14. University of California, Berkeley

The Mojave Desert, the Sierra Nevada Mountains, and the terrain include cliff-lined beaches— California sure has it all, don’t you think? And to seal the deal, the Western state also has one of the best universities in the country: the University of California, in Berkeley!

Already known to be politically relevant and active, the college grounds are wandered by driven, hardworking, and dedicated students. So if you want to ace your classes and change the world, this uni is for you! Even vaulting star Allison Stokke’s alma matter is Berkley campus. Well, we wouldn’t want to miss out on an opportunity to study where Allison did, would you?