Purdue University, founded in 1869, is a public institution that is ranked among the best colleges in the United States. It is a land-grant university that is recognized for its research in science, engineering and technology, especially its renowned School of Aeronautics and Astronautics within the College of Engineering. The campus at West Lafayette is made up of twelve schools and colleges that serve both undergraduate and graduate scholars. [Read More]

There is no formal definition of a liberal arts college but most schools define it as an undergraduate education where at least half of the degrees awarded are for study in the field of liberal arts. Liberal arts colleges emphasize undergraduate study in the liberal arts and the sciences. Generally, students matriculated in these colleges major in a particular discipline while also studying a wide range of academic subjects, such as those in the humanities as well as the sciences. [Read More]

Bard College, founded in 1860 as a private institution, ranks among the top schools in National Liberal Arts Colleges, according to U.S. News. Located in Annandale-on-Hudson in upstate New York, the secluded campus boasts of surrounding scenery, as well as views of the Catskill Mountains and the Hudson River. As a smaller college with a 10:1 student to faculty ratio and 77% of classes consisting of fewer than twenty students, Bard College is known for offering students opportunities to work closely with faculty and staff.

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Each year, accredited magazines, such as the U.S. News & World Report, and a few others, publish college rankings. However, parents and students must keep in mind that the publication of school rankings is a business endeavor responding to consumer demands. Frankly, college ranking lists do not always provide very useful information when it comes to determining which college students should apply. Factors used in the calculations are in themselves, often immaterial to the individual scholar. Although the system of ranking schools simplifies an otherwise byzantine and complicated process, the most important factors that do play a role in students’ educational experiences cannot be calculated. [Read More]