<p>For undergraduate academics, overall but especially in the social sciences?
My #1 would be the University of Chicago (for small class sizes & decent access to top faculty; well-designed undergraduate curriculum; well-defined, well-practiced approach to undergraduate teaching; possibly the best research library facilities in North America; outstanding economics department, which has fielded more Nobel laureates and John Bates Clark medalists in economics than any other university in the world; affiliation with NORC, an important resource for social science data).</p>
<p>However, you need to think about “fit” issues and costs. UMCP may well be the one to beat for a middle class Maryland resident.</p>