For most students, the college experience is not limited to their time in the classroom. Much of what a school has to offer can be found on its campus — from great libraries to standout career services to, simply, beautiful surroundings.
We looked at 11 campus-related categories from The Princeton Review's 2015 college rankings to determine which colleges offer the best campus experiences.
Click here to read our complete methodology.
There was no discernible connection between the colleges that came out on top, as they represented everything from Ivy League universities to small liberal arts colleges to technical schools. Perhaps more telling of the list's diversity is that each one of our top five schools came from a different area of the country.
Whereas last year's ranking included half of the Ivy League, this year only two members cracked the top 20. Several schools made the list for the first time, and Franklin W. Olin College of Engineering, ranked no. 6 last year, earned this year's top spot. Although Olin College didn't rank no. 1 in any individual category, its high placement in several categories — including Best Quality of Life, Best Career Services, and Best Dorms — earned it the outright top spot.
#20 Northeastern University
Boston, Massachusetts
Northeastern took home the top spot in the career services ranking because of its unique co-op program. The program allows students to work in real world, professional settings during the semester for credit as an undergraduate.
Located in the heart of downtown Boston, the school also fared well in the City Gets High Marks list.
Source: The Princeton Review. To learn more about our methodology, click here.
#19 Vassar College
Poughkeepsie, New York
The liberal arts college has a student body under 2,500 total students, but still managed to rank in the top ten of Princeton Review's best college library ranking.
Founded in 1861 as an all-women's college, Vassar began admitting male students in 1969. Today, approximately 56% of the student body is female.
Source: The Princeton Review. To learn more about our methodology, click here.
#18 Tulane University
New Orleans, Louisiana
Located in the heart of New Orleans, Tulane ranked second in Princeton Review's City Gets High Marks ranking and sixth on the Quality of Life ranking.
The 110-acre campus sits along the oldest streetcar line in the country, and the historic St. Charles streetcar makes the four mile trip into the downtown and French quarters of New Orleans easily accessible.
Source: The Princeton Review. To learn more about our methodology, click here.
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