The Most Underrated College Towns Across America, From A to Z

54. Mount Vernon, Iowa: Tiny Town, Towering Talent

Cornell College makes its home in Mount Vernon—a tiny town with a surprisingly outsized cultural punch. With one hilltop campus, one stoplight, and dozens of artists, Mount Vernon flips small-town expectations on their head. The college's one-course-at-a-time curriculum attracts curious minds, while the community rallies around theater productions, gallery nights, and historic preservation efforts. Local shops and eateries line the charming Main Street, often doubling as live music venues or student showcases. This is the kind of town where professors know your name, neighbors join in your research project, and brilliance feels downright neighborly.