The University of Iowa offers top-notch academic programming in more than 100 areas. Students looking to hone their leadership skills have many options, too: They can enroll in the LeaderShape Institute, a six-day getaway workshop; or participate in one of the many programs offered through the Center for Student Involvement & Leadership, including arts and entertainment, and multicultural programs. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, but about 95 percent choose to do so. Campus life may pose a challenge to tobacco users, as Iowa is a smoke-free campus. Students have more than 500 clubs and organizations from which to choose, and close to 10 percent of students go Greek as members of the school's more than 50 fraternities and sororities. Sports are another big focus of campus life; even in the competitive NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, the Iowa Hawkeyes are notorious players. Four blocks from campus is Iowa City, a Midwestern metropolis that has been recognized among the nations best for its scenery, greenery and sustainable energy efforts.The University of Iowa has many well-ranked graduate programs, including degrees offered through its College of Law, Roy J. and Lucille A. Carver College of Medicine, Henry B. Tippie School of Management and College of Education. The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics is a very highly ranked facility as well. Famous Iowa alumni include George Gallup, founder of the public opinion Gallup Poll; George Nissen, inventor of the trampoline; and Diablo Cody, screenwriter of "Juno" and "Jennifers Body." Actor Ashton Kutcher was briefly a Hawkeye who studied biomedical engineering before a modeling agent spotted him.

The University of San Diego is a Roman Catholic institution open to students of all faiths. The school overlooks Mission Bay, and downtown San Diego is about a 15-minute trip away. On campus, there are more than 100 student organizations, including more than 10 fraternities and sororities. Most of the San Diego Torero sports teams are members of the NCAA Division I West Coast Conference; the football team competes in the NCAA Division I-AA Pioneer League. Athletic teams are cheered on by the school's mascot, a costumed bullfighter named Diego Torero. The University Ministry coordinates retreats and immersion trips and hosts daily Mass services, including a special Mass for Peace on Wednesday nights.After class, students can relax at nearby beaches, like La Jolla and Pacific Beach, or explore Balboa Park, the biggest urban cultural park in the country, which is home to 15 museums, the San Diego Zoo and the Old Globe Theatre. Opportunities to kayak, sail, wind surf and more are nearby. Students can join group excursions, led by the schools Outdoor Adventures program, or rent kayaks, surfboards and snorkel equipment on campus for trips on their own. Freshmen must live on campus, and for students around on the weekends, the school hosts a Friday Night Movies series.The University of San Diego has a variety of graduate programs, including a Tier 1 School of Law and an accredited paralegal program. Some enrichment programs are specific to the school's religious foundation, like the Center for Christian Spirituality and the Oscar Romero Center for Faith in Action. Notable alumni include Lowell McAdam, chairman and CEO of Verizon Communications; Theo Epstein, president of baseball operations for the Chicago Cubs; and Andrew Firestone, a former contestant on ABCs "The Bachelor."