If you or a loved one is getting ready to apply to college, you might be interested in knowing which ones come out on top in the United States. While different colleges offer different pros and cons, checking out some of the most elite colleges in the country might give you something to work towards, or an idea of where you’re headed.
Every aspiring American college student wants to go to the top colleges in the US, but what are they? How do they stack up?
Read on to learn about which colleges made the cut. These are the top seven best colleges in the United States.
1. Massachusetts Institute Of Technology
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, or MIT, is a private college in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Academic focuses tend to be on technology, as the name would imply, with strong focuses on mathematics, computer science, and mechanical engineering.
This elite college is not easy to get into. The acceptance rate is only seven percent, making it incredibly competitive. Under 5,000 students are enrolled, and they’re the best of the best at what they do.
It’s worthwhile to get in if your interests lie in the STEM fields, though. Graduates from MIT land high-paying jobs (averaging around $82,000 starting salary, with a median earning of over $100,000 after 6 years) and MIT looks great on a resume.
2. Stanford University
Stanford University is somewhat of a household name. It’s located in the San Francisco Bay Area, making it a fantastic location for wannabe tech workers everywhere.
If you’re into computer science, Stanford might be the school for you (mostly due to location) but they do also have plenty of graduates in Liberal Arts and the humanities, so you shouldn’t feel too restricted there.
Stanford has an enrollment of just over 7,000 students, but their acceptance rate is only five percent. This school is incredibly competitive, so if you have your eye on Stanford, you have to work for it.
Stanford alumni earn an average starting salary of just over $70,000, which rises to $94,000 after the first six years.
3. Yale University
Yale is definitely a name known around the world. Placed in New Haven Connecticut, it’s a bit less tech-oriented than the previous programs already listed. Many of the graduates focused on Liberal Arts, English, Economics, and Political Science.
Yale goes about things a little bit differently. They aim for affordability, with the intention being that all qualified students are able to attend and study without money being a factor in their decision.
That said, Yale is another very competitive school. Only seven percent of applicants get in, and it’s an incredibly popular choice (especially considering its broad range of majors and funding options).
After the first six years, their graduates are set to make about $83,200 yearly.
4. Harvard University
When it comes to elite colleges, you can’t get much more elite in name than Harvard. Another Cambridge, Massachusetts school, Harvard also has a five percent acceptance rate for incoming students. This makes it, again, incredibly competitive.
There’s a wide variety of popular majors at Harvard, making it a good choice for someone not in STEM or heavily involved in the arts. It would be a great choice for those studying economics, psychology, or social sciences.
Harvard graduates make an average of roughly $70,000 per year as a starting salary, rising to nearly $90,000 after 6 years. If you want the prestige of the Harvard name, you’re going to have to work to get into that five percent.
5. Princeton University
Princeton University has us leaving New England, this time in New Jersey. Another prestigious name amongst universities, Princeton falls somewhere in the middle of the others when it comes to competition.
Only six percent of their applicants get in, keeping their student body small at just over 5000 students.
Students at Princeton enjoy majors such as Economics and Public Policy, making them great potential future politicians.
That said, the initial starting salary for a graduate from Princeton averages at around $61,000. After six years, it rises to almost $75,000. Is Princeton the right choice for you?
6. Duke University
Duke is a private Christian university set up in Raleigh, North Carolina. They’re slightly less competitive with their acceptance rates (though still competitive). Their student body falls just under 7,000 students, and their acceptance rate is a whopping 10 percent. That might sound high in comparison to the others, but it’s still incredibly competitive!
Duke sees a lot of STEM majors, but there’s still variety in their students. Psychology, Public Policy, and Nursing are also available as majors within Duke’s programs.
Graduates from Duke will start with an average salary of about $76,000 that’s set to rise to $84,000 after six years.
7. Brown University
Back to New England for the final school on the list: Brown University. Set in scenic Providence, Rhode Island, the school boasts an enrollment of 6,666 undergraduate students.
Their acceptance rate is eight percent, making it more competitive than Duke, but less competitive than the other schools already listed, even if only by a fine margin.
Students at Brown study many things, ranging from Computer Science to Neuroscience, to English. There’s a wide variety of major options.
The average starting salary for a graduate of Brown is going to be roughly $52,000, rising to $67,000 after six years.
Are Any Of These Elite Colleges For You?
College is exciting, but picking a college can be stressful. Any of these elite colleges would be a great choice for a prospective student, but what’s important is getting an education in the major that you choose in a safe and healthy environment.
If you’re a strong student with a major that fits into one of these universities, there’s very little harm in doing your best and applying. The worst that can happen is a rejection, and then you can go somewhere else (or try again next year). Many of these colleges even use the common app, making it easy to start the process.
For more articles for current and future college students, check out the rest of the blog! No matter where you are in your college journey, we can help.