Looking Beyond the Rankings

College Search & Selection
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<p>The University of Wisconsin-Madison offers first and second-year undergraduates the chance to complete research or creative projects through the Undergraduate Research Scholars Program. The Wisconsin Idea Fellowship Program allows students to work on projects with community partners. The Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center provides summer undergraduate research programs. The Food Research Institute Research Scholars learn about food safety and work full-time on project during the summer. The Puelicher Center for Banking Education allows students to run their own bank as part of their capstone project. The Nanoscale Science and Engineering Center offers Research Experience for Undergraduate Programs. The Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment hires undergraduates to work on research activities. The Center for East Asian Studies provides scholarships for study abroad. The European Union Center of Excellence sponsors an advanced study of the European Union program in Brussels. Students are hired as support for the Cooperative Institute for Meteorological Satellite Studies.</p>

<p>Elon University in North Carolina has a dual business degree program where students receive degrees from both Elon and either a university in Germany or France. Business fellows complete a four-year program that includes international travel and culminates in participating in a consulting group or portfolio management team. The Live Oak Communications agency is run by students and offers experiences in marketing, sports/event management, digital art/design or communications industries. Students have the opportunity to complete a semester of coursework and internship in either Los Angeles or New York City. The Periclean Scholars Program provides students with the chance to design and implement a project on global social change. Students can participate in a two or three-year Civic Engagement Scholars Program where they study and develop partnerships with local community agencies. Isabelle Cannon Leadership Fellows complete leadership related classes, travel, and forums and are eligible for a scholarship. The Center for Public Affairs facilitates internships with organizations at the local, national, and international level.</p>

<p>The University of Iowa operates the Iowa Electronic Markets with real-money contracts that payoff depending on economic and political events such as elections. Students as academic traders learn how to operate an electronic futures market. All students can take advantage of the Bedell Entrepreneurship Learning Laboratory office space and opportunities for mentoring. The Institute of Risk Management and Insurance sponsors a certificate as well as provides internship opportunities. The Pappa John Entrepreneurial Center offers a Certificate in Performing Arts Entrepreneurship. Engineering students gain hands-on experience with the Grand Challenges Scholars Program. The Student Leadership Institute offers a weekend seminar where students work on real-world challenges and meet key business leaders. The School of Journalism & Mass Communication offers a Fundraising & Philanthropy Communication Certificate as well as China Outreach program. Undergraduates have the opportunity for summer training in the Free Radical and Radiation Biology Program. The Center for Human Rights provides funding for internships</p>

82

<p>The School of Business Administration at the University of Vermont offers Signature Experience Courses in finance, market research, and product development. The school hosts the Global Family Enterprise Case Competition which is open to undergraduate students. Students in the School of Environment and Natural Resources have the opportunity to complete service-learning courses with a variety of community partners. The Gund Institute for Ecological Economics offers problem based field workshops around the world. Juniors in the Schools of Engineering can apply for accelerated MS programs in Civil and Environmental, Electrical, and Mechanical engineering. The UVM Horse Barn Co-op allows students to bring their own horses and gain hands-on experience in management. Students run their own dairy herd through the Co-operative for Real Education in Agricultural Management. The Community Service Scholarship Program offers scholarships to students who contribute through community service. All students are eligible to apply for the Undergraduate Research Endeavors Competitive Awards.</p>

<p>Business students at Ramapo College of New Jersey use the Global Financial Markets Trading Lab with real-time access to data to apply theories to financial markets. Students can work with faculty on research projects through the Sabrin Center for Business Excellence. Business students can participate in the ASB Mentoring Program that provides them regular, one-on-one contact with an individual in the business world. The Center for Holocaust & Genocide Studies provides students with study abroad opportunities in the Czech Republic and Poland. Students have the opportunity to apply for early admissions or accelerated masters programs in Physician Assistant, Biomedical Informatics, Physical Therapy, Dentistry, Medicine, and Optometry programs. All students can participate in the Edible Garden. The School of Theoretical and Applied Science offers students the chance to complete research through the Research Honors Program.</p>

<p>Whitman College in Washington encourages freshman to participate in at least one Outdoor Program for free through the Bob Carson Outdoor Program Fund. The Outdoor Program also provides hands-on experience by hiring students for a variety of positions. The college emphasizes Global Studies throughout the curriculum and sponsors an annual Global Studies Symposium. The Semester in the West allows students to earn a full semester of credit including courses in politics, biology, writing, and interdisciplinary studies. Students can apply for Whitman Internship Grants to develop their own internships. The Whitman Community Fellow Program is a year-long program that allows students to work with local organizations to deal with community problems and gain leadership experience.</p>

83

<p>I wish this thread had been around when my kids were looking at colleges! Great idea.</p>

84

<p>The Northern Illinois University Center for Non-Governmental Organization Leadership and Development offers students the chance to research area of civil society as well as hands-on experience in working with partnering nonprofit organizations. The Office of Student Engagement and Experiential Learning has several initiatives to improve hands on learning for undergraduates including the Course Transformation Project and courses with service learning components. All students can participate in the Leadership Academy and develop leadership skills in their areas of interest. PROMISE scholars are freshman and sophomores considering STEM majors and have opportunities for summer research and career readiness activities with national corporations. Engineering students participate in Engineers in Residence teams that complete projects for companies. The Experiential Learning Center connects teams of business students with organizations to solve real-world business issues. The Institute for the Study of the Environment, Sustainability & Energy provides students with opportunities for internships and research projects.</p>

<p>Mount Holyoke in Massachusetts is an all women’s college and part of the Five College Consortium. Almost a third of students major in science and mathematics and the college has graduated more women than any other liberal arts college who went on to get U.S. doctorates. The Center for the Environment funds summer Leadership Fellowships at local, national, and international nonprofit organizations. Students can receive funding for summer research abroad through the Center for Global Initiatives. Any student can participate in the Center for Leadership Passport to Leadership program. The Center also partners with communities to provides students with internships, research, and service projects. The Leadership and Public Service program provides co-curricular workshops, lectures, networking, internships, and seminars on public policy in Washington DC.</p>

<p>Wilkes University in Pennsylvania is a member of the Wallops Island Marine Science Consortium which allows students to participate in summer laboratory and field activities. Undergraduates collaborating with faculty carry out most research at the Institute for Environmental Science and Sustainability. The School of Business sponsors Social Cyclical Awareness Projects where students work on a community service project for a semester. Communication students run the Zebra Communications public relations agency. Criminology majors have the opportunity to complete a three-semester capstone sequence and develop research and statistical skills. The Center for Free Enterprise & Entrepreneurship provides students with opportunities for internships and consulting. Students can intern at the Institute for Public Policy & Economic Development which is a partnership between area universities.</p>

<p>All 50-50 Colleges accept at least 50% of their applicants and have at least a 50% [Guaranteed</a> Tuition and 4 Year Graduation: Part 2](<a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/50-50-college-listing-intro/graduation]Guaranteed”>http://diycollegerankings.com/50-50-college-listing-intro/graduation) rate.</p>

85

<p>Students at St. Edward’s University in Texas can take advantage of the 227 acre Wild Basin Creative Research Center. The Center offers internships for Environmental and Policy students. Students in the School of Natural Sciences have the chance to work on the Center’s research projects. Business students travel abroad through the Global Business Institute for Societal Responsibility and work on business projects with a focus on social justice. Students can study abroad at the University’s campus in France. The Visiting Writers Series allows students to interact with award-winning authors. Freshman and sophomores in the Hilltop Leaders program develop leadership skills and take a study tour of Washington D.C.</p>

<p>Colorado State University Fort Collins has developed Research Academics through the Office for Undergraduate Research and Artistry. The research academies offer undergraduates the opportunity to work with faculty or industry representatives. The academies include the Society of Global Health Researchers, Academy of Photo Research Scholars, and the Academy of Historical Research Scholars. All students can participate in programs at the Institute for Entrepreneurship including the New Economy Venture Accelerator, The Immersion Lab, and the CSU Business Advancement Fund. The College of Engineering hires undergraduates in laboratories. The President’s Leadership Program is a three-year fourteen credit leadership development experience for undergraduates that includes retreats, service projects, and internships. Students can participate in a leadership exchange program with Mexico. Students can gain hands-on experience as research assistants at the Center for the Study of Crime and Justice.</p>

<p>The Kutztown University of Pennsylvania Institute on Justice provides internships to students through partnering agencies. Students gain hands-on experience at the Institute on Children and Families. Students who participate in the Child Welfare Education for Baccalaureates program receive tuition scholarships and stipends to intern at a public child welfare agency. The College of Visual and Performing Arts provides an Art Bus that provides students with transportation to New York City. Students have the chance to participate in the Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania Program where students enroll part-time in AmeriCorp and receive a partial education award. Dean’s Scholars in the College of Visual and Performing Arts travel abroad over the winter break.</p>

86

<p>Mills College is a women’s Liberal Arts College in California. Students in the Jill Barrett Research Program receive scholarships for participating in a 10-week long summer research project under faculty from the biology department. The Institute for Civic Leadership is a two-semester program that combines the study of civic leadership and social policy along with an internship. Students can gain hands-on experience in oral history methods through the Oakland Living History Program. All students can take classes in Public Radio Reporting and produce documentaries and be placed in internships. The Domestic Exchange program allows students to spend a semester at colleges in Massachusetts, Georgia, DC, and Pennsylvania. Students can earn a Bachelor’s and Master’s in five years in Education/Teaching, Computer Science, MBA, and Public Policy.</p>

<p>The LU-R1 Program at Lawrence University in Wisconsin offers students in the Natural Sciences the opportunity to work with Lawrence alumni who are conducting research at leading R1 universities. Selected students receive a stipend and travel grant. Students have the opportunity to study abroad at the school’s London Center or through its Francophone Seminar in Senegal. The northern campus Bjorklunden Vid Sjon hosts seminars and retreats for students throughout the year. The ConservatorySquared program provides conservatory students with summer internships in a variety of musical fields. ArtsBridge Scholars work with K-12 students introducing arts into the classroom. All students can apply for the Summer Volunteer Opportunity Grant that provides funding for summer service projects.</p>

<p>The Center on Social Innovation and Finance at the University of New Hampshire offers undergraduates internships and provides hands-on experience through the Net Impact program. Undergraduates can apply for internships with nonprofit organizations through the Winant Fellowship sponsored by the Carsey Institute which also supports undergraduate research. Engineering students can study abroad in Hungry for about the same price as UNH and all courses will transfer toward their degree. The Hamel Center for Undergraduate Research sponsors grants for international research opportunities. Students in the Culinary Arts program run two campus restaurants that are open to the public. The Climate Change Research Center offers undergraduates summer internship opportunities. UNH is a member of the National Student Exchange program.</p>

87

<p>Ohio University has an Honors Tutorial Colleges and is the only degree-granting college in the United States incorporating all of the features of the traditional tutorial system. Aviation students benefit from the university-owned and managed airport. The Robe Leadership Institute provide students in the College of Engineering and Technology with a variety of leadership programs. Business majors have the opportunity to take Business Clusters that combine traditionally independent classes into one integrated class taught by a team of professors. The Global Consulting Program partners students with their peers in other countries to solve business problems. Communication students can get hands-on experience through the Game Research and Immersive Design Lab where they develop skills with digital game technology. The Ohio Center for Ecology & Evolutionary Studies offers all students research experience through the Undergraduate Research Immersion Program.</p>

<p>Students at Montclair State University in New Jersey have the opportunity to participate in the Disney International College Program or Domestic College Program. The CEO Professional Development Program helps students develop workplace skills and provides networking opportunities. Students gain hands-on experience at the Center for Heritage and Archaeological Studies by working on area excavation projects or attending archaeological field schools abroad. The Center for Cooperative Media provides students with multiplatform production opportunities and internships. The Passaic River Institute provides students with opportunities for research, public outreach, and advocacy.</p>

<p>Students at the University of Evansville in Indiana gain experience working on real-world global business issues through the Institute for Global Enterprise. The Behavioral Neurosicence Laboratory sponsors research opportunities through The UExplore Undergraduate Research Program. Students can be trained in archaeological field methods through the Jezreel Expedition program with the University of Haifa in Israel. All students are eligible to study at Harlazton College, the British campus of the University of Evansville. Courses are available for nursing and engineering students. The Advanced Career Education Certificate program helps students develop skills for careers and professional networking. All students can participate in Leadership Development through the Center for Student Engagement’s 7 C’s plus Change program.</p>

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<p>Students in the College of Business and Economic at Michigan Technological University (Michigan Tech) can participate in a Silicon Valley Experience. All first-year engineering students take the same discovery-based learning core classes. Engineering students can start research projects as early as their freshman year through the Research Scholars Program. The Center for Water and Society awards undergraduates travel and research grants. Students in the Forestry and Environmental Resource Management program get hands-on, field-based learning opportunities through the Fall Camp semester. The Clinical Laboratory Science Degree offers six areas of specializations. Students in Scientific and Technical Communication run the CinOPtic Communication and Media Enterprise. Students can also major in Audio Production & Technology or Sound Design. All students are eligible to participate in the Enterprise Program that are cross-functional teams that work on real-world client projects.</p>

<p>The University of Kansas offers students a variety of leadership development programs including KU Ascend, the Sophomore Leadership Challenge, LeaderShape, and the opportunity to minor in Leadership Studies. Students in the Business Leadership Program begin developing professional careers as incoming freshmen. The Finance Scholar Program includes a course in Financial Careers & Institutions, internships, and site visits to financial organizations across the country. Engineering and Computer Science students can participate in the Self Engineering Leadership Fellows Program, an enrichment program that provides mentoring, seminars, and leadership opportunities. Students can get hands-on experience at the Kansas Geological Survey. The Center for Remote Sensing of Ice Sheets provides internships and research opportunities as well as hiring students as research assistants. All students can receive Certifications in Experiential Learning in areas including Research Experience Program, Global Awareness Program, and Arts Engagement Certification.</p>

<p>Seton Hall University in New Jersey has established the Seton Hall Experiential Learning and Leadership Service Program which places undergraduate students in projects sponsored by local nonprofit agencies. Sport Management students can get experience through internships at The Center for Sport Management or by working at the Sports Polling Center. Students in the School of Diplomacy and International Relations can take advantage of the school’s relationship with the UN which provides conferences, courses, internships, and research opportunities. Business students can take advantage of exchange programs in London, Germany, China, and Macau. The Market Research Center provides students with the opportunities to gain hands-on experience in a market research facility.</p>

<p>All 50-50 Colleges accept at least 50% of their applicants and have at least a 50% graduation rate. [50-50</a> College Listing](<a href=“http://diycollegerankings.com/50-50-college-listing-intro/]50-50”>50-50 College List)</p>

89

<p>The Indiana University of Pennsylvania’s Program in Culinary Arts includes degrees in Hospitality Management and Food and Nutrition Programs. Culinary Arts students can spend a year in Switzerland completing an externship program. The Center for Turning & Furniture Design’s CenterWorks provides students with hands-on experience by working on commissions as small business projects. Students can intern at the Institute for Mine Mapping, Archival Procedures, and Safety. The Institute for Information Assurance sponsors the Cyber Catch Information Assurance Scholarship Program as well as offers students research and internship opportunities. Work Study students can work at a human service agency through the Service Learning Program. The Intercollegiate Athletic Institute for Sports Camps provides students with experience to become coaches and counselors.</p>

<p>Students at the University of Northern Iowa can develop their own business through the Student Business Incubator which provides technical and market research assistance, seed capital, office space, and training programs. Business students can study abroad through the Cost Neutral Semester Abroad program. The Fly-Free Summer Programs covers the cost of airfare to a variety of overseas programs. Students in the School of Health, Physical Education & Leisure Services can gain experience working for Camp Adventure Child and Youth Services or the Global Health Corps. The Center for Social and Behavioral Research employs students as telephone interviewers. Students can get hands-on experience working as lab assistants at the Metal Casting Center. The Recycling & Reuse Technology Transfer Center hires students to work in community outreach projects.</p>

<p>The University of Maryland Baltimore County is an honors university based on a liberal arts tradition. Students in the Linehan Artist Scholars Program receive a four-year scholarship, have summer research opportunities, and take trips to New York and Washington DC. Students interested in public service can apply to the Sondheim Public Affairs Scholars Program which provides scholarships, independent research, and internship opportunities. The Shriver Center places over 600 students each year in Service-Learning Internships. The College of Natural and Mathematical Sciences sponsors an eight week Interdisciplinary Program in High Performance Computing. Students gain hands-on research experience in the Summer Biomedical Training Program. The Institute of Fluorescence provides research experience for undergraduates. Students can use the Idea Lab at the Alex Brown Center for Entrepreneurship to develop their business concepts.</p>

90

<p>Pacific University in Oregon has developed a Business Scholars program in which students complete their degrees in three years which includes participating in co-curricular series and completing an internship. Education majors have the opportunity to teach in Mexico through a practicum experience. The Berglund Center for Internet Studies offers student fellowships for students to pursue internet related research or projects. Students gain hands-on experience in building, researching, and demonstrating sustainability through the B Street Permaculture Project. The Tom McCall Center for Policy Innovation provides students with internships opportunities and hands-on activities. The Center for Gender Equity has a sister-center relationship with a college in India that facilitates students and faculty exchanges.</p>

<p>Oklahoma State University offers undergraduates a variety of research opportunities. Incoming freshman can apply for the Freshman Research Scholars Program. The Wentz Research Program offers fifty students $4,500 grants to conduct research projects under faculty mentors. Students in the laboratory sciences can receive $8,000 grants through the Niblack Research Scholars Program. Students in The College of Engineering, Architecture, and Technology Scholars program take a ten-day tour of industry sites in Washington DC and a 14 day international tour as well as participate in leadership development opportunities. The Riata Entrepreneurial Internship Program allows students to work directly with an entrepreneur or senior executive in a high-growth company. Any student interested in starting a business can apply for help through the Cowboy Idea Hatchery, a business incubator. The Center for Information Based Bioengineering and Manufacturing offers students the chance for hands-on experience in research and outreach activities.</p>

<p>Students at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Texas can create research teams to address key problems faced by the Dallas area in the Big iDeas program. The Undergraduate Research Assistantships Program allows student to work with a faculty member for ten hours a week and full-time during the summer. Students in The Biomedical Researchers in Training Experiences are simultaneously admitted to SMU and the University of Texas-Southwetern Medical Center Ph.D. program in biomedical sciences and includes up to three summer of paid laboratory research experience. Students can apply to complete a two-year Engaged Learning Project that addresses the needs of a population outside of SMU. Engineering students can gain hands-on experience working on projects at The Innovation Gymnasium. The Hart Center for Engineering Leadership provides students with internships, leadership seminars, and community engagement projects. The Tower Center offers student fellowships where students work with faculty to develop research projects in politics and government. The Embrey Human Rights Program Student Leadership Initiative provides students with the opportunity to manage long-term service learning projects through academic study and activism.</p>

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<p>Thank you for writing and compiling all of these wonderful highlights!</p>

92

<p>At the University of California-Santa Cruz all undergraduate students are affiliated with one the ten residential colleges. The University supports undergraduate research through a searchable Research Opportunities Database. The Institute for Humanities Research sponsors Humanities Undergraduate Research Awards. Human Biology majors must complete an internship at an area health care facility. STEM majors are supported through the Academic Excellence Program which offers small discussion sections for selected courses. The Global Information Internship Program trains students to work with and places students as interns with non-profits. Students have the opportunity to gain experience doing outreach and public education or work on research projects or design their own projects through The Center for Agroecology & Sustainable Food Systems. The Center for Integrated Water Research offers students experiences through research projects and training programs.</p>

<p>Salisbury University in Maryland encourages student attendance at cultural events through its Cultural Laureate Program. Students in the School of Liberal Arts can apply for Fulton Student Research Grants for scholarly and artistic projects. The School of Science and Technology sponsors an undergraduate research summer program as well as the Explore the Emerging Computing in Science and Engineering program where students apply emerging parallel computing models. Students in health care related majors will benefit from the Henson Medical Simulation Center. The School of Business offers students study abroad programs in Argentina, China, France, Germany, and Scandinavia. Students can gain hands-on experience working on research projects or internships through the Institute for Public Affairs and Civic Engagement.</p>

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<p>I’ve pretty much gone through all the individual highlights of the colleges that accept at least 50% of applicants and have at least a 50% graduation rate. I didn’t do every college simply because I had a hard time finding something “distinctive” about the institution. It doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist, just that I didn’t find it. </p>

<p>So I thought I would take a different approach and start listing/ranking the 50-50 colleges by various characteristics. It’s just a different way to find out about colleges you may have never heard of or considered. My first list is pretty simple, all institutions with a Carnegie Classification of Research University, High or Very High. The are ranked by research per student as defined by IPEDS. This means it doesn’t include unfunded research. </p>

<p>Name Research per Student Research Expenses as % of Total Expenses
Case Western Reserve University $45,263 49
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus $26,178 54
University of Wisconsin-Madison $23,322 41
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus $21,001 39
University of Washington-Seattle Campus $17,662 32
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus $15,616 28
University of Iowa $14,089 32
University of Arizona $12,255 36
University of Kentucky $11,928 24
Mississippi State University $11,458 37
Texas A & M University-College Station $11,293 28
University of Kansas $10,216 31
Oregon State University $10,058 35
University of Georgia $9,581 33
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College $9,463 32
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign $9,270 25
University of Vermont $9,176 23
University of Dayton $9,057 32
The University of Tennessee $8,783 21
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University $8,734 34
University of Nebraska-Lincoln $8,413 28
University of Colorado Boulder $8,125 29
Colorado State University-Fort Collins $8,104 31
North Carolina State University at Raleigh $8,090 26
Michigan Technological University $8,040 30
Clemson University $7,826 28
Ohio State University-Main Campus $7,802 23
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus $7,731 25
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus $7,614 31
Michigan State University $7,270 22
Iowa State University $7,239 25
University of Maine $7,167 24
Rutgers University-New Brunswick $7,092 21
University of Idaho $7,021 25
Kansas State University $7,003 25
University of California-Santa Cruz $6,660 29
University of Arkansas $6,598 24
University of Maryland-Baltimore County $6,564 26
Boston University $6,396 16
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus $6,164 22
University of Missouri-Columbia $6,103 24
University of California-Riverside $5,956 24
Purdue University-Main Campus $5,793 18
University of Delaware $5,787 19
Washington State University $5,645 19
University of Rhode Island $5,642 25
The University of Texas at Dallas $5,622 22
South Dakota State University $5,553 27
Missouri University of Science and Technology $5,456 22
University of Massachusetts Amherst $5,195 20
West Virginia University $5,182 21
Auburn University $5,002 20
University of South Carolina-Columbia $4,820 21
Florida State University $4,769 18
University at Buffalo $4,697 16
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus $4,539 17
Texas Tech University $4,457 23
Clarkson University $4,219 16
University of Oregon $4,069 18
Rutgers University-Newark $3,716 21
Arizona State University $3,638 16
Temple University $3,239 13
University of Mississippi $3,210 17
Catholic University of America $3,118 11
Saint Louis University-Main Campus $2,943 10
George Mason University $2,932 15
Indiana University-Bloomington $2,605 11
Clark University $2,447 11
Ohio University-Main Campus $1,693 10
Southern Methodist University $1,667 5
Duquesne University $1,526 7
University of Denver $1,417 5
Northern Illinois University $1,302 7
Miami University-Oxford $1,096 6
Ball State University $924 6
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus $355 2</p>

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<p>I’d like to add something for University of Oklahoma (previously mentioned on sadily’s 50-50 list). OU, in addition to having rabid school spirit, also offers excellent programs in the geological and meteorological sciences. The well funded Conoco-Phillips school of Geology hosts a weekly “Shell symposium” where esteemed researchers and mining companies’ employees give talks about what they’ve done. Seniors have the option of completing a thesis and upperclassmen may do an independent study with professors in fields that interest them, so long as they get permission (relatively easy). If a student wishes to combine journalism and geology, the Mewbourne College of Earth and Energy puts out a magazine every quarter. </p>

<p>OU is also home to the Oklahoma Geological Survey, which investigates a wide variety of issues pertinent to the state including recent earthquakes, environmental issues related to mining and drilling, and general surveying.</p>

<p>For students interested in the business side of resource extraction, its Price College of Business offers a degree in energy management where students learn the ins and outs of one of Oklahoma’s largest sectors. A huge number of petroleum and major mining companies recruit its grads. </p>

<p>If a student is interested in meteorology, OU offers one of the best programs in the nation. The school is housed with the National Weather Center’s building which means its extremely easy for undergrads to both network and help solve real world problems. It’s also home to the Oklahoma Climatalogical Survey, Advanced Radar Research Center, as well as many others. </p>

<p>For those with a passion for both science and history, OU has a fairly large history of science department that offers frequent lectures from faculty from all over the world and has its very own library. </p>

<p>OU is relatively inexpensive and enrolls one of the highest numbers of NMFs of any public school in the country. Even for students not in the honors program, getting classes is almost never a problem. Norman is also a fairly decent college town and only about 20 minutes away from Oklahoma City.</p>

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<p>Wow. Look at that CWRU research number… I know it’s per student but that means there is a great deal of opportunity there.</p>

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<p>This week is a listing of schools with the highest 75th percentile test scores. The first list is private schools, the second is public. </p>

<p>Private
Name,SAT Critical Reading 75th Percentile,SAT Math 75th Score Percentile,ACT Composite 75th Percentile
Whitman College,730,710,32
St Olaf College,720,710,32
Wheaton College,710,690,32
Lewis & Clark College,710,670,30
Case Western Reserve University,700,740,32
Gonzaga University,700,690,28
Hampshire College,700,650,29
Grove City College,692,677,30
Furman University,690,690,31
Rhodes College,690,680,31
Hendrix College,690,670,32
Centre College,690,670,31
Beloit College,690,650,30
University of Dallas,690,640,30
Southern Methodist University,680,690,31
Trinity University,680,680,31
Austin College,680,680,29
Kalamazoo College,680,670,30
Transylvania University,680,660,30
University of Puget Sound,680,660,30
University of Puget Sound,680,660,30
Southwestern University,680,650,31
Sewanee-The University of the South,680,650,30
Gustavus Adolphus College,680,670,30
John Brown University,680,620,29
Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology,670,720,32
Boston University,670,700,30
The College of Wooster,670,660,30
University of Portland,670,650,
Santa Clara University,660,690,30
DePauw University,660,680,29
Saint Louis University-Main Campus,660,670,30
University of Denver,660,670,30
Elon University,660,660,29
Allegheny College,660,640,29
Earlham College,660,620,30
Mills College,660,620,29
Maryland Institute College of Art,660,620,
Creighton University,640,660,30
Calvin College,650,660,29
Hope College,670,650,29
Millsaps College,650,650,29
Ohio Wesleyan University,650,650,29
Westmont College,650,650,29
Marquette University,630,650,29
Loyola University Maryland,640,650,28
Juniata College,630,650,28
Loyola Marymount University,630,650,28
Syracuse University,620,650,28
Clarkson University,610,650,28
Albany College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences,620,650,27
Wabash College,610,650,27
Illinois Wesleyan University,670,740,30
Drake University,650,680,29
Butler University,620,640,30
Saint Johns University,673,640,29
Cedarville University,650,640,29
Wofford College,650,640,29
Messiah College,630,640,29
Luther College,625,640,29
University of Dayton,620,640,29
Taylor University,645,635,29
Belmont University,640,630,29
Birmingham Southern College,620,630,29
Berry College,650,620,29
Goucher College,650,620,29
Franciscan University of Steubenville,650,610,29
The Master’s College and Seminary,620,610,29
Valparaiso University,610,610,29</p>

<p>Public
Name SAT Critical Reading 75th Percentile SAT Math 75th Percentile ACT Composite 75th Percentile
New College of Florida 740 680 31
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus 690 740 32
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus 680 690 30
St Mary’s College of Maryland 680 650 29
University of Wisconsin-Madison 670 740 30
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign 660 780 31
Ohio State University-Main Campus 660 700 30
The University of Texas at Dallas 660 700 30
University of Georgia 660 670 29
University of Washington-Seattle Campus 650 700 30
Clemson University 650 680 30
Clemson University 650 680 30
Texas A & M University-College Station 650 670 30
University of Delaware 650 660 28
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus 650 655 29
Florida State University 650 640 28
University of North Carolina at Asheville 650 620 27
University of Maryland-Baltimore County 640 670 29
Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University 640 670
James Madison University 640 650 27
The University of Tennessee 640 640 29
University of Vermont 640 640 29
College of Charleston 640 640 26
University of Mary Washington 640 610 27
Rutgers University-New Brunswick 630 680
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus 630 670 29
Indiana University-Bloomington 630 650 29
University of South Carolina-Columbia 630 650 29
University of Colorado Boulder 630 650 28
University of Massachusetts Amherst 630 650 28
University of California-Santa Cruz 630 640 27
Christopher Newport University 630 610 26
Miami University-Oxford 620 660 29
North Carolina State University at Raleigh 620 660 28
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus 620 640 27
University of Kentucky 620 630 28
George Mason University 620 630 28
Colorado State University-Fort Collins 620 630 27
University of North Carolina at Wilmington 620 620 26
Western Washington University 620 610 27
Purdue University-Main Campus 610 690 30
University at Buffalo 610 650 28
University of Arkansas 610 630 28
Missouri University of Science and Technology 690 710 31
Truman State University 630 650 30
Auburn University 600 620 30
Michigan Technological University 650 690 29
University of Iowa 630 685 28
University of Nebraska-Lincoln 660 670 28
Iowa State University 640 670 28
Michigan State University 600 670 28
University of Minnesota-Morris 650 650 28
University of Missouri-Columbia 650 650 28
Louisiana State University and Agricultural & Mechanical College 630 650 28
University of Kansas 28</p>

97

<p>sadilly, if you use the “code” tag you can format your lists into columns to make them more readable. Example for the research universities list:</p>

<p>


</p>

<h1>Name                                           Research/ Student   Expenses %</h1>

<p>Case Western Reserve University                     $45,263            49
Georgia Institute of Technology-Main Campus         $26,178            54
University of Wisconsin-Madison                     $23,322            41
University of Pittsburgh-Pittsburgh Campus          $21,001            39
University of Washington-Seattle Campus             $17,662            32
Pennsylvania State University-Main Campus           $15,616            28
University of Iowa                                  $14,089            32
University of Arizona                               $12,255            36
University of Kentucky                              $11,928            24
Mississippi State University                        $11,458            37
Texas A & M University-College Station              $11,293            28
University of Kansas                                $10,216            31
Oregon State University                             $10,058            35
University of Georgia                                $9,581            33
Louisiana State University                           $9,463            32
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign           $9,270            25
University of Vermont                                $9,176            23
University of Dayton                                 $9,057            32
The University of Tennessee                          $8,783            21
Virginia Tech                                        $8,734            34
University of Nebraska-Lincoln                       $8,413            28
University of Colorado Boulder                       $8,125            29
Colorado State University-Fort Collins               $8,104            31
North Carolina State University at Raleigh           $8,090            26
Michigan Technological University                    $8,040            30
Clemson University                                   $7,826            28
Ohio State University-Main Campus                    $7,802            23
University of Cincinnati-Main Campus                 $7,731            25
University of New Hampshire-Main Campus              $7,614            31
Michigan State University                            $7,270            22
Iowa State University                                $7,239            25
University of Maine                                  $7,167            24
Rutgers University-New Brunswick                     $7,092            21
University of Idaho                                  $7,021            25
Kansas State University                              $7,003            25
University of California-Santa Cruz                  $6,660            29
University of Arkansas                               $6,598            24
University of Maryland-Baltimore County              $6,564            26
Boston University                                    $6,396            16
Oklahoma State University-Main Campus                $6,164            22
University of Missouri-Columbia                      $6,103            24
University of California-Riverside                   $5,956            24
Purdue University-Main Campus                        $5,793            18
University of Delaware                               $5,787            19
Washington State University                          $5,645            19
University of Rhode Island                           $5,642            25
The University of Texas at Dallas                    $5,622            22
South Dakota State University                        $5,553            27
Missouri University of Science and Technology        $5,456            22
University of Massachusetts Amherst                  $5,195            20
West Virginia University                             $5,182            21
Auburn University                                    $5,002            20
University of South Carolina-Columbia                $4,820            21
Florida State University                             $4,769            18
University at Buffalo                                $4,697            16
University of Oklahoma Norman Campus                 $4,539            17
Texas Tech University                                $4,457            23
Clarkson University                                  $4,219            16
University of Oregon                                 $4,069            18
Rutgers University-Newark                            $3,716            21
Arizona State University                             $3,638            16
Temple University                                    $3,239            13
University of Mississippi                            $3,210            17
Catholic University of America                       $3,118            11
Saint Louis University-Main Campus                   $2,943            10
George Mason University                              $2,932            15
Indiana University-Bloomington                       $2,605            11
Clark University                                     $2,447            11
Ohio University-Main Campus                          $1,693            10
Southern Methodist University                        $1,667             5
Duquesne University                                  $1,526             7
University of Denver                                 $1,417             5
Northern Illinois University                         $1,302             7
Miami University-Oxford                              $1,096             6
Ball State University                                  $924             6
Bowling Green State University-Main Campus             $355             2

</p>

98

<p>Thanks! Will do.</p>

99

<p>The following tables show the 30 private 50-50 schools with the lowest average net price in the 110,000 above category and the 30 with the highest. Sorry about the formatting, I’m still working on figuring it out. </p>

<p>Private 50-50 Schools with Lowest
Average Net Price for Incomes of $110,000</p>

<p>



Name                                       St   4 yr Avg Net Price 
                                                Grad  Family Income 
                                                Rate over $110,000"</p>

<p>Saint Joseph's College-New York     NY  52  16652
Sewanee-The University of the South TN  78  16802
Hanover College             IN  62  17263
Saint Ambrose University        IA  49  17635
Franklin College            IN  54  17855
Converse College            SC  56  17933
Goshen College              IN  50  17995
Stephens College            MO  50  18207
Columbia International University   SC  51  18236
John Brown University           AR  52  18467
Milligan College            TN  55  18589
Ripon College               WI  57  18642
Dominican University            IL  58  19381
Mount Carmel College of Nursing     OH  67  19422
Illinois College            IL  52  19718
Geneva College              PA  49  19845
Presbyterian College            SC  59  20103
Erskine College and Seminary        SC  54  20191
Maryville College           TN  49  20228
Augustana College           SD  50  20356
Webber International University     FL  60  20599
Baker University            KS  59  20616
Creighton University            NE  65  20659
Grace College and Theological Seminary  IN  55  20711
Georgetown College          KY  58  20738
Hastings College            NE  53  20875
Lycoming College            PA  62  20910
Doane College-Crete         NE  53  20965
LaGrange College            GA  49  21238
North Central College           IL  59  21402
Millsaps College            MS  61  21713

[Private 50-50 Schools with Highest Average Net Price for Incomes of $110,000l](http://diycollegerankings.com/50-50-highlights-average-net-price-for-students-with-a-family-income-of-more-than-110000/5041/) 


</p>

<p>Name                                St  4 yr Avg Net Price 
                                        Grad  Family Income 
                                        Rate over $110,000"</p>

<p>Santa Clara University          CA  80  53117
Mills College               CA  50  51877
Seattle University          WA  59  44515
Ringling College of Art and Design  FL  61  44372
Boston University           MA  79  41890
Bennington College          VT  55  40985
Sarah Lawrence College          NY  71  40681
University of San Francisco     CA  56  40326
Providence College          RI  83  40167
Syracuse University         NY  72  39590
Sacred Heart University         CT  60  39571
Loyola Marymount University     CA  71  39541
Saint Marys College of California   CA  54  38859
Fairfield University            CT  79  38625
Whitman College             WA  80  38324
Goucher College             MD  60  38035
Ursinus College             PA  77  37949
Ithaca College              NY  69  37707
Stonehill College           MA  80  37631
Salem College               NC  53  37631
Quinnipiac University           CT  70  37495
Wheaton College             MA  70  37393
Southern Methodist University       TX  60  37261
Worcester Polytechnic Institute     MA  72  37241
Pacific University          OR  56  37120
Saint Joseph's University       PA  73  36805
Savannah College of Art and Design  GA  51  36700
University of Denver            CO  56  36568
University of Puget Sound       WA  70  36480
Maryland Institute College of Art   MD  72  36271
Drew University             NJ  63  36141

</p>
100

<p>At that income level ($110K and above), many students at most of these schools would get very little if any need-based aid. So the net costs in the first table must reflect significant “merit” discounts. At Sewanee, according to Kiplinger, the full COA is over $45K/year; only about 15% of students get merit aid; the average merit aid for those who get it is $13,315. So how could the average net COA be as low as $17K for families in that income range?</p>

<p>Actually, that average does not include all Sewanee students in that income category. According to the site that provided the information, only students who receive federal aid are included. So it may be the case that $17K is an average over a small cluster of relatively high income students who take unsubsidized Stafford loans AND receive very large average merit grants.</p>