South Dakota

South Dakota is not only home to a number of respectable colleges and universities, it's home to some natural and man-made wonders. While most everyone knows about the Mount Rushmore National Memorial -- featuring the likenesses of George Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Teddy Roosevelt, and Thomas Jefferson -- South Dakota also boasts the Jewel Cave National Monument, the Minuteman Missile National Historic Site, and the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail.

Students who choose a South Dakota college or university will also find themselves near such cities as Sioux Falls, Rapid City, and Aberdeen - the three most populated cities in the state. Sioux Falls is home to the Washington Pavilion of Arts and Science, the Sioux Falls Jazz and Blues Festival, and the LifeLight Festival, the biggest free festival devoted to Christian music in the nation. Rapid City, meanwhile, boasts the Journey Museum, the School of Mines Geological Museum, and the Dahl Arts Center.