Low end bike with high end lock then park next to high end bikes with low end locks. Absolutely guaranteed that your bike will still be there when you get back. It may be lonely, but it will be there. Thieves are lazy opportunists, they want to get the most for the least amount of work. My daughter is going to college next fall and she has already got an old Columbia outfitted with entry level parts ready to go. Brand names were removed from parts wherever possible making them look no-name. Safe and adequate commuter but nothing more. Mediocre cable and mediocre padlock. Locked up well enough to prevent a walk off and unattractive enough not to draw the attention of a serious thief. If it does get stolen, not a disaster as I can put together another just like it for under $100 and spare parts from my shop. Her good bike will be locked up elsewhere.

If you have a Kestrel or Madone, you better chain it to the ankle of a 6'4" State Trooper if you are going to leave it unattended on a college campus.