50 best colleges on the East Coast
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
50 best colleges on the East Coast
Arched Hallway of Holder Hall on Princeton University Campus.
Considering the United States was birthed from a revolution waged along the Eastern Seaboard, it makes sense that the roots of the country’s higher education system were planted there as well. Harvard University—founded in 1636—came first, predating the Declaration of Independence by 140 years. The nation’s oldest institution of higher learning was followed by a slew of state and public universities throughout the 13 colonies.
The East Coast remains home to a number of private and public colleges that consistently top “best of” lists, highlighted by the prestigious Ivy League eight. Stacker combed through Niche’s 2023 Best Colleges in America list (current as of February 2023) in order to discover which 50 East Coast schools, old and new, are the cream of the crop.
Niche ranks colleges by analyzing student and alumni reviews, as well as data on admissions and academic and student life culled from the Department of Education. Stacker filtered its list to include schools in the District of Columbia and states that border the Atlantic Ocean within 100 miles of their eastern borders: Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Connecticut, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.
Keep reading to discover the best schools on the East Coast—and find out if any among them beat out the Ivies for the top spot.
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#50. University of Massachusetts Amherst
University of Massachusetts Campus Pond with Old Chapel in the Background
– Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 22,212
– Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1
– Acceptance rate: 65%
– Graduation rate: 83%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $51,400
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #115
FotosForTheFuture // Shutterstock
#49. Rutgers University–New Brunswick
Aerial view of Rutgers University Campus.
– Location: Piscataway, New Jersey
– Undergraduate enrollment: 33,788
– student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 67%
– Graduation rate: 84%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $57,900
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #111
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
#48. Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute
The Experimental Media and Performing Arts Center at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
– Location: Troy, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 6,262
– student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
– Acceptance rate: 57%
– Graduation rate: 87%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $82,000
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 95%
– Overall rank: #110
Theresa Lauria // Shutterstock
#47. Skidmore College
Historic Building on the campus of Skidmore.
– Location: Saratoga Springs, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,510
– student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 32%
– Graduation rate: 86%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $49,700
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 95%
– Overall rank: #108
Bryan Pollard // Shutterstock
#46. University of Maryland – College Park
University of Maryland entrance sign on campus.
– Location: College Park, Maryland
– Undergraduate enrollment: 28,160
– student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1
– Acceptance rate: 51%
– Graduation rate: 87%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $62,900
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #100
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Roman Babakin // Shutterstock
#45. George Washington University
Statue of George Washington on campus.
– Location: Washington, District of Columbia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 10,141
– student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 43%
– Graduation rate: 85%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $69,600
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #95
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#44. College of the Holy Cross
Aerial view of College of the Holy Cross with fall foliage.
– Location: Worcester, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,966
– student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 38%
– Graduation rate: 93%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $71,000
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 95%
– Overall rank: #88
EQRoy // Shutterstock
#43. Smith College
Campus of Smith College.
– Location: Northampton, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,160
– student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 37%
– Graduation rate: 87%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $46,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 88%
– Overall rank: #86
PT Hamilton // Shutterstock
#42. University of Richmond
University of Richmond entrance sign.
– Location: University Of Richmond, Virginia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 3,028
– student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 31%
– Graduation rate: 88%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $64,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 95%
– Overall rank: #81
DW labs Incorporated // Shutterstock
#41. The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art
The Cooper Union building in Manhattan.
– Location: New York, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 802
– student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 18%
– Graduation rate: 79%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $64,900
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #78
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Brian Logan Photography // Shutterstock
#40. Vassar College
Campus of Vassar University.
– Location: Poughkeepsie, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,409
– student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 25%
– Graduation rate: 88%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $54,600
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #74
Svineyard // Shutterstock
#39. Wesleyan University
People walking on Wesleyan University campus.
– Location: Middletown, Connecticut
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,836
– student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 21%
– Graduation rate: 91%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $54,700
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 90%
– Overall rank: #71
Rui Serra Maia // Shutterstock
#38. Virginia Tech
Burruss Hall on Virginia Tech Campus.
– Location: Blacksburg, Virginia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 29,112
– student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
– Acceptance rate: 66%
– Graduation rate: 86%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $62,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 96%
– Overall rank: #68
Popova Valeriya // Shutterstock
#37. Colby College
Students with frisbee on Colby College Campus.
– Location: Waterville, Maine
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,155
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 10%
– Graduation rate: 90%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $58,100
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #67
William Silver // Shutterstock
#36. William & Mary
William and Mary College Campus.
– Location: Williamsburg, Virginia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 6,475
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 42%
– Graduation rate: 91%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $58,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #63
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#35. Hamilton College
Cropped view of student sitting in autumn leaves writing in notebook.
– Location: Clinton, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,043
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 18%
– Graduation rate: 91%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $60,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 91%
– Overall rank: #58
Barbara Kalbfleisch // Shutterstock
#34. University of Miami
Watsco Center at University of Miami.
– Location: Coral Gables, Florida
– Undergraduate enrollment: 12,089
– student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 33%
– Graduation rate: 83%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $60,100
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 90%
– Overall rank: #57
Jennifer Yakey-Ault // Shutterstock
#33. Bates College
Library building on Bates College campus.
– Location: Lewiston, Maine
– Undergraduate enrollment: 1,876
– student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 14%
– Graduation rate: 92%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $59,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #56
Joyseulay // Shutterstock
#32. Babson College
Students studying and reading together.
– Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,457
– student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
– Acceptance rate: 27%
– Graduation rate: 95%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $96,100
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 91%
– Overall rank: #55
Stephen B. Goodwin // Shutterstock
#31. Colgate University
The James B Colgate admissions building at Colgate University.
– Location: Hamilton, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 3,023
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 27%
– Graduation rate: 91%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $63,600
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #54
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Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
#30. University of Georgia
University of Georgia campus.
– Location: Athens, Georgia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 27,888
– student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1
– Acceptance rate: 48%
– Graduation rate: 87%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $50,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #52
littlenySTOCK // Shutterstock
#29. New York University
Students walk through gate at NYU School of Law.
– Location: New York, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 25,854
– student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1
– Acceptance rate: 21%
– Graduation rate: 88%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $61,900
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 91%
– Overall rank: #50
Bryan Pollard // Shutterstock
#28. Wake Forest University
Reynolds Hall at Wake Forest University.
– Location: Winston-salem, North Carolina
– Undergraduate enrollment: 5,391
– student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1
– Acceptance rate: 32%
– Graduation rate: 89%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $63,800
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #49
Jorge Salcedo // Shutterstock
#27. Boston University
Entrance sign at Boston University.
– Location: Boston, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 16,026
– student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1
– Acceptance rate: 20%
– Graduation rate: 89%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $65,300
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #47
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#26. Northeastern University
Krentzman Quadrangle at Northeastern University.
– Location: Boston, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 15,131
– student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 20%
– Graduation rate: 90%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $67,400
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 95%
– Overall rank: #45
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Colin D. Young // Shutterstock
#25. Williams College
Buildings on the Williams College Campus.
– Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 1,917
– student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 15%
– Graduation rate: 96%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $59,000
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 90%
– Overall rank: #43
Bryan Pollard // Shutterstock
#24. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
South Building at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
– Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina
– Undergraduate enrollment: 18,505
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 25%
– Graduation rate: 91%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $55,600
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #42
Leigh Trail // Shutterstock
#23. University of Florida
Students walk outside on the Quad lawn.
– Location: Gainesville, Florida
– Undergraduate enrollment: 31,476
– student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1
– Acceptance rate: 31%
– Graduation rate: 89%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $56,000
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #41
Mark Yarchoan // Shutterstock
#22. Amherst College
Aerial view of fall foliage and steeple at Amherst.
– Location: Amherst, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 1,745
– student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 12%
– Graduation rate: 95%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $65,000
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 90%
– Overall rank: #40
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
#21. Boston College
Gasson Hall on the campus of Boston College.
– Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 9,532
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 26%
– Graduation rate: 92%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $72,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #39
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Kevin D. Walsh // Shutterstock
#20. Tufts University
Building on Tufts University Campus.
– Location: Medford, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 5,938
– student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1
– Acceptance rate: 16%
– Graduation rate: 94%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $75,800
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #38
Wangkun Jia // Shutterstock
#19. Wellesley College
Aerial view of Wellesley Campus.
– Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,375
– student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 20%
– Graduation rate: 94%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $60,800
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #36
Joseph Sohm // Shutterstock
#18. United States Military Academy at West Point
Cadets in uniform marching at West Point.
– Location: West Point, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 4,536
– student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1
– Acceptance rate: 9%
– Graduation rate: 85%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $ No data available
– Employment rate two years after graduation: No data available
– Overall rank: #35
EQRoy // Shutterstock
#17. Emory University
Emory University Campus Buildings.
– Location: Atlanta, Georgia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 6,814
– student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1
– Acceptance rate: 19%
– Graduation rate: 90%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $66,000
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #34
Nolichuckyjake // Shutterstock
#16. Davidson College
The Presbyterian Church on Davidson College campus.
– Location: Davidson, North Carolina
– Undergraduate enrollment: 1,983
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 20%
– Graduation rate: 93%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $58,900
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 88%
– Overall rank: #33
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Popova Valeriya // Shutterstock
#15. Barnard College
Barnard College Building close up.
– Location: New York, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 2,651
– student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1
– Acceptance rate: 14%
– Graduation rate: 90%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $57,900
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 90%
– Overall rank: #32
EQRoy // Shutterstock
#14. Bowdoin College
Brick building on Bowdoin College campus.
– Location: Brunswick, Maine
– Undergraduate enrollment: 1,948
– student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1
– Acceptance rate: 9%
– Graduation rate: 95%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $65,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #30
Kim Kelley-Wagner // Shutterstock
#13. University of Virginia
University of Virginia campus.
– Location: Charlottesville, Virginia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 16,319
– student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 23%
– Graduation rate: 94%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $61,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #27
EQRoy // Shutterstock
#12. Georgia Institute of Technology
Georgia Institute of Technology sign close up.
– Location: Atlanta, Georgia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 14,485
– student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1
– Acceptance rate: 21%
– Graduation rate: 91%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $79,100
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 95%
– Overall rank: #26
Lewis Liu // Shutterstock
#11. Cornell University
Overlook of Cornell University Campus from Uris Library.
– Location: Ithaca, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 15,735
– student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1
– Acceptance rate: 11%
– Graduation rate: 95%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $77,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 93%
– Overall rank: #23
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Jon Bilous // Shutterstock
#10. Johns Hopkins University
Brickk path and buildings on the campus of Johns Hopkins.
– Location: Baltimore, Maryland
– Undergraduate enrollment: 5,766
– student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1
– Acceptance rate: 11%
– Graduation rate: 94%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $73,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 91%
– Overall rank: #21
Orhan Cam // Shutterstock
#9. Georgetown University
Building on the campus of Georgetown University.
– Location: Washington, District of Columbia
– Undergraduate enrollment: 6,610
– student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1
– Acceptance rate: 17%
– Graduation rate: 94%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $93,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #17
Canva
#8. Columbia University
Low Memorial Library at Columbia University.
– Location: New York, New York
– Undergraduate enrollment: 7,509
– student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1
– Acceptance rate: 7%
– Graduation rate: 96%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $83,300
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 89%
– Overall rank: #12
Canva
#7. Dartmouth College
Campus of Dartmouth College.
– Location: Hanover, New Hampshire
– Undergraduate enrollment: 4,169
– student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1
– Acceptance rate: 9%
– Graduation rate: 95%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $75,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #10
Ken Wolter // Shutterstock
#6. Brown University
Students walking on Brown University campus.
– Location: Providence, Rhode Island
– Undergraduate enrollment: 6,605
– student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1
– Acceptance rate: 8%
– Graduation rate: 95%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $67,500
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 91%
– Overall rank: #9
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EQRoy // Shutterstock
#5. Duke University
Duke University Campus in autumn.
– Location: Durham, North Carolina
– Undergraduate enrollment: 6,838
– student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1
– Acceptance rate: 8%
– Graduation rate: 96%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $84,400
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #8
Jay Yuan // Shutterstock
#4. Princeton University
Holder Hall on Princeton University Campus.
– Location: Princeton, New Jersey
– Undergraduate enrollment: 4,689
– student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1
– Acceptance rate: 6%
– Graduation rate: 98%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $74,700
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 87%
– Overall rank: #5
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#3. Yale University
Aerial view of Yale University at dusk.
– Location: New Haven, Connecticut
– Undergraduate enrollment: 4,696
– student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1
– Acceptance rate: 7%
– Graduation rate: 96%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $83,200
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 92%
– Overall rank: #4
Marcio Jose Bastos Silva // Shutterstock
#2. Harvard University
Students outside Harvard University Campus Library.
– Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 5,699
– student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1
– Acceptance rate: 5%
– Graduation rate: 98%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $89,700
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 89%
– Overall rank: #3
Paper Cat // Shutterstock
#1. Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Students on MIT Campus in autumn.
– Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts
– Undergraduate enrollment: 4,234
– student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1
– Acceptance rate: 7%
– Graduation rate: 96%
– Median earnings six years after graduation: $104,700
– Employment rate two years after graduation: 94%
– Overall rank: #1
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