Colonial Athletic Association

The University of Delaware at Newark is the largest university in the state of Delaware. The university is made up of seven different colleges of which the College of Arts and Sciences is the largest. UD's College of Engineering and its College of Business and Economics often place well on national rankings. The University of Delaware's strengths in liberal arts and sciences earned it a chapter of the prestigious Phi Beta Kappa honor society.

Location: Newark, Delaware

School type: Public research university

Enrollment: 21,489 (17,872 undergraduates)

Team: Fightin' Blue Hens

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of Delaware profile

Located in West Philadelphia right next door to the University of Pennsylvania, Drexel University is well-regarded for its pre-professional programs in fields such as business, engineering and nursing. Drexel values experiential learning, and students can take advantage of a wide range of programs for international study, internships, and co-operative education. The university helps place students in its network of 1,200 companies in 28 states and 25 international locations.

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

School type: Private university (science and engineering focus)

Enrollment: 24,860 (15,047 undergraduates)

Team: Dragons

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Drexel University profile

George Mason University is a relatively young school first established as a branch of the University of Virginia in 1957, and founded as an independent institution in 1972. Since then, the university has been expanding rapidly. Aside from its main campus in Fairfax, Virginia, GMU also has branch campuses in Arlington, Prince William, and Loudoun counties. The university's many successes recently landed it at the very top of U.S. News & World Report's list of "Up-and-Coming Schools."

Location: Fairfax, Virginia

School type: Public university

Enrollment: 33,320 (20,782 undergraduates)

Team: Patriots

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the George Mason University profile

Georgia State University is part of the University System of Georgia. Students can choose from 52 degree programs and 250 fields of study across the university's six colleges. Among undergraduates, fields in business and the social sciences are most popular. The student body is diverse in terms both of age and race, and students come from all 50 states and 160 countries.

Location: Atlanta, Georgia

School type: Public research university

Enrollment: 32,022 (24,096 undergraduates)

Team: Panthers

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Georgia State University profile

Hofstra University's 240-acre campus on Long Island places it within easy reach of all the opportunities of New York City. The university has a 14 to 1 student / faculty ratio and an average class size of 22. Campus life is active, and Hofstra can boast of roughly 170 student clubs and organizations including an active Greek system. Business is most popular among undergraduate's, but Hofstra University's strengths in the liberal arts and sciences earned the school a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa.

Location: Hempstead, New York

School type: Private university

Enrollment: 11,404 (7,183 undergraduates)

Team: Pride

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Hofstra University profile

JMU, James Madison University, offers 68 undergraduate degree programs with areas in business being the most popular. JMU has a high retention and graduation rate compared to similar public universities, and the school frequently does well on national rankings for both its value and its academic quality. The attractive campus features an open quad, a lake, and the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum. 

Location: Harrisonburg, Virginia

School type: Public university

Enrollment: 19,722 (17,900 undergraduates)

Team: Dukes

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the James Madison University profile

Northeastern university undergraduates can choose from 65 major programs among the university's six colleges. Business, engineering and health fields are some of the most popular. Northeastern's curriculum emphasizes experiential learning, and the school has a strong internship and co-op program that has often received national attention. High achieving students should check out the Northeastern Honors Program. 

Location: Boston, Massachusetts

School type: Private university

Enrollment: 26,959 (16,576 undergraduates)

Team: Huskies

Explore Campus: Northeastern Photo Tour

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Northeastern University profile

Old Dominion University has a 185-acre main campus, two branch campuses, and one of the largest distance learning programs in the country. Old Dominion offers 70 bachelor's degree programs with business and health being quite popular among undergraduates. The university also has one of the largest ROTC programs in the U.S. 

Location: Norfolk, Virginia

School type: Public university

Enrollment: 24,753 (19,367 undergraduates)

Team: Monarchs

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Old Dominion University profile

Towson University's 328-acre campus is located eight miles north of Baltimore. Towson is the second largest public university in Maryland, and the school often does well in rankings of regional public universities. The university offers over 100 degree programs, and among undergraduates profession fields such as business, education, nursing and communications are extremely popular. Towson has a 17 to 1 student / faculty ratio. The school wins high marks for its safety, value, and green efforts. 

Location: Towson, Maryland

School type: Public university

Enrollment: 21,464 (17,517 undergraduates)

Team: Tigers

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the Towson University profile

UNC Wilmington is located just five miles from Wrightsville Beach and the Atlantic Ocean. UNC undergraduates can choose from 52 bachelor's degree programs. Professional fields such as business, communications, education and nursing are the most popular. The university is highly ranked among southern master's universities. UNCW wins high marks for value, and among North Carolina's public universities it is second only to UNC Chapel Hill for its four-year graduation rate. 

Location: Wilmington, North Carolina

School type: Public university

Enrollment: 13,145 (11,950 undergraduates)

Team: Seahawks

For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the University of North Carolina Wilmington profile

William and Mary typically ranks among the best public universities in the country, and its small size sets it apart from other highly ranked universities. The college has well-respected programs in business, law, accounting, international relations and history. Founded in 1693, the College of William and Mary is the second oldest institution of higher learning in the country. The campus is located in historic Williamsburg, Virginia, and the school educated three U.S. presidents: Thomas Jefferson, John Tyler and James Monroe. The college not only has a chapter of Phi Beta Kappa, but the honor society originated there.

• Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
• School type: Pubilc university
• Enrollment: 8,200 (6,071 undergraduates) 
• Team: Tribe
• For acceptance rate, test scores, costs and other information, see the College of William & Mary profile