As soon as you begin your college search, you may see how easy it is to become overwhelmed with all the choices you have in the United States (this is the reason we've created our app Wend (download here for iOS), which parents and students can use to organize and navigate the application process!) From large, urban public universities to small, private, liberal arts colleges, what schools should you apply to?
Here, we’ve compiled a short guide of the best colleges in the USA to help you as you make these important decisions.
Top 5+ National Universities (National universities offer a full range of undergraduate, graduate and PhD programs)
- Princeton University, Princeton NJ
- Harvard University, Cambridge MA/Stanford University, Stanford CA (tie)
- University of Chicago, Chicago IL/Yale University, New Haven CT (tie)
- Columbia University, New York City NY/Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) (tie)
Top 5+ Liberal Arts Colleges (Liberal Arts colleges focus on undergraduate studies and award at least half their degrees in liberal arts-related fields of study like creative arts, humanities, and social sciences)
- Williams College, Williamstown MA
- Amherst College, Amherst MA
- Bowdoin College, Brunswick ME/Swarthmore College, Swarthmore PA/Wellesley College, Wellesley MA (tie)
Top 5+ Undergraduate Business Programs
- University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia PA
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), Cambridge MA
- University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley CA/University of Michigan, Ann Arbor MI (tie)
- New York University, New York NY/University of Texas-Austin, Austin TX (tie)
Top 5 Undergraduate Engineering Programs (at schools where a PhD is offered)
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge MA
- Stanford University, Stanford CA
- University of California-Berkeley, Berkeley CA
- California Institute of Technology, Pasadena CA/Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta GA (tie)
In addition, some schools have unique programs that really set them apart. Northeastern University in Boston, Massachusetts has the "Cooperative Education and Career Development" program where students alternate semesters of traditional academics with full time employment in positions related to their personal career path. At Brown University in Providence Rhode Island, undergraduates are tasked with developing their own program of study (i.e. there are no specific curricular requirements) with the help of academic advisors.
The lists and programs mentioned above are by no means all-encompassing, but are here to give you an idea of some of the most highly ranked and unique programs offered in the USA. Getting guidance and expert advice on the college application process can help you make the best decisions for your personal goals and set you up for the most success. Staying organized as you go through the process is essential and Wend(download here for iOS) can help. We wish you luck as you begin navigating this process!
