Pueblo, CO, United States

Pueblo, Colorado is not exactly a thriving metropolis. The city of 112,000 residents sits in the shadow of the Rockies, struggling to recover from the devastation of past economic downturns. Colorado State University Pueblo, the region's largest institution, was originally founded in 1933 as a junior college to provide educational opportunities during the Great Depression. While the school has since grown into a comprehensive university, the bureaucracy and politics surrounding its many name changes over the decades is a persistent headache.

The campus architecture, described as "Modern Aztec", has earned national design awards, but the overall atmosphere feels stuck in the 1960s. Drought and dust storms continue to plague the region, a harsh reminder of the challenging climate. Still, the university does boast a passionate sports culture, with the ThunderWolves football team winning a Division II national championship in 2014.

For those seeking an affordable, no-frills college experience in a sleepy, weather-worn city, Pueblo and its state university may fit the bill. But this place is no thriving, vibrant college town.