22 'Party Schools' That Also Offer Surprisingly Elite Academics

2. University of California, Santa Barbara (UCSB): Beach Vibes & Nobel Prizes

Sun-soaked beaches, a famously lively Isla Vista student town – UCSB’s party reputation is legendary. Yet, this University of California gem is also a highly-ranked research institution with serious academic chops, particularly in physics (home to multiple Nobel laureates for groundbreaking work), marine biology (thanks to its coastal location), materials science, and engineering. Students balance surfing with study sessions in world-class facilities. UCSB uniquely blends a relaxed, quintessential California coastal lifestyle with access to elite faculty and cutting-edge scientific discovery, often surprising those who only know its party scene.