New York University

New York University is a private institution that was founded in 1831. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 22,280 and its setting is urban. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. New York University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 32. Its tuition and fees are $41,606 (2011-12).

New York University’s primary campus is located in the lively Greenwich Village neighborhood of Manhattan. NYU is a true city school, with no borders separating a distinct campus from the streets of the Big Apple. Students are guaranteed housing for all four years in the many residence halls throughout Manhattan, but many upperclassmen choose to live off campus in apartments around the city. NYU has a small but active Greek life with more than 25 fraternity and sorority chapters. There are hundreds of student organizations on campus, such as NYU-TV, which operates both the University Channel and the Movie Channel to provide entertainment and information to the university community.

NYU is divided into a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the College of Arts and Sciences. For those interested in drama or film, the renowned Tisch School of the Arts is the place to go, offering both undergraduate and graduate programs in acting, dance, dramatic writing, film, television, and more. Former Tisch students include directors Martin Scorsese and Spike Lee. Other graduate programs include the highly ranked Stern School of Business; Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, and Human Development; School of Law; School of Medicine; Silver School of Social Work; and Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

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Brandeis University

Brandeis University is a private institution that was founded in 1948. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 3,504, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 235 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Brandeis University's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 33. Its tuition and fees are $43,708 (2012-13).

Brandeis University is located in Waltham, Mass., just nine miles west of Boston. Students are guaranteed housing for their first four semesters. In addition to student-run TV and radio stations, Brandeis has religious and performance groups, service organizations, cultural awareness groups, performance groups and more. The Shapiro Campus Center serves as a hub of student activity on campus, housing a theater, bookstore, cafe, library, meeting rooms, and a student art gallery. Cholmondeley’s, the campus coffeehouse, is another hotspot for concerts and comedy shows. The Brandeis Judges field more than 15 NCAA Division III teams and are known for their strong men’s soccer team. There is no Greek life on campus.

Brandeis is comprised of the College of Arts and Sciences and four graduate schools. The Graduate School of Arts and Sciences offers highly ranked programs in English and history, and The Heller School for Social Policy and Management is notable for its programs in social policy, health policy and management, and international development. Nearly 50 percent of students participate in study abroad programs offered in about 70 countries around the world. The Steinhardt Social Research Institute at Brandeis provides research and information on contemporary Judaism and the Jewish community. Pulitzer Prize winner and New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman graduated from Brandeis, which was named for the first Jewish Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, Louis Dembitz Brandeis.

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Boston College

Boston College is a private institution that was founded in 1863. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 9,088, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 338 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. Boston College's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 31. Its tuition and fees are $43,878 (2012-13).

Boston College was founded by the Society of Jesus and has maintained its Roman Catholic Jesuit religious affiliation. B.C. competes in nearly 30 NCAA Division I varsity sports in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The B.C. Eagles have one of the highest graduation rates for their student-athletes in the country. There are no fraternities or sororities on campus, however the school has more than 200 clubs and organizations. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, but the majority choose to do so. B.C. is located in Chestnut Hill, Mass., which is six miles west of downtown Boston, and its main campus is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Boston College is classified by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching as a university with high research activity. It has nine schools, which include highly ranked graduate programs, including its Lynch School of Education, Boston College Law School, and Carroll School of Management. Almost 50 percent of students engage in an international experience before they graduate. "The Heights," a nickname for the college, refers to its hilltop location and is also the name of the student newspaper. Notable alumni include Sen. John Kerry and former Speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives Tip O’Neill.

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University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill

University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill is a public institution that was founded in 1789. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 18,430, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 729 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of North Carolina--Chapel Hill's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 30. Its in-state tuition and fees are $7,694 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $28,446 (2012-13).

The University of North Carolina - Chapel Hill, often referred to as UNC, offers a wide range of student activities. Popular student organizations include The Daily Tarheel, UNC’s student newspaper, and WXYC, the student-run radio station. Nearly 3,000 students are members of Greek life. Chapel Hill, which surrounds UNC, is often considered one of the best college towns in the country, offering music, restaurants, and shopping. Almost half of all undergraduates live on campus in one of the residence halls or apartment complexes. The North Carolina Tar Heels are members of the Atlantic Coast Conference and are known for their men’s basketball team, which maintains a storied rivalry with nearby institution Duke and is one of the most successful programs in college basketball. Former players include Michael Jordan and Vince Carter.

UNC is divided into a number of schools and colleges, the largest of which is the undergraduate College of Arts and Sciences. Graduate programs include the highly ranked Kenan—Flagler Business School, School of Education, School of Law, School of Medicine, Gillings School of Global Public Health, School of Social Work, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, and School of Government. At least 82 percent of each freshmen class must be from North Carolina, as dictated by state law. Actor and former professional basketball player Rick Fox, the 11th president of the United States James K. Polk, and U.S. Senator John Edwards all earned degrees from UNC.

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College of William and Mary

 College of William and Mary is a public institution that was founded in 1693. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 6,071, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 1,200 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. College of William and Mary's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 33. Its in-state tuition and fees are $13,570 (2012-13); out-of-state tuition and fees are $36,753 (2012-13).

The College of William and Mary is second oldest college in the country. It was founded by King William III and Queen Mary II of England. The school’s NCAA Division I varsity sports teams, known as the "Tribe," participate in the Colonial Athletic Association. Students are involved with the Phi Beta Kappa fraternity, the nation’s first academic Greek society, as well as other fraternities and sororities on campus. All freshmen are required to live on campus and the majority of upperclassmen live on campus as well. The school is located in historic downtown Williamsburg, Va. In contrast to its old-timey feel, the college is among Intel’s "50 Most Unwired College Campuses" for its campuswide wireless network.

The school has more than 30 undergraduate programs and 10 graduate programs and professional degree programs. Its highly-ranked graduate schools include the Marshall-Wythe School of Law, the School of Education, and the Mason School of Business. William and Mary was the first school to create a student honor code, and its Marshall-Wythe School of Law is nation’s first law school. The school is also steeped in traditions, including the ringing of the Wren bell by graduating seniors in the Sir Christopher Wren Building, the oldest college building in the nation. Notable alumni include three U.S. presidents—Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe, and John Tyler, as well as Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, actress Glenn Close, and comedians Jon Stewart and Patton Oswalt.

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University of Rochester

University of Rochester is a private institution that was founded in 1850. It has a total undergraduate enrollment of 5,643, its setting is suburban, and the campus size is 707 acres. It utilizes a semester-based academic calendar. University of Rochester's ranking in the 2013 edition of Best Colleges is National Universities, 33. Its tuition and fees are $43,666 (2012-13).

The University of Rochester describes itself as one of the smallest and most collegiate schools among the nation’s top research universities. The Yellowjackets are part of the University Athletic Association and participate in NCAA Division III sports. The school also offers more than 200 student organizations, and about one quarter of students are affiliated with Greek life on campus. Rochester’s a cappella ensembles are among the country’s best. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live on campus, and two-thirds of the juniors and more than half of the seniors choose to remain on campus. Rochester’s main campus is located two miles south of downtown Rochester, N.Y., in the bend of the Genesee River.

The University of Rochester’s graduate programs include the highly ranked William E. Simon Graduate School of Business Administration, Hajim School of Engineering and Applied Sciences, Medical Center, Department of Political Science, and Department of Economics. The well-regarded Eastman School of Music is home to more than 20 ensembles, including the first wind ensemble in the country. The Institute of Optics is the nation’s oldest educational program devoted to optics. The school’s unique "Take Five Scholars" program provides students an additional tuition-free semester or year studying topics of interest outside of their major. Notable alumni include U.S. Secretary of Energy Steven Chu and visual effects artist Michael Kanfer, who won an Academy Award for his work on the film Titanic.
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