It's all subjective. I have not been to Piscataway, or College park. I live in Lincoln and have been to all others many, many, many times. I'd rate em this way.
1. Madison - cosmopolitan, hip vibe, similar to Lincoln except campus and Dtown are surrounded by two lakes that are massive by Nebraska standards...with clear water. Let that sink in. Good cultural scene, very active, winter doesn't shut them in....great beer.
2t. Bloomington, Iowa City, Ann Arbor - scenic with trees, natural water ways, pedestrian areas, compact, with very urban influences, and active music scene....(sorry to the poster that tried to prop the Zoo bar up against those towns). All are located with easy access to very rural, and very urban populations. For instance, Iowa has 50% of their student body from out of state(Chicago - a morning's drive away- the influence permeates), and each have have a hip, fit and active lifestyle . Cultural scene is stronger than the town I live in...wish it wasn't.
5. State College- similar to teh ones tied for two, but way, way to remote. Feels smaller....beautiful part of the country... quaint(they should maybe be lower)
6t. Northwestern and Minnesota - great campuses, parts of two of America's greatest cities. Slight edge to NW.
8t. East Lansing and Columbus - beautiful campuses, very urban vibe which is somewhat of a detractor for me
10. Lincoln - many of the same characteristics of Madison, E Lansing, Columbus, just not as picturesque of a campus, no stunning lakes or densely wooded surroundings, more remote. Frontier and more western and agrarian personality - not a bad thing IMO. Beyond that, the biggest knock, and I reiterate, it's a place I love living...food options are too chain and sports bar oriented, improving, but a far cry from those above it on the list. One can do a bit more than nitpicking on the cultural and outdoor recreation scene...so I don't argue the 'all we have to do is Big Red sports' claim. I 'm not a connoisseur of art, literature, non-chain book stores, non-chain shopping, etc, but they add to a community. School spirit and love of the sports teams....Lincoln rockets to the top in this. Personally I value this....objectively, it's just a piece of most other B1G towns. Haymarket and silicon prairie is changing the game.
11t (very very distant trailers) Champaign and West Lafayette - baron, non-descript and the odd step child for charm, style, aesthetics, personality, etc.
2-10, reshuffle and there shouldn't be too much argument.