University of California, Davis

UC Davis, in the town of Davis in California's Central Valley, is a top public research university known for agriculture, veterinary medicine and the life and environmental sciences, including famous wine-making programs in viticulture and enology. It is also one of the most bike-friendly campuses in the country, with an arboretum and a long-running student-run open house called Picnic Day. Sacramento, San Francisco and Lake Tahoe are all within a few hours. Davis suits students who care about food, sustainability, animals and a laid-back college-town vibe.