Forbes Top 10 Colleges of 2016

Princeton's areas of studies cover humanities, social sciences, engineering and natural sciences.

Princeton has always been bursting with remarkable alumni, including 16 Nobel Prize winners, 3 U.S. Supreme Court justices and 2 U.S. presidents - James Madison and Woodrow Wilson (and former First Lady Michelle Obama). Princeton faculty has 26 Nobel Prize winners in its ranks.

Princeton claims its mission is to serve the public good and help their students, alumni and faculty to use education for society’s benefit, to think of how their work and research can help the humanity. Princeton sponsors service programs like University Volunteer Firefighter program, participates in food and clothing donations for charities, advocates sustainability.

https://www.princeton.edu/sites/default/files/styles/third_1x/public/images/2013/01/firefighters_20121016_FireFightersGroup_031_575.jpg?itok=rTZ9y2fH

Financial assistance:

Princeton offers aid in the form of grants and can fully cover tuition, room and board. Financial aid bases in individual needs of a student and his family resources. If your family’s income is less than $180,000 you can apply for financial aid.

Harvard University includes 12 schools, granting undergraduate and graduate degrees, including Harvard Business School, Graduate School of Arts & Sciences, Harvard Law School, and Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study.

There are 48 Nobel Laureates, 32 presidents and prime ministers (and even a crown princess of Japan) and 48 Pulitzer Prize winners among Harvard faculty and alumni.

Harvard has 400 official student organizations providing extracurricular, co-curricular and athletic opportunities, like volunteering through PBHA, participate in the work of the Harvard innovation lab, writing or editing at university’s newspapers.

Financial assistance:

Princeton offers scholarships and grants. If your family’s income is between under $150,000, you’ll have to contribute 0-10% of income. Financial aid is provided to meet student’s individual needs. You can use a net price calculator to get an estimated price.

MIT community includes 87 Nobel Laureates, 58 National Medal of Science winners, 29 National Medal of Technology and Innovation winners, 47 MacArthur Fellows, 15 A. M. Turing Award winners.

MIT states that its mission is to enhance knowledge and provide education in technology, science and other branches of knowledge, which will best serve the 21st-century world.

MIT consists of the following schools and departments - school of architecture and planning, of engineering, of humanities, arts and social science, MIT Sloan school of management and school of science, granting bachelor of science, master of architecture, MBA, MBAn, master of city planning, of engineering, of finance, of science, PhD and ScD degrees.

MIT has some distinguishing traditions, like a multitude of creative hacks made on campus or around Cambridge (like famous Baker House Piano Drop), or rewarding those who complete four physical education courses with the Pirate certificate.

Financial assistance:

MIT provides need-based scholarships and grants. In 2016 33% of the students were attending tuition-free and 56% got need-based scholarships.

Yale is the second oldest university of the Ivy League and third oldest higher education institution in the nation, which provides robust education in liberal arts. It offers 80 majors in the extensive range of fields - anthropology, chemistry, foreign languages, math, music, philosophy, biology etc. Yale consists of 14 schools and departments, including schools of law, music, nursing, management, art, architecture, engineering and applied science.

5 U.S. presidents, royals and heads of state, co-founder of Time Magazine, founder of FedEx, PepsiCo CEO are among Yale alumni, Meryl Streep and Edward Norton are Yale School of Drama alumni.

Financial assistance:

Yale admission policy doesn’t consider students ability to pay for education. Yale grants need-based scholarships to meet student’s individual financial needs without loans. Financial aid is based on tuition, room and board, books and other expenses. Learn more about how it works here.

Pomona College is a liberal arts college, offering a broad range of programs in 48 fields of study. Areas of study cover arts, humanities, natural sciences, social sciences and interdisciplinary fields.

Pomona College encourages students to live sustainably: students distribute leftover food to the homeless organizations, compost (university has an organic farm where the compost is used), apply their sustainability projects for funding, take part in the competition to reduce energy use.

Pomona College advocates community engagement, giving students the opportunities to participate in various service programs, involving tutoring students on- and off-campus, teaching in the middle and high schools, volunteering.

Financial assistance:

Pomona College offers need-based financial aid, depending on individual circumstances, and has veteran programs and aid for international students. You can apply here. Note that enrolled students must reapply for financial aid each year.

Brown provides bachelor’s degrees in 70 concentrations, 28 master’s and 51 doctoral programs, covering an extensive scope of majors, from Egyptology or African studies to cognitive neuroscience and interdisciplinary programs. Brown also comprises the Alpert Medical School, School of Public Health, School of Engineering, and the School of Professional Studies.

It has 41 research and teaching centers and institutes on life, physical, social sciences and humanities.

Brown University community is concerned about student’s health and well-being. You can see a provider at Health Services free of charge, if you have any concerns or just want a regular check-up, whether you have a Brown health insurance or not. On the Health promotion website you can discover more information on health and issues which may concern you and make an appointment.

Financial assistance:

Brown awards need-based scholarships, 41% of the 2020 Class received a scholarship. Learn more and apply here.

Wesleyan University provides 45 majors, 17 minors, and 12 certificates in liberal arts. Areas of studies include arts and humanities, social sciences and natural sciences and mathematics.

Wesleyan University is promoting sustainability , encourages students to participate in Creative Campus activities and supports student entrepreneurs and intrapreneurs through Patricelli Center for Social Entrepreneurship.

Financial assistance:

Wesleyan offers financial aid, which is based on individual financial needs. 37% first-year financial aid recipients receive total scholarships and grants that exceed $55,000. 51% first-year financial aid recipients receive total scholarships and grants that equal or exceed the tuition amount ($49,274). Learn and apply here.

Swarthmore College has degree programs in a wide range of fields in liberal arts. Students can obtain degrees in cognitive science, art, literature, languages, film and media studies, gender and sexuality, engineering and computer science (47 courses of study in total). Students have opportunities to apply gained knowledge off-campus through community-based learning programs , including exchange programs, internships and externships, and participate in Undergraduate Research or Independent Creative Projects.

Financial assistance:

Swarthmore provides financial aid based on your family’s financial circumstances and claims to meet all determined needs of admitted students.