62 Universities Located in America's Most Underrated Cities

21. Wake Forest University (Winston-Salem, NC) - Collegiate University Experience

Often mentioned alongside Duke and UNC but located in the smaller city of Winston-Salem, Wake Forest offers a unique "collegiate university" model blending the personal attention of a liberal arts college with the resources of a major research institution. Renowned for its undergraduate business school, pre-med track, law school, and strong liberal arts programs, Wake Forest emphasizes close faculty-student interaction and intellectual curiosity. Winston-Salem provides a rich arts and culture scene rooted in its history, offering a distinct environment from the larger Research Triangle cities.