62 Universities Located in America's Most Underrated Cities

18. University of Dayton (Dayton, OH) - Engineering Research and Catholic Tradition

The University of Dayton, a top-tier Catholic research university in Ohio, is noted for its strengths in engineering (especially aerospace, mechanical, and electro-optics via its Research Institute), business, and education. Rooted in the Marianist tradition, UD emphasizes community, practical wisdom, and service learning. Dayton, a city with a rich history in aviation and innovation undergoing economic diversification, offers students strong co-op and research connections with local industries and Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, providing robust experiential learning opportunities often missed by those focused elsewhere.