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Votable lists that rank the top colleges and universities in the U.S. and around the world.

College

University of Virginia

This list of the most beautiful college campuses in the U.S. shows why the nicest college campuses are not just great places to earn a degree, but are also great to visit. It's true that beauty's in the eye of the beholder but these university campuses are undeniably gorgeous. The best college campuses earn their title due to a variety of factors, but the schools on this list have received recognition for being about the prettiest college campuses, from all across America.From the stunning views to the surrounding beaches, these colleges are top on aesthetics and natural beauty. Many are located in some of the <a href="/crowdranked-list/america_s-coolest-college-towns" target="_blank">coolest college towns in America</a>, too. 

Vote for the college campuses that you think are the prettiest, vote down any that you don't like and feel free to add any stunning campuses that are missing. You can also re-rank this list of the most beautiful college campuses any way you want.
What makes a college campus great? Certainly, looks are really important. The <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-dream-colleges" target="_blank">top "dream" colleges</a> like Stanford, Harvard and Yale are known for their stunningly beautiful, vast, green campuses. Universities take great pride in the way their campuses look - giving a strong first impression to potential new students and providing a lush, beautiful home for hard-working students during the year.
Want to check out some more great college lists? Check out these lists of colleges with the best <a href="/list/colleges-with-best-on-campus-housing/college-info" target"_blank"="">on-campus housing</a> and <a href="/crowdranked-list/universities-with-the-best-college-sports-programs" target="_blank">college sports programs</a>.

Northwestern University

This is a list of the greatest dream colleges and universities in the world. These aren't necessarily the best colleges - they're the places everyone wishes they'd attended to get their college education. From the best college campuses to the greatest party schools, this list is ranked by the wisdom of the crowd, so anyone can add their own dream colleges or vote on the schools below. Whether you're looking for the best colleges or looking back with nostalgia on your college experience, you can vote for your dream schools here with this college ranker list. These are the schools you would have attended if money (and maybe academic requirements) weren't something to worry about or consider. Everyone has that reach school that they always dreamed of attending but knew in reality wasn't an option. So live vicariously through this list and upvote the colleges and universities you would have gone to if you could have!

Ivy League

Legally Blonde

College days are some of the best (and worst) times of our lives. There&rsquo;s nothing more exciting than making it out of high school alive, moving out of the parent&rsquo;s house, drinking at parties all night, and you know, going to class (most of the time). Ivy League schools are the most prestigious in America, and while many students dream about attending, few are accepted each year in schools like Harvard University, some even served as a the location for filming. What are the best movies about Ivy League schools? Vote up the best films below and see where your favorites rank!

The movies on this list have been ranked as the all time best movies about Ivy League schools. Many of the movies featured here were filmed on location at one of the Ivies. There are a variety of genres represented, so there&#39;s sure to be an option for whatever you&#39;re feeling like watching.

This list features the best movies about Ivy League schools including, The Social Network, Legally Blonde, The Skulls, and Good Will Hunting. Vote up the best movies about the Ivy League below, then be sure to check out our list of <a href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/best-college-movies-ever" target="_blank">good college movies</a>.

University of Dallas

The best safety schools and universities aren't necessarily everyone's first choice, but are great fallback options when you're applying to college. What is a safety school? A good safety school is easier to get into than a top-tier university, and often has equally good academic programs. As college admissions are getting tougher and tougher, having a list of good safety schools that you wouldn't mind attending is always a good idea. What are the best safety schools for students&nbsp;to apply to? Whether you are looking for safety schools for students in California, New York, or close to your home state, you should always make sure to do plenty of research before you decide where to go. This list of the best backup colleges is ranked by the wisdom of the crowd, so anyone can add their picks or vote on the universities below.

Smarts

Celebrities who went to Ivy League schools are those smarty pants actors, musicians, and other famous people in the entertainment industry who at one point in their careers attended one of the most prestigious universities in the country. All of these stars scored big for their work in Hollywood but judging by their schooling, they would have likely been successful in other fields as well.Perhaps the most prestigious of them all, Harvard University, was once home to many of our <a href="/list/the-best-actors-working-today/bustermcdermott" target="_blank">favorite current actors</a> and TV stars such as Conan O' Brien, Matt Damon, <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/tommy-lee-jones-trivia-facts/lisa-waugh?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Tommy Lee Jones</a>, and Jack Lemmon. Yale University is no different with numerous famous alumni such as Meryl Streep, Edward Norton, James Franco, Claire Danes, Jodie Foster, Leiv Screiber, Paul Newman, and Anderson Cooper.Hundreds of famous people have attended other <a href="/list/all-ivy-league-schools/sportsyeah" target="_blank">Ivy League schools</a> too, like Brown University, which was attended by Emma Watson, John Krasinski, and Julie Bowed, or Columbia University, once a place where Kathryn Bigelow, Jake Gyllenhaal, Christopher Reeve and Casey Affleck formerly studied. To round out the eight Ivy League schools, Cornell University has its share of stars, like Bill Nye, Bill Maher, and Jane Lynch, as does Dartmouth College, with alumni such as Mindy Kaling, Aisha Tyler, and Mr. Rogers, Princeton University, formerly home to Brooke Shields, David Duchovny and Ethan Cohen, and the University of Pennsylvania, with esteemed former attendees such as John Legend, actress Elizabeth Banks, Donald Trump, and Candice Bergen.So while these celebrities who attended Ivy League schools might seen like some of your typical Hollywood airheads, all have high quality educations to fall back on should that whole TV, movies, or music thing not work out. Not a bad plan B when you have a prestigious degree! Can you imagine these celebs as students? Who do you think are actually educated graduates?&nbsp;Share your thoughts on these celebrity Ivy Leagers&nbsp;and&nbsp;famous college grads.

This list of famous people who went to law school is loosely ranked by fame and popularity. Several famous actors, musicians, and athletes have attended law school. Some of these celebrities studied law before they were famous while others waited until they retired to focus on higher education. Several <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/greatest-former-child-stars/carlybobarly?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">former child stars</a> went on to become successful lawyers.Who is the most famous person who studied law? Nelson Mandela tops this list. The former President of South America attended&nbsp;law school at the University of Witwatersrand.Many child&nbsp;actors went on to study law. &quot;The Wonder Years&quot; cast member Josh Saviano received his law degree from Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law in New York. The Goonies actor Jeff Cohen received his law degree from UCLA School of Law in 2000. He now works as an entertainment lawyer.Are you surprised that so many celebrities have studied law? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Schools/Colleges

This is a transparent and simpler ranking than U.S. News, Forbes, etc.&nbsp; You&rsquo;ll notice the term &ldquo;Ivy&quot; throughout, though the actual Ivy League comprises eight universities. However the Ivy League started as an athletic conference that happened to be made up of some of the oldest and most prestigious schools.&nbsp;

Since then, the term &quot;Ivy&quot; expanded to mean a larger (but still small) number of schools offering prestige, academic rigor, and tremendous educational opportunity.&nbsp; You&#39;ll see references to other groups often labeled Ivies such as the NESCAC (largely synonymous with <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/colleges-ranked-northeast-ivies-little-ivies-and-elites/admiralcrunch?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the Little Ivies</a>), the UAA, the Patriot League, and the Centennial Conference that we around academic excellence. &nbsp; Experts have also labeled schools Public Ivies, Hidden Ivies, Catholic Ivies, or the &quot;Magnolia League.&quot; &nbsp;Almost all of those plus other elite institutions scored high enough, using the formula below, to be included.

The factors considered in scoring: freshman retention, graduation rate, % of classes with fewer than 20 students, % of classes with more than 50 students, and % of alumni donations.

I&rsquo;m not a professional statistician or education expert, so this system is not perfect.&nbsp; However, experts say these metrics are strong indicators of student happiness, the happiness of graduates with their experience, the seriousness your student&#39;s classmates will take his or her education, and the school&#39;s dedication to providing personal attention to your student.

A sample score: Fauxville State University: Freshmen Retention: 75%, Graduation Rate: 50%, Classes 20 &amp; under: 33%, Classes 50 &amp; over: 24%, freshmen in the top 10% of their graduating class 20%, and alumni giving: 10%.

&nbsp;Fauxville State&rsquo;s score would be 75 + 50 + 33 &ndash; 24 + 20 + 10 = 164.

A perfect score would be 500. This list includes schools that scored 300 or above. Where schools earned a tie score, the school with the higher percentage of students who graduated in the top tenth of their high school class will be listed first.

Only about 8% of four-year colleges score 300 or above. Because there are still fantastic schools that didn&#39;t quite make the list, I&#39;ll expand the regional lists.

Schools scoring a freshman retention below 75%, a graduation rate below 50%, classes with 20 students or fewer below 33%, classes with 50 students or more above 24%, are not included even if the total score is above 300. There&rsquo;s no minimum for students not in the top 10% of their high school class nor alumni giving.

For what is likely the best evaluation, my understanding is experts consider the <a href="http://nsse.iub.edu/">National Survey of Student Engagement</a> (NSSE) to be the most valuable analysis of undergraduate colleges.&nbsp;

I believe this list is complete. If you feel a school has been omitted or a listing is incorrect, I will be happy to recheck. Thanks for reading!

University of Portland

List of the best <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-colleges-for-b-students-ranked/admiralcrunch?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">colleges for B students</a>. A safety school is always good to have in mind when applying to college -- especially as a C student. Underachievers would be lucky to achieve acceptance to one of these universities. Average students should check out these rankings to create their own list of top schools for underachievers. If you partied too hard in high school, or just never got into the material as much as the nerds did, one of these easier schools with a wider acceptance rate could be the perfect fit. Fill out the Common Application and reach for <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-dream-colleges?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">your dream school</a> on the coolest campus in the country -- but stay safe and get that app ready for one of these respected safety schools. You don't have to get straight A's in every subject; you just need a little bit of drive and a good education. The professors at these places will expect the underachieving type so you will be comfortable, but why not surprise them and study extra hard? These are great schools for B students and the colleges on this list are more fitting for you as a student than any Ivy League university could hope.

Yale University

This blog features all Ivy League colleges and is ranked from the highest-rated universities to the lowest-rated ones, based on votes from the Ranker community.&nbsp;The famous Ivy League is comprised of eight different colleges in the Northeastern United States and has connotations of academic excellence, a careful selection process of students and social elitism. But which Ivy League school is the best of the best?Originally the phrase “Ivy League” referred to as a sports collegiate athletic conference but later broadened to include superiority in academics, with a focus on educational philosophy inherent to the America’s oldest schools. In fact, seven of the eight Ivy League colleges were founded in the Colonial Period, with the exception of Cornell, which was founded in 1865.<a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/all-ivy-league-schools/sportsyeah?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Ivy League schools</a> are typically viewed internationally as some of the most prestigious in the world and all eight universities placed within the top twenty of the 2014 university rankings in U.S. News and World Report. This list features all eight Ivy League Colleges. Cast your votes for which of these great schools are the best!

Evergreen State College

Weird college mascots abound across America's colleges. Whether they're doing silly sideline dances or showing up on university apparel, school funny mascots are a huge part of a college's identity, and everyone seems to have an opinion on them -- especially when it comes to the dumb college mascots. This list of stupid mascots is ranked by the wisdom of the crowd, so you know that these are the most hated mascots in the country. Show your fighting spirit by adding your own picks, or voting on the list below.Check out more lists like <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepiest-sports-mascots/the-round-mound">Mascots that Will Give you Nightmares</a>&nbsp;and&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/creepiest-company-mascots/werner-brandes?var=2&amp;utm_expid=16418821-126.8pyCWsFxRmurmM1_hVCf8Q.1&amp;utm_referrer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F">Creepiest Company Mascots</a>.<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/allen-iverson-tattoos/tat-fancy"> </a>

Several famous actors, politicians, athletes, and musicians have furthered their education by earning doctorates and Ph.D.s. Some of these celebrities earned Ph.D.s in the arts, while others pursued scientific degrees. One famous comedic actress has a Ph.D. in neuroscience.&nbsp;This list of famous people with Ph.D.s is loosely ranked by fame and popularity.&nbsp;Who is the most famous person with a Ph.D.? Martin Luther King, Jr. tops our list. The civil rights activist earned a Ph.D. in systematic theology from Boston University in 1955. His dissertation was entitled &quot;A Comparison of the Conceptions of God in the Thinking of Paul Tillich and Henry Nelson Wieman.&quot;&quot;The Big Bang Theory&quot;&nbsp;actress Mayim Bialik earned a Ph.D. in neuroscience from UCLA. She wrote the book,&nbsp;Beyond the Sling: A Real-Life Guide to Raising Confident, Loving Children the Attachment Parenting Way in 2012.Are you surprised that so many celebrities have earned Ph.D.s? Share your thoughts in the comments section.

Money

The total outstanding student loan debt in the US is $1.2 trillion—chances are that&nbsp;after you graduate college,&nbsp;you'll have to pay a decent amount in&nbsp;student loans. That's why it's important&nbsp;to choose one of these college majors that make the most money&nbsp;so that you'll&nbsp;earn&nbsp;enough to afford said bills. You'll want to choose a college major wisely to avoid being stuck <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/most-useless-college-majors/school-buddy" target="_blank">with a useless degree</a>&nbsp;in today's competitive job market. These highest-earning college majors are sure to score you a job with a decent salary post-graduation.

More and more parents hope to find the attention a small college can give to an undergraduate student at a public school price.&nbsp;&nbsp; Here is a list of highly regarded public colleges and universities. (It may be incomplete.)&nbsp;To be on this list, undergraduate population should currently be under 10,000. (College of Charleston would have been on it, but is slightly over.)&nbsp; This list may not be complete.&nbsp; (Note: This list was recalculated 09/2013 based on the same formula I've used on other college ratings lists.)Here are the factors used in scoring: % of freshman retention, graduation rate, % of classes with fewer than 20 students, % of classes with more than 50 students, and % of alumni donations. &nbsp;I’m not a professional statistician or education expert, so this system is not perfect.&nbsp; However, experts say these&nbsp; metrics are strong indicators of student happiness, the happiness of graduates with their experience, the seriousness your student's classmates will take his or her education, and the school's dedication to providing personal attention to your student. &nbsp;&nbsp;A sample score: Fauxville State University: Freshmen Retention: 75%, Graduation Rate: 50%, Classes 20 &amp; under: 33%, Classes 50 &amp; over: 24%, freshmen in the top 10% of their graduating class 20%, and alumni giving: 10%. &nbsp;&nbsp;Fauxville State’s score would be 75 + 50 + 33 – 24 + 20 + 10 = 164.&nbsp; A perfect score would be 500.&nbsp; This list includes schools that scored 170 or above&nbsp;Where schools earned a tie score, the school with the higher percentage of students who graduated in the top tenth of their high school class will be listed first. &nbsp; Since the National military academies are unlikely to be typical of what someone interested in a small college experience would look for, they aren't on this list.&nbsp; But be aware that they are ranked among the top liberal arts schools in the country, public or private. Special mention also goes to the Macaulay Honors College in New York City.&nbsp; Since, for now, it's entirely integrated into the other eight city universities, it's not clear how similar it is to a small college experience.&nbsp; There's also not much information yet available at the newest small state university in California, UC/Merced.&nbsp; Most, if not all, of these selections are listed in Forbes Best Values in Public Education. If you are familiar with US News' rankings, you know there are flaws that make comparisons difficult.&nbsp; But often a school ranked below 50 on the list of National Liberal Art colleges will have a more impressive &quot;brag sheet&quot; than schools ranked much higher on regional lists.&nbsp; Feel free to leave a comment if there are other schools you feel should be considered for inclusion.&nbsp;

&nbsp;

(Other lists you may like: <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/-and-quot_ivy-leagues-and-quot_-_academic-powerhouse-leagues_/admiralcrunch">The Prestige College Leagues</a>, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-colleges-and-_34_western-ivies-and-little-ivies-and-_34_/admiralcrunch">Best Western Colleges</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/colleges-ranked-southern-and-quot_ivies-and-little-ivies-and-quot_/admiralcrunch?ref=profile_own" target="_blank">Best Southern Colleges</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/midwest-colleges-ranked-elite-universities-and-liberal-arts-colleges/admiralcrunch?ref=profile_own" target="_blank">Best Midwestern Colleges</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/roger_s-top-25-women_s-colleges-in-usa/admiralcrunch?ref=profile_own" target="_blank">Best Women&#39;s Colleges</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-catholic-colleges-and-universities-in-the-u-s-/admiralcrunch?ref=profile_own" target="_blank">Best Catholic Colleges</a>,&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-public-colleges-and-universities-in-the-u-s-2014-15/admiralcrunch">Best Public Colleges</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/america-and-_39_s-best-small-public-colleges/admiralcrunch?ref=profile_own" target="_blank">Best Small Public Colleges</a>, <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/best-colleges-for-b-students-ranked/admiralcrunch?ref=profile_own" target="_blank">Best Colleges for B Students</a>,&nbsp;&nbsp;<a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/best-and-top-rated-hispanic-serving-colleges-and-universities/admiralcrunch">Best Hispanic-Serving Colleges</a>, <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/top-rated-historically-black-colleges-and-universities/admiralcrunch">Best Historically Black/Black-Serving Colleges</a>)&nbsp;

Here&#39;s a ranking of top Northeast schools including the Ivies, Little Ivies and other elite schools based on fewer variables/more transparency than US News or Forbes.&nbsp; This list includes New England, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Maryland and DC. (Carnegie-Mellon is ranked with Midwest schools as its main academic rivals are in the Midwest.)&nbsp;

Factors considered in score: freshman retention, graduation rate, % of classes with fewer than 20 students, % of classes with more than 50 students, % of students graduating in the top tenth of their high school class, and % of alumni donations.

While no system is perfect nor is exact ranking considered truly important by most college experts, these metrics are considered strong indicators of student happiness, the happiness of graduates with their experience, the seriousness your student&#39;s classmates will take his or her education, and the school&#39;s dedication to providing personal attention to your student.

sample score: Fauxville State University:&nbsp;Freshmen Retention: 75%, Graduation Rate: 50%, Classes 20 &amp; under: 33%, Classes 50 &amp; over: 24%, freshmen in the top 10% of their graduating class 20%, and alumni giving: 10%.

Fauxville State&rsquo;s score would be 75 + 50 + 33 &ndash; 24 + 20 + 10 = 164.

A perfect score would be 500. The national&nbsp;list includes schools that scored 300 or above. Only about 8% of four-year colleges score that high. &nbsp;This Northeast&nbsp;regional lists has been&nbsp;expanded to include schools scoring 250 and above.

A school with freshman retention below 75%, a graduation rate below 50%, classes with 20 students or fewer below 33%, classes with 50 students or more above 24% would not included even if the total score is above 300. &nbsp;There&#39;s no minimum for alumni giving. &nbsp;

Flaws with this system:&nbsp; Data came from multiple sources and, like US News, may not always reflect statistics from the same calendar year. I&#39;m not an expert statistician nor an expert on college experience quality, just a researcher/hobbyist.

For the best evaluation, many experts consider the National Survey of Student Engagement the most valuable analysis of undergraduate colleges. &nbsp;

This list is possibly not complete. If you feel a school has been omitted or a listing is incorrect, I will be happy to recheck. Thanks for reading!

&nbsp;

Fictional Places

While many high school seniors consider their <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-dream-colleges">top dream colleges</a> as application deadlines near, other consider the colleges of their dreams, the best fictional colleges from movies and television. These are not real colleges, but some of these fake colleges sure sound better than some of the other choices in the US and abroad for college. From the hard partying antics of Animal House's Faber College to the science and leadership focus of Star Trek's Starfleet Academy, there are myriad colleges better than the ones you could ever dream of being accepted to and this list is here to rank the greatest fictional universities and colleges.What is the top fictional college? What fake colleges party the hardest? You vote and decide! If you think the students of Community would take out the frat boys at Old School's Harrison University any day, make sure to vote for them.

A ranking of top Midwestern colleges comparable to the Ivies, Little Ivies and other elite schools based on fewer variables/more transparency than US News or Forbes. This list includes Ohio,Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, Minnesota, the Dakotas, Nebraska, Missouri, and Kansas. Because Carnegie-Mellon is usually considered by students looking at other Midwestern schools, it's listed here despite being in Pennsylvania.Factors considered in score: freshman retention, graduation rate, % of classes with fewer than 20 students, % of classes with more than 50 students, and % of alumni donations. While no system is perfect nor is exact ranking considered truly important by most college experts, these metrics are considered strong indicators of student happiness, the happiness of graduates with their experience, the seriousness your student's classmates will take his or her education, and the school's dedication to providing personal attention to your student.&nbsp;A sample score: Fauxville State University: Freshmen Retention: 75%, Graduation Rate: 50%, Classes 20 &amp; under: 33%, Classes 50 &amp; over: 24%, freshmen in the top 10% of their graduating class 20%, and alumni giving: 10%. Fauxville State’s score would be 75 + 50 + 33 – 24 + 20 + 10 = 164.&nbsp;A perfect score would be 500. This list initially included only schools that scored 300 and above. Only about 8% of four-year colleges score that high. &nbsp;Since then, this particular list has&nbsp;been&nbsp;expanded to include schools scoring above 260 so the total schools listed on the four regional lists would be about 200.&nbsp;A school with freshman retention below 75%, a graduation rate below 50%, classes with 20 students or fewer below 33%, classes with 50 students or more above 24%, or alumni giving below 10% would not included even if the total score is above 300. (There’s no minimum for students not in the top 10% of their high school class.) &nbsp;Flaws with this system: Data came from multiple sources and, like US News, may not always reflect statistics from the same calendar year. I'm not an expert statistician nor an expert on college experience quality, just a researcher/hobbyist.&nbsp;For the best evaluation, my understanding is experts consider the National Survey of Student Engagement the most valuable analysis of undergraduate colleges.&nbsp;I believe this list is complete. If you feel a school has been omitted or a listing is incorrect, I will be happy to recheck. Thanks for reading!

Colleges

A ranking of top Southern schools comparable to the Ivies, Little Ivies and other elite schools based on fewer variables/more transparency than US News or Forbes. This list considers schools in Virginia, the Carolinas, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas,Tennessee and Kentucky. Rice University is listed here as it&#39;s usually considered with Southern schools despite being in Texas. &nbsp;

The official Ivy League comprises eight universities, none in the South, and there are&nbsp; three traditional <a href="https://www.ranker.com/list/colleges-ranked-northeast-ivies-little-ivies-and-elites/admiralcrunch?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">Little Ivy colleges</a>. However, the term &quot;Ivy&quot; has expanded to mean a larger (but still small) number of schools offering prestige, academic rigor, and tremendous educational opportunity.&nbsp; You&#39;ll see references to other groups of schools often labeled Ivies such as two athletic leagues, the UAA and the NESCAC (largely synonymous with <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/northeast-colleges-ranked-ivies-little-ivies-and-elites/admiralcrunch?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">the Little Ivies</a>) that were deliberately organized around academic excellence.&nbsp; Experts have also labeled schools Public Ivies, Hidden Ivies, or Southern Ivies.

Factors considered in score: freshman retention, graduation rate, % of classes with fewer than 20 students, % of classes with more than 50 students, and % of alumni donations.

While no system is perfect nor is exact ranking viewed as truly important by most college experts, these metrics are considered strong indicators of student happiness, the happiness of graduates with their experience, the seriousness your student&#39;s classmates will take his or her education, and the school&#39;s dedication to providing personal attention to your student.

&nbsp;A sample score: Fauxville State University: Freshmen Retention: 75%, Graduation Rate: 50%, Classes 20 &amp; under: 33%, Classes 50 &amp; over: 24%, freshmen in the top 10% of their graduating class 20%, and alumni giving: 10%.

&nbsp;Fauxville State&rsquo;s score would be 75 + 50 + 33 &ndash; 24 + 20 + 10 = 164.

A perfect score would be 500. This national list includes schools that scored 300 or above. Only about 8% of four-year colleges score that high. For greater depth, this regional list has been expanded to schools scoring 250 and above. &nbsp;

Differences from US News include: Exclusion of consideration of peer opinion on reputation, acceptance rate, and standardized test scores.

Differences from Forbes include: exclusion of student satisfaction with instructors &amp; reporting of average alumni salaries. Those factors are based on small or self-selecting data pools, and likely the main reason why Forbes rankings are volatile and less useful than U.S. News. {Examples: Westminster College was #38 in 2008 and #126 in 2009. Bates was #45 in 2008 and #113 in 2009. Union College (NY) was #99 in 2008 and #26 in 2009.) Stanford&#39;s president pointed out there is no way a college&#39;s quality can change that significantly in one year, so such rankings are a sign of bad journalism, not a bad school.

Flaws with this system: Data came from multiple sources and, like US News, may not always reflect statistics from the same calendar year. I&#39;m not an expert statistician nor an expert on college experience quality, just a researcher/hobbyist.

For the best evaluation, my understanding is experts consider the National Survey of Student Engagement the most valuable analysis of undergraduate colleges.

This list may not be complete. If you feel a school has been omitted or a listing is incorrect, I will be happy to recheck. Thanks for reading!

&nbsp;

Real Genius

Any true college student should watch each of these college movies at least once. However we recommend watching each movie several times in order to be able to quote them on command. Some are so classic they're being made into musicals. These are the <a href="http://www.ranker.com/crowdranked-list/the-top-dream-colleges?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">best college</a> movies ever and they feature things that every college student would understand: booze, ditching class and chasing the opposite sex. These are movies every college student should see at least once. If you are out of college and you miss it, these films about college life may just transport you back to your student days. These are the best college movies ever.What is your favorite university film?&nbsp;Also be sure to see Ranker's list of <a href="http://www.ranker.com/list/all-college-movies-or-list-of-college-movies/all-genre-movies-lists">All College Movies</a>.

Sweet Briar College

This is a list about the best women’s colleges in the US. This list answers the question, “Where can I find the top all-girl’s college list?” You’re a confident woman in search of a quality education without distraction. Your ultimate <a class="edS-cl" href="https://www.ranker.com/list/most-important-life-goals-list/samantha-dillinger?ref=internalCrossLinking_keyword">goals in life</a> are to become educated in your field of choice and to be the most successful career-person you can be. The best colleges out there offer an education that is custom-tailored to your needs. The top women’s colleges provide a place of academic excellence that can help launch you into your career. Women’s academics are important for those who are serious about their learning environment; the best women’s universities will help you achieve success in earning your degree. While a single sex college isn’t for everyone; statistics have shown that the best colleges are those that offer a life dedicated to the cause of learning without distraction. Women hoping to launch a career successfully can benefit by selecting a school/college that offers this advantage. With the unique advantage of being able to focus solely on your studies, you can find your career launching pad at any one of these universities for women. Whether your desired major is in the Art and Design, Medical or Education field there is a college available that will be a custom-fit to your academic needs.

College isn't for everybody. Some don't find specialized schooling necessary for carving out their dream careers. Instead, they opt to work as hard as they can perfecting their own craft without the help of private or public schooling.&nbsp;So what about community college? For many, community college can be a stepping stone towards further education at a four-year institution. For others, it can be a sign that a university education isn't necessary to accomplish what they want to achieve. While some celebrities who attended community college rave about their experience, others didn't stick around long enough to garner the same enthusiasm. The celebrities listed below represent a broad spectrum of opinions on the community college experience: some dropped out, some found success at four-year institutions, and some stuck around to see what community college education had to offer. To understand these different experiences, here are 17 celebrities who went to community college.

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List of the best colleges for architecture. Are you the next Frank Lloyd Wright? Will you be designing the next great museum -- or will there one day be a museum dedicated to your designs? An education at one of these architecture schools might be your ticket. These are the best architecture colleges, ranked on this page in accordance with the best architectural programs for undergrads. Before you get your Master's degree and intern at some swanky architecture firm, students better major as undergraduate collegiate at one of these schools. If you are approaching your senior year of high school, your mind might be on your senior year of college -- in which case, you're asking &quot;what are the best architecture schools I can apply to?&quot; There's no cost -- oh wait, there is an application fee -- to fill out that Common App for the best colleges for architects. Go to USC and explore the SoCal architectural design of the urban world. Or attend Notre Dame and sketch the gorgeous cathedrals and landscaping of rural Indiana. What is so awesome about these architectural colleges is that undergrads will not only be able to study in the classroom, but also walking around the campus should provide an education in itself. Each of these universities are located in some of the greatest cities in the worlds.

Best Architecture Colleges | List of Top Schools for Architects

The Best Colleges for Architecture

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Cooper Union

The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, commonly referred to simply as Cooper Union, is a privately funded college located in Cooper Square in the East Village neighborhood of Manhattan, New York City. Inspired in 1830 when Peter Cooper learned about the government-supported École Polytechnique in France, Cooper Union was established in 1859. The school was built on a radical new model of American higher education based on founder Peter Cooper's fundamental belief that an education "equal to the best technology schools [then] established" should be accessible to those who qualify, independent of their race, religion, sex, wealth or social status, and should be "open and free to all". The Cooper Union previously granted each admitted student a full-tuition scholarship; as of April 23, 2013, due to financial concerns, that policy has been eliminated beginning with the class entering in the Fall of 2014, although every incoming student receives at the very least a fifty-percent merit scholarship.
The college is divided into three schools: the Irwin S. Chanin School of Architecture, the School of Art, and the Albert Nerken School of Engineering.

Rhode Island School of Design

Rhode Island School of Design is a fine arts and design college located in Providence, in the U.S. state of Rhode Island. It has been ranked among the world's best art and design universities and usually alternates or ties with Yale University as the top art school in the country.
Founded in 1877, it is located at the base of College Hill; the RISD campus is contiguous with the Brown University campus. The two institutions share social, academic, and community resources and offer joint courses. Applicants to RISD are required to complete RISD's famous two-drawing "hometest", one of which involves the trademark RISD bicycle drawing.
It includes about 350 faculty and curators, and 400 staff members. About 1,880 undergraduates and 370 graduate students enroll from all over the United States and 50 other countries. It offers 16 undergraduate majors and 17 graduate majors. RISD is a member of the Association of Independent Colleges of Art and Design, a consortium of thirty-six leading art schools in the United States. It also maintains over 80,000 works of art in the RISD Museum.

Cept University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

Ashima Sapra Banker

Roger Williams University

Roger Williams University, commonly abbreviated as RWU, is a private, coeducational American liberal arts university located on 140 acres in Bristol, Rhode Island, on Mt. Hope Bay. Founded in 1956, it was named for theologian and Rhode Island cofounder Roger Williams. The university has no religious affiliation.

Hampton University

Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded in 1868 by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen. In 1878 it established a program for teaching Native Americans, which lasted until 1923.

Iowa State University

Iowa State University of Science and Technology, more commonly known as Iowa State University, Iowa State, or ISU, a Land grant of the Iowa university system, is a public land-grant and space-grant research university located in Ames, Iowa, United States. Until 1959 it was known as the Iowa State College of Agriculture and Mechanic Arts.
Founded in 1858 and coeducational from its start, Iowa State became the nation’s first designated land-grant institution when the Iowa Legislature accepted the provisions of the 1862 Morrill Act on September 11, 1862, making Iowa the first state in the nation to do so. Iowa State's academic offerings are administered today through eight colleges, including the graduate college, that offer over 100 bachelor's degree programs, 112 master's degree programs, and 83 at the Ph.D. level, plus a professional degree program in Veterinary Medicine.
ISU is classified as a Research University with very high research activity by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. The university is a group member of the prestigious Association of American Universities and the Universities Research Association, and a charter member of the Big 12 Conference.

University of Arizona

The University of Arizona is a public research university located in Tucson, Arizona, United States. UA was the first university in the state of Arizona, founded in 1885. The university includes the University of Arizona College of Medicine, which operates a medical center in Tucson, and a separate 4-year M.D. college in downtown Phoenix. As of Fall 2014, total enrollment was 42,236 students. The University of Arizona is governed by the Arizona Board of Regents. The mission of the University of Arizona is, "To improve the prospects and enrich the lives of the people of Arizona and the world through education, research, creative expression, and community and business partnerships." Arizona is one of the elected members of the Association of American Universities and is the only representative from the state of Arizona to this group.
Known as the Arizona Wildcats, the athletic teams are members of the Pacific-12 Conference in the NCAA. UA athletes have won national titles in several sports, most notably men's basketball, baseball, and softball. The official colors of the university and its athletic teams are Cardinal Red and Navy Blue.

Drexel University

Drexel University is a private research university with three campuses in Philadelphia and one in Sacramento, California. It was founded in 1891 by Anthony J. Drexel, a noted financier and philanthropist. Drexel offers over 70 full-time undergraduate programs and accelerated degrees. At the graduate level, the university offers over 100 masters, doctoral, and professional programs, many available part-time.
Drexel is best known for the cooperative education program. Drexel's co-op is regularly ranked as one of the best co-op programs in the United States. Participating students have a variety of opportunities to gain up to 18-months of paid full-time working experience before graduation. The university has a large network of more than 1,600 corporate, governmental, and non-profit partners in 28 states and 25 international locations. The employers include top ranked multinational law firms, banks, corporations, and many Fortune 500 companies, such as Goldman Sachs, Microsoft, and Procter & Gamble.

Southern Polytechnic State University

Southern Polytechnic State University was a public, co-educational, state university in Marietta, Georgia, United States approximately 20 miles northwest of downtown Atlanta. It was part of the University System of Georgia and called itself "Georgia's Technology University."
The university was established in 1948 as The Technical Institute in Chamblee, Georgia. The first classes were held with 116 students. It was renamed the Southern Technical Institute in 1949 and moved to its present campus in Marietta, Georgia in 1962. It went through another name change in 1987 and became the Southern College of Technology. In the summer of 1996, the university adopted its current name. It is one among a small group of polytechnic universities in the United States that tend to be primarily devoted to the instruction of technical arts and applied sciences.
On November 1, 2013, plans were announced to consolidate Southern Polytechnic into nearby Kennesaw State University. On January 6, 2015, the Georgia Board of Regents of the University System of Georgia approved the consolidation of Southern Poly and Kennesaw State.

Florida A&M University

Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, commonly known as Florida A&M University or FAMU, is a public, historically black university in Tallahassee, Florida. Founded in 1887, it is the third largest historically black university in the United States by enrollment. It is a member institution of the State University System of Florida, as well as one of the state's land grant universities, and is accredited to award baccalaureate, master's and doctoral degrees by the Commission on Colleges of the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools. The university is a member-school of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund.

Anant National University, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India

City College of New York

The City College of the City University of New York is a senior college of the City University of New York in New York City. It is the oldest of City University's twenty-four institutions of higher learning. City College's 35-acre Manhattan campus along Convent Avenue from 130th to 141st Streets is on a hill overlooking Harlem; its neo-Gothic campus was mostly designed by George Browne Post, and many of its buildings are landmarks.
CCNY was the first free public institution of higher education in the United States and is considered the flagship campus of the CUNY public university system. The college counts 10 winners of the Nobel Prize among its alumni, the latest being Harlem native John O'Keefe.

List of the best colleges for architecture. Are you the next Frank Lloyd Wright? Will you be designing the next great museum -- or will there one day be a ... (Page 2)