22 'Party Schools' That Also Offer Surprisingly Elite Academics

14. University of Georgia (UGA): Southern Tailgates and Research Prowess

Athens, Georgia is one of the South’s great college towns, famous for its live music, Greek life, and tailgate scene. But UGA is far more than just a party destination. It’s a land-grant and sea-grant university with top-tier programs in business (Terry College), public affairs, veterinary science, and journalism (Grady College). UGA is also a research powerhouse, home to the Center for Tropical and Emerging Global Diseases and influential in agricultural and environmental science. Here, students dance at music festivals and publish fieldwork in the same semester.