Superior, WI, United States

Life in Superior, Wisconsin is a pragmatic affair. The public university enrolls around 2,900 students, offering a range of liberal arts programs. However, bureaucracy is a persistent headache - the school has undergone multiple name changes over the decades as it navigated the state's higher education system. And the long, harsh winters are no joke. Still, the school fields respectable sports teams, and its research centers tackle issues relevant to the Lake Superior region. For those seeking an affordable, public college experience in the Upper Midwest, Superior may be worth a look.