College Consensus has turned its signature method to ranking the Best Colleges and Universities in the North, providing future and current students with the big picture of the Northern United States’ best higher education institutions. This independent guide combines the results of the most influential publisher rankings with real student reviews to help students find their way to the best colleges in the Northeast that have built a reputation among experts and students alike.
The Northern US is home to some of the greatest research universities, public university systems, and private institutions in the world. It’s their colleges and universities that do so much of the heavy lifting in higher education, training a workforce and educating professionals where they are. The Consensus Best Colleges and Universities in the North recognizes the best universities offering undergraduate and graduate programs to the region.
How Do We Rank the Best Colleges in the North?
College Consensus rankings combine the results of the most respected college ranking systems with the averaged ratings of thousands of real student reviews from around the web to create a unique college meta-ranking. This approach offers a comprehensive and holistic perspective missing from other college rankings. Visit our about page for information on which rankings and review sites were included in this year’s consensus rankings.
The Best Colleges & Universities in the North category is limited to schools in the Northeastern United States, including CT, DC, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, and VT.
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What’s Different About the College Consensus Ranking?
With our unique method, College Consensus forms a ranking that represents the best colleges and universities in the North in a different light than usual. By taking into account both publisher rankings and student reviews, everything makes it in – academic reputation, student satisfaction, social mobility, affordability, and much more. That means some colleges that get overlooked in other rankings get their say, and others that dominate the conversation have to give some way. It’s a less biased, more inclusive ranking.
The Consensus Best Colleges and Universities in the North are listed in descending order by their Consensus score.
1
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
2
Private: Yale University
New Haven, CT
3
Private: Princeton University
Princeton, NJ
4
Private: Williams College
Williamstown, MA
5
Harvard University
Cambridge, MA
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6
Private: Cornell University
Ithaca, NY
7
Private: Dartmouth College
Hanover, NH
8
Private: Brown University
Providence, RI
9
University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
10
Amherst College
Amherst, MA
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11
Private: Columbia University in the City of New York
New York, NY
12
Bowdoin College
Brunswick, ME
13
Private: Wellesley College
Wellesley, MA
14
Private: Swarthmore College
Swarthmore, PA
15
Private: Middlebury College
Middlebury, VT
16
Private: Wesleyan University
Middletown, CT
17
Private: Hamilton College
Clinton, NY
18
Private: Georgetown University
Washington, DC
19
Private: Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
20
Private: Haverford College
Haverford, PA
21
Private: Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
22
Private: Bates College
Lewiston, ME
23
Colby College
Waterville, ME
24
Private: Boston College
Chestnut Hill, MA
25
Private: Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, NY
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26
Private: Tufts University
Medford, MA
27
Private: Colgate University
Hamilton, NY
28
Private: Smith College
Northampton, MA
29
Private: Lehigh University
Bethlehem, PA
30
New York University
New York, NY
31
Private: Barnard College
New York, NY
32
Private: College of the Holy Cross
Worcester, MA
33
Private: Bryn Mawr College
Bryn Mawr, PA
34
Private: Lafayette College
Easton, PA
35
University of Maryland-College Park
College Park, MD
36
Private: Bucknell University
Lewisburg, PA
37
Private: Northeastern University
Boston, MA
38
Private: Franklin and Marshall College
Lancaster, PA
39
Private: Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, MA
40
Private: Boston University
Boston, MA
41
Private: University of Connecticut
Storrs, CT
42
Private: Dickinson College
Carlisle, PA
43
Private: Villanova University
Villanova, PA
44
Private: Syracuse University
Syracuse, NY
45
Private: Brandeis University
Waltham, MA
46
Private: Bentley University
Waltham, MA
47
Private: Towson University
Towson, MD
48
Private: Elmira College
Elmira, NY
49
Private: University of Rochester
Rochester, NY
50
Skidmore College
Saratoga Springs, NY
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Why Are There So Many Elite Colleges in the Northeast?
Some of the best colleges in the Northeast are also the oldest. The first colleges built in this country were built in the Northeast by the wealthy. Because of their age and wealth, the Ivy League schools are among the most prestigious in the U.S.
Since the West Coast was settled much later than the East Coast, the colleges and universities located there are younger and have had less time to establish a reputation. Northeast colleges such as Princeton, Harvard, and Yale have been around for a long time and are highly respected.
Many of the top colleges in the Northeast, such as Harvard, Yale, and MIT, have built their reputations on the academic achievements of their students. Havard, for example, boasts several famous alumni, including John F. Kennedy, Mark Zuckerberg, and Michael Bloomberg. They’re also heavily favored for Nobel prizes.
Northeast colleges often have extensive alumni networks, which helps new graduates gain an advantage over their peers when applying for jobs. Knowing someone on the inside can make a big difference when it comes to applying for a job.
Another thing that makes some colleges in the Northeast more elite is their admissions requirements. Since these colleges have such strong reputations, they can afford to be picky about which students they accept, which makes them even more elite. It can be very difficult to get into an Ivy League school.
Is College More Expensive in the North than Other Regions?
The top Northeast colleges often charge higher tuition than schools in other regions. The state with the highest average in-state tuition at public schools (Vermont) and the state with the highest average private college tuition (Massachusetts) are both in the Northeast.
Among the universities in the North, tuition can vary significantly from one school to another. Some colleges in the North provide a good deal financially, while others, especially Northeast colleges and universities, cost much more.
Seven of the top ten most expensive states for in-state public tuition are in the Northeast. They are Vermont, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island.
Keep in mind that there may be more financial aid available at colleges and universities that charge higher tuition rates. Consider the total cost after financial aid when choosing a college.
One big drawback to attending a more expensive college is that you may end up with a large amount of student loan debt to repay after you graduate. You’ll find that your life after college will be much easier if you can get through school without accumulating a lot of student loans.
Are Northern Colleges Good for Networking?
The top Northeast colleges are very good for networking. In fact, ten of the top 25 colleges for networking listed by Business Insider are in the Northeast. Some of the Northeast colleges listed include Dartmouth College in Hanover, New Hampshire (#1), Pennsylvania State University in University Park, Pennsylvania (#2), and St. Lawrence University in Canton, New York (#6).
When you are comparing different northern colleges, ask about their alumni networks. Find out how many students are in the network, how often they have networking events, and if there are places to hang out online with other alumni. Perhaps they have a Facebook group or even an alumni website. You can also try to link up with your fellow alumni on LinkedIn.
Colleges in the Northeast that have active alumni networks can help new graduates earn more money in their first jobs due to having better connections within their industry. Alumni connections can help graduates find the best job for their skill set and find it more quickly than they would have otherwise.
Some alumni associations offer career services such as professional development events, job boards, self-assessment tests, and regional career programs. Taking advantage of these services can help improve your chances at getting the job you want.
Alumni organizations may also provide discounts at your school or from other businesses. Alumni may receive discounts on clothing, health insurance, auto insurance, computers, and cell phone services. Travel discounts are another perk available through some alumni networks. These include group tours and cruises, allowing you to network with your peers while enjoying a nice vacation.
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