Starting today, I'll be creating a weekly highlight of an interesting school that is off many people's radar. I won't be featuring the likes of Harvard and Amherst here, but less well-known schools that are worth a look. These are colleges that are up-and-coming or have quirky or creative approaches to education.

I begin with the Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering in Needham, Massachusetts. Never heard of it? That may be because the school didn't exist until 2002. But in its first few years of existence, it has drawn a caliber of student that rivals those going to MIT and Caltech. Olin's instant success stems from a great location just outside of Boston, an innovative hands-on curriculum with a true undergraduate focus, and, perhaps the biggest draw of all, free tuition for all students. That's right, no one, regardless of finances, will pay tuition to attend Olin. To learn more about the school, visit the college profile. If you're a student, parent, or employee connected with Olin, please share your experiences in the College Admissions Forum.

photo: Michael Maloney / Wikimedia Commons