Terre Haute is an affordable, friendly college town on the Wabash River—home to Indiana State University and Rose‑Hulman—with a compact downtown of museums (like the Swope), live music, local breweries, and parks/trails that make multi‑week assignments feel varied and livable.
For weekend escapes, Bloomington (Indiana University) offers vibrant nightlife and cultural events and Indianapolis brings big‑city dining, pro sports and an international airport—both within roughly a one‑to‑two‑hour drive.