From New York to DC, there are some of the country’s oldest and best schools in the mid-East. The area itself is known for its history, vibrant cities, cultural diversity, and educational and professional opportunities. The top 25 best colleges in the mid-East United States rankings include schools from New York, Delaware, DC, Maryland, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.
Top 25 Best Colleges in the Mid-East US
A private Ivy League research university, Princeton University was founded in 1746 and originally known as the College of New Jersey. This makes it the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the country. The school receives around 39,600 applications annually and has an acceptance rate of only 5%, making it highly competitive.
Location
Princeton, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
8,842
The University of Pennsylvania was founded in 1740, primarily by Benjamin Franklin who was also their first president. Franklin Field, where the Quakers play in the NCAA Division I – Ivy League, is named after the founder. With an outstanding 98% first year retention rate, 88% of students will go on to graduate in four years. 97% will graduate in six.
Location
Philadelphia, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
28,201
Columbia has a very selective acceptance rate of 4%, accepting only 2,500 students out of 57,600 applicants. Top choices in regards to majors include Computer Science, Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Political Science and Government. It’s the oldest institution of higher education in the state, founded before the Declaration of Independence.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
34,782
Cornell University is made up of seven undergraduate colleges and seven graduate divisions. Some famous alumni have been Christopher Reeve, Bill Nye, E.B. White, and Anthony Fauci. 97% of students stay on after the first year, with 95% graduating within six years. Computer Science is the most popular major.
Location
Ithaca, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
25,898
Johns Hopkins University was founded in 1876 and named for its first benefactor. Known as the first research university in the country, its motto in Latin is, “veritas vos liberabit,” or “the truth will set you free.” The Blue Jays men’s lacrosse team plays in the Big Ten Conference and has over 40 national titles. The two most popular majors are Cell/Cellular and Molecular Biology and Public Health.
Location
Baltimore, MD
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
31,275
Swarthmore College was one of the first coeducational colleges in the country. It is associated with the University of Pennsylvania through the Quaker Consortium, which means students can take classes at the four schools within the arrangement. 53% of students receive institutional grant aid to attend, $59,421 on average.
Location
Swarthmore, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,625
Carnegie Mellon University has more graduates than undergraduates. Some popular majors include Information Technology, Electrical and Electronics Engineering, and Computer Science. A merger between Carnegie Institute of Technology and the Mellon Institute of Industrial Research in 1900 created the school we know today.
Location
Pittsburgh, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
16,002
A private Jesuit research university, Georgetown University was founded as the Georgetown College in 1789 by Bishop John Carroll. It’s the oldest Catholic institution of higher education in the country and offers over 40 different majors. Past graduates include Bill Clinton, Lyndon B. Johnson, senators, representatives, and other leading politicians.
Location
Washington, DC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
20,984
A public undergraduate school, the United States Naval Academy’s motto, in Latin, is “Ex Scientia Tridens,” or “From Knowledge, Seapower.” It was established in 1845 and saw disruption and riots during the Civil War that almost caused the government to move the school. Today, it has student to faculty ratio of 8 to 1.
Location
Annapolis, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,450
Barnard College is a private women’s liberal arts college located on the banks of the Hudson River. The school was actually founded in response to Columbia University not admitting women. Today, it’s part of the Seven Sisters, an association of women’s liberal arts colleges in the country. Their motto, which is Greek, is “hepomene toi logismoi” or “following the way of reason.”
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,442
Commonly called NYU, you can find this university in the heart of Manhattan. They have a relatively low acceptance rate of 9%. Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies is the top major, but Econometrics and Quantitative Economics, Research and Experimental Psychology, and Registered Nursing are not far behind. The school has produced a number of famous alumni including Martin Scorsese, Jack Dorsey, Robert Muller III, and Alec Baldwin.
Location
New York City, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
59,144
With 57 areas of study, the most popular major for Hamilton students is Economics, but Biology/Biological Sciences, Political Science and Government, and Research and Experimental Psychology are also popular choices. Their motto is in Ancient Greek: Γνῶθι Σεαυτόν, which translates to “know thyself.” The school has been coeducational since 1978 after merging with its sister school, Kirkland College.
Location
Clinton, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,072
Also known simply as JTS, the seminary accepts 45% of students who apply. Its main building is located along the Hudson River. There are more graduate students at JTS than undergraduates. Though many alumni have gone onto careers in theology, many have also had notable careers in music, academia, and politics.
Location
New York, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
318
Haverford College is a liberal arts school founded in 1833 by the Religious Society of Friends, also known as Quakers. It’s part of the Tri-College Consortium which means students can attend classes at nearby schools Bryn Mawr and Swarthmore. “Non doctior, sed meliore doctrina imbutus,” or "not more learned, but steeped in a higher learning," is the school’s motto.
Location
Haveford, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
1,421
Villanova University is the oldest Catholic university in Pennsylvania. It’s also the only Augustinian university in the country. The school still has deep religious roots and the administration is led by priests. Their motto is “Veritas, Unitas, Caritas” or “Truth, Unity, Charity.” Jill Biden and Howie Long are two famous alumni who have attended Villanova.
Location
Villanova, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
10,383
Colgate University is known as a “Hidden Ivy” and a “Little Ivy.” The school regularly makes lists naming the most beautiful campuses in the United States. 3,100 students at Colgate study at the undergraduate level. However, the school offers up to the master’s degree level of Education. Maroon and white are the official school colors.
Location
Hamilton, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
3,141
Vassar offers 50 majors with the most popular being Research and Experimental Psychology, Economics, and Political Science and Government. The school has an acceptance rate of 18%. A few notable Vassar graduates or attendees include Anne Hathaway, Jane Fonda, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, and Anthony Bourdain.
Location
Poughkeepsie, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,459
Lehigh University’s motto in Latin is “homo minister et interpres naturae,” which means “man, the servant and interpreter of nature.” Known as the Mountain Hawks, the athletes at Lehigh University compete in track, football, lacrosse, soccer, and other sports. Clutch the Mountain Hawk is their mascot.
Location
Bethlehem, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
7,394
The Juilliard School is a performing arts conservatory. Students learn dance, drama, and music, with Stringed Instruments, and Keyboard Instruments being the most popular majors. Some famous alumni are Robin Williams, Ving Rhames, Val Kilmer, and Viola Davis. The institution is extremely competitive, with only 9% of applicants accepted.
Location
New York, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
986
The University of Rochester is a private research university that was founded in 1850. Alumni and faculty have gone on to win Nobel Prizes, Grammy Awards, Pulitzer Prizes, and more. Today, the school has a student-to-faculty ratio of 9 to 1, a first year retention rate of 92%, and a six year graduation rate of 77%. The campus is tucked in the bends of the Genesee River.
Location
Rochester, NY
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
12,197
The United States Military Academy is also known as West Point or the Academy. Only 14% of applicants will receive acceptance letters, but 76% of these students will go on to attend. Their motto is Duty • Honor • Country. The entire site of the school is a national landmark and includes historic sites, a museum, and more.
Location
West Point, NY
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
4,393
A majority of incoming students attending University of Maryland at College Park are from Maryland, New York, and New Jersey. It’s often called a “Public Ivy,” because of its comparable education to Ivy League schools, and has extremely high research activity. Computer Science is the most popular major.
Location
College Park, MD
Institution Type
Public
Student Enrollment
40,792
This private research university was chartered by the United States Congress in 1821. George Washington personally advocated for a national university in the U.S. capital until his death. Alumni include J. Edgar Hoover, Belva Ann Lockwood, J. William Fulbright, and several foreign leaders. International Relations and Affairs, Law, and Public Health are the most popular majors.
Location
Washington, DC
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
25,939
Lafayette College is known as a “Hidden Ivy” or a “Little Ivy”. The college sets itself apart with a unique approach to engineering and the liberal arts as well as Division I athletics. The school is named after General Lafayette, a hero of the American Revolution. Lafayette’s campus is located on the historic Delaware River.
Location
Easton, PA
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
2,729
Located right on the Hudson River a few minutes from New York City, Stevens Institute of Technology receives around 14,000 applications each year. About 43% of those applicants will be accepted. The school is classified as "Doctoral/Research Universities--Intensive" and top majors for students include Computer Science, Systems Engineering, and Mechanical Engineering.
Location
Hoboken, NJ
Institution Type
Private
Student Enrollment
9,314
Why is the Mid-East a Great Place to Go to School?
The Mid-east states are home to some of the most important cities in the history of the United States. Except for most of upstate New York, you can easily get around these states by using mass transportation, too! So even if you’re going to school in New York City, it’s quick and simple to get down to a sightseeing opportunity in Washington D.C.
But these states are home to some of the most amazing museums in the country (and the world.) The mid-east is home to the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Air Mobility Command Museum, and the Smithsonian museums. There are also several theme parks that are scattered throughout the area if you need a weekend of fun!
When it comes to the outdoors, New York has some amazing trails to take advantage of, including part of the Appalachian Trail. And New Jersey’s beaches, from Seaside Heights to Atlantic City, are great for the warmer weeks in the spring and fall. And for history fans, Pennsylvania has roots in the American Revolution (Philadelphia) and the Civil War (Gettysburg) that are must-visits.
Some of the nation’s top liberal arts and private colleges are located in the mid-east. Several are also some of the oldest in the United States. In this area, you’ll find Ivy Leagues, public universities, private schools, research universities, and more.
State Grant Aid in the Mid-East US
Schools and organizations can offer scholarships and grants to help offset the cost of college, but states can also assist. The states in the mid-east United States all have outstanding state grants programs to help make degrees more affordable. If you’re interested in learning more about these opportunities, start with our State Grants Guide.
Methodology
Colleges are ranked based on a combination of factors, including graduation rates, campus diversity, endowment per student, and other data as reported via the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the most recently available enrollment year. Some colleges may have been excluded from rankings based on certain criteria, including specialization and classification. Learn about our full methodology.
College Raptor is uniquely qualified to estimate college affordability as we are a leading provider of net price calculators to colleges across the U.S. Check out College Raptor’s free match tool to see if your favorite college is affordable for you.
