22 'Party Schools' That Also Offer Surprisingly Elite Academics

18. University of Arizona (UA): Wildcat Nights and Space Race Credentials

Tucson’s dry desert air doesn’t stop UA from keeping the energy high—especially on basketball nights. But this party-loving school is also a serious space research leader. It runs major NASA-funded projects, including Mars missions, and its astronomy, optics, and planetary sciences programs are globally respected. Combine that with a standout College of Pharmacy and respected Eller College of Management, and you get a university where social buzz meets cosmic ambition.