BU is my top choice and I’m looking for suggestions of other schools I might like. Here are some things I like about BU and I would like any suggestions of schools that fit some of these.
must be:
prefer:
BU is a slight reach so I would like to find a range of schools with some equally compeitive schools and others that are easier to get into.
Syracuse meets all of your criteria.
Be sure to run the EFC calculators for all colleges of interest. BU is not known for being generous with financial aid.
In addition:
Boston College
Pittsburgh
Villanova
Providence
Temple
SUNY at Buffalo
George Washington U
American U
Catholic U
Lehigh
Lafayette
Penn State
Fordham
U Maryland
U Conn
U Delaware
(not all urban but near cities)
OP,
Northeastern might not have as many students living on campus as BU, but more than half of NE students do. According to the Fiske Guide, “On-campus housing is now guaranteed for all four years, though many students find it less expensive to live off campus.” Greek life is not at all dominant at NE.
For the most part, LACs offer fully residential experiences, but very few are located in urban areas. If you are female, Barnard is an example, as it shares space with Columbia yet is wholly independent. There are LACs on the outskirts of major cities (Lake Forest, Sarah Lawrence), but truly in the city?
And there’s the rub. You’re not interested in LACs, which typically do not have Div I sports. You’re looking for that very rare animal: a large residential urban university that has big time sports, but doesn’t have a strong Greek presence. Other posters have given you some good options, though. For instance, 58% of Fordham students live on campus all four years, and Fordham does have Div 1 sports. But if by Div I you mean Div-1A, then that makes it an even more rare animal that you’re searching for.
NOTE: U of MD is suburban (though that’s probably good enough for you), but only freshmen are guaranteed housing. UConn does have a strong residential environment (71% of students live on campus), but Storrs is rural, not urban.
Doesn’t have to be a large school, must have guaranteed housing after freshman year.