Explore University Towns of the Best Colleges and Universities
Just as every college campus has its own feel, so, too, do the towns and cities they call home. Here is some information about the places home to the country’s best National Liberal Arts Colleges and National Universities.
Amherst College in Amherst, Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts, is home to Amherst College, one of the most selective liberal arts schools in the U.S.
The town of about 38,000 is located in the Connecticut River Valley, the location of some of the East Coast’s most fertile farmland. Amherst is no stranger to college kids. In addition to Amherst College, ranked No. 2 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, it also houses Hampshire College and the University of Massachusetts–Amherst.
Bowdoin College in Brunswick, Maine
Bowdoin College, which ties for the fourth spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges, is located in Brunswick, Maine, where the average January low temperature is 10 degrees.
But Bowdoin students, who go to school in the coastal town of about 20,300, can stay warm in the specialty shops and restaurants downtown. Founded in 1628 and incorporated in 1738, Brunswick provides summer musical theater, a year-round farmers market and cultural experiences at theaters, galleries, museums and community events.
Columbia University in New York, New York
Columbia University, tied for fourth place among National Universities, is based in New York City — America’s largest urban center. About 8.5 million people live within its five boroughs.
Students at Columbia University are only a subway, bus or ferry ride away from the Empire State Building, Times Square, the United Nations, the Statue of Liberty and other iconic landmarks.
Harvard University in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is home both to Harvard University, No. 2 among National Universities, and Massachusetts Institute of Technology, ranked No. 7. Each year more than 8 million people visit Harvard Square, home to book stores, coffee houses, restaurants and clothing stores.
About 105,000 people live in Cambridge, where most residents are between the ages of 20 to 44.
Middlebury College in Middlebury, Vermont
Middlebury College, tied for No. 4 among National Liberal Arts Colleges, is located in Middlebury, Vermont, a historic village of about 8,200 settled just after the Revolutionary War.
In addition to going to shops and restaurants, people can visit a bridge in the town center to watch Otter Creek, the longest river in Vermont, become a 20-foot waterfall.
Pomona College in Claremont, California
Claremont, California, is home to Pomona College, tied for the No. 4 spot among National Liberal Arts Colleges, and the other schools associated with the Claremont Colleges, a consortium of five undergraduate and two graduate schools and the Claremont University Consortium.
Claremont has a population of 34,926. The city has an annual average temperature of 63 degrees and 1,788 acres of public park land, of which 1,769 is wilderness.
Princeton University in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey, is home to about 30,000 people.
The municipality takes up 18.1 square miles, much of which is covered by the campus of Princeton University, the No. 1 National University. The Princeton area hosts some of the most competitive rowing events in the country.
Stanford University near Palo Alto, California
Stanford University, situated 35 miles south of San Francisco and 20 miles north of San Jose, is in the heart of Northern California’s Silicon Valley.
Although Stanford is a census designated area, it calls the city of Palo Alto home. The city “encompasses an area of approximately 26 square miles, of which one-third is open space,” according to its website. In addition to the university, tied for the No. 4 spot among National Universities, the city boasts fast Internet access and an innovative business community.
Swarthmore College in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania
Swarthmore, Pennsylvania, has about 6,200 residents, including approximately 1,300 students at Swarthmore College, the No. 3 National Liberal Arts College.
The borough of Swarthmore was founded in 1893. The area has wooded hills and hiking trails, and is located just 11 miles from Philadelphia.
University of Chicago in Chicago, Illinois
Chicago is home to nearly 3 million people, making it the third-largest city in the U.S.
Students at the University of Chicago, tied for No. 4 among National Universities, are near Lake Michigan, the fifth-largest lake in the world. They can visit Chicago attractions such as the Willis Tower and Navy Pier and do upscale shopping along Michigan Avenue’s The Magnificent Mile.
Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts
Williamstown is located in Northwest Massachusetts, bordering Vermont and New York. It has 8,220 residents, including the 2,000 students at Williams College, the No. 1 National Liberal Arts College.
In addition to the school, the town is known for its Theater Festival and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute.
Wellesley College in Wellesley, Massachusetts
Wellesley College, tied for the No. 4 spot among National Liberal Arts colleges, is based in Wellesley, an affluent town with a population of 27,982 at the time of the 2010 census.
Settled in the 1630s, the town is also known as the home of Babson College and a campus of Massachusetts Bay Community College.
Yale University in New Haven, Connecticut
New Haven, population 862,477, was founded in 1638 by English Puritans. The city is the home of Yale University, the No. 3 National University, and its biggest taxpayer and employer. The town is home to a variety of ethnic restaurants, and is known for its unique style of pizza.
Learn More About the Top Colleges
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Discover These College Towns at Top Schools originally appeared on usnews.com
