2018 Best Colleges for Environmental Science in AmericaAbout this List

Stanford University

• 4 Year
• Stanford, CA
• 1,097

Sophomore: I've really enjoyed Stanford so far.
Academics are certainly challenging, but rewarding, and students usually aren't excessively stressed about grades.
Professors are, for the most part, incredibly knowledgeable and care about students, but there are some (particularly those teaching intro classes) who could use some improvement.
The local area can be a bit expensive and far away (especially without a car).
Currently, the administration is facing a lot of criticism about the school's handling of sexual assault. It's not the best situation, but a lot of the criticism also comes from Stanford's own professors and students, so I do still feel relatively safe and supported on campus.
Read 1,097 Reviews

• A+

• 5% Acceptance Rate
• $19,245 Net Price
• 1390-1580 SAT Range

Harvard University

• 4 Year
• Cambridge, MA
• 623

Alum: Harvard University offers the most incredible experience for its students. From the rich history to the esteemed faculty to the vibrant atmosphere of Harvard Square, it is truly one of a kind and inspiring. During my time at Harvard, I got to dance to Gangnam Style with Psy, read a Gutenberg Bible, study and work under my hero, perform fMRIs, and eat brunch in what is essentially the Great Hall of Hogwarts. I cannot begin to tell you the opportunities available here nor what you will learn from working and studying alongside people from all over the world. Harvard also tries to promote diversity further by offering a needs-blind application process and a financial aid package that guarantees you will not have to turn down your acceptance due to financial hardship! Harvard truly takes care of its students, giving them every opportunity imaginable and giving them an experience they will never forget.
Read 623 Reviews

• A+

• 6% Acceptance Rate
• $15,742 Net Price
• 1400-1600 SAT Range

Yale University

• 4 Year
• New Haven, CT
• 917

Freshman: Yale managed to exceed my expectations. I originally chose Yale because of how genuine every student I met was and that perception continues to persist. I have met the most interesting and talented people while at Yale and have made some of the closest friends. One moment we'll be discussing a bio problem set, the next discussing the real solution to economic disparity, the next talking about our upbringings. While it's easy to think of Yale as a competitive college, I think that's far from the truth. I have never collaborated as much as I have at Yale. Everyone wants the best for each other and grades are not a focus. The social scene at Yale is also great. Frat parties are open to anyone for the most part and it's very easy to get integrated with Greek life members even if you aren't in it yourself. Just based off of the year I've been here, I can already say that Yale has changed me to be a more well-rounded person.
Read 917 Reviews

• A+

• 7% Acceptance Rate
• $18,164 Net Price
• 1430-1600 SAT Range

Duke University

• 4 Year
• Durham, NC
• 1,012

Freshman: If you aren't entirely decided on what you want to study, or want to combine two fields that don't seem to fit, Duke is the best school available to you. The flexible pathway through Duke is one of its best features, and it guarantees there's something academic for nearly everyone here. Not to mention everything that goes on outside of academics. Whether you're a performance artist, coder, engineer, service-learner, researcher, intense athlete, or a just for fun one, there's a place for you here. If you're anything at all, and looking to challenge yourself, then come to Duke!
Read 1,012 Reviews

• A+

• 11% Acceptance Rate
• $21,295 Net Price
• 1360-1550 SAT Range

Columbia University

• 4 Year
• New York, NY
• 1,090

Graduate Student: I am currently enrolled in graduate school at the prestigious Columbia University. I am impressed with the level of diversity at Columbia. There is a majority minority. Most of my seminars are comprised of Asian, Indian students I myself am typically the only African American student. I believe that Columbia truly wants their students to thrive. They bring in some of the best professors from the corporate world. For instances in one of my courses I have three different professors. Each have a very different perspective and method of teaching. I will say that I am disappointed that there are not more scholarships available to graduate students; I am working a full-time job in addition to taking a full course load so that I can graduate in a two year span and pay for school. Mind you I have a 3.8 G.P.A I believe that their should be some source of funding other than loans for students in my situation.
Read 1,090 Reviews

• A+

• 7% Acceptance Rate
• $17,678 Net Price
• 1380-1570 SAT Range

Pomona College

• 4 Year
• Claremont, CA
• 350

Junior: Pomona's largest assets are not its $2b endowment, its buildings, or its location, but rather its people. Here, some of the world's most inquisitive, interesting, and downright intelligent students come together in the pursuit of knowledge and with the intention of changing the world. Professors care deeply about students and are some of the most well-regarded in their fields, a rare combination that allows for students to do meaningful work and learn from people who love to teach, never a teacher's assistant. The admitted class of 2021 is made up of 56.7% domestic students of color, plus 11.4% international students, making Pomona's the most diverse campus in the country.
Read 350 Reviews

• A+

• 10% Acceptance Rate
• $18,423 Net Price
• 1360-1530 SAT Range

Bowdoin College

• 4 Year
• Brunswick, ME
• 639

Freshman: Whether its the Outing Club, the Literary Magazine, the Film Society, or an a Capella group, there is always something for every kind of person to get involved in. Also, people here are incredibly friendly and willing to go out of their way to help you. Bowdoin's size, with 1700 students, really enables this sense of community. If I could change one thing about Bowdoin, I would offer class credit for laboratory time. Also , this is just my wish , but I think Bowdoin should advertise more to the outside world. I grew up overseas, so most of my other friends had not heard of Bowdoin, or Brunswick for that matter. I can understand that I was surprised that not many people in United States knew about this school either. The social scene is great on the weekends, but for the most part exists only on the weekends as people work very hard during the week. As for food, you can guess exactly how delicious it is from just taking a peek at the NYtimes article and the college rankings.
Read 639 Reviews

• A+

• 15% Acceptance Rate
• $23,156 Net Price
• 1360-1510 SAT Range

University of Chicago

• 4 Year
• Chicago, IL
• 1,109

College Sophomore: My experience at UChicago so far has been wonderful! There is such a variety of courses to choose from, and so many interesting majors are available. All of the courses are respectable and worth taking. The professors and TA's are all very experienced in their fields, and are very passionate about what they're teaching. The Core classes are usually taught in lecture halls, but also have classes periods that are broken up into smaller groups (during discussion). Other classes can have as few as five students, like my Yucatec Maya class, which allows students to have awesome conversations with their professors and TA's.
Read 1,109 Reviews

• A+

• 8% Acceptance Rate
• $33,107 Net Price
• 1440-1600 SAT Range

Washington University in St. Louis

• 4 Year
• Saint Louis, MO
• 1,326

Freshman: WUSTL is a fantastic university! I first came here because of the prestigious pre-med program, comfy dorms, yummy food, beautiful campus, and great FA. I found all of those here to be true. My experience truly has been an excellent one. Although the academics are undoubtedly challenging, it is equally rewarding.
Read 1,326 Reviews

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $33,261 Net Price
• 1400-1550 SAT Range

Middlebury College

• 4 Year
• Middlebury, VT
• 464

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $20,197 Net Price
• 1270-1500 SAT Range

Carleton College

• 4 Year
• Northfield, MN
• 471

Freshman: The school has an incredibly open community; cliques are fluid and almost anyone is welcome and can feel comfortable sitting with any group. Dining hall food is great, although there are few good restaurants in the area. Classes are fantastic and the trimester system works very well for people who live far away (winter break extends from before thanksgiving to after new years). In addition, the trimester system allows students to fit three academic terms into one year while focusing more intensely on less during those terms, all the while still leaving room for a long winter break.
The biggest downside for me is that students seem less individual and more self-effacing than some other similar liberal arts colleges.
Read 471 Reviews

• A+

• 21% Acceptance Rate
• $31,568 Net Price
• 1320-1520 SAT Range

University of Pennsylvania

• 4 Year
• Philadelphia, PA
• 1,114

Graduate Student: Like any colleges, Penn has both pros and cons. As a graduate student in the School of Social Policy and Practice at Penn (Master's of Social Work), I find that the biggest strength of Penn is its wide reach of professional network, research, etc.

The amount of resources/networking opportunities available for developing insight, experience, and others is unimaginable here at Penn. Having deep connections with all three sectors of the non-profit, for-profit, and governmental world brings its students enormous opportunities and information/knowledge to learn and grow from.

The cons, however, is that Penn as a whole seems a bit lacking in terms of student activism and engagement. There are clubs to join. But, I rarely see them out in the quad or the walkway outreaching or being vocal about a variety of issues students are concerned with in this age and time.
Read 1,114 Reviews

• A+

• 10% Acceptance Rate
• $23,924 Net Price
• 1380-1550 SAT Range

Brown University

• 4 Year
• Providence, RI
• 919

College Freshman: Professors, even in large lecture classes, are always approachable and friendly. They are open to extensions when asked and even small talk. However, with the amount of time you have with each professor (this also depends on the size of the class) it's unlikely for you to become very friendly with any teachers throughout college unless you take initiative.

Classes can range from 7 people to 200. There are a variety of options, usually intro classes are big while seminars, language classes, and specific topic classes are smaller. With large classes there is an immense amount of TAs that are always available to help. They also run review/discussion sections to allow students to ask specific questions and get advice from experts who already aced the class.

Most classes, in the humanities, make you do a lot of reading, have a smaller discussion section, and then 2-4 big assignments like midterms, finals, essays, take home exams, etc.

The variety of courses speaks for itself. There are too many choices and they are all interesting!
Read 919 Reviews

• A+

• 9% Acceptance Rate
• $22,957 Net Price
• 1370-1560 SAT Range

Dartmouth College

• 4 Year
• Hanover, NH
• 657

College Junior: I would definitely choose Dartmouth again. I love the spirit of the school, the people, the professors and all of the non-academic learning experiences that are available. I think in the Engineering school there is a lot of room for improvement in terms of consistently having consistently good teachers. For the most part, teachers are good in the entry level classes, occasionally there is a great teacher, but often ( so far 1 class out of three, every trimester) there is one teacher who isvery suboptimal in their ability to teach or communicate well. Not acceptable at this type of school.

Additionally, because Dartmouth is out of the way for most companies, their engineering recruiting fairs are extremely lacking in depth and availability. Much of the fair is online. Being only 3 hours from Boston, The Thayer school of engineering should host a weekend or trip to Boston for a recruiting fair to coincide with all the other colleges there when there are HUNDREDS of companies available to talk to and connect with. Students could take a bus to Boston and even make up the classes that are missed at some later point if necessary. Job hunting and internship opportunities are far inferior than at many other schools, even if they are not as highly ranked as Dartmouth!
Read 657 Reviews

• A+

• 11% Acceptance Rate
• $21,348 Net Price
• 1330-1560 SAT Range

University of Southern California

• 4 Year
• Los Angeles, CA
• 3,346

Sophomore: I love attending the University of Southern California! The school has high caliber academics, a competitive yet fun environment for students of all majors, and a gorgeous campus. USC is a bit expensive however, hardworking students can come in with large scholarships to defray this cost. I definitely think that this experience is worth the cost of living and expenses out here and will truly pay off in the end. I have definitely met life long friends and have made unforgettable memories throughout my time here!
Read 3,346 Reviews

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $31,384 Net Price
• 1270-1500 SAT Range

University of Wisconsin

• 4 Year
• Madison, WI
• 2,842

Freshman: There is something for everyone! The University of Wisconsin-Madison boasts a lot of offerings, not only in academics but in all sorts of opportunities from amazing athletic programs to a myriad of clubs to get into. To the sports enthusiast, UW-Madison has athletic programs in football, ice hockey, and basketball which are renowned regionally, if not also nationally. To the grade-A active student, UW-Madison is also a mecca of infinite opportunities, it is even somewhat of a challenge for any student to navigate the "Org Fair" which displays the many student organizations that are available on campus. Organizations are available for students who are the soon-to-be titans of energy and even for the ones who are almost certainly going to be the consulting executives of the future. No matter what you want to get yourself into, there is always something for you in the land of the Badgers.
Read 2,842 Reviews

• A+

• 58% Acceptance Rate
• $16,060 Net Price
• 1190-1410 SAT Range

Northwestern University

• 4 Year
• Evanston, IL
• 1,253

Alum: I attended Northwestern because of the music program and the professor I would be working with. My professor was amazing, and so was the music program as a whole. I was able to pursue a double major with an outside field, and while it was difficult and busy, the administration helped me every quarter by allowing me to take extra classes to finish on time. The campus is beautiful, but there is always construction. It is not a huge party school, but there are parties and lots of other ways to have fun. I loved the proximity to Chicago and the public transit system. Overall, I liked the student body. There was a general hard work ethic, and though my majors weren't particularly competitive, I know there were some that were fairly cut-throat. The mental health services can be improved upon, but I felt that NU was a very accepting, diverse, and progressive school overall. Financial aid was great, and getting better!
Read 1,253 Reviews

• A+

• 13% Acceptance Rate
• $30,552 Net Price
• 1400-1560 SAT Range

University of Michigan - Ann Arbor

• 4 Year
• Ann Arbor, MI
• 3,808

Senior: The education that you receive here is definitely unbeatable. The campus is also a generally fun place to be. It is really competitive so that permeates the culture quite a bit, which I could do without. The university's commitment to diversity and inclusion is lacking, but they are making steps to change that going forward so I hope that there will be more positive steps in that area. You don't really get a sense of the local area because the campus is so large it really dominates the city of Ann Arbor. So, even when you venture out in the city a bit, it still feels like you're on campus. It's just very much a college town, so if you're into that, you'll love it!
Read 3,808 Reviews

• A+

• 26% Acceptance Rate
• $15,757 Net Price
• 1290-1500 SAT Range

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill

• 4 Year
• Chapel Hill, NC
• 2,144

Alum: UNC Chapel Hill - the name rings familiarity across the nation. A part of one of the biggest college basketball rivals, a leader in NC healthcare, and known for the specificity of "Carolina blue," UNC is a treasure. Nostalgia hits me every time I return: the campus is beautiful, the students are all on their way to achieving greatness, and the professors genuinely care about what goes on in their the students' minds. Diversity is not that high - as probably 60% of the students want to become doctors and nurses. The racial diversity is representative of the statistics in America. The culture diversity, however, is rather high and incorporating of all activities that I can think of. Overall, a fantastic institution!
Read 2,144 Reviews

• A+

• 31% Acceptance Rate
• $10,785 Net Price
• 1220-1430 SAT Range

Colby College

• 4 Year
• Waterville, ME
• 493

Freshman: I am currently a freshman at Colby. I am a member of the Women's Soccer team and am currently pursuing a Biology/Pre-Health major with the aspiration of going to medical school. Colby has provided me so many great resources, not just academically, but also in terms of networking, and helping me create my future beyond Colby. The student body is incredibly diverse and everyone is super friendly. Colby is also a really active school. The Outing Club is super popular, there is so much local outdoor recreation. There's a college ski pass to Sugarloaf, Loon, and Sunday River for the winter. I am also a Colby Cares About Kids Mentor which is a really cool volunteering program a Colby. Colby students are matched with a student (usually low-income) in the local Waterville area school district. There are so many ways to get involved inside and outside of Colby. It really is a school that is what you make of it.
Read 493 Reviews

• A+

• 23% Acceptance Rate
• $18,908 Net Price
• 1270-1460 SAT Range

Johns Hopkins University

• 4 Year
• Baltimore, MD
• 1,176

Alum: Attending Johns Hopkins University was a great college for my undergraduate degree. It was by far the most academically challenging experience I have ever had. The campus is beautiful and very safe for students studying there. There are many extracurriculars available and research opportunities for all students. It was definitely worth the money spent on tuition and the hours and hours of studying!
Read 1,176 Reviews

• A+

• 14% Acceptance Rate
• $28,334 Net Price
• 1360-1530 SAT Range

Washington & Lee University

• 4 Year
• Lexington, VA
• 391

Alum: I graduated in 2002 and I still keep up with my professors, faculty, classmates, and most of all my fraternity brothers. The alumni connections are worth the tuition alone. It teaches you far more than what can be taught online or in a classroom alone. The best 4 years of my life!
Read 391 Reviews

• A+

• 24% Acceptance Rate
• $21,379 Net Price
• 1310-1470 SAT Range

College of William & Mary

• 4 Year
• Williamsburg, VA
• 1,365

Niche User: AMAZING PROFESSORS - BEAUTIFUL SCHOOL - VERY BAD HOUSING!

Absolutely beautiful and small, manageable campus and college. Williamsburg is a lovely place too. Professors are passionate and truly amazing, and the curriculum/class choices/education - equally amazing. Students are also not subject to being taught by graduate students.

Most dorms are really bad though especially the ones the freshman are put in, many without air conditioning. Housing selection is disorganized and favors the university and not the student. Their screening process to match roommates needs significant updating.

Not easy or cheap to get to the airport in spite of how simple they make it sound especially for those without cars and/or out of state students. Connections are not great either (avoid Norfolk airport).

W&M not helpful to out of state students. Like the extra $ but tuned into more of the in state students or ones from states nearby. It's time W&M goes back to being private.
Read 1,365 Reviews

• A+

• 34% Acceptance Rate
• $14,310 Net Price
• 1260-1460 SAT Range

Bates College

• 4 Year
• Lewiston, ME
• 321

Sophomore: The campus and the college itself are great, other than the lack of diversity. However, the location isn't prime, as there's no much to do outside the campus community, unless you have a car and are able to drive to other places. Also, it's Maine so the winters can be very long, cold, and gloomy. But, you already knew that because it's Maine!
Read 321 Reviews

• A+

• 22% Acceptance Rate
• $24,956 Net Price
• 1385-1460 SAT Range

University of California - Los Angeles

• 4 Year
• Los Angeles, CA
• 4,461

Freshman: The first thing that comes to mind is the housing here at UCLA. I was lucky enough to receive one of the better, newer buildings, so my experience here has been great. The study and social lounges are equipped with new, comfortable furniture and lights that turn on and off depending on the amount of activity in the room it reads. The food is great. We have restaurants similar to Panda Express and Chipotle, and they are right below my building so it's not much of a walk at all!
Additionally, there are resources all around campus that are noticeably accessible to me, such as math tutoring from fraternities/sororities, counseling programs, clubs and activities that offer social circles, essay reviewers, and so on.
Read 4,461 Reviews

• A+

• 17% Acceptance Rate
• $13,816 Net Price
• 1180-1470 SAT Range