Best U.S. Colleges and Universities

Located on a historic arboretum, Vanderbilt is home to 6,800 undergraduates and over 5,000 graduate students. The school offers students a range of scholastic opportunities, from traditional liberal arts disciplines to a top engineering program. Vanderbilt has produced two U.S. Vice Presidents and seven Nobel Prize laureates.

Students can participate in over 500 campus clubs and organizations and enjoy access to the school's library system. Here, students can find over three million physical volumes and impressive collections of historical documents, art and antiquities. Known as a premier research institution, particularly in comparative literature, education and pharmacology, Vanderbilt is also highly regarded in the fields of law, medicine, and creative writing.

Rice's tree-lined campus rests in Houston's museum district. A premier research institution, Rice also boasts one of the country's lowest student-faculty ratios. Rice values experiential learning, and students are encouraged to pursue independent research opportunities as undergraduates. A dedicated staff advises students, and Rice is rated highly for overall student happiness and quality of life on campus.

New students are admitted through a centralized admissions process and are invited to explore their passions before selecting a major in their second year. Tests are administered without proctors on an honor system, which students must cite on their exams. Rice offers a wealth of courses through its six divisions of study, which include architecture, engineering, humanities, music, natural sciences and social sciences. Most natural science students engage in research during their time as undergraduates.

Columbia lists 29 heads of state, three U.S. Presidents, nine Supreme Court Justices and 101 Nobel Prize laureates among its alumni. The school famously housed the Manhattan Project in the basement of the physics building during WWII and was at the epicenter of the 1968 student movement. Columbia maintains affiliations with Teachers College, the Juilliard School and the nearby Manhattan School of Music and Union Theological Seminary. Located in Manhattan, Columbia's students live in one of the country's most vibrant cultural centers.

Columbia offers dozens of major and minor programs. Students in all disciplines must complete a core curriculum that includes required classes in literature, art and philosophy, in addition to other basic graduate requirements. A highly selective school, only 6.9% of applicants were admitted to Columbia in the last admissions cycle.

A small liberal arts college, Williams is home to just over 2,000 students. The school has undergone significant renovation in the past decade: a new science center, theater and student union building dot the traditional campus. The college offers 36 majors and ensures that all undergraduates have the best academic resources possible as they pursue their passions. Williams also encourages its students to volunteer in the community.

The school is comprised of divisions in the humanities, natural sciences and social sciences. Inspired by traditional small colloquiums at Oxford and Cambridge, Williams offers a "tutorial system," where students meet weekly in small groups to critique each other’s work under the tutelage of a professor. The on-campus Chaplin Library has over 50,000 volumes and includes a collection of notable scientific papers and early U.S. documents. The school's museum of art also serves as an invaluable resource for students of art history.

Located in Chicago's beautiful Hyde Park neighborhood, this private research university serves over 5,000 undergraduate and 9,800 graduate students. The university has an impressive list of distinguished alumni, including 49 Rhodes Scholars, 13 National Humanities Medalists and nine Fields Medalists. UC has earned a global reputation in several fields, most notably medicine and economics.

The undergraduate college offers students 50 majors and 28 minors. Undergraduates must complete a core curriculum requirement in addition to courses in their major; classes are considered challenging but rewarding. UC is home to approximately 400 groups and organizations, which contribute to a diverse and enriching campus life.

Pomona College's strikingly elegant campus lies adjacent to Claremont Graduate University on the outskirts of Los Angeles. It has a small undergraduate population of just over 1,600 students and boasts an incredible endowment for a school its size (over $2 billion).

Students can register for up to 50% of their classes at neighboring Claremont Colleges and can choose from any of 47 majors. Popular areas of study include economics, mathematics, neuroscience and English. Students have the option to conduct individual research or take part in the Summer Undergraduate Research Program; many choose to study abroad. Most students live on campus, and a strong sense of tradition and close collaboration characterizes Pomona's academic experience.

Vassar is known for its well-rounded and forward looking curriculum. Originally an all women's college, Vassar was the first school with an on-campus museum. The acceptance rate for the class of 2019 was 25.6%, and 98% of students live on campus.

A reliance on source materials is key to Vassar’s academic experience, and students will find an array of primary sources in the main library, rare books collection and Virginia B. Smith Manuscript Collection. Topics in women's history are particularly well represented. Courses are broad and diverse, and Vassar gives students plenty of opportunities to pursue cross-disciplinary study.

Washington and Lee University was founded in 1749 and is home to just over 2,200 students. The campus is a 325-acre National Historic Landmark, and the school upholds a traditional "honor system" to govern student conduct. W&L provides students with a strong liberal arts foundation grounded in modern technology and an interdisciplinary academic environment. Three U.S. Supreme Court Justices, several U.S. Congressman, a Nobel Laureate and many other distinguished alumni hail from Washington and Lee.

Students have access to an extensive library and can choose from 37 majors and 29 minors. Classes are small and students can expect to receive personal attention and develop a close working relationship with their professors. Students often choose to study abroad, and the trimester academic calendar is designed to facilitate foreign learning opportunities. Students find campus life varied and enriching, and can participate in a number of clubs and student organizations. Prospective students should also consider pursuing an experiential learning opportunity.

The smallest Ivy League school, Dartmouth College provides its students with a personalized and well-rounded education. Campus life centers on The Dartmouth Green, and features a variety of activities and community event offerings. The school provides students with a solid liberal arts foundation and outstanding research opportunities.

Dartmouth is home to 4,200 undergraduates, and students can choose from over 50 majors. Students are encouraged to follow their passions and they have the flexibility to design a cross-disciplinary course of study that suits their academic interests. Furthermore, students can enrich their academic experience with study abroad opportunities, research projects and internships. A comprehensive library system forms the backbone of the school's teaching facilities.

Haverford College sits on a gorgeous, tree-filled, arboretum campus. The school is part of the Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr College and Swarthmore College, and has graduated three Nobel Prize winners, 67 Fulbright Scholars, 20 Rhodes Scholars and four MacArthur Fellows. Since 1897, students have followed an honor code, an integral part of student life and academics at Haverford.

More than 95% of the 1,187 undergraduate students live on campus. Exams are not proctored (the Honor Code system deters academic dishonesty) and broad general education requirements ensure that students receive a well-rounded education in their first two years on campus. Students then move on to concentrated study, which culminates with a senior thesis.

Academic partnerships with neighboring institutions offer students more educational opportunities than most liberal arts schools can provide, and the college's vast library system contains over 2.5 million volumes. Students work closely with professors in small classes and are rewarded with an academic experience that develops strong analytical skills and "expansive" thinking.

Home to over 2,800 undergraduates, Wesleyan is a liberal arts college with small classes and an intimate campus feel. The school is committed to pursuing sustainability initiatives on campus and has several energy saving and recycling plans in place. Among other measures, Wesleyan no longer provides bottled water on campus and a robust recycling and composting system ensures that waste materials are handled appropriately.

Students have a number of options to pursue when considering a major. Wesleyan offers more than 40 undergraduate programs and nearly 1,000 total courses. There are no course requirements, freeing students to pursue their academic interests. Students will also appreciate the flexibility of the Twelve College Exchange Program, which allows students to study for a semester or two at nearby college of similar size and academic reputation.

Middlebury College's campus is marked by public art projects, a recently completed 220,000 square foot science facility, several open quads and the historic "Old Stone Row." The school is committed to diversity and encourages its students to become active participants in the community. Environmental sustainability initiatives are forefront at Middlebury, and the college is known for its environmental studies program.

A small student to teacher ratio of 9:1 ensures that students work closely with faculty members. There are no teaching assistants leading lectures at Middlebury; all classes are taught by professors. The average class size is 16 students, and the school offers more than 850 courses and 44 majors. Standout programs include language instruction, international studies, environmental studies and the sciences. First year seminars provide students with a strong writing and discussion foundation. Undergraduates will also have the opportunity to conduct research and to study abroad.

Cornell has the largest enrollment of any Ivy League college, at over 13,000 undergraduates. Still, Cornell's vast and knowledgeable faculty ensure that students receive the same personal attention they would find at a liberal arts college, and small classes are a staple of the campus experience. Lakes and gardens frame the 2,300-acre campus, natural features that add a flourish to Cornell's vibrant campus community. The school also maintains a presence in New York City and abroad.

Cornell offers over 80 majors and minors to undergraduates, including nationally renowned veterinary, history, hotel management and physics programs. The school also attracts graduate students from around the world, particularly to their medical and law programs. Students here find a challenging, yet rewarding academic experience, and have access to some of the best research facilities in the world. Cornell offers over 4,000 courses across more than 90 disciplines.

Swarthmore is a small liberal arts college tucked just west of Philadelphia. Founded in 1864, Swarthmore is part of the Tri-College Consortium with Bryn Mawr and Haverford: students are permitted to register for courses at each college and the schools share a number of resources, including library materials. Swarthmore counts 30 Rhodes Scholars and 151 Fulbright Scholarship recipients among its alumni.

Swarthmore follows the "Oxbridge tutorial" method, in which students engage in weekly small group seminars and critique each other’s work under professorial guidance. Seniors must complete a thesis in the honors program. In addition to the usual range of humanities and science majors found at liberal arts schools, Swarthmore also offers an engineering program. The 399 acre campus maintains an intimate feel, and students can participate in over 100 clubs and organizations.

Founded in 1793, Hamilton College is located on a gorgeous 1,350-acre campus in Clinton, New York. The school has produced 100 Fulbright scholars and 18 Goldwater Scholarship winners since 2000. At Hamilton, creativity, and critical thinking are paired with a community centered and culturally diverse academic environment.

Students can pick from 51 areas of study and over 95% of professors hold terminal degrees in their field. Classes are small at Hamilton: 30% of classes have nine students or fewer and the student-teacher ratio is 9:1. There are no formal distribution requirements for courses, save for three writing-intensive courses, and students can design their own program of study in line with the school's "open curriculum" policy.