most colleges are built too close to the wrong side of the tracks. Hopkins, Syracuse, Yale, Everything in Philly, NU etc etc
These schools were founded in areas that were outside the cities. Urbanization and then the decline of urban areas surrounded these schools. Some urban areas are getting better but many are not. I've been to the schools you mentioned; in my opinion John Hopkins is the least desirable followed by your Philly reference (with Temple topping the list; Villanova, outside the city, is a beautiful campus and surrounding area).
