22 'Party Schools' That Also Offer Surprisingly Elite Academics

15. University of Iowa: Writers, Hawkeyes and Happy Hours

Yes, Iowa City has dive bars and game-day traditions—but it also birthed the Iowa Writers' Workshop, the most prestigious MFA program in the country. The university is a beacon for literature, medicine, and law, with elite programs in health sciences and creative writing. With a rich arts scene, strong public health research, and major funding for neuroscience and psychological studies, the University of Iowa proves that creativity, rigor, and revelry can all thrive under the same skyline.