My wife rides a 2003 Honda Metropolitan 49cc scooter around town (suburb of St Louis).
It's a wonderful machine, but don't ask too much of it. Riding on a street with a speed limit of more than 35 mph carries risk of being run over. Top speed is no more than 35. She rides mostly in subdivisions and side streets to get to work or the gym, but there is always the potential she won't be noticed.
For getting around campus? If your daughter is an alert rider and people are halfway reasonable about driving around campus, you can't beat the Met. It gets a legitimate 100 mpg, it's got all the lights, turn signals a fully equipped motorcycle has, it's easy to maintain, and, according to my wife, it's a cute little thing.
Personally, I have something much, much more powerful, but I'm 225 lb, 6 ft 3, and comical on a scooter. Were I a college student again, I would DEFINITELY have one.
Honda is great, but Yamaha also makes a great scooter with more power that looks good, try them out, too. You pay for style points with Vespa. Personally, I would avoid the cheap Chinese scooters.
There are some good forums out there (scoot.net, urbanscootin.com) for you to check out.
Good luck!
If you want more info, let me know.