Big East Conference

With 167 Bachelors programs and a 15 to 1 student / faculty ratio, the University of Cincinnati offers a huge range of educational opportunities for undergraduates. Strengths in the liberal arts and sciences have earned Cincinnati a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, and the university is a great value, especially for Ohio residents.

• Location: Cincinnati, Ohio
• School type: Public
• Enrollment: 33,329 (22,893 undergraduates)
• Team: Bearcats
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Cincinnati profile

The University of Connecticut (UConn) is the state's flagship institution of higher learning. With 10 different schools and colleges, UConn offers wide-ranging academic options. Like several members of the Big East, the University of Connecticut was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences.

• Location: Storrs, Connecticut
• School type: Public
• Enrollment: 25,868 (17,815 undergraduates)
• Team: Huskies
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the UConn profile

With roughly 24,000 students between its graduate and undergraduate programs, DePaul University is the largest Catholic University in the country, and one of the largest private universities. DePaul has one of the best service-learning programs in the U.S.

• Location: Chicago, Illinois
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Enrollment: 25,398 (16,384 undergraduates)
• Team: Blue Demons
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the DePaul University profile

With an acceptance rate around 20%, Georgetown is the most selective of the Big East universities. Georgetown takes advantage of its location in the country's capital -- the university has a significant international population, and study abroad and International Relations are both extremely popular.

• Location: Washington, D.C.
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Enrollment: 17,130 (7,590 undergraduates)
• Team: Hoyas
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Georgetown University profile

Louisville's ambitious mission is to be Kentucky's "premier, nationally recognized metropolitan research university." The campus, three miles from downtown, features attractive red-brick buildings and a planetarium, art gallery, field-house, and numerous stadiums.

• Location: Louisville, Kentucky
• School type: Public
• Enrollment: 21,152 (15,596 undergraduates)
• Team: Cardinals
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Louisville profile

Loyola is an associate member of the Big East -- only women's lacrosse competes in the conference. Most other sports belong to the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC). Located in Baltimore, Maryland, just down the road from Johns Hopkins, Loyola can boast of a 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio, small classes, and popular programs in Business and Communication Studies. Loyola has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society.

• Location: Baltimore, Maryland
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Enrollment: 6,080 (3,863 undergraduates)
• Team: Greyhounds
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Loyola College in Maryland profile

Marquette University is a private, Jesuit, Roman Catholic University. The university typically places well on rankings of national universities, and its programs in business, nursing and the biomedical sciences are worth a close look. For its strengths in the liberal arts and sciences, Marquette was awarded a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

• Location: Milwaukee, Wisconsin
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Enrollment: 12,002 (8,387 undergraduates)
• Team: Golden Eagles
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Marquette University profile

Among the Big East universities, Notre Dame is second only to Georgetown for its high selectivity. 70% of accepted students rank in the top 5% of their high school class. Notre Dame undergraduates go on to earn a remarkably high number of Doctoral degrees, and the university's academic strengths have earned it a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

• Location: Notre Dame, Indiana
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Enrollment: 12,002 (8,452 undergraduates)
• Team: Fighting Irish
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Notre Dame profile

Pitt has wide-ranging strengths including Philosophy, Medicine, Engineering and Business. The university often ranks among the top 20 public universities in the U.S., and its strong research programs have earned it membership in the exclusive Association of American Universities.

• Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
• School type: Public
• Enrollment: 28,766 (18,427 undergraduates)
• Team: Panthers
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Pittsburgh profile

Providence College is the smallest member of the Big East conference. This Catholic college typically ranks well for both its value and its academic quality when compared to other master's-level colleges in the Northeast. Providence College's curriculum is distinguished by a four-semester long course on western civilization that covers history, religion, literature and philosophy.

• Location: Providence, Rhode Island
• School type: Private, Catholic
• Enrollment: 4,769 (4,174 undergraduates)
• Team: Friars
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Providence College profile