Rhodes College (Memphis, TN)

Rhodes College is a private, mostly undergraduate, liberal arts college located in Memphis, the old Mississippi River port town that is now the largest city in the state of Tennessee. Established in 1848 by the Freemasons, the college moved to its current 100-acre campus in 1925. The campus is known for its Gothic architecture: 13 of its buildings are on the National Register of Historic Places.

Rhodes has a little under 2000 students, the vast majority of whom are undergraduates. The college places heavy emphasis on small class sizes, research, and writing. It currently boasts a student-to-faculty ratio of 10-to-one.

Rhodes has fostered partnerships with many other institutions, and strongly encourages student off-campus activities, such as internships and hand-on work in the student’s intended field. Ninety-five percent of students are accepted by the law and business schools of their choice, while the acceptance rate for medical school is double the national average.

U.S. News & World Report ranks Rhodes #47 on their list of Best Liberal Arts Colleges in the country, while Forbes lists the school as #47 among their Best Colleges in the U.S.

Rhodes College is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Vanderbilt University (Nashville, TN)

Founded in 1873, Vanderbilt University is a private, research university in Nashville, Tennessee’s capital and second-largest city. The 330-acre campus is just a mile and a half from the heart of downtown, and constitutes a vital part of the local community and its atmosphere. In an effort to keep the school small and personal, the student body is restricted to around 12,000 students. The university maintains a surprising student-to-faculty ratio of just eight-to-one.

The undergraduate portion of the university is divided into four Schools: Arts and Sciences, Engineering, Education and Development, and Music. The graduate and pre-professional programs are divided among six Schools: Law, Medicine, Nursing, Management, Divinity, and the Graduate School. Within those Schools, there are about 70 majors, along with the option to create a specialized program to meet a student’s specific needs and interests.

All Vanderbilt undergraduates are required to live on campus, where more than 400 student and 50 service organizations are recognized. With all the university has to offer, it comes as no surprise that competition for places at the school is stiff: Fewer than 12 percent of applicants are accepted. U.S. News & World Report ranks Vanderbilt #17 among all U.S. universities, while Academic Ranking of World Universities ranks it #49 in the world.

Vanderbilt University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

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Augustana College (Sioux Falls, SD)

Augustana College, affectionately known as “Augie,” is a private, liberal arts college located in Sioux Falls, the largest city in South Dakota. The 100-acre campus was founded in 1860 and is maintained by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. The primary goals of the school as an educator are outlined in their core values: Christianity, liberal arts, excellence, and community aid. The college, which should not be confused with the similarly named school in Illinois, is the largest private institution of higher learning in the state.

Augustana has approximately 1,850 students, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 12-to-one. The college currently offers a Bachelor of Arts degree with 50 different available majors and 34 minors, alongside 12 pre-professional degrees.

More than 100 recognized student clubs and 20 performing arts ensembles operate on campus. The choir and the concert band tour nationally and internationally, competing on national and international levels. If you are not musically inclined, but want to travel during your time in college, Augustana might be just the place for you: The college has an extensive study abroad program, in which 44 percent of students participate. The school is #3 on U.S. News & World Report‘s list of the Best Colleges in the Midwest.

Augustana College is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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University of South Dakota (Vermillion, SD)

The University of South Dakota (USD) is a public, research university located in the small town of Vermillion on dramatic bluffs overlooking the Missouri River not far upstream from Sioux City, Iowa, at the point where South Dakota, Iowa, and Nebraska all meet. Established in 1862 by the Dakota Territory legislature—37 years before South Dakota attained statehood—it is the oldest university in the state and the flagship school for the University of South Dakota system.

USD, which is situated on 321 acres, currently has an enrollment of nearly 11,000 students, and maintains a student-to-faculty ratio of 17-to-one. In the academic sector, the school is divided into seven Schools: Arts and Sciences, Business, Education, Fine Arts, Health Sciences, Law, and Medicine. Across the board, there are 132 undergraduate programs and 62 postgraduate majors for students to select from. The university is home to the only medical and law schools, as well as the only accredited business school, in the state.

Students who are concerned about the affordability of college should definitely check out USD. Seventy-two percent of undergraduate receive financial aid.

The University of South Dakota System is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Wofford College (Spartanburg, SC)

Wofford College is a private, liberal arts college in Spartanburg, South Carolina, northeast of Greenville. Founded in 1854 just before the onslaught of the Civil War, Wofford is one of the very few four-year colleges that remained open throughout the war and is still operating today.

The college has a current student population of nearly 1,600 undergraduates, with a student-to-faculty ratio of 11-to-one. Ninety-three percent of students live on campus. Wofford currently offers majors in 23 different fields, ranging from art to German to finance, as well as seven pre-professional degrees, including teacher education, dentistry, and law.

If you hope to study abroad, this college has 200 international programs in 59 different countries around the world. The largest and most popular extracurricular activities on campus are the fraternities and sororities, in which 44 percent of the college’s male, and 53 percent of its female, student population participate. Forbes considers Wofford the #58 Best College in America.

Wofford College is accredited by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.

Clemson University (Clemson, SC)

Originally an all-male military college, today Clemson University is a public, land-grant and sea-grant, coeducational, research university located in Clemson, South Carolina, southwest of Greenville. The school was founded by the South Carolina legislature in 1889 with money left to the state for that purpose in the will of Thomas Green Clemson. Clemson’s fortune largely derived from his wife, Anna Maria Calhoun Clemson, who was the daughter of statesman, philosopher, and seventh Vice President of the United States, John C. Calhoun.

The university contains five Colleges: Agriculture, Forestry, and Life Sciences; Architecture, Arts, and Humanities; Business and Behavioral Sciences; Engineering and Science; and Health, Education, and Human Development. Collectively, the Colleges offer more than 80 undergraduate degrees, 75 minors, and 110 graduate degrees.

Clemson has a current undergraduate enrollment of almost 17,000 students, and a graduate enrollment of a little over 4,000. While the school has a fairly large number of students in attendance, it also has a large number of faculty members, thus assuring that professors have time to be available to their students. The university currently maintains a student-to-faculty ration of 16-to-one.

The 17,000-acre campus nestled in the foothills of the iconic Blue Ridge Mountains is the perfect location for Clemson’s many interesting traditions. For example, Tigerama is an annual, student-led pep rally—the largest in the nation, with over 40,000 in attendance. U.S. News & World Report ranks Clemson #21 among National Public Universities.

Clemson University is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools Commission on Colleges.

Providence College (Providence, RI)

Established in 1917, Providence College is a private, coeducational, Roman Catholic university located in the Rhode Island state capital. The college, which sits on 105 urban acres, specializes in liberal arts. The student body comprises nearly 3,900 undergraduates and 529 graduate students. It is the only college in the United States registered under the Dominican Order of Friars.

Overall, Providence College offers 49 majors and 34 minors, divided among four different Schools: Arts and Sciences, Business, Professional Studies, and Continuing Education. Every student, regardless of major and minor, is required to take part in the college’s Core Curriculum, which focused on the development of Western Civilization, mathematics, philosophy, theology, the natural sciences, English, the fine arts, and the social sciences.

In athletics, Providence College currently competes in Division I of the NCAA, and is a founding member of the Big East Conference. In 2012, the college announced that it would form a new league of its own, together with six other Catholic colleges.

Providence College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

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Brown University (Providence, RI)

Brown University is a private, research university located in Providence, Rhode Island. Established in 1764, it is the seventh-oldest higher education institution in the United States, and boasts the oldest undergraduate engineering program in the country. It was also the first university to accept students regardless of religious affiliation.

The 143-acre urban campus, which makes this Ivy League university the largest landowner is the city of Providence, is educational home to 8,540 students. Brown accepts only eight percent of applicants, making it one of the hardest of all American universities to get into. Applications are read in a need-blind manner, which removes the possibility of acceptance or denial based on socioeconomic status. Brown has eliminated loans for all students who come from families with an annual income of less than $100,000, and any expected parental contributions from families with an annual income of less than $60,000.

Princeton Review recently named Brown America’s Happiest College, and U.S. News & World Report ranks it as the #15 Best University in the United States.

Brown University is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

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Swarthmore College (Swarthmore, PA)

Swarthmore CollegeSwarthmore College is a private, liberal arts college located in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, just eleven miles from downtown Philadelphia on the famous “Main Line.” The college was established in 1864 by local Quakers, and is considered one of the “Little Ivies.” In 1933, the school dropped its religious affiliation. Today, the college has a student enrollment of nearly 1600 individuals.

Swarthmore, which occupies a 399-acre campus, was organized by some of the most prominent names in the abolitionist movement, including Lucretia Mott. The school is a member of the Tri-College Consortium, along with Bryn Mawr College and Haverford College, allowing students to register for classes at any of the three colleges. Swarthmore is also affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania, which allows the college’s students to register for classes at Penn, as well.

Apart from the many liberal arts degrees available, Swarthmore has an engineering program, which is rare for a smaller liberal arts school. With all of these advantages, it is easy to understand why the college is highly selective, admitting only 14 percent of applicants. Students who are admitted will have 100 percent of their demonstrated need covered by financial aid. According to U.S. News & World Report, Swarthmore is the third-best liberal arts college in the country.

Swarthmore College is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, NY)

Vassar College is a private, liberal, coeducational, liberal arts college located in Poughkeepsie, on the Hudson River about halfway between New York City and Albany. Founded in 1861 as a women’s college, and originally one of “Seven Sisters” (the all-women’s Ivy League), Vassar did not admit men until 1969.

Vassar is located on 1,250 acres full of architectural works of great distinction, as well as giant trees that transform the campus into a blaze of orange and red colors in the fall. The campus also contains two national historic landmarks and an arboretum with over 200 unique plant species.

Vassar offers 50 majors, including an independent studies major in which students design their own curriculum. All classes are taught by professors, instead of being delegated to graduate students or adjuncts.

The current student-to-faculty ratio is eight-to-one, and the average class size is 17 students. U.S. News & World Report ranks Vassar as the #13 Best Liberal Arts School in the country.

Vassar College is accredited by the Middle States Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Columbia University (New York, NY)

Columbia University is a private, research university and a member of the famous “Ivy League.” Founded in 1754, it is the oldest institutions of higher learning in the state of New York, and the fifth-oldest in the country. It is also one of nine colonial colleges founded before the American Revolution began. In fact, the university was originally chartered by King George II.

The campus comprises 32 acres and takes up six city blocks on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. The current student enrollment is nearly 30,000 students, most of whom are seeking a postgraduate degree. The student body is very culturally diverse, with 52 percent of students identifying as a person of color. Despite the large number of students, on-campus housing is guaranteed for four years.

The university is divided into 20 Schools, notably Columbia and Barnard Colleges (traditionally, the men’s and women’s undergraduate institutions, respectively, albeit coeducational today), the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, the renowned School of Journalism, the Law School, the Medical School, the Union Theological Seminary, the Jewish Theological Seminary, and Teacher’s College. Outside of academics, the university is also known for awarding the coveted Pulitzer Prize every year.

The acceptance rate at Columbia is less than seven percent, which makes it one of the most selective universities in the country.U.S. News & World Report ranks it #4 in the country.

Columbia University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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St. John’s College Santa Fe (Santa Fe, NM)

Founded in 1964, St. John’s College Santa Fe is the much-younger sister school to St. John’s College in Annapolis, Maryland (see above). Like its older sibling, St. John’s Santa Fe maintains a highly rigorous, all–Great Books curriculum, a four year program that ensures all students will read the original texts of Western Civilization’s most important and influential contributors to the fields of philosophy, theology, mathematics, science, music, poetry, and literature.

All students take four years of a foreign language, four years of math, four years of interdisciplinary study, three years of life science, and a year of music. In addition, everyone is required to attend a school-wide lecture on a weekly basis. Students are allowed only two electives, which may not be taken until the winter semester of their junior year.

Class sizes at St. John’s College Santa Fe are capped at 20, with an average of 14 students. Currently, there is an eight-to-one student-to-faculty ratio. The campus comprises 250 acres in the heart of the state capital, which is also one of the nation’s most distinctive urban areas. The site of Santa Fe, which lies at 7,300 feet above sea level, has many buildings in the old adobe style in the downtown area, and has been continuously occupied for over a thousand years, was made the capital of a colonial Spanish province in 1610, making the town of some 70,000 souls the oldest capital city in the country.

St. John’s College Santa Fe has state approval by New Mexico Higher Education Department.

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University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, NM)

The University of New Mexico (UNM) is a public, research university, whose flagship campus is located in the state’s largest city, Albuquerque. It is the largest post-secondary institution in the state. Established in 1889, the university now has a student body of over 35,000 individuals. Situated on a 600-acre campus just one mile east of downtown, the university is home to four on-campus museums.

UNM offers 94 bachelor’s degree, 71 master’s degrees, 37 doctoral degrees, and a handful of professional degree programs. The university recognizes over 400 student organizations, including academic, athletic, ethnic, honorary, political, religious, and service clubs. Several fraternities and sororities are also a part of the school’s social scene.

UNM is known for its fierce rivalry with New Mexico State University in Las Cruces. Every year, the school hosts the “Red Rally,” an annual bonfire that occurs the Thursday before the football game between UNM and NM State, culminating in the immolation of a giant effigy of “Pistol Pete,” the rival school’s mascot.

The University of New Mexico is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association.

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Ramapo College of New Jersey (Mahwah, NJ)

Established in 1969, Ramapo College is a coeducational, public, liberal arts and professional studies institution located in Mahwah, in the northeast corner of the Garden State, not far from New York City. The 300-acres campus is nestled in the Ramapo Mountains and is currently home to some 6,000 students.

Educationally, the school is supported by four pillars: international, intercultural, interdisciplinary and experiential. Each of these pillars is interwoven into the required curriculum, which is further strengthened by a wealth of clubs, study abroad opportunities, and other extracurricular activities.

Ramapo is divided into five Schools: Humanities and Global Studies, Business, Contemporary Arts, Social Sciences and Human Services, and Theoretical and Applied Sciences. Across those five School, the school offers 40 majors. The average class size comprises 23 students, while the current student-to-faculty ratio is 18-to-one. Ramapo College is one of Kiplinger’s Best Value Public Colleges in the United States.

Ramapo College of New Jersey is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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Princeton University (Princeton, NJ)

Princeton University, a private, research university located in Princeton, New Jersey, is one of the preeminent “Ivy League” schools in the United States. Founded in 1746 as the College of New Jersey, it is one of the nine colonial colleges established before the American Revolution. Many famous names are associated with the university, from Jonathan Edwards to Woodrow Wilson to Albert Einstein.

Princeton has a current enrollment of 8,010 students, and admits fewer than eight percent of students who apply. However, students who are admitted receive financial aid to cover 100 percent of their demonstrated need through grants and work study. Sixty-six percent of students receive financial aid, and students typically graduate with less than $5000 in debt.

The university currently offers undergraduate degrees in humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, and engineering. Unlike other Ivy League schools, Princeton does not have medical, law, divinity, or business schools, but it does offer graduate degrees in public and international affairs, engineering and applied science, and architecture. Two other world-renowned institutions of higher learning are in close physical proximity, though administratively independent of, the university: Princeton Theological Seminary and the Institute for Advanced Study.

The 500-acre campus is one of Travel + Leisure’s Most Beautiful Campuses in the Country, so it is no wonder why 99 percent of the student body lives on campus. The campus is also home to the Princeton University Art Museum, whose collection contains pieces by Monet, Cezanne, Van Gogh, and Warhol. U.S. New & World Report has named Princeton the #1 school in the nation.

Princeton University is accredited by the Middle States Commission on Higher Education.

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Thomas More College of Liberal Arts (Merrimack, NH)

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is a private, Roman Catholic, liberal arts school located in Merrimack, New Hampshire (it should not be confused with the Thomas More College in Kentucky). Established in 1978, what this school lacks in longevity is makes up for with its Great Books core curriculum and guaranteed study abroad program.

The college has a current student enrollment of only 96 students, and a student-to-faculty ratio of 10-to-one. This makes for an average class size of 18 students (and a policy that no class can have more than 20).

All students receive a Bachelor of Arts degree in liberal studies with an emphasis in their major concentration. Regardless of major, all students participate in a core curriculum that covers the great works of Western literature, philosophy, and political science. In addition, all students are given practical education in music and art, and spend part of their sophomore year studying abroad in Rome.

Thomas More College of Liberal Arts is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges.

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Dartmouth College (Hanover, NH)

Established in 1769, Dartmouth is a private, research university located in the town of Hanover, northwest of Manchester on the Vermont state line. With only about 6,300 students currently enrolled and a campus of 269 rural acres, it is the smallest university in the Ivy League.

The school hosts approximately 4,200 undergraduate and 2,100 graduate students. The Undergraduate College offers 40 departments and programs, alongside the Graduate School of Arts & Sciences and the Schools of Medicine, Engineering, and Business.

Dartmouth’s academic schedule is called D-Plan. D-Plan is a scheduling system that allows students to personalize their academic career. Students have to be in residence at the campus for the fall, winter, and spring terms of their freshman and senior year,s in addition to the summer term of their sophomore year. All other terms can be used for more on-campus studies, or else for off-campus programs, internships, research programs, or vacation, as long as graduation requirements are maintained.

Outside of academics, Dartmouth recognizes over 200 on-campus student organizations. The school also meets 100 percent of every student’s demonstrated need through financial aid. Princeton Review rates Dartmouth #3 in the country for quality of student life.

Dartmouth College is accredited by the New England Association of Schools and Colleges Commission on Institutions of Higher Education.

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Sierra Nevada College (Incline Village, NV)

Founded in 1969, Sierra Nevada College is a private, liberal arts college located in the rural community of Incline Village, on the northern shore of Lake Tahoe. The college stands by a teaching model that is true to the heart of liberal arts: They encourage students to learn how to apply their skills to real-life and workplace situations.

The school has a student body of 1,040 students, half of whom are in undergraduate programs. All full-time students are required to live in residence halls until they have completed at least 60 academic units.

Sierra Nevada College offers over 30 different fields of study, has an impressive 10-to-one student-to-faculty ratio, and an average class size of only 15 students. The college is particularly known for its powerful and successful skiing and snowboarding teams, which continually rank high in local and national competitions.

Sierra Nevada College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

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University of Nevada Reno (Reno, NV)

Founded in 1874, the University of Nevada Reno (UNR) is a public teaching and research university located just 30 minutes north of stunningly beautiful Lake Tahoe. Although the Nevada System of Higher Education also includes the University of Nevada Las Vegas, the Reno campus remains the only land-grant, research university in the state.

UNR comprises 290 urban acres of elm-lined walkways overlooking Truckee Meadows and overshadowed by nearby mountain ranges. The current student body is just over 18,000 students strong.

The university is divided into eight different Schools: Biotechnologies and Natural Resources, Business Education, Engineering, Journalism, Liberal Arts, Medicine, Graduate School, and Health Sciences. The Schools currently offer over 140 majors for students to choose from.

The University of Nevada is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

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Nebraska Wesleyan University (Lincoln, NE)

Founded in 1887, Nebraska Wesleyan University is a private, coeducational, liberal arts institution associated with the United Methodist Church. Like the University of Nebraska, it is located in the state capital, Lincoln.

Nebraska Wesleyan currently has a student body of about 1,600 students. The student-to-faculty ratio is a respectable 13-to-one. The average class is 19 students.

Nebraska Wesleyan offers 106 majors, minors and pre-professional programs. The school also provides a rare, four-year graduation guarantee, meaning the university will make the classes needed for graduation available and guide you to an on-time graduation. While tuition to the Nebraska Wesleyan is steep, 98% of students receive financial aid.

The campus and the neighborhood and city surrounding the campus are known for being clean, safe, affordable, and with a lower-than-average unemployment rate. There is also an abundance of internships and jobs available with respectable companies, nonprofits, and state and local governmental organizations.

Nebraska Wesleyan University is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, a commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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University of Nebraska (Lincoln, NE)

The University of Nebraska is a public research university located in the state capital of Lincoln. Founded in 1869, it is the state’s oldest and largest university, and serves as the flagship school for the University of Nebraska system. The main campus comprises 612 acres, split into two separate campuses two miles apart. Statewide, the university owns over 45,000 acres.

Approximately 25,000 students are currently enrolled in the university, 48 percent of whom live on campus. The school is divided into 10 different Colleges: Agricultural Science and Natural Resources, Architecture, Arts and Sciences, Business Administration, Education and Human Sciences, Engineering, Fine and Performing Arts, Graduate Studies, Journalism and Mass Communications, and Law. Across those divisions, 150 undergraduate majors, 20 pre-professional programs, and 100 graduate school options are available.

Students and alumni of the University of Nebraska are some of the most dedicated sports fans in the country. The university’s teams, known as the Cornhuskers, are perennial Big Ten Conference competitors. The school also recognizes over 400 student organizations, 30 fraternities, and 16 sororities.

The University of Nebraska is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools.

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Carroll College (Helena, MT)

Founded in 1909, Carroll College is a private, Catholic liberal arts college located in the state capital of Helena. The school is dedicated to freedom of inquiry and information through investigation, reflection, sound judgment, and understanding.

Originally an all-men’s school called Mt. St. Charles College, the college acquired its present name in 1932, and has since become a coeducational institution. Today, women make up 59 percent of the student population.

The 1502 students currently enrolled in Carroll College are divided among nine departments and five pre-professional programs (pre-seminary, pre-dental, pre-pharmacy, pre-med, and pre-veterinary). More than 60 majors are available in the fields of liberal arts, life sciences, education, engineering, computer science, nursing, ROTC, and theology.

The average financial package is $22,000, and covers everything for the academic year except room and board. U.S. New & World Report has rated Carroll College as the #1 Regional College in the West and the #3 Best Value School in the western region.

Carroll College is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

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University of Montana (Missoula, MT)

The University of Montana is a public research university. Established in 1893, six years before Montana officially became a state, the university serves as the flagship school for the rest of the University of Montana System. The 220-acre main campus sits at the foot of Mount Sentinel, one of the most recognizable state landmarks—thanks to the huge M painted on the side of the mountain!

The campus is hosts nearly 15,000 students, and operates as a city within a city. It boasts its own restaurants, medical facilities, police station, postal services, banks, and postal code. The university is split up into five Colleges (Arts and Sciences, Education and Human Sciences, Forestry and Conservation, Health Professions and Biomedical Sciences, and Technology and Visual and Performing Arts) and three professional Schools (Business Administration, Law, and Journalism).

Extracurricular activities on campus include seven fraternities and four sororities, as well as scores of student organizations. The university is also known for its extensive study abroad opportunities, which include over 40 countries and 90 affiliated universities.

The University of Montana is accredited by the Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities.

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