QuestBridge partners with 55 exceptional colleges and universities committed to full-need financial aid. Browse, search, or filter the list below to start building your college strategy.
Amherst, MA
Description: Amherst is a residential liberal-arts college that champions breadth and independence through its open curriculum. Fewer than 2,000 students craft 40+ majors, cross-register at four nearby campuses, and work closely with faculty on research. The ethos is intellectually curious, collaborative, and deeply committed to civic engagement.
Setting: Red-brick Georgian halls surround a maple-lined quad overlooking the Connecticut River valley. Free buses link Amherst to Smith, Mount Holyoke, Hampshire, and UMass; downtown bookstores and cafés sit two blocks east, and hiking trails start behind campus.
New York, NY
Description: Barnard is a women’s liberal-arts college affiliated with Columbia University, blending a close-knit community with Ivy League resources. It excels in STEM for women, architecture, dance, and urban studies; every diploma bears both Barnard and Columbia seals. The culture emphasizes leadership, empowerment, and social change.
Setting: A compact, four-block campus on Manhattan’s Upper West Side faces Riverside Park and the 116th-Street subway. Students access Columbia classes, Division I athletics, and New York internships while enjoying Barnard’s supportive environment.
Lewiston, ME
Description: Bates pairs rigorous, discussion-rich academics with a pioneering test-optional policy and a strong ethos of inclusion. Popular majors include environmental studies, politics, and neuroscience. A five-week “Short Term” each spring encourages fieldwork and global travel.
Setting: Granite halls ring an open quad shaded by maples. The Androscoggin River Greenway, Maine beaches, ski slopes, and Portland’s arts scene are all within an hour, supporting an outdoorsy campus culture.
Chestnut Hill, MA
Description: A Jesuit research university that blends liberal-arts breadth with pre-professional strengths in business, nursing, and education. Leadership, ethics, and service anchor the core curriculum, and Division I spirit unites the campus.
Setting: Gothic-stone spires rise on a hill overlooking the Chestnut Hill Reservoir, six miles west of downtown Boston. The MBTA Green Line stops at the gate, linking students to internships and culture across the city.
Boston, MA
Description: BU is a large, urban research powerhouse with strengths across engineering, business, film, public health, and liberal arts. Co-ops, 80+ study-abroad programs, and a vast alumni network give graduates a professional edge.
Setting: A mile-long campus lines Commonwealth Avenue and the Charles River. Students ride the Green Line trolley, bike the river esplanade, and walk to Fenway Park, Back Bay, and major hospitals.
Brunswick, ME
Description: Bowdoin centers education on the “Common Good,” pairing rigorous academics with a culture of community and outdoor adventure. Standouts include government, environmental science, and digital & computational studies; 95 % of seniors pursue funded research or internships.
Setting: Brick buildings border a coastal-New-England quad near downtown Brunswick cafés. Students sea-kayak at Bowdoin’s Orr’s Island station, ski local mountains, and frequent Portland’s foodie scene 30 minutes south.
Providence, RI
Description: Brown’s fully open curriculum lets students design their own academic paths without general-education requirements, fostering interdisciplinary majors and intellectual risk-taking. Research funding and venture labs support innovation across computer science, neuroscience, public policy, and the arts.
Setting: Georgian red-brick halls crown College Hill, overlooking Providence’s riverwalk, galleries, and restaurant scene. Beaches and Boston are an hour away by commuter rail; RISD cross-registration enriches the arts culture.
Pasadena, CA
Description: Caltech is an ultra-small STEM crucible where a 3:1 student-faculty ratio puts undergraduates on Nobel-caliber research early. The honor code fosters trust, and core physics and math courses set a rigorous foundation for cutting-edge inquiry.
Setting: Mission-style quads shaded by jacaranda and citrus trees sit beneath the San Gabriel Mountains. Old Town Pasadena cafés, Jet Propulsion Laboratory internships, and downtown LA’s cultural scene are all close by.
Northfield, MN
Description: Carleton marries liberal-arts breadth with faculty-mentored research in sciences, math, and social inquiry. Quirky traditions—from midnight “Primal Scream” to broomball on frozen lakes—reflect a community that balances academic rigor with Midwestern humor.
Setting: Limestone halls surround expansive lawns and an 800-acre arboretum along the Cannon River. Northfield’s historic main-street cafés are five minutes away; Minneapolis–St Paul internships and arts lie 45 minutes north.
Cleveland, OH
Description: Embedded in Cleveland’s museum-and-hospital district, Case Western is strong in engineering, biomedical innovation, and music (through the Cleveland Institute of Music partnership). Co-ops connect students to NASA Glenn, Cleveland Clinic, and Fortune 500 firms.
Setting: Urban parkland links glass research centers with Beaux-Arts museums and botanical gardens in University Circle. Bus-rapid transit reaches downtown nightlife and Lake Erie beaches in 15 minutes.
Claremont, CA
Description: CMC is a liberal-arts college focused on leadership in government, economics, and public affairs. Eleven policy institutes let undergrads publish real research, while Division III athletics and a seven-college consortium expand academics and social life.
Setting: Spanish-tile halls and palm-lined walkways sit at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. Students easily cross-register at Pomona, Scripps, and the other Claremont colleges; Metrolink trains reach Los Angeles in under an hour.
Waterville, ME
Description: Colby has invested heavily in interdisciplinary science, climate research, and the arts, adding a downtown museum and a $200 million coastal campus for field work on the Gulf of Maine. The four-JanPlan calendar grants every student a funded January term for internships or travel. Community ethos favors collaboration, outdoor exploration, and global engagement—two-thirds study abroad.
Setting: Granite and slate buildings ring Mayflower Hill, overlooking the Kennebec River valley. Skiing at Sugarloaf, kayaking on Belgrade Lakes, and day trips to Acadia are staples; a free shuttle links campus to Waterville’s revitalized Main Street cafés and art house cinema.
Hamilton, NY
Description: Colgate mixes liberal-arts intimacy with Division I spirit and a robust alumni network. Hallmarks include a Core Curriculum that spans Western classics to global modernity, strong economics and astronomy programs, and funded summer research grants for every major. “Thirteen” traditions—Friday the 13th celebrations, 13 oak trees—reinforce campus lore and loyalty.
Setting: A postcard campus of red-brick Georgian halls climbs a hillside above a scenic lake. Students stroll to Hamilton’s farm-to-table eateries, ski at nearby Toggenburg, and spend breaks in NYC via the Colgate Cruiser bus.
Worcester, MA
Description: Holy Cross is a Jesuit liberal-arts college where undergraduate research, service, and social justice anchor the curriculum. Noted for pre-health and classics, it guarantees funded summer projects and offers a Montserrat first-year program that links residence halls with seminar themes. The campus culture combines spirited athletics with reflection and community engagement.
Setting: Gothic-stone terraces cascade down Mount St. James, giving skyline views of Worcester—the state’s second-largest city—only an hour by train from Boston. Students volunteer in local schools, explore downtown eateries, and hike nearby Wachusett Mountain.
Colorado Springs, CO
Description: Known for its one-course-at-a-time Block Plan, Colorado College lets students immerse in a single subject for three and a half intensive weeks, freeing long Block Breaks for research or Rocky Mountain adventure. Environmental science, Southwest studies, and creative writing thrive in a culture that prizes risk-taking and the outdoors.
Setting: Red-sandstone buildings and modern studios sit beneath 14,115-foot Pikes Peak. Downtown Colorado Springs coffee shops border campus, while world-class climbing, skiing, and trails begin a short drive away; Denver’s tech internships lie an hour north.
New York, NY
Description: An Ivy League research titan, Columbia melds a famed Core Curriculum—Homer to quantum mechanics—with 200+ majors, global research institutes, and unmatched NYC internships. Journalism, engineering, and international affairs lead its signature strengths, while need-blind aid and the QuestBridge partnership expand access.
Setting: Classical domes and iron gates enclose a city-within-a-city in Morningside Heights, steps from Riverside Park and a 20-minute subway to Midtown. Students join 500+ clubs, cheer Division I Lions at Baker Field, and tap Columbia’s global centers on six continents.
Ithaca, NY
Description: Cornell unites Ivy League scholarship with land-grant outreach across nine undergraduate colleges—from engineering and hotel administration to the Dyson School of applied economics. “Any person, any study” drives opportunities in research, entrepreneurship, and public service. Co-op programs place students at Apple, NASA, and NGOs worldwide.
Setting: Cascading gorges, waterfalls, and stone bridges define the hilltop campus overlooking Cayuga Lake. Ithaca’s farmers markets, indie music, and Finger Lakes wine trails complement 1,000+ student clubs and Division I Big Red athletics.
Hanover, NH
Description: Dartmouth blends Ivy rigor with outdoorsy camaraderie via a quarter-system “D-Plan” that flexes study-abroad and research terms. Strengths include government, computer science, and its Tuck, Thayer, and Geisel graduate schools. Traditions—First-Year Trips, Winter Carnival—forge tight bonds in the “smallest Big Green.”
Setting: White-clapboard buildings surround the historic Green on the Connecticut River. Students ski the college-owned mountain, paddle local rapids, and drive two hours to Boston internships.
Davidson, NC
Description: Davidson offers an honor-code culture, Division I Wildcats athletics, and rigorous liberal-arts rooted in critical thinking and ethical leadership. Belk Scholarships, Venture Lab, and guaranteed summer stipends sustain research and entrepreneurship. Signature programs include political science, biology, and digital studies.
Setting: Brick Georgian buildings dot a walkable arboretum campus in a lakeside college town 20 miles from Charlotte’s finance and tech hubs. Students sail Lake Norman, hike Crowders Mountain, and frequent Charlotte internships via a free shuttle.
Granville, OH
Description: Denison has poured resources into the arts, data analytics, and global programs, pairing a liberal-arts core with career-preparedness through the Austin E. Knowlton Center. An ethos of mentorship and community service permeates residential living and 220+ student organizations.
Setting: Hilltop sandstone halls overlook Granville’s picturesque main street of cafés and bookstores. Columbus—Ohio’s state-capital tech and arts center—is 30 minutes west; biking trails and Hocking Hills hikes fill weekends.
Durham, NC
Description: Duke combines top-tier engineering, public policy, and biomedical research with Division I Blue Devils fervor. The flexible Trinity/Pratt curriculum encourages double majors; Bass Connections funds multidisciplinary teams tackling global problems. DukeEngage sends thousands on service projects worldwide.
Setting: Neo-Gothic West Campus surrounds Duke Chapel and the Sarah P. Duke Gardens, while modern East Campus houses first-years near downtown Durham’s startup and food scene. The Research Triangle Park and Raleigh internships are 25 minutes away.
Atlanta, GA
Description: Emory couples liberal-arts strengths with renowned programs in business (Goizueta), public health (Rollins), and medicine. Undergraduates split between the main Atlanta campus and the Oxford College two-year experience. Civic engagement, research with CDC partners, and study-abroad anchor student life.
Setting: Italianate marble and modern glass buildings nestle in a 600-acre forested suburb seven miles from downtown Atlanta. Students intern with Fortune 500s and film studios, explore BeltLine trails, and fly internationally via the world’s busiest airport nearby.
Grinnell, IA
Description: Grinnell marries Midwestern friendliness with global ambition. An individually advised curriculum lets students shape 27 majors and funded Mentored Advanced Projects. The Institute for Global Engagement supports language learning and off-campus study on six continents. Social justice, need-blind aid, and quirkiest-in-class traditions define campus culture.
Setting: Victorian limestone halls and award-winning LEED labs form a walkable campus amid prairie landscapes halfway between Des Moines and Iowa City. Students stroll to the jewel-box downtown for coffee and live music, bike cornfield trails, and stargaze at the campus observatory.
Clinton, NY
Description: Hamilton champions clear communication and an open curriculum—no distribution requirements, but every student must write intensively. Strengths span creative writing, government, and STEM, backed by funded summer research and a New York City semester in finance, art, or media. An Honor Code and tight faculty advising reinforce independence.
Setting: A hilltop “College on the Hill” of bluestone buildings overlooks the Mohawk Valley and Adirondack foothills. Students ski at nearby Snow Ridge, hike the Adirondack High Peaks on weekends, and reach Syracuse’s airport and internships in 45 minutes.
Cambridge, MA
Description: Harvard pairs 400-plus years of liberal-arts tradition with limitless research resources—from the Wyss Institute’s bioengineering labs to the Kennedy School’s policy think tanks. The General Education program encourages breadth, while a need-blind, no-loan aid policy opens doors. Alumni networks, House communities, and hundreds of clubs fuel leadership across disciplines.
Setting: Georgian courtyards and glass research centers line the Charles River three subway stops from downtown Boston. Students row at dawn, browse Harvard Square bookstores, intern on Kendall Square’s biotech row, and cheer Crimson–Yale rivalries each fall.
Haverford, PA
Description: Guided by a student-run Honor Code, Haverford links liberal-arts depth with Quaker values of integrity and consensus. Two-thirds of students conduct faculty research; standout programs include astrophysics, philosophy, and visual studies. Tri-Co exchange opens courses at Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore.
Setting: Arboretum grounds of stone halls and duck ponds sit 10 miles from Philadelphia, reachable by commuter rail in 12 minutes. Trails, cricket matches, and nearby Main Line cafés balance city culture with campus calm.
Baltimore, MD
Description: America’s first research university excels at biomedical engineering, international studies, and public health. Undergrads gain early lab access at the Homewood campus and nearby medical school; Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab offers paid internships on spacecraft and AI. A flexible distribution system fosters double majors in the arts and sciences.
Setting: Red-brick quads, marble libraries, and azalea gardens anchor the Homewood campus in the vibrant Charles Village neighborhood. Students volunteer in Baltimore schools, explore Inner Harbor museums, and ride MARC trains to Washington, DC, in 45 minutes.
Saint Paul, MN
Description: Macalester blends global citizenship with urban access—students hail from 95 nations, and every major integrates civic engagement or study abroad. Flagships include international studies, economics, and environmental science; the Entrepreneurship Hub funds student ventures.
Setting: A compact, tree-lined campus sits between the Twin Cities, steps from eclectic Grand Avenue cafés. Metro transit carries students to Fortune 500 internships, theater, and pro-sports venues; Boundary Waters canoe trips mark long weekends.
Cambridge, MA
Description: MIT is synonymous with breakthrough science and “mens et manus” (mind and hand). The flexible GIR core plus 45 departments let students prototype rockets, engineer bio-chips, and minor in music. The Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program matches 90 % of students with funded projects.
Setting: Modernist labs and playful public art line the Charles River across from Boston’s skyline. The Infinite Corridor buzzes with start-up recruiters; Red Line trains, Kendall Square biotech firms, and Fenway concerts sit minutes away.
Middlebury, VT
Description: Middlebury marries classic liberal arts with renowned language immersion and environmental leadership via its School of the Environment and Bread Loaf campus. The Winter Term encourages single-subject focus—film production, entrepreneurship, or Himalayan fieldwork.
Setting: Stone halls overlook Vermont’s Green Mountains and the Otter Creek gorge. Students ski Sugarbush, bike rural highways to maple farms, and gather on the lawn for the annual Winter Carnival and outdoor orchestra concerts.
Evanston, IL
Description: Northwestern knits world-class journalism, engineering, music, and theater into one flexible quarter-system curriculum. The Oberwild Center funds design sprints; Medill on the Hill sends reporters to Washington; and the Kellogg Certificate readies undergrads for consulting. Big Ten sports and Chicago internships energize campus life.
Setting: Lake Michigan beaches, modern glass labs, and Gothic towers stretch along a lakeside promenade 12 miles from downtown Chicago, reachable by the Purple Line. Evanston cafés, theaters, and start-ups ring the perimeter.
Oberlin, OH
Description: Oberlin intertwines a leading undergraduate conservatory with a progressive liberal-arts college embracing social justice and sustainability. Popular majors span music performance, neuroscience, and politics; the Experimental College and Winter Term spur student-taught courses and funded projects.
Setting: Historic brick halls and the Allen Art Museum anchor a walkable village surrounded by Ohio farmland. Cleveland’s orchestra, internships, and lakefront are 40 minutes away; Bike Co-op, co-op dining, and dance collectives enrich campus culture.
Claremont, CA
Description: Flagship of the Claremont Consortium, Pomona offers a personalized liberal-arts experience with 48 majors and seamless cross-enrollment at six neighboring colleges. Hallmarks include strong STEM, media studies, and a commitment to need-blind aid; the Pomona College Internship Program funds summer work worldwide.
Setting: Spanish-Mission architecture and orange groves sit against the San Gabriel foothills. Students hike Mount Baldy at sunrise, hop a 50-minute train to LA museums, and share resources from dining halls to parties across “the 5Cs.”
Princeton, NJ
Description: Princeton pairs Ivy League breadth with an uncommon emphasis on undergraduate research—every senior completes an independent thesis. Powerhouse departments include public policy (SPIA), computer science, and molecular biology. Generous, no-loan financial aid and residential college advising nurture a tight scholarly community; eating clubs, student-run conferences, and 300+ organizations add eclectic flair.
Setting: Collegiate-Gothic spires, sculptural modern labs, and leafy courtyards frame a walkable town of cafés and bookstores midway between New York and Philadelphia. Canal trails, Carnegie Lake crew practices, and weekend NJ Transit trips extend learning beyond the gates.
Houston, TX
Description: Rice combines top-ranked engineering, architecture, and music (Shepherd School) with a playful research culture—students tackle nanotech, artificial hearts, and space science alongside Nobel faculty. The residential-college system fosters community, intramural rivalries, and student self-government. Need-blind aid and the new Rice Investment amplify access.
Setting: Arcaded Mediterranean buildings encircle live-oak quads next to Houston’s Museum District and world-leading Texas Medical Center. Students bike bayou trails, ride light-rail to downtown internships, and cheer Division I Owls baseball under mild Gulf Coast winters.
Claremont, CA
Description: Scripps is a women’s liberal-arts college emphasizing interdisciplinary humanities, STEM for women, and leadership. The required Core in Interdisciplinary Humanities builds critical inquiry, while access to 2 500+ courses across the Claremont Colleges multiplies options. Art, psychology, and environmental analysis flourish; study-abroad participation tops 80 %.
Setting: Walled rose gardens, Spanish courtyard dorms, and tiled fountains create a serene retreat at the foot of the San Gabriel Mountains. Five-minute walks reach Pomona, Pitzer, and shared libraries; Metrolink trains link to Los Angeles culture in under an hour.
Saratoga Springs, NY
Description: Skidmore’s mantra “Creative Thought Matters” permeates programs from studio art and business to neuroscience and digital media. Interdisciplinary seminars, the Tang Teaching Museum, and funded summer Collaborative Research spur innovation. Entrepreneurship and civic engagement flourish through the Center for Leadership, Teaching, and Learning.
Setting: Modern studios and Adirondack-style dorms sit on a 1,200-acre North Woods preserve a mile from Saratoga’s boutiques, jazz clubs, and famed horse track. Lake George, hiking in the Adirondacks, and Albany internships are short drives away.
Northampton, MA
Description: Smith is the largest women’s college in the U.S., noted for engineering, architecture, and the arts. An open curriculum, Praxis funded internships for every student, and a collaborative house system empower exploration. Alumnae networks advance women into leadership and STEM.
Setting: Botanical-garden paths connect Victorian houses and modern science centers along the Mill River. Northampton’s vibrant music scene, vintage shops, and farm-to-table dining sit steps away; Five Colleges buses open courses at Amherst and UMass.
Stanford, CA
Description: Stanford fuses Silicon Valley entrepreneurship with disciplinary depth across engineering, humanities, and the arts. The quarter system, Cardinal Service, and d.school design projects encourage rapid experimentation. Start-up accelerators, Division I athletics, and global research centers propel student impact.
Setting: 8,000-acre “Farm” of red-tile roofs, sandstone arcades, and eucalyptus groves stretches to foothill hiking trails and an on-campus Dish overlook. Caltrain and campus shuttles link students to Palo Alto cafés, San Francisco tech internships, and Pacific beaches.
Swarthmore, PA
Description: Rooted in Quaker values, Swarthmore merges rigorous liberal arts with collaborative ethos. Honors seminars mimic grad-level colloquia; engineering, linguistics, and peace & conflict studies shine. Tri-Co exchange adds Bryn Mawr and Haverford breadth, while need-blind aid spans domestic and international students.
Setting: A nationally certified arboretum blooms with cherry and magnolia around stone collegiate-Gothic halls. A 25-minute train drops students in downtown Philadelphia for research, arts, and cheesesteaks; nearby Crum Woods offers 220 acres of trails.
Medford/Somerville, MA
Description: Tufts balances research university resources with liberal-arts intimacy. Standouts include international relations, biomedical engineering, and the SMFA art program. The Tisch College of Civic Life funds public-service fellowships, and the Experimental College lets students design credit courses.
Setting: Hilltop red-brick quads overlook the Boston skyline four miles away. MBTA subway and bike paths connect campus to Cambridge startups, Chinatown dumplings, and seaside excursions on the North Shore.
Chicago, IL
Description: UChicago’s Core Curriculum anchors critical inquiry across “life of the mind” fields, complemented by top economics, astrophysics, and public-policy institutes. Undergraduate research receives $17 million annually; the House system, Scav Hunt, and quirky traditions temper intellectual intensity.
Setting: Neo-Gothic quads and glass research centers sit in Hyde Park along Lake Michigan. Students ride Metra trains to downtown internships, jog lakeside trails, and frequent neighborhood jazz bars and museums.
Notre Dame, IN
Description: Notre Dame blends Catholic social teaching with research excellence in engineering, business (Mendoza), and global affairs. Signature first-year advising, residential colleges, and Division I Fighting Irish athletics foster strong community. Summer service learning and the Keough School extend impact worldwide.
Setting: Golden-dome landmarks, Gothic halls, and twin lakes create a cohesive campus 90 minutes from Chicago. Students sled campus hills, pray at the Grotto, and tailgate under fall foliage before Saturday night football.
Philadelphia, PA
Description: Founded by Ben Franklin, Penn integrates liberal arts with Wharton business, engineering, nursing, and design—all walkable within one campus. Students mix majors across schools, pursue Penn Global Seminars, and launch ventures in the Pennovation Center. Community service is woven through the Netter Center.
Setting: Collegiate-Gothic and contemporary glass buildings meet tree-lined Locust Walk in University City, a 10-minute trolley to Center City’s historic sites and startups. Schuylkill River trails, food trucks, and world-class hospitals surround campus.
Richmond, VA
Description: Richmond unites liberal-arts exploration with pre-professional options in leadership studies, business, and law. The Richmond Guarantee funds every student for a paid summer research or internship experience; living-learning Communities of Inquiry blend coursework and civic engagement. Division I Spiders athletics and a tight faculty-student ratio foster spirited yet personal connections.
Setting: Collegiate-Gothic brick buildings, a lake with Greek theatre, and azalea-lined walkways form a park-like 350-acre campus six miles from Virginia’s capital. Free shuttles whisk students to downtown tech start-ups, VCU’s art district, and historic riverfront trails.
Los Angeles, CA
Description: USC blends Pacific Rim research reach with strong programs in film (School of Cinematic Arts), engineering (Viterbi), business (Marshall), and the arts. The Trojan Family network powers internships at studios, startups, and global NGOs; need-blind aid for low-income applicants broadens access.
Setting: Red-brick courtyards and contemporary arts centers sit just south of Downtown LA. Expo light-rail lines, on-campus museums, and the LA Memorial Coliseum spur city immersion; Pacific beaches and Hollywood are under 30 minutes away.
Charlottesville, VA
Description: Founded by Thomas Jefferson, UVA marries public-research resources with liberal-arts ideals. Strong suits include commerce, politics, and biomedical engineering; the Echols and Rodman scholars programs foster undergraduate research. Honor System tradition shapes a culture of trust and student self-governance.
Setting: UNESCO-listed Rotunda and Lawn anchor brick colonnades against Blue Ridge peaks. Students hike Shenandoah trails, listen to live music on the Downtown Mall, and drive two hours to Washington, DC, internships.
Nashville, TN
Description: Vanderbilt couples top-ranked education, engineering, and music with liberal-arts breadth. The Immersion Vandy requirement funds research, creative projects, or service ventures; need-blind, no-loan aid and an inclusive residential college system enrich community. SEC athletics and Music City internships add energy.
Setting: A registered arboretum of magnolias and hyper-modern labs lies a mile from Downtown Nashville’s live-music and healthcare hubs. Students jog Centennial Park trails and attend concerts on historic Music Row.
Poughkeepsie, NY
Description: Vassar’s open curriculum and strong ethos of social justice encourage students to design interdisciplinary pathways across cognitive science, film, and environmental studies. Funded summer URSI science projects and Ford Scholars humanities research anchor experiential learning; over 60 % study abroad.
Setting: A 1,000-acre arboretum campus of Victorian architecture and modern arts centers abuts the Hudson River Valley. Metro-North trains reach New York City in 90 minutes; nearby rail trails, waterfalls, and farm markets feed weekend adventures.
Lexington, VA
Description: W&L combines a Johnson Scholarship program for leadership with nationally ranked journalism, commerce, and law. A speaking-intensive curriculum, honor system, and spring-term abroad courses cultivate articulate, ethical graduates; Division III athletics and mock-conventions add tradition.
Setting: Limestone colonnades front a National Historic Landmark campus beneath the Blue Ridge Mountains. Students kayak the Maury River, ride horses, and enjoy Lexington’s Civil-War-era downtown cafés, with Roanoke internships 50 minutes south.
St. Louis, MO
Description: WashU excels in biomedical engineering, business, and design. The flexible Core, Beyond Boundaries program, and funding for research or internships encourage cross-disciplinary ventures. Need-blind for domestic applicants and the Danforth Scholars Program expand access and leadership development.
Setting: Collegiate-Gothic Brookings Hall fronts Forest Park—one of the nation’s largest urban parks with free museums and a zoo. MetroLink connects students to Cortex innovation district, Cardinals baseball, and St. Louis startups.
Wellesley, MA
Description: Wellesley is a premier women’s college emphasizing leadership, STEM for women, and global citizenship. Cross-registration with MIT, need-blind aid, and the Albright Institute for Global Affairs empower worldwide internships and research. Alumnae form a formidable mentoring network.
Setting: Gothic stone halls, lakeside boathouse, and botanic gardens spread across 500 acres 12 miles west of Boston. The Wellesley shuttle and commuter rail offer quick city access; trails and sailing fill campus afternoons.
Middletown, CT
Description: Wesleyan’s open curriculum, vibrant film studies program, and Freeman Asian Scholars highlight an eclectic, activist campus. Students found bands, startups, and social-impact nonprofits through the Patricelli Center; nearly half double-major.
Setting: Red-brick-and-glass buildings overlook the Connecticut River and Middletown’s eclectic Main Street eateries. New Haven and Hartford internships sit 30 minutes away; Amtrak links to NYC in under two hours.
Williamstown, MA
Description: Perennial liberal-arts leader Williams features tutorial-style courses, Winter Study, and strong mathematics, art history, and geosciences. The ’68 Center funds internships; the Bolin Fellowship promotes diversity research. Mountain Day and purple-cow spirit animate tight community bonds.
Setting: Berkshire Mountain vistas surround clapboard academic halls and the Clark Art Institute. Students hike the Appalachian Trail, ski Jiminy Peak, and visit nearby MASS MoCA for contemporary art.
New Haven, CT
Description: Yale’s residential-college system, need-blind global aid, and interdisciplinary majors nurture leaders in law, drama, engineering, and global affairs. The Directed Studies humanities sequence and the Tsai CITY incubator illustrate breadth from classics to cutting-edge ventures.
Setting: Gothic quadrangles blend with modern glass labs along tree-lined streets adjacent to museums and New Haven’s famed pizza scene. Metro-North rail delivers students to New York City in 90 minutes, while Long Island Sound beaches lie 15 minutes south.
These are estimates of the number of students who are admitted divided by those who apply.
No. It offers a pathway to apply for full-need scholarships, but admission decisions rest with each partner school.
Enrollment numbers and admit-rate bands reflect 2024–25 Common Data Set releases or institutional factbooks. If you notice any errors please let us know at info@conwayup.org