“A college degree is not a sign of a finished product but an indication a person is prepared for life.” — Reverend Edward A. Malloy, Monk’s Reflections
In a college, you should expect to get higher learning, after which you would be rewarded with a degree or a certification. This article lists the top colleges in the U.S and why you should be interested in getting into them. One of the best things about attending college is that you would get to maximally invest in yourself. Going through college work and participating in college life to encounter new ideas and challenges.
Along the way, you would build knowledge, skills and brainpower, discover new passions, follow and satisfy your curiosity, learn more about yourself, bond with new friends, prepare for a future in which you’re better equipped to give back. Whatever your destination, these top colleges in the U.S can help you get there — even if you don’t know where “there” is yet.
What is a College?
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of one. A college may be a degree-awarding tertiary educational institution, a part of a collegiate or federal university, an institution offering vocational education, or a secondary school. A college is mostly seen as an institution of higher learning, usually leading to a bachelor’s degree or certification.
With more and more occupations requiring advanced education, a college degree is critical to your success in today’s workforce. A 2016 Pew Research report found that 77% of workers with a post-graduate degree and 60% of workers with a bachelor’s degree believe their job gives them a sense of identity, versus just 38% of those with a high school diploma or less. Workers with a bachelor’s degree or more advanced education were are also significantly more to say their job is a career, with 70% viewing their job as a career compared to just 39% of workers with no college education. You should also know that just one additional year of a college education can decrease your mortality rate by 15% to 19%, according to a 2016 report by the Brookings Institute.
High school graduates have a mortality rate that is double those with some college or a college degree, the report states. College means independence, maturity, responsibility, accountability, excellence, and future opportunities. Attending the top colleges in the U.S increases the chances of these.
Why do I need to attend the top colleges in the U. S?
1. The top colleges in the U.S have an international reputation. Worldwide, the top colleges in the U.S are recognized. They continue to maintain a powerful presence among the best-ranked education institutions in the world. It is believed that for you to have gone to any of the top colleges in the U.S, you must have gone through a rigorous process and also be of high academic standards.
2. The top colleges in the U.S have an accommodating environment, always-changing and evolving classrooms. These colleges attract students from all over the world due to these qualities.
3. The top colleges in the U.S are bastions of cultural diversity. Diversity is one of the strong pillars every school should have and colleges in the U.S take pride in the structure their educational system has taken towards diversity. The experience of having students from nationalities, religions, or ethnicity makes the studying experience unique.
4. The top colleges in the U.S. offer excellent support facilities. In attending any of the colleges in the U.S, you can be sure that there is always support systems ready to offer you any help you may need. You would have access to workshops, practice courses, orientations, and training. You would also be given a lot of time to get ready for your classes. Not every school offers this, but in attending the top colleges in the U.S, you would have access to these and many more.
5. The top colleges in the U.S do not spare in using technology as a key for innovation and in changing the way the information is delivered. They make studying easier by giving students access to web-based classes, ensuring they utilize computer-based tests. Students at these top colleges are also allowed to use the top-notch labs and resources.
6. The top colleges in the U. S offer a flexible academic environment. In attending any of the top colleges, you can be sure that the environment is ideal for studying. The top colleges in the U.S are mostly known for their casual and relaxed class formats.
7. The top colleges in the U.S have highly qualified teachers and also offer top-notch education programs. These schools also have professors who are leading authorities in their field. You can study anything ranging from the arts to even rocket science. They are popular for having a vast number of academic options offered to students.
8. The top colleges in the U.S have Nobel laureates. For instance, the University of Chicago can claim 73 recipients of the Nobel Prize amongst its past and present faculty members, students, and researchers. Harvard University has had 38 Nobel laureates as members of its faculty and can also claim three graduates who have received Nobel prizes. The University of California at Berkeley has had 17 Nobel laureates serve as researchers or professors.
9. The top colleges in the U.S has a global focus. More and more often, American colleges and universities are focusing on the global aspects of each subject, better-preparing students with a worldwide view of their field. No longer can students merely focus on certain geographic areas when obtaining their academic training? Most US learning institutions have recognized this and offer a more comprehensive and global curriculum to meet these new trends.
What are the requirements for attending the top colleges in the U.S?
To be accepted into any of the top colleges in the U.S, there are some things you must do. They include-
- You must have good grades from where you previously studied.
- Your high school diploma or undergraduate degree must be equivalent to the minimum Grade Point Average (GPA) for entry to your chosen degree. GPAs are on a 4-point scale. You may have the option to join an undergraduate pathway program if your GPA does not qualify you for entry directly to a bachelor’s degree.
- Grades in college prep courses.
- Strength of curriculum.
- Extracurricular commitment.
- Letters of recommendation.
- Essay or writing sample
15 Top Colleges in the U.S
1. University of California, Berkeley
The University of California, Berkeley is a public land-grant research university in Berkeley, California. Established in 1868 as the University of California, it is the state’s first land-grant university and the first campus of the University of California system.
Berkeley alumni, faculty and researchers include 99 Nobel laureates, 23 Turing Award winners, and 14 Pulitzer Prize winners. Faculty member J. R. Oppenheimer led the Manhattan project to create the first atomic bomb, while Berkeley’s Nobel laureate Ernest Lawrence invented the cyclotron, through which UC Berkeley scientists and researchers discovered 16 chemical elements of the periodic table.
2. Yale University
The second oldest Ivy League institution, Yale is known for its highly-regarded programs in history, economics, psychology and English. Students are assigned to one of fourteen residential colleges on the school’s New Haven, CT, campus.
Each college showcases a large courtyard and distinctive colonial, gothic or modernist buildings. Students are associated with their respective colleges throughout their time as undergraduates.
3. Princeton University
Princeton University is a private Ivy League research university in Princeton, New Jersey. Founded in 1746 in Elizabeth as the College of New Jersey, Princeton is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the American Revolution. Within the walls of its historic ivy-covered campus, Princeton offers several events, activities and organizations.
The Princeton Tigers, members of the Ivy League, are well known for their consistently strong men’s and women’s lacrosse teams. Students live in one of six residential colleges that provide a residential community as well as dining services but have the option to join one of more than 10 eating clubs for their junior and senior years. Princeton is also one of the world’s foremost research universities with connections to more than 40 Nobel laureates, 17 winners of the National Medal of Science and five recipients of the National Humanities Medal.
4. Stanford University
Stanford University, officially Leland Stanford Junior University, is a private research university in Stanford, California. The campus occupies 8,180 acres, among the largest in the United States, and enrols over 17,000 students. Stanford also has a rich tradition of fostering creativity and the arts: there is a vibrant campus arts district and two world-class museums which host regular exhibitions. Eight dining halls, a teaching kitchen and organic gardens provide the campus community with healthy, sustainable meals.
The close-knit communal nature of life on campus has even given rise to “Stanford speak”, a special language only spoken on campus. Stanford counts 19 Nobel laureates within its community today and numerous famous alumni associated with the university from the worlds of art, social sciences, business, politics, humanities, media, sports and technology. The 31st president of the US, Herbert Hoover, was part of the first class at Stanford and received a degree in geology in 1895. The alumni include 17 astronauts, 18 Turing Award recipients and two Fields Medalists.
5. Columbia University
Columbia University is a private Ivy League research university in New York City. Established in 1754 as King’s College on the grounds of Trinity Church in Manhattan, Columbia is the oldest institution of higher education in New York and the fifth-oldest institution of higher learning in the United States. The university is made up of three schools that enrol undergraduates- Columbia College, the Fu Foundation School of Engineering and Applied Science, and the School of General Studies – and numerous graduate and professional schools.
Among Columbia University’s highly ranked graduate programs are the Business School, the Law School, and the College of Physicians and Surgeons. With an undergraduate acceptance rate of 5.8 per cent, Columbia is currently the third most selective college in the United States and the second most selective in the Ivy League after Harvard.
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private land-grant research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Established in 1861, MIT has since played a key role in the development of modern technology and science and has been ranked among the top academic institutions in the world. The close association of industry and research has helped MIT alumni go on to launch more than 30,000 active companies, creating 4.6 million jobs and generating roughly $1.9 trillion in annual revenue.
With more than 1,067 Faculty members, MIT continues to play a vital role in shaping the future of undergraduate and graduate students as advisors, mentors, coaches, committee members and much more. In addition, the Institute’s board of trustees include 78 eminent leaders in science, engineering, education, industry, and other professions. Additionally, the faculty members continue to thrive on the global standard of excellence in their disciplines.
7. Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and among the most prestigious in the world.
Harvard University is devoted to excellence in teaching, learning, and research, and to developing leaders in many disciplines who make a difference globally. Harvard faculty are engaged with teaching and research to push the boundaries of human knowledge. The University has twelve degree-granting Schools in addition to the Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.
8. University of California, Los Angeles
The University of California, Los Angeles is a public land-grant research university in Los Angeles, California. UCLA’s academic roots were established in 1882 as a teacher’s college then known as the southern branch of the California State Normal School. UCLA’s Southern California campus spans more than 400 acres and is located near the coast. A busy walkway known as the Bruin Walk connects the residence halls to the heart of campus.
UCLA guarantees students housing for three years. The school offers more than 1,000 student organizations, including media groups and more than 65 Greek chapters, which represent about 13% of the student body. Admissions are extremely competitive as the UCLA acceptance rate is 12%. Popular majors include Economics, Sociology, and Political Science and Government. Graduating 92% of students, UCLA alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $44,500.
9. University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private Ivy League research university in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The university, established as the College of Philadelphia in 1740 is one of the nine colonial colleges chartered before the U.S. Declaration of Independence. Penn has 12 schools: Five offer undergraduate and graduate studies, and seven offer only graduate studies.
Penn’s highly ranked graduate programs include its Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Science, Law School and School of Medicine. Penn’s other notable graduate programs include its School of Design and School of Dental Medicine. University of Pennsylvania admissions is most selective with an acceptance rate of 9%. Half the applicants admitted to the University of Pennsylvania have an SAT score between 1460 and 1570 or an ACT score of 33 and 35.
10. Northwestern University
Northwestern University is a private research university in Evanston, Illinois. Founded in 1851, Northwestern is the oldest chartered university in Illinois and is ranked among the most prestigious academic institutions in the world. Northwestern has an endowment of $14 billion, one of the largest university endowments in the world, as well as an annual budget of around $2 billion.
As of fall 2019, the university had 21,946 enrolled students, including 8,327 undergraduates and 13,619 graduate students. Fielding eight men’s and eleven women’s sports teams, the Northwestern Wildcats represent the university to compete in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference and has remained the only private university in the conference since 1946. The undergraduate population is drawn from all 50 states and over 75 foreign countries. 20% of students in the Class of 2024 were Pell Grant recipients and 12.56% were first-generation college students. Northwestern also enrols the 9th-most National Merit Scholars of any university in the nation.
11. Dartmouth College
Founded in 1769, Dartmouth College is a private, Ivy League university located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Its undergraduate college is home to more than 40 departments and programs, while it also has graduate schools of Arts and Sciences, Medicine, Engineering, and Business.
Dartmouth is an elite private college located in Hanover, New Hampshire. It is a small institution with an enrollment of 4,401 undergraduate students. Admissions are extremely competitive as the Dartmouth acceptance rate is only 8%. Popular majors include Economics, Political Science and Government, and Engineering Science. Graduating 95% of students, Dartmouth alumni go on to earn a starting salary of $58,900.
12. Duke University
Duke University is a private institution that was founded in 1838. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,717 (fall 2020), and the setting is Suburban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Duke comprises 10 schools and colleges: arts and sciences, law, medicine, nursing, engineering, business, public policy, environment, the divinity school and the graduate school. Some of the most popular undergraduate majors are biology, economics and public policy. Most of the schools at the university use a semester-based academic calendar.
13. Cornell University
Cornell University is a private research university that provides an exceptional education for undergraduates and graduate and professional students. Cornell University is a private Ivy League and statutory land-grant research university, based in Ithaca, New York. Founded in 1865 by Ezra Cornell and Andrew Dickson White, it has consistently been ranked among the top universities in the world by major educational publications.
Cornell is a large, primarily residential research university with a majority of enrollments in undergraduate programs. The university has been accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education since 1921. Cornell operates on a 4–1–4 academic calendar with the fall term beginning in late August and ending in early December, a three-week winter session in January, and the spring term beginning in late January and ending in early May.
14. Vanderbilt University
Vanderbilt University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 7,057 (fall 2020), its setting is urban, and the campus size is 333 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Vanderbilt University’s ranking in the 2024 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, #14. Its tuition and fees are $56,966. Vanderbilt is comprised of 10 schools and colleges covering disciplines from the humanities to music to engineering.
Among its graduate programs are the top-ranked Peabody College of Education and Human Development, which also offers undergraduate programs, and the highly ranked Owen Graduate School of Management, School of Engineering, Law School, School of Medicine and School of Nursing. Vanderbilt is also well known for its undergraduate Blair School of Music, and the Vanderbilt University Medical Center is ranked one of the best in the nation.
15. University of California, San Diego
UC San Diego is considered one of the country’s Public Ivies. As of February 2024, UC San Diego faculty, researchers and alumni have won 28 Nobel Prizes, the second most of any UC campus, as well as three Fields Medals, eight National Medals of Science, eight MacArthur Fellowships, and three Pulitzer Prizes. UC San Diego is a large, primarily residential, public research university accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges that offers a four-year Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Science degree to undergraduate students.
In all, the university offers classical orchestras, intramural sports, and over 550 student organizations. 38 national and local Greek organizations are hosted on campus, with fraternity and sorority members representing 20% of the student population. The university operates on an academic quarter system, with three primary quarters beginning in late September and ending in mid-June. 44% of undergraduate students receive federal Pell Grants.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes. Most of these colleges require that you write an entrance examination before you get accepted into the school.
University of California, Berkeley, Yale University and Princeton University are the top colleges in the U.S
Very few of the top colleges in the U.S are private.
Once you are above the age of 16, you are eligible to apply for any of these colleges.
Yes. It however depends on the course you have chosen to study.
Conclusion
Applying to the best universities takes a lot of work, and only about 5%, i.e. one out of twenty applicants, get accepted. If you get accepted, you will compete with the most brilliant students from around the world every day. This can be inspiring, but it can also be challenging if you suddenly find yourself getting mediocre grades. It is worth it to attend any of these top colleges in the U.S in 2024.
References
- seventeen.com/life/school/college-life-quotes/
- forbes.com/top-colleges/
- niche.com/colleges/search/best-colleges/
- usnews.com/best-colleges
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