Big East Conference

Located between New York City and Philadelphia, Rutgers gives its students easy train access to two major metropolitan centers. Rutgers frequently places well on national rankings of public universities, and the school's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences have earned it a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the Rutgers Profile.

• Location: New Brunswick, New Jersey
• School type: Public
• Undergraduate enrollment: 26,829 (2007)
• Team: Scarlet Knights

St. John's University is one of the stronger Catholic universities in the United States. The university has a diverse student population, and among undergraduates pre-professional programs such as business, education, and prelaw are quite popular. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the St. John's Profile.

• Location: Queens, New York
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Undergraduate enrollment: 14,808 (2007)
• Team: Red Storm

With a park-like campus just 14 miles from New York City, students at Seton Hall can easily take advantage of opportunities on campus and in the city. As a mid-sized university, Seton Hall provides a healthy balance of research and teaching. Undergraduates will find 60 programs from which to choose, a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio, and an average class size of 25. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the Seton Hall Profile.

• Location: South Orange, New Jersey
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Undergraduate enrollment: 5,187 (2007)
• Team: Pirates

With around 45,000 students, USF is one of the largest universities in the U.S. The university was founded in 1956, and recently it has appeared in The Princeton Review's list of the 366 best colleges in the U.S. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the USF Profile.

• Location: North Tampa, Florida
• School type: Public
• Undergraduate enrollment: 34,898 (2007)
• Team: Bulls

Located in the Finger Lakes region of central New York, Syracuse University's programs in media studies, art and business are all worth a look, to name just a few. The university's high level of research has earned it membership in the Association of American Universities. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Syracuse was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the Syracuse University Profile.

• Location: Syracuse, New York
• School type: Private
• Undergraduate enrollment: 13,203 (2007)
• Team: Orange

Founded in 1842, Villanova is the oldest and largest Catholic university in Pennsylvania. Located just outside of Philadelphia, Villanova is well known for both its strong academics and athletic programs. The university has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, a recognition of its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the Villanova Profile.

• Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Undergraduate enrollment: 7,350 (2007)
• Team: Wildcats

West Virginia University, the flagship campus of the state university system, offers 185 degree programs, and the school was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences. Highly motivated students who are looking for smaller and more challenging classes should check out the WVU Honors College. For acceptance rates, average test scores and other admissions info, check out the West Virginia Profile.

• Location: Morgantown, West Virginia
• School type: Public
• Undergraduate enrollment: 21,145 (2007)
• Team: Mountaineers