Best colleges in the U.S.

Princeton University is a private university founded in 1746 in the suburban college town of Princeton, New Jersey. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of just over 5,000 students who attend classes on a 600-acre campus. Princeton is one of the “Big Three” Ivy League institutions and conducts classes on a semester-based academic calendar with tuition and fees for students totaling over $52,000.

Princeton is known for its unique residential living system that groups students into what has been colloquially called “eating clubs,” or dorms that have a central kitchen for the residents to frequent as a collective. There are also over 500 student groups and clubs including a university radio station, student-run newspaper, and a storied Princeton Tiger’s athletic program. 

Princeton has a rich academic network and has graduated Supreme Court Justices, Fortune 500 billionaires, and multiple Secretaries of Defense. The university boasts a massive $26 billion-dollar endowment that translates to a $2 billion annual budget that sustains this globally recognized and affluent center for learning. Notable alumni include Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos, former President James Madison, and former First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama.

Rice University is a private institution in Houston, Texas that has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 7,000 students. The university has a 300-acre campus that abuts the Houston Zoo and Texas Medical Center. Students take classes that follow a semester-based academic calendar, and the university provides merit and need-based scholarships to most students. 

Rice has a rich academic history including the Cao Center for Asian Studies, the Boniuk Institute, and the Ken Kennedy Institute of Information Technology. Students at Rice can explore Houston’s Museum District, walk along Hermann Park, and take advantage of Houston’s METRORail system which is just across from the main campus. 

Many students benefit from Rice’s small classes and 6:1 student-to-faculty ratio. The university also provides students with over 360 undergraduate and graduate degree options in over 60 academic departments. Outside of the classroom, students interested in media and journalism can participate in a variety of student-led organizations like The Rice Thresher, The Campanile, and KTRU Rice Radio. Notable alumni include pilot Howard Hughes, writer Joyce Carol Oates, and American investor John Doerr.

As the oldest institution of higher education in the United States, Harvard University already makes a good impression when it’s about choosing where to get some more education. So many years of experience and knowledge can’t be wrong! Harvard is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research. Its goal is to push the boundaries of human knowledge – and that’s why it attracts the most talented young adults from our whole planet. The unique and diverse students of Harvard University become leaders in various disciplines and make a difference all around the globe. Who wouldn’t want to be a part of such a unique community?

Yale University is a private Ivy League institution that was founded in 1701 as the Collegiate School. Today, Yale is situated in urban New Haven, Connecticut with a campus that takes up 373 acres and a total undergraduate enrollment of just over 12,000. Yale is one of the “Big Three” along with Harvard University and Princeton University and tends to offer small undergraduate classes. Initially, the school had a strong religious connection to the Connecticut Colony, and for a while, only offered sacred language and theology classes, though Yale has since expanded its curriculum to provide a range of academic options. 

Yale is organized into 14 schools including nationally-ranked Yale Law School, the Jackson School of Global Affairs, and the Sheffield Scientific School. Worldwide, the school has several international partnerships, most notably being the Joint Undergraduate Program in Beijing, which is offered through an ongoing professional relationship with Peking University. In 2009, Tony Blair established the Tony Blair Faith Foundation, a collaboration between Yale and Durham University. 

Yale has produced multiple United States Presidents and Vice Presidents and is a bastion for on-campus political activism. While on campus, visitors should be sure to explore the University Art Gallery, Yale Repertory Theatre, and enjoy a picnic on the New Haven Green. Notable alumni include actor and condiment magnate Paul Newman, news anchor Anderson Cooper, and Alien actress Sigourney Weaver.

Founded in 1740 in downtown Philadelphia, the University of Pennsylvania is a private academic institution with a current undergraduate enrollment of roughly 25,000. The school was initially founded by Benjamin Franklin before the Declaration of Independence was drafted, making it one of only nine universities to be chartered in that era. Penn's tuition and fees total over $55,000 annually, and the school ranks among the top universities in the nation. 

The university is in an urban setting with a historic gothic campus that includes a walled-in student housing complex located just north of the Schuylkill River and blocks from Rittenhouse Square. Classes follow a semester-based academic calendar, and the current student-faculty ratio is 6:1, one of the smallest ratios for a top university in the nation. 

The University of Pennsylvania is home to internationally recognized colleges including the Annenberg School for Communication, The Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology, and the Wharton School of Business. UPenn has academic partnerships worldwide with schools such as King’s College London, the University of Barcelona, and even in Australia at the University of Queensland. During their stay at UPenn, students can participate in a range of social clubs like the famous Penn Glee Club, or work at The Daily Pennsylvanian, the student-run newspaper. Notable alumni include former President of the United States Donald Trump, author Noam Chomsky, and architect of the Louvre Pyramid, I.M. Pei.

Founded in 1885, Stanford University is a private research university in the San Francisco metro area and has a total undergraduate enrollment of about 17,000 students. Stanford is made up of three schools with over 40 undergraduate academic departments, and popular graduate programs including medicine, law, and business. The campus was rebuilt after the 1906 San Francisco Earthquake and is now known for its mission-style architecture, with the Stanford Memorial Church at the epicenter of campus life. 

Stanford is on a quarter-based academic calendar with tuition and fees exceeding $50,000 annually. The school is one of the most highly regarded research institutions and has produced numerous Fulbright and Rhodes Scholars.

In addition to its strong scholastic traditions, Stanford is also known for its local rivalry with UC Berkeley, and their annual meeting known as the “Big Game” takes place at the Rose Bowl. Notable alumni include actress Reese Witherspoon, author John Steinbeck, and former President of the United States, Herbert Hoover.