The Top 25 Smartest Colleges and Universities in The United States
These 25 universities are the best of the best when it comes to higher education. On this year's list, you'll find a strong mix of colleges. From the hallowed institutions that rank perennially on these lists to the more modern universities proving they can excel, the students from these universities have shown that they are a cut above the rest.
10. California Institute of Technology
This Pasadena school has one of the smallest undergraduate populations in the entire country. With just over 900 students, Cal Tech is as exclusive as it gets. The school excels when it comes to science, technology, and engineering. Although coming from a small school, Caltech's alumni have made their imprint on this world. Notable alumni include the founders of Hotmail, Compaq, and Intel. The average starting salary of a Caltech grad? Almost $80,000. 
9. Duke University
Students have been calling Duke home since 1838. The Durham, North Carolina school is one of the country's most prestigious non-Ivy Leagues, with world-renowned schools of business, medicine, law, and more. The acceptance rate is a measly 11%, but for those that make it in, they can expect to make a starting salary of over $60,000. 
8. University of Pennsylvania
This Pennsylvania school is older than the U.S. itself. Founded in 1740 by Benjamin Franklin, UPenn has been providing quality higher education decades before we even declared independence. The Philadelphia school has been home to world-famous scholars, lawyers, inventors, and presidents, including current president Donald Trump. 
7. Stanford University
From athletes to presidents to actors and CEOs, Stanford has no shortage of notable alumni to gloat about. The prestigious California university was founded in 1885 in the Bay Area. With an average graduate starting salary of over $70,000, the students who complete their rigorous coursework at Stanford are heavily rewarded. Unfortunately, you would have to be part of an elite 5% of applicants to even set foot in Stanford's historic halls. 
6. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
The private research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts has an acceptance rate of only 7%, making them one of the most selective in the United States. If you’re one of the qualified few to get in, consider yourself in extremely good company. I could list some of MIT's notable alumni or accomplishments, but this stat might just say everything you need to know. If you added up the revenues of all the companies founded by MIT alumni, you would have the 11th largest economy in the world. Not bad. |
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