University of Minnesota, Morris

Awesome school, great instructors, and if you make it through to graduation you'll have a great education.

UMM offers everything you'd want from a small, private liberal arts college, but because it's a public school it costs considerably less. I studied music here, and I couldn't recommend this department highly enough--particularly if you're interested in piano (incredible instructors) or composition (lots of enthusiasm for student works). The campus itself is beautiful, the student community is intimate and fun, and the professors are super accessible. I'd give the place six stars if I could.