#7 Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Massachusetts Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1861. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,528, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 168 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. Massachusetts Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 7. Its tuition and fees are $45,016 (2014-15).

MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from downtown Boston. Only freshmen students are required to live on campus, but about 70 percent of students choose to remain on campus during their four years. MIT offers housing in one of the coolest dorms in the country, commonly called "The Sponge," designed by architect Steven Holl. The MIT Engineers boast more than 30 NCAA Division III teams, and their mascot is a beaver, which MIT chose because of its "remarkable engineering and mechanical skill and its habits of industry." Each class designs a unique ring called the "Brass Rat" that is revealed during sophomore year, a tradition that dates back to 1929.

MIT focuses on scientific and technological research and is divided into five schools and one college. Among its graduate schools are the highly ranked School of Engineering and Sloan School of Management, in addition to strong programs in economics, psychology, biology, chemistry, earth sciences, physics and mathematics. Research expenditures at MIT have typically exceeded $650 million each year, with funding coming from government agencies such as the Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Defense. The "Independent Activities Program," a four-week term between fall and spring semesters in January, offers special courses, lectures, competitions and projects. Distinguished alumni include Apollo 11 astronaut Buzz Aldrin, former U.N. Secretary General Kofi Annan and Federal Reserve Bank Chairman Ben Bernanke.

#8 Duke University

Duke University is a private institution that was founded in 1838. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,646, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 8,709 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Duke University's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 8. Its tuition and fees are $47,488 (2014-15).

Durham, North Carolina, which surrounds Duke's campus, offers a variety of activities including shopping, dining and entertainment. Its "Bull City" nickname comes from the Blackwell Tobacco Company's Bull Durham Tobacco. Students at Duke are required to live on campus for their first three years, and freshmen live together on the East Campus. The Duke Blue Devils maintain a fierce rivalry with the University of North Carolina—Chapel Hill Tar Heels and are best known for their outstanding men's basketball program, one of the top five winningest college basketball programs in the country. Approximately 30 percent of the student body is affiliated with Greek life, which encompasses more than 30 fraternities and sororities.

Duke University is divided into 10 schools and colleges, many of which serve both undergraduate and graduate students. Its graduate programs include the highly ranked Fuqua School of Business, Pratt School of Engineering, School of Law, School of Medicine, Sanford School of Public Policy and School of Nursing. Duke also offers graduate programs through its well-respected Divinity School and Nicholas School of the Environment. Duke's most esteemed undergraduate scholarship, the Robertson Scholars Program, provides approximately 18 students from each class with a monetary reward and the opportunity to study for a semester at UNC-Chapel Hill. Notable alumni include Melinda Gates, co-founder of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation; NBA player Carlos Boozer; and former U.S. Congressman and three-time presidential candidate Ron Paul.

#9 University of Pennsylvania

University of Pennsylvania is a private institution that was founded in 1740. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,712, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 302 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Pennsylvania's ranking in the 2015 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 8. Its tuition and fees are $47,668 (2014-15).

The University of Pennsylvania, located in Philadelphia, was founded by Benjamin Franklin. The Penn Quakers have more than 25 NCAA Division I sports that compete in the Ivy League, and are noted for successful basketball and lacrosse teams. Penn offers housing in more than 10 College Houses, but many students live in the numerous off-campus apartments and houses available. More than 25 percent of the student body is involved in Greek life, which encompasses about 45 fraternities and sororities. The school also offers a number of clubs and organizations, ranging from performance groups like the Latin and Ballroom dance club to student publications such as the Penn Political Review. Penn works closely with the West Philadelphia area through community service and advocacy groups.

Penn has 12 schools: Four offer undergraduate and graduate studies and eight offer only graduate studies. Penn's highly ranked graduate programs include its Wharton School, School of Education, School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Law School and School of Medicine. Penn's other notable graduate programs include its Design School and School of Dental Medicine. Penn, though secular, has a strong religious life with its Hillel for Jewish students, Penn Newman Catholic Center and InterVarsity Christian Fellowship. More than 2,000 students each year participate in international study programs offered in more than 70 countries around the world. Notable Penn alumni include former U.S. President William Henry Harrison, poet William Carlos Williams and businessman Donald Trump.

#10 California Institute of Technology

California Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1891. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 997, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 124 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. California Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 10. Its tuition and fees are $41,538 (2013-14).

Caltech, which focuses on science and engineering, is located in Pasadena, California, approximately 11 miles northeast of Los Angeles. Social and academic life at Caltech centers on the eight student houses, which the school describes as "self-governing living groups." Student houses incorporate an admired Caltech tradition: dinners served by student waiters. Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but around 80 percent of students remain in their house for all four years. The Caltech Beavers have a number of NCAA Division III teams that compete in the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference. Integral to student life is the Honor Code, which dictates that "No member of the Caltech community shall take unfair advantage of any other member of the Caltech community."

In addition to its undergraduate studies, Caltech offers top graduate programs in engineering, biology, chemistry, computer science, earth sciences, mathematics and physics. Caltech participates in a significant amount of research, receiving grants from institutions such as NASA, the National Science Foundation and the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Caltech maintains a strong tradition of pranking with the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, another top-ranked science and technology university. Companies such as Intel, Compaq and Hotmail were founded by Caltech alumni. Famous film director Frank Capra also graduated from Caltech.

#78 Indiana University--Bloomington

  
Indiana University--Bloomington is a public institution that was founded in 1820. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,371, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,926 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Indiana University--Bloomington's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 75. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,209 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,350 (2013-14).

No one quite knows what a “Hoosier” is, but a murky definition does not stop students at Indiana University— Bloomington from fiercely identifying with the term. The school’s sports teams are notorious competitors in the NCAA Division I Big Ten Conference, and, since Indiana University does not have a mascot, all teams are known simply as Hoosiers. There are more than 650 student organizations on campus, and more than 5,000 students go Greek in the school’s large community of fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus unless they live at home with their parents, are over the age of 21, are married, or are pledging a fraternity or sorority. The Indiana campus is tobacco free, though students may smoke in their own vehicles. The Midwestern college town of Bloomington, or B-town, as it is known to many, is home to a lively cultural scene. Arts and entertainment performances, such as the annual Lotus World Music & Arts Festival, take place year round. Students can explore the surrounding area through the Indiana University Outdoor Adventures program, which coordinates boating, caving, and rock and gorge climbing trips. Active students can compete in the annual Little 500, the largest collegiate bike race in the nation and a fundraiser for university scholarships, or spend 36 hours on their feet in the IU Dance Marathon, a fundraiser for Riley Hospital for Children in Indianapolis.

Among IU Bloomington’s many graduate-level programs are the highly ranked Kelley School of Business, School of Education, and Maurer School of Law. Indiana’s law school is an innovative program renowned for its first-year team-based approach, a diversion from the typical legal education. Distinguished Indiana alumni include composer and songwriter Hoagy Carmichael, who penned “Georgia on My Mind;” screenwriter and producer Jeri Taylor, who wrote for Star Trek; and famed dieter Jared Fogle, who served as a spokesman for the Subway sandwich chain.

#79 Marquette University

 Marquette University is a private institution that was founded in 1881. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,293, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 98 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Marquette University's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 75. Its tuition and fees are $34,640 (2013-14).

Marquette University, a private Catholic, Jesuit school, is in walking distance of downtown Milwaukee, a burgeoning city known for its restaurants, zoo, and athletics. The Marquette Golden Eagles are members of the NCAA Division I Big East Conference and are especially competitive in basketball. The men’s basketball team plays in the Bradley Center, which is also home to the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. There is no varsity football team, but enthusiasts of the sport can play at the club and intramural levels. (Snow football is an intramural sport at Marquette, too.) Other unique sports options include coed club waterskiing and wakeboarding and intramural innertube water polo. Students have about 250 clubs and organizations to get involved in, and about 10 percent of the student body takes part in the Greek system, which includes more than 20 fraternities and sororities. To kick off each spring semester, the university holds the Winter Flurry, a week of games and activities that culminates in a semiformal dance known as Snowball. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus, unless they reside locally with a family member or guardian. Lake Michigan is a mile from campus, and students can travel on Milwaukee County Transit System buses for free with school ID.

Marquette has more than 20 academic centers and institutes on campus, including the Thermofluid Science and Energy Research Center and National Sports Law Institute. The Les Aspin Center for Government, located on  Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., sends students to study and intern in the nation’s capital for a semester. Notable alumni include Gail Collins, a New York Times columnist; Patrick Eugene Haggerty, cofounder of Texas Instruments; and Chris Farley, an actor who starred on Saturday Night Live and in Tommy Boy. (In that film, Farley’s character, Tommy Callahan, is also a Marquette graduate.)

#80 Miami University - Oxford

 Miami University--Oxford is a public institution that was founded in 1809. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,081, its setting is rural, and the campus size is 2,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Miami University--Oxford's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 75. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,799 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $29,589 (2013-14).

Miami University students make up nearly half the population of the 6-square mile town of Oxford, Ohio. Freshmen must live on campus, which is also home to about 500 student organizations. The Greek system constitutes a large part of campus life, with about a third of the student body involved in more than 50 fraternities and sororities. In fact, the school often gets the moniker “Mother of Fraternities” because the Beta Theta Pi, Phi Delta Theta, and Sigma Chi organizations were founded at Miami University. The school is also known as the “Cradle of Coaches” for the number of professional and collegiate coaches who once competed as Miami RedHawks. The teams, who compete in the Division I Mid-American Conference, were known as the Redskins until 1997, when the Miami Indian Tribe complained. (The tribe is also the namesake of the university.) To help ease the transition into freshman year, older students often create a guide to life at Miami University, called the “M Book.” Student couples who marry are known as “Miami Mergers” and are reminded of their alma mater each Valentine’s Day, when the admissions office sends cards to congratulate former students on finding love at school.

To travel around campus and Oxford, all students can use the Miami Metro during the day and the school’s Nighttime Door-to-Door shuttle service until 4 a.m. Cincinnati and Dayton are 35 and 45 miles away, respectively. Notable alumni of Miami University include Paul Brown, Hall of Fame NFL coach; Richard Smucker, executive chairman and co-chief executive officer of The J.M. Smucker Company; and Benjamin Harrison, former President of the United States.

#81 University of Delaware

 University of Delaware is a public institution that was founded in 1743. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 17,427, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 2,011 acres. It utilizes a 4-1-4-based academic calendar. University of Delaware's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 75. Its in-state tuition and fees are $12,112 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $29,932 (2013-14).

For students interested in attending the University of Delaware, it pays to live in the state. Delaware residents are given first priority when it comes to admissions, and more than 90 percent who apply will be accepted. Less than half (46 percent) of all out-of-state applicants are admitted. For all who receive admission, there are more than 280 student clubs and organizations on the school’s lush campus in downtown Newark. Nearly 20 percent of students are involved in the school’s large Greek system, which has 25 fraternities and nearly 20 sororities. The Fightin’ Blue Hens sports teams, named after a Delaware Revolutionary War battalion with the same nickname, compete in the NCAA Division I Colonial Athletic Association. The mascot is a costumed bird named YoUDee, and a group of live Blue Hen chickens reside on the school farm. Freshmen must live on campus, unless they commute from a parent’s local home. When students want to leave campus, Wilmington is 8 miles away. Philadelphia is a 45-mile drive and Baltimore is 55 miles away. The University of Delaware ran the nation’s first study abroad program in 1923, and, these days, 45 percent of undergraduates opt to spend time in another country.

The University of Delaware offers more than 150 graduate degree programs, including some through the highly ranked School of Education and College of Engineering. In addition to its main location in Newark, the university has campuses throughout Delaware and teaching facilities in Paris, London, and China.  The school also has a sea-faring research facility, a 146-foot ship called Hugh R. Sharp. As a land, sea, and space grant institution, the University of Delaware receives federal funding for research in all three areas. Notable University of Delaware alumni include U.S. Vice President Joe Biden; Robert Gore, the inventor of Gore-Tex; and Chuck Lewis, founder of the Center for Public Integrity.

#82 Stevens Institute of Technology

Stevens Institute of Technology is a private institution that was founded in 1870. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 2,548, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 55 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Stevens Institute of Technology's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 82. Its tuition and fees are $43,561 (2012-13).

Innovation and entrepreneurship is stressed at Stevens Institute of Technology, a research-intensive school primarily known for its engineering, science, and management programs. The school also has a liberal arts division with six majors. Undergraduate students are encouraged to get involved in research projects and develop new technologies through the school’s Technogenesis philosophy. Students can opt for a cooperative education track, which is a five-year program with mostly alternating semesters of class and full-time, paid work. Students complete a full first and fifth year at Stevens, and pay for only four years of school. On campus, in Hoboken, N.J., there are more than 120 clubs and organizations, including about 15 fraternities and sororities. Housing is guaranteed for four years, and 90 percent of students choose to live on campus. The campus lies along the Hudson River, and New York City is a boat ride away. The Stevens Ducks compete in the NCAA Division III Eastern College Athletic Conference, and, through the school’s Adopt-a-Team program, all student athletes have a faculty mentor to help them juggle sports and school work. To ease the first-year transition, students can spend two weeks on campus the summer before freshman year through the Exploring Career Options in Engineering & Science (E.C.O.E.S.) program. During the session, students will compete in research competitions, visit local employers, and complete engineering and science projects. Incoming freshmen also do not have the hassle of buying a new laptop; each student is given a notebook computer with software configured to his or her major. The school was exclusively for male students until 1971, and now, females make up close to 30 percent of the student body.

Stevens was the first school to develop a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Business, spurred on by a grant from AT&T. Stevens is particularly proficient at preparing students for medical school, with 90 percent of Stevens applicants gaining admission. The school also has a campus in Washington, D.C., where graduate students interested in working in the government sector can study systems engineering, maritime security, and more. Notable Stevens alumni include Alfred W. Fielding, on of the inventors of Bubble Wrap packaging material, and Frederick Winslow Taylor, widely known as the father of scientific management.

#83 Stony Brook University--SUNY

Stony Brook University--SUNY is a public institution that was founded in 1957. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 16,003, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,454 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Stony Brook University--SUNY's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 82. Its in-state tuition and fees are $7,984 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $19,924 (2013-14).

Stony Brook University is one of 64 schools in the State University of New York (SUNY) system. Located on the North Shore of Long Island, the university is accessible by car, train, and ferry, and many students choose to commute. Freshmen do not have to live on campus. Academic activity pauses each Wednesday from 12:40 to 1:10 p.m. for Campus Life Time, when students can check out free concerts, sample free food, and take a break from the rigor of classes. Annually, students gather for events like the Roth Pond Regatta, a race of student-made cardboard boats, and the Shirley Strum Kenny Student Arts Festival, a week of student work showcases. Students can also check out nearly 300 student organizations on campus, including about 30 fraternities and sororities. On the athletic fields, the Stony Brook Seawolves compete in the NCAA Division I America East Conference. For a workout off the field, students can bike and hike around Stony Brook’s large, wooded campus, which includes the Ashley Schiff Park Preserve. For an urban experience, New York City is about 60 miles away.

Stony Brook is home to the only undergraduate journalism school in the SUNY system as well as the highly ranked Stony Brook University Medical Center. The university also has a location in Southampton and a classroom building in Manhattan. Notable alumni include Patricia S. Cowings, the first female astronaut in the United States, and Craig Allen, a meteorologist on the CBS show This Morning.

#84 Texas Christian University

Texas Christian University is a private institution that was founded in 1873. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 8,456, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 277 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Texas Christian University's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 82. Its tuition and fees are $36,590 (2013-14).

Texas Christian University is the biggest religious university associated with the Disciples of Christ Christian Church and is open to students of any faith. There are about 20 religious organizations for students to join, among about 200 others. Greek life is a popular option, with close to 40 percent of the student body involved in about 30 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus, unless they are older than 21 or commute from a parent’s home. The Horned Frog sports teams are members of the NCAA Division I Big XII Conference and are especially competitive in football. The unusual mascot is a small lizard and is also the official state reptile of Texas. Volunteer activities are a particularly big draw for students, and the school’s Center for Community Involvement & Service-Learning coordinates excursions like trips to Mexico over spring break. The campus is about five miles from downtown Fort Worth, a historic area that still has an Old West feel. Students can check out live bull riding shows at Billy Bob’s, a restaurant that is billed as the world’s largest honky-tonk, or catch a rodeo at the Cowtown Coliseum. Dallas is about 35 miles away.

The university is affiliated with the Brite Divinity School, a theological seminary. The university has its own specialty study abroad programs in London; Florence; and Seville, Spain and coordinates with other schools for students wishing to study elsewhere. Notable alumni include Chris Klein, an actor in the "American Pie" series, and Rod Roddy, a former announcer on "The Price is Right."

#85 University of Vermont

University of Vermont is a public institution that was founded in 1791. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 11,211, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 460 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Vermont's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 82. Its in-state tuition and fees are $15,718 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,646 (2013-14).

Nestled between the Adirondack and Green Mountains is the University of Vermont, a private school founded in 1791. It is known colloquially as UVM, which is Latin for Universitas Viridis Montis, or University of the Green Mountains. Students who want to take advantage of the surrounding nature in Burlington, Vt., can rent skis, snowshoes, canoes, and camping equipment on campus. Students don’t have to go far for an adventure, though; UVM has an adventure ropes course and an indoor rock climbing wall. There are more than 150 student organizations on campus, including about 20 fraternities and sororities. Fewer than 10 percent of students go Greek. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus. The Catamounts athletic teams compete in the NCAA Division I America East Conference, cheered on  by a mountain cat mascot named Rally. In Burlington, students can explore the outdoor Church Street Marketplace, a collection of restaurants and boutiques, or relax on the shores of Lake Champlain. For a more urban experience, Montreal and Boston are about 100 and 220 miles away, respectively.

Among the university’s programs for graduate students is the highly ranked College of Medicine.  In addition to traditional classrooms on campus, the University of Vermont has the Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, a waterfront campus with a floating classroom on Lake Champlain. Students can study lake ecology aboard the Melosira, a research vessel. The university also owns four farms, where students can research agricultural topics. Among the ranks of the university’s distinguished alumni are John Dewey, an educational philosopher; Jody Williams, a Nobel Peace Prize-winning activist for her campaign against land mines; and Jon Kilick, the film producer responsible for Malcolm X and Babel.

#86 SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry

SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry is a public institution that was founded in 1911. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 1,819, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 12 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 86. Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,995 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $16,445 (2013-14).

The SUNY College of Environmental Science and Forestry offers students a niche education with the benefits of life at a large institution. ESF, as the small school is known for short, offers about 20 Bachelor of Science degrees ranging from Aquatics and Fisheries Science to Paper Engineering, as well as a Landscape Architecture program. Students can get a broader experience, however, through neighbor school Syracuse University. The two institutions, both located in Syracuse, N.Y., have a collegiate partnership. ESF students can enroll in courses, live in residence halls, use campus facilities, and join student organizations at Syracuse University. ESF and Syracuse students even graduate in a joint commencement ceremony each May. All ESF freshmen must live on the school’s campus, however. The school has its own array of about 25 clubs. The ESF Mighty Oaks sports teams compete in the United States Collegiate Athletic Association, comprised of small schools, and students can take part in club and intramural sports at Syracuse. ESF has an additional campus in the Adirondack Mountains, called the Ranger School, where students study forest technology during their sophomore year. The Ranger School offers associate degree completion programs, as well as courses toward a bachelor’s degree. Earth Day is a weeklong celebration at the environmental school, with events like yoga on the campus quad, student-wide barbecues, and volunteer clean-ups of local streams.

ESF is one of 64 schools in the State University of New York system. The university is often recognized for its sustainability efforts, and its faculty is highly engaged in research projects. ESF has produced notable graduates including Reginald Balch, a Canadian photographer and scientist, and Sol Feinstein, a historian and author.

#87 University of Alabama

University of Alabama is a public institution that was founded in 1831. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 28,026, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 1,000 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Alabama's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 86. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,200 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $22,950 (2013-14).

As the flagship campus of the University of Alabama system, the UA campus is often referred to as “The Capstone.” UA students have more than 250 student organizations to get involved in on campus—and freshmen have to live there, too. There are close to 60 fraternities and sororities in the school’s influential Greek system, which comprises about 6,000 students. The Alabama Crimson Tide sports teams are notorious competitors in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, cheered on by an costumed elephant mascot named Big Al. There is also a men’s and women’s wheelchair basketball program, one of four in the country. The university is located in Tuscaloosa, and students can boat and fish in the nearby Black Warrior River. For a road trip, the city of Birmingham is about 60 miles away.

The university has a highly ranked School of Law in Tuscaloosa and School of Medicine in Birmingham. As a research institution, UA offers opportunities for all students to get involved in projects. There is an annual Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity Conference that showcases individual work. Undergraduates can get a leg up on networking, too, through the Future Alumni for Tradition and Excellence, or FATE. And speaking of alumni, notable UA graduates include legendary football coach Paul “Bear” Bryant, New York Yankees sportscaster Mel Allen, and Forrest Gump author Winston Groom.

#88 University of California--Santa Cruz

University of California--Santa Cruz is a public institution that was founded in 1965. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 15,978, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 2,000 acres. It utilizes a quarter-based academic calendar. University of California--Santa Cruz's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 86. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,416 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,294 (2013-14).

At the University of California—Santa Cruz, one of 10 schools in the state’s university system, residence life can define a student’s experience. Nearly 100 percent of freshmen live on campus, and choose one of 10 residential colleges to join. These small groups have their own campus locations, as well as unique architecture and programming. Kresge College, for example, houses the student-run media operations and is home to an organic garden where students can take classes; students who are members of the College Nine community are often active in volunteer efforts and the college’s Alternative Spring Break trips. Students who own RVs can also choose to reside in Camper Park, a unique community of students who live in their own home-like vehicles and share a common bathroom and lounge. Student campers may live with pre-approved roommates, including spouses. Students living in residence halls may only have overnight guests 15 times a school year, for a maximum of three nights each visit.

On campus, there are more than 25 miles of hiking and jogging trails, and more than 100 student clubs and organizations. Only about 3 percent of students are members of the school’s small Greek system. The UC Santa Cruz sports teams are independent competitors in the NCAA’s Division III. Athletes are cheered on by the Banana Slug, a nontraditional, yellow earthen creature that has been recognized among the best mascots in the country. For fun, students can tour Dead Central, a room full of Grateful Dead memorabilia donated by the band to UCSC, or explore the small beach town of Santa Cruz, located on Monterey Bay. There are rides and games on the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and opportunities for swimming, sailing, and kayaking on the bay. To get around, students can travel on the Santa Cruz Metropolitan Transit District buses for free with school ID. For longer road trips, Monterey is 45 miles away, and San Francisco is a 75-mile trip.

In particular, this public research institution’s academic prowess looks to the skies. The school is nationally known for astronomy and space sciences programs. UCSC is part of a 10-year research project with NASA to study space travel, air traffic management, and nanotechnology. Other creative programs include a computer game design major, and UCSC was the first school in the California state system to offer the degree. Females engineers are in especially good company at UCSC; the school is noted for offering one of the highest percentages of engineering graduate degrees to women. Notable alumni include Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Dana Priest, NPR broadcast hosts Nikki Silva and Davia Nelson of The Kitchen Sisters, and romance novelist Jayne Ann Krentz, who often writes under the pseudonyms Amanda Quick and Jayne Castle.

#89 University of Colorado--Boulder

University of Colorado--Boulder is a public institution that was founded in 1876. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 25,805, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 600 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Colorado--Boulder's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 86. Its in-state tuition and fees are $10,240 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,008 (2013-14).

The University of Colorado at Boulder, called CU­--Boulder for short, lays against the majestic backdrop of the Rocky Mountains. Boulder is a lively college town with more than 80 miles of biking and walking trails. In the evenings, students can travel anywhere within the city limits for free in CU NightRide shuttles, which run until 1:15 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays and 12:15 a.m. all other nights. On campus, there are more than 300 student clubs and organizations, and close to 40 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus. The Colorado Buffaloes will compete in the NCAA Division I Pac-12 Conference starting in the fall of 2011, after a long stint in the Big 12 Conference. The student athletes, called Buffs for short, are supported by two buffalo mascots: a costumed student called Chip and a live animal named Ralphie IV. The university stresses its commitment to volunteer efforts like Better Boulder Better World, a day of community service in the surrounding neighborhoods. For trips off campus, there are 11 ski slopes within 3 hours of campus, and Rocky Mountain National Park is 45 miles away. A bit closer is Denver, the state capital, where students can catch professional sports matches or concerts in the unique outdoor concert hall, Red Rocks Amphitheatre.

CU--­Boulder is the only school in the Rocky Mountain Region to make it into the Association of American Universities, an elite group of 34 research universities. The university has highly ranked graduate programs through the College of Engineering and Applied Science and School of Education. Its Law School stresses experiential learning through clinics, externships, competitions, and mandatory pro bono work. CU--­Boulder graduates are immediately inducted into the dues-free alumni association, Forever Buffs, whose particularly distinguished members include South Park creators Trey Parker and Matt Stone, and ESPN sportscasters Chris Fowler and Jim Gray.

#90 University of Tulsa

University of Tulsa is a private institution that was founded in 1894. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,160, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 209 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Tulsa's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 86. Its tuition and fees are $33,702 (2013-14).

Students at the University of Tulsa leave with two transcripts: an academic one and a co-curricular one. The CCT, as the latter is known, is a log of all membership in clubs, any leadership positions, and any marketable skills a student has gained while in college. To beef up a CCT, students can get involved in more than 200 student clubs and organizations. The school’s Greek system has more than 10 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen and sophomores must live on campus, unless they commute from a parent’s home within 20 miles of campus. Students who are at least 21 years old or married may live off campus, too. The Golden Hurricane sports teams are members of the Division I Conference USA, and the school’s mascot is a superhero named Captain Cane. At the end of select weeks during the year, students can join for Hurricane Thursdays, campus celebrations which alternate between carnivals, concerts, and more. The TU campus is two miles away from downtown Tulsa, Okla., a city of about half a million people that is home to performing arts centers, museums, shops, and night clubs. The state capital of Oklahoma City is about 100 miles away.

The University of Tulsa is known for its petroleum engineering programs, which are taught in a $15 million facility complete with drill rig ad simulator. Any student, regardless of major, can get involved in research projects as early as freshman year. TU is also home to the country’s first college campus mosque, which was built with the help of private funds. Notable TU alumni include television psychologist Dr. Phil (Phillip McGraw) and Chicago Bears head coach Lovie Smith.

#91 Auburn University

Auburn University is a public institution that was founded in 1856. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 20,175, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,875 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Auburn University's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 91. Its in-state tuition and fees are $9,852 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $26,364 (2013-14).

Auburn, Ala., has been ranked one of the best places to live, and life at Auburn University can be similarly enjoyable for students. Football is a particularly big attraction in the fall, as fans support the Auburn Tigers with the help of school mascot Aubie the Tiger. The Tiger sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, and the influx of football fans makes Auburn the fifth-largest city in the state on game days. Pep rallies are held in the downtown Toomer’s Corner, and the area is covered in toilet paper by fans after every big victory. There are more than 300 organizations on campus, and about 6,000 students are involved in the school’s Greek system. Auburn freshmen ease into the college transition through Camp War Eagle, a three-day, overnight summer orientation program. Transition help continues on Hey Day, an annual effort to get students to wear name tags and say hello to one another. Freshmen do not have to live on campus; in fact, a dorm room isn’t even guaranteed. Because of space restraints, first-year students are awarded on-campus living assignments on a first-come, first-served basis.

As a land, sea, and space grant institution, Auburn University receives federal funding for research projects that benefit the larger community. The school has an Urban Studio, where students can participate in community projects and a Rural Studio, aimed at finding housing solutions for residents of West Alabama. Research projects include storage facilities for nuclear waste. The university also offers unique programs, such as the only wireless engineering program in the country. Notable Auburn alumni include famed college football coach Vince Dooley and a handful of NASA astronauts—such as Kathryn Thornton, the second American woman to travel to space.

#92 Colorado School of Mines

Colorado School of Mines is a public institution that was founded in 1874. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 4,169, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 491 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Colorado School of Mines's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 91. Its in-state tuition and fees are $16,485 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $32,415 (2013-14).

For left-brained students who want to work in the sciences, opportunities abound at the Colorado School of Mines. A public engineering and applied sciences school in Golden, Colo., Mines has 21 academic departments including Hydrologic Science and Engineering and Geophysics. The school also offers degrees in Liberal Arts & International Studies and Economics & Business departments. When students aren’t studying, the school’s location is ideal for outdoor recreation. Golden is 13 miles from the state capital of Denver, and lies in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, where students can bike, hike, and climb. The campus also has a fake rock wall for students to test their skills before attempting the Rockies. Cold-weather sports fans can partake in the annual Winter Carnival, a student-run affair packed with skiing and snowboarding at a local resort. The Mines sports teams, known as the Orediggers, compete in the NCAA Division II Rocky Mountain Athletic Conference, which is mostly comprised of other teams from Colorado. The school mascot is Blaster the burro, and a giant ‘M’ emblazoned onto nearby Mount Zion signifies the school spirit. There are more than 140 student clubs and organizations, including seven fraternities and three sororities. First-year students do not have to live on campus, though about 90 percent opt to do so. Even the student newspaper, The Oredigger, is decidedly science based; sections include weekly roundups of new discoveries and a Geek of the Week feature.

Research opportunities abound for undergraduate and graduate students at the Renewable Energy Materials Research Science and Engineering Center and the Unconventional Natural Gas Institute, two on-campus powerhouses for energy innovation. The school campus is also home to a geology museum, where students can check out displays from moon rocks to fossilized dinosaur tracks for free. Mines alumni garner some of the highest-paid starting salaries in the country, and have gone on to excel as engineers, scientists, and entrepreneurs. Notable alumni include Andrew Swiger, senior vice president of Exxon Mobil Corporation, and Mari Angeles Major-Sosias, vice president of AREVA’s International Network.

#93 Florida State University

Florida State University is a public institution that was founded in 1851. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 32,171, its setting is urban, and the campus size is 448 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Florida State University's ranking in the 2014 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 91. Its in-state tuition and fees are $6,537 (2013-14); out-of-state tuition and fees are $21,703 (2013-14).

Florida State University is a sprawling public school in Tallahassee, the state’s capital. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, and typically, there is not room for every student, so it’s important to apply early if you’d like to live in university housing. There are more than 550 student organizations to check out, as well as adventure trips for kayaking, backpacking, whitewater rafting, and more coordinated through the school’s Outdoor Pursuits program. The Florida State Seminoles sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference and are traditionally dominant contenders in baseball and football.

For students interested in studying abroad, Florida State has centers in Florence; London; Panama City, Panama; and Valencia, Spain, and offers students other study abroad programs as well. Florida State has a wide variety of graduate schools, including a College of Business, a College of Law, and a College of Medicine. The university also has a joint College of Engineering with Florida A&M University. Among the notable graduates of Florida State University are fitness expert Richard Simmons and Spanx apparel line founder Sara Blakely.