2023 Best College Locations in America

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.58 out of 5  642 reviews

Alum: I liked the educational experience of challenging yourself, and having the freedom to try explore content one might not find easily. I received my admission in February 2020, and for almost two years took part in online learning (thanks to the pandemic). My only regret or something I would like to see change is a community. This wasn't possible because of the pandemic but when students returned it seemed more cold than ever.... Read 642 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 66%

• Net price $43,547

• SAT range 1150-1380

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.75 out of 5  5,598 reviews

Freshman: I’m a dance major at NYU tisch and although this school is very expensive I’ve been loving the experience I’ve had so far. I can’t speak for other majors but being in the dance department it’s very easy to build community and make friends that will definitely last a life time. I will say one of the major flaws I have noticed with nyu (besides the tuition lol) is communication specifically within the financial department. As someone who genuinely cannot afford this school and is going to be in thousands of dollars in debt, I’ve been trying to reach out and appeal my financial aid in hopes to get more but they never answer any of my questions or respond to previous appeals I have sent. Also the campus is very spread out lol. Other than that, living here in NYC and going to my dream school has been nothing but surreal! My GE classes are super fun and I definitely recommended taking CAMS classes!... Read 5,598 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 13%

• Net price $50,991

• SAT range 1450-1570

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.48 out of 5  688 reviews

Alum: I had a great experience at Emmanuel. The reasons I chose the school were because I wanted to major in Art Therapy and I wanted a smaller school with a closed campus. I enjoyed the small class sizes and getting to know my professors. I chose to live on campus all four years because I liked that my classes, the art studio, dining hall was all close by. The dorms were fine for me and I made use of the gyms in a few of the buildings. The dining hall food was also fine for me and I enjoyed the stir-fry and salad options. The location of the school is one of the highlights. Located on the Fenway, it is close to other universities as well as the Museum of Fine Art, Isabella Stewart Gardner museum, and lots of parks. It is walking distance to the T and major grocery stores - basically anything you could need. Finally, the education I received has served me well, especially being part of student groups that focus on service focused trips and social justice. I also appreciated the art faculty!... Read 688 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 74%

• Net price $28,133

• SAT range 1150-1280

• San Francisco, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  2,299 reviews

Junior: I truly do love this university. I find the professors to be incredible, and the coursework to be fair for most classes. The community here is strong and the location is great. I think their allocation of money has created some issues within the student body. In addition, the lack of funding is apparent and it is not pretty; Tuition keeps rising to impossible points without any raise in scholarship, and clubs and organizations are failing as a result of it. Instead money gets pushed into sports rather than the stellar nursing program. The main lawn had its grass replaced with plastic turf. There are definitely some financial pitfalls but the academic education is impressive.... Read 2,299 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 71%

• Net price $39,825

• SAT range 1190-1390

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.67 out of 5  1,629 reviews

Sophomore: I enjoy going to FIT very much. As a creative, you are truly given so many artistic opportunities at this school. And despite the major that you initially choose you are able to take classes from other areas as well. I am a Photography major, but I also participate in Fine Arts(abstract painting and sculpting classes), Film & Videography, and even Jewelry Design classes. As a photographer they allow me to use all sorts of cameras and lighting equipment for free and that is very beneficial to my craft so I deeply appreciate such an opportunity. My only problem is that it is quite expensive. I believe school should be a lot more affordable, considering that they want you to attend a good school to be able to apply for high paying jobs. If this is a requirement of success then why don't they help us achieve it by lowering school costs so we can have a better future.... Read 1,629 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 52%

• Net price $8,637

• SAT range —

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.61 out of 5  809 reviews

Freshman: Currently, I'm a student at Simmons University. While there's a lot wrong with the school (...Bartol), there are also some great things. All of my professors have been very dedicated to seeing me succeed, and are willing to put in extra time and effort to help me. Everyone I've met is either extremely friendly, or at least cordial, and I've made some of my best friends here. The dorms aren't great, but they also aren't awful. You can put in a work order, and usually, things get fixed. If you decorate, it will feel less like a jail cell. This school is STEM-focused, so humanities majors may find resources lacking, but the professors in humanities departments will acknowledge this. It's also great for LGBT students, as you won't be the minority. However, for POC students, there is work to be done. There are a lot of events specifically for POC students, though! Don't come if you're looking to party all the time. You have to go to MIT/BU frats, and the uber charges rack up fast!... Read 809 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $19,026

• SAT range 1140-1360

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.68 out of 5  3,551 reviews

Senior: For context I am going into my last year at BU (my 3rd year). I really think that BU's greatest strength and asset for students is the faculty that you get a chance to meet here. Whether you are looking for personal or professional guidance there is a large pool of talent and wisdom that you can pull from coming from the professors and phd students. Students are presented with the opportunity to really grow as individuals and learn more about themselves and their beliefs without the overbearing presence of hand holding through the process. However, I am nervous that this opportunity is under threat and is the most pressing challenge that the University faces in the coming years. I believe that the faculty and administration needs to wrestle control back form the student governments as their initiatives are asking for more direct administrative intervention to help ensure students have a "safe" experience. This would undermines the greatest strength of the school.... Read 3,551 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 19%

• Net price $25,852

• SAT range 1360-1520

• Washington, DC•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.65 out of 5  2,173 reviews

Sophomore: I really like the campus environment. It is welcoming and feels like a small campus, but located in the busy Foggy Bottom neighborhood of Washington DC. You are fully integrated into the city while experiencing the opportunities of a college campus. The internship opportunities and connections to both the public and private sector are plentiful. The dorms could improve. Dorm staff are nice but frequently slow to respond or unavailable.... Read 2,173 reviews

• grade A

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 50%

• Net price $31,240

• SAT range 1310-1490

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  383 reviews

Freshman: Berkeley College is located in Midtown, in the center of Manhattan, about a 5-minute walk from Grand Central Station. It is very convenient for transportation. Near the school, there is also a famous park, Bryant Park where many students can spend their class breaks with friends. The school is very cleaned and the classrooms, library and computer room are very comfortable. It is also attractive that I can graduate earlier than other universities with a flexible schedule and a system of three semesters. Especially, staffs of the international student office are all kind to students. They help us anytime and sometimes invite us to some events the college or other organizations held. We can enjoy both studying and activities in the city. Berkeley College is the ideal place to study abroad in New York City.... Read 383 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $20,023

• SAT range —

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.5 out of 5  1,133 reviews

Sophomore: Emerson College is a hub of students that are open-minded, hard-working, and endlessly creative. The students and professors are often friendly and accepting, and the campus being in the heart of Boston would be fun for any college student looking to explore a historical and buzzing city. The only real downside to Emerson in my experience has been the increasing cost of tuition. If you come here, make sure you're invested in a career that points toward the arts or communication to get your money's worth!... Read 1,133 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 45%

• Net price $48,842

• SAT range 1200-1400

• Chicago, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4 out of 5  541 reviews

Niche User: I recently visited Moody Bible Institute on campus in the center of Chicago IL. I must inform you if you are considering Moody for application. Moody Bible Institute has an amazing faith-grounded community. Students will have lunch with professors from time to time. Moody is a place that offers likeminded people that work together as the hands and feet of Jesus. With that said, Moody has a weekly ministry requirement of 3 hours of service per week for enrollment. Moody also requires a pastoral reference from your home church pastor directly. With that being said, Moody is an choice if you are looking for top tier ministry driven community where God transforms the world through you! Thank you.... Read 541 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 98%

• Net price $21,399

• SAT range 990-1200

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.49 out of 5  1,001 reviews

Sophomore: MCPHS University is a great school to attend because of all of the devoted students that attend. Everybody who goes is trying to be a leader in the healthcare field, and apply essential care and service to patients. MCPHS is a very diverse school which is amazing to see all the different people who attend. There are many International students and students from across the country, so it is genuinely amazing to be in that environment. Something I would like to see change at MCPHS is the bad communication between administration. They are not good at communicating with their students and often take 3-4 days to get back to an email. I thing good communication is essential and their students are a priority. MCPHS also overcharges their students for dorming and generally has high tuition rates. As a low-income student it is hard to be able to attend this school coming from a household with a single mother with 5 college-attending children.... Read 1,001 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 98%

• Net price $38,390

• SAT range 1090-1390

• Portland, OR•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.63 out of 5  2,612 reviews

Senior: Making the most at PSU is all on you. It is an excellent option if you want to live in a small city, are independent in your learning, are open minded, and don't really care about the "typical college experience". Take on clubs and programs if you're taking in-person classes! That's one of the only ways I was able to meet people and actually feel involved. Most of the teachers are so enthusiastic about what they teach and if you don't have the same experience, switch to another professor. People complain about the little things but nothing will be handed to you - you actually have to go out and take initiative. Also such a beautiful campus. They're also working on campus security since it's in a city, so they're putting in a decent effort to make people feel safer late at night. And if you choose to live in the dorms and complain about it, you are probably in the Ondine Hall! Find another dorm or affordable option.... Read 2,612 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 98%

• Net price $13,015

• SAT range 1000-1250

• San Francisco, CA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.88 out of 5  2,467 reviews

Freshman: The Academy of Art University is a beautiful campus with a fast paced outside enviornment. The doorms are well lit and the security in top grade. It is a safed and secure enviornment to live in. The acting program is amazing. The academy has full buildable sets and they have amazing opportunities for their students. The proffessors and staff at the academy are highly skilled, talented, and caring people who's main goal is to see studants succeed. THey have amazing programs and events to help students show their work and meet with people who could potentially help build their careers.... Read 2,467 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 100%

• Net price $32,593

• SAT range —

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.73 out of 5  3,641 reviews

Alum: Northeastern provides lots of amenities to make students with different backgrounds comfortable. Lots of offerings help students feel supported in their mental, physical, and spiritual wellbeing (e.g. meditation/prayer room, mental wellness programs, gym incl. group fitness programs, cafes on campus incl. Starbucks). The School is in the city, however still is one big campus which is rather rare for city campuses. I've had a good experience with my classes. There is a big variety to choose from. The international students could have been better integrated into the American student body. However clubs on campus allowed to meet people from all backgrounds. The variety of clubs and initiatives on campus is vast! The school has a great connection to the industry and the co-op program allows you to graduate with practical experience. NEU also offers lots of guidance on landing a job and help with applications. Overall, as a student I felt very supported.... Read 3,641 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 18%

• Net price $38,927

• SAT range 1430-1550

• Seattle, WA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.69 out of 5  987 reviews

Freshman: A little expensive for the quality of education and resources there. Plenty of ADHD and special needs accommodations but services are hard to waitlist/access and the staff isn’t always helpful. Most professors are nice but the quality of education isn’t challenging with well thought out organized lectures to cohesively teach. Dining hall is better compared to most schools but expensive per meal. The students at the school are pretty odd but a good diverse student population. I find that a lot of people have issues with the housing office throughout the year. However, the gym is very nice with decent hours. Big weight room, basketball courts, and cardio equipment. Work study is hard to get a job at this school and the hours are inconvenient. The job extends your hours without pay sometimes. Lots of events from the many clubs and involvement fairs throughout the year though! Really enjoyed the assortment from cultural, extramural sports, games, sporting events and school spirits events.... Read 987 reviews

• grade B+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 82%

• Net price $36,671

• SAT range 1120-1330

• Denver, CO•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  1,840 reviews

Graduate Student: The University of Colorado Denver has a uniquely diverse and community-oriented campus that is made up of many cultures, backgrounds and orientations with a dedicated drive to engage everyone with one another for a satisfying college journey. There are various fields and areas of studies to choose from and passionate professors and advisors that will excel at guiding you towards the right direction of your education and fundamentally, career path. I got my undergrad degree and now pursuing my graduate degree from the same campus. I feel like I have emotionally, physically, critically and most importantly, professionally grown with the university and utilized the many resources that come with the experience. It is one of the best investments I've made and recommend anybody that is considering this university to go for it! You will not regret it.... Read 1,840 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $14,630

• SAT range 1030-1250

• Denver, CO•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.64 out of 5  3,028 reviews

Senior: MSU Denver is a great, affordable full university. I'm an undergrad, but I've heard great things about their full graduate school, too. It has a great reputation locally and it seems to be growing regionally and in various industries, expecially aviation and aerospace. Professors and instructors care about your success and many of them are incredibly well-connected. It's a commuter college and it's very diverse and inclusive, so you may not have the archetypical college experience, but it will be a great experience if you make the most of it. Food trucks even stop by the King Center every week!... Read 3,028 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 89%

• Net price $14,195

• SAT range 910-1140

• Nashville, TN•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 4.01 out of 5  1,328 reviews

Alum: I graduated summa cum laude from Vanderbilt University in 2021 with a Bachelor's degree in Neuroscience. I primarily chose to attend Vandy for its academic prowess, and it definitely lived up to that reputation. In retrospect, I loved the majority of my STEM classes, and I find that my education was well-rounded because of my required liberal arts classes. The campus is beautiful, the food is relatively good, and on-campus housing is average. Admittedly, I was excited to live off-campus for my last two years (but beware - living in Nashville is not cheap). Socially, I had a great time at Vandy, especially thanks to the liveliness of Nashville, but sadly not due to Vanderbilt sports - this is not their strong suit. I met lifelong friends at this school! Realistically, however, many students do come from wealthy backgrounds, which can be off-putting at times. Ultimately, while undeniably expensive, Vanderbilt is a great school that will certainly work to your advantage after graduation.... Read 1,328 reviews

• grade A+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 7%

• Net price $27,553

• SAT range 1480-1570

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.42 out of 5  308 reviews

Senior: I visited New York one day & fell in love. I quickly began getting fueled for the idea to go back to school. Transfering my credits from community college to LIM College was extremely easy because the school counselors & administrators were very helpful. Taking online classes while living in California due to the pandemic making it costly to live in New York, was actually a breeze! I enjoyed meeting my classmates online & learning in the field I have always wanted to be in. I am close to finishing my Bachelor's degree & I am so happy I chose LIM COLLEGE.... Read 308 reviews

• grade C+

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 84%

• Net price $38,301

• SAT range 940-1130

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.46 out of 5  1,046 reviews

Junior: Suffolk has a very diverse and unique campus being in the heart of Boston. The Suffolk community is very welcoming to everyone and many resources here provide students with all the help they need. The clubs are all very unique and make meetings interesting from watching films to collaboration events like the annual cultural fashion show! Academics here are good and our professors and resources all do their best to help students succeed throughout the year.... Read 1,046 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 88%

• Net price $32,393

• SAT range 1080-1280

• Chicago, IL•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.76 out of 5  3,627 reviews

Sophomore: Based on my experience at DePaul, the academic programs, professors, and students have been amazing! Not only is everyone friendly, but connections between classmates and professors are also quickly made due to intimate-sized classes. We run on a 10-week quarter system so the course material will move at a quick pace. There are events for students to attend on the regular where students can get free university merch, food, and other things. Extracurriculars wise there are so many clubs and organizations to join. I believe some require payment and others are free. Other student resources, like tutoring or accessing the alumni network, are also available. These are good options if you need help or insight about your major or help with concepts taught in class. Also, ask your counselor or resident advisor for information if you are housing on campus. Financially, I think DePaul offers great scholarships, but to get more educational value be engaged and use RateMyProfessor ratings.... Read 3,627 reviews

• grade A minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 69%

• Net price $31,872

• SAT range 1050-1260

• New York, NY•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.57 out of 5  2,187 reviews

Graduate Student: The experience I had at Pace University was a reflective one. I learned a great deal of the art and entertainment industry, which is my major, and the different aspects within it. I want to do production specifically, but at Pace I was able to focus on other areas such as fundraising and the nonprofit sector that are not widely spoken on. Because of this I found an appreciation to these topics and hope to incorporate them in my future career.... Read 2,187 reviews

• grade B minus

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 88%

• Net price $30,632

• SAT range 1120-1310

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.66 out of 5  219 reviews

Junior: I really enjoy Fisher College because it is a small school with an engaging classroom experience. The whole school is feels like a community that helps each other out and is always supportive. The location of Fisher College is also great, located in the beautiful Back Bay of Boston with lots to do to keep students engaged not only in the classroom but also outside of the classroom. One thing I would like to see Fisher College improve at is the marketing surrounding our athletics and esports teams. I believe that they are more marketable compared to how they are being marketed now. Our students are our most valuable resource we should use them.... Read 219 reviews

• grade C

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 72%

• Net price $26,130

• SAT range 800-1070

• Boston, MA•

• 4 Year

• •
  Rating 3.85 out of 5  1,165 reviews

Sophomore: The environment of Boston, specifically of Berklee and Boston Conservatroy at Berklee, are unlike any other "campus" I've stepped onto. Being in the middle of such a vibrant city is like nothing else, especially a city so emersed in music and the arts. Berklee/BoCo itself provides countless opportunities for support and networking. My professors have been nothing but supportive, all the while remaining challenging and focused. I have grown so much as a musician just in the first year I was there! Like all schools though, especially with musicians, administration does not run as smoothly as I, and many of my peers, believe it should. That being said, I do not regret my decision to attend this school in the slightest!... Read 1,165 reviews

• grade B

• grade A+

• Acceptance rate 55%

• Net price $48,055

• SAT range —