62 Universities Located in America's Most Underrated Cities

30. Reed College (Portland, OR): Fierce Intellect, Unique Culture

Located in vibrant Portland, Oregon, Reed College is legendary for its intense intellectualism, mandatory senior thesis, and unique counter-culture spirit. This elite liberal arts college emphasizes learning for its own sake through conference-style classes and rigorous academic demands. While Portland is a major city, Reed maintains a distinct, self-contained intellectual community focused on deep scholarship and critical inquiry across humanities, social sciences, and sciences. It attracts fiercely independent thinkers seeking one of America's most demanding and rewarding undergraduate educations.