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The Middle Atlantic region of the United States has some of the best colleges and universities in the world. This list of the top 36 Middle Atlantic colleges includes four Ivy League universities and some of the nation's top liberal arts colleges. The top picks range from schools with over 40,000 students to tiny Cooper Union with fewer than 1,000. Schools on the list include private and public institutions, urban and rural schools, and religious and secular institutions. The 35 colleges and universities below were chosen based on a range of factors, but most important was student persistence and success: retention rates and 4- and 6-year graduation rates. Also considered were student engagement, selectivity, and financial aid. I have listed the schools alphabetically to avoid the often arbitrary distinctions that separate #1 from #2, and because of the futility of comparing a large research university to a small liberal arts college. Note that I did not include highly specialized schools such as Julliard that have audition or portfolio admissions.
The Middle Atlantic Region
The 35 colleges and universities in the list below were selected from the Middle Atlantic region: Delaware, the District of Columbia, Maryland, New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.
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Annapolis (United States Naval Academy)
Rory Finneren / Flickr
- Location: Annapolis, Maryland
- Enrollment: 4,552 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: miltary academy
- Distinctions: one of the most selective colleges in the country; no costs (but 5-year service requirement); strong engineering programs; competes in the NCAA Division I Patriot League
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Annapolis profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Annapolis
Barnard College
Shintashi / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: Manhattan, New York
- Enrollment: 2,357 (all undergraduate)
- Type of Institution: private women's liberal arts college
- Explore the Campus: Barnard College photo tour
- Distinctions: the most selective of all women's colleges; affiliation with adjacent Columbia University; one of the original "seven sister" colleges; lots of cultural and educational opportunities in Manhattan
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Barnard College profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Barnard
Binghamton University (SUNY Binghamton)
unforth / Flickr
- Location: Vestal, New York
- Enrollment: 14,709 (11,693 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public research university
- Distinctions: highly ranked public university; 887-acre campus features a 190-acre nature preserve; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; NCAA Division I athletics in the America East Conference
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Binghamton University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Binghamton
Bucknell University
aurimasliutikas / Flickr
- Location: Lewisburg, Pennsylvania
- Enrollment: 3,737 (3,607 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: small comprehensive university
- Distinctions: 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; feel of a small liberal arts college with academic offerings of a comprehensive university; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; participation in the NCAA Division I Patriot League
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Bucknell University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Bucknell
Carnegie Mellon University
Jimmy Lin / Flickr
- Location: Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Enrollment: 11,197 (5,777 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private research university
- Distinctions: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; top-ranked science and engineering programs; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; membership in the American Association of Universities for strengths in research
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Carnegie Mellon University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Carnegie Mellon
Colgate University
bronayur / Flickr
- Location: Hamilton, New York
- Enrollment: 2,837 (2,825 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private liberal arts college
- Distinctions: high ranking liberal arts college; picturesque location; high graduation rate; high percentage of students go on to graduate school; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; NCAA Division I athletics in the Patriot League
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Colgate University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Colgate
The College of New Jersey
Iggynelix / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: Ewing, New Jersey
- Enrollment: 6,980 (6,237 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: public liberal arts college
- Distinctions: one of the top public liberal arts colleges in the country; easy train access to Philadelphia and New York City; over 50 degree programs; high retention and graduation rates; excellent value
- For more information and admissions data, visit the College of New Jersey profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for TCNJ
Columbia University
Yandi / Flickr
- Location: Manhattan, New York
- Enrollment: 24,230 (7,743 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: private research university
- Explore the Campus: Columbia University Photo Tour
- Distinctions: member of the Ivy League; extremely selective admissions, member of the Association of American Universities; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa; lots of cultural and educational opportunities in Manhattan
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Columbia University profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Columbia
Cooper Union
moacirpdsp / Flickr
- Location: Manhattan, New York
- Enrollment: 995 (902 undergraduates)
- Type of Institution: small engineering and art school
- Distinctions: specialized curriculum in engineering and art; historic building where Abraham Lincoln gave a famous speech on limiting slavery; Manhattan location provides students with many cultural and educational opportunities; highly ranked engineering program; free tuition for all students
- For more information and admissions data, visit the Cooper Union profile
- GPA, SAT and ACT graph for Cooper Union
