Top Ranked Colleges: Universities | Public Universities | Liberal Arts Colleges | Engineering | Business | Women's | Most Selective | Hidden Gems
Each month I spotlight great schools that might be off the radar of college applicants. Many of these colleges were recommended by readers via email or in the College Admission Forum. Others I chose based on my own research or experiences. In the list below, you'll find links to each college's profile, blog spotlight, and discussion forum. Also be sure to check out the 2008 spotlights and 2009 spotlights.
You can recommend a college for a future spotlight in the forum.
15. Guilford College
Parkram412 / Wikipedia
- Location: Greensboro, North Carolina
- What Makes it Special?: featured in Loren Pope's well-regarded Colleges That Change Lives; ties to Quaker Friends; rich history as one of the first coeducational institutions in the country and as a station on the Underground Railroad; strong green efforts; excellent educational value; interesting interdisciplinary majors such as forensic biology, forensic accounting and peace studies
- Blog Spotlight from July 31, 2010
- Guilford College admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Guilford College
14. Berry College
Matthew Weitzel / Flickr
- Location: Rome, Georgia
- What Makes it Special?: largest contiguous campus in the world (26,000 acres); lots of opportunities for outdoor activities such as hiking, biking, and horseback riding; 12 to 1 student / faculty ratio; excellent financial aid and value; dual-degree programs in Engineering with Georgia Tech and Nursing with Emory University
- Blog Spotlight from July 4, 2010
- Berry College admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Berry College
13. Goucher College
Photo Credit: Tom McDowell
- Location: Towson, Maryland
- What Makes it Special?: featured in Loren Pope's well-regarded Colleges That Change Lives; 10 to 1 student / faculty ratio; chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; robust study abroad program with financial support for students; test-optional admissions; new $48 million Athenaeum with a state-of-the-art library, classrooms, an art gallery, the campus radio station, a forum for performances and discussions, a café, and many other spaces for enhancing student life
- Blog Spotlight from June 21, 2010
- Goucher College admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Goucher College
12. Flagler College
Photo by Allen Grove
- Location: St. Augustine, Florida
- What Makes it Special?: stunning campus architecture featuring the handiwork of Louis Tiffany, George Maynard, Virgilio Tojetti and Thomas Edison; major recent campus upgrades and expansions such as the new student center and total renovation of the art building; one of the top Florida colleges
- Blog Spotlight from June 4, 2010
- Explore campus in this Flagler College photo tour
- Flagler College admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Flagler College
11. Berea College
Parkerdr / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: Berea, Kentucky
- What Makes it Special?: first coeducational and interracial college in the South; non sectarian Christian identity; students from 50 states and 60 countries; all students work 10 to 15 hours a week as part of the Labor Program; tuition and most costs covered for all students; exceptional value
- Blog Spotlight from April 23, 2010
- Berea College admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Berea College
10. Wilson College
Photo credit: Steve Hulbert
- Location: Chambersburg, Pennsylvania
- What Makes it Special?: chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and scineces; good value with generous grant aid; seven-acre Fulton Farm uses organic methods to grow vegetables for the college and surrounding community; single mothers can live year-round on campus with their children
- Blog Spotlight from April 16, 2010
- Wilson College admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Wilson College
9. Butler University
KimManleyOrt / Flickr
- Location: Indianapolis, Indiana
- What Makes it Special?: 11 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 20; good financial aid; attractive 290-acre campus; over 140 student organizations; Butler University Bulldogs compete in the NCAA Division I Horizon League
- Blog Spotlight from April 4, 2010
- Butler University admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Butler University
8. Fairfield University
WalkingGeek / Flickr
- Location: Fairfield, Connecticut
- What Makes it Special?: strong international programs and large number of Fulbright Scholars; chapter of the Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and sciences; well-regarded Dolan School of Business; Fairfield Stags compete in the NCAA Division I Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference; one of the top Catholic universities
- Blog Spotlight from March 14, 2010
- Fairfield admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Fairfield University
7. Randolph College
taberandrew / Flickr
- Location: Lynchburg, Virginia
- What Makes it Special?: 8 to 1 student / faculty ratio; average class size of 12; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and scineces; high marks for student engagement; attractive campus with red-brick buildings
- Blog Spotlight from March 3, 2010
- Randolph admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Randolph College
6. Kalamazoo College
AaronEndre / Wikimedia Commons
- Location: Kalamazoo, Michigan
- What Makes it Special?: 13 to 1 student / faculty ratio; chapter of Phi Beta Kappa for strong liberal arts and scineces; over 80% of students complete some form of internship, over 85% participate in study abroad, and over 60% are engaged in a service-learning project; featured in Loren Pope's well-regarded Colleges that Change Lives
- Blog Spotlight from February 21, 2010
- Kalamazoo admissions profile
- Share your impressions of Kalamazoo
