Babson College

Babson specializes in curating businesses and future entrepreneurs. Although the school offers only one undergraduate degree -- a B.S. in business -- half of the students' course loads are in the liberal arts and sciences. Upperclassmen can choose up to two "concentrations," akin to a major, in subjects as diverse as literary and visual arts, history and political studies, or environmental sustainability. Students get hands-on experience from the beginning, launching a startup business as part of a freshmen team (all profits go to a charity of the team's choosing) and, in later years, through continuing interaction with local companies and via internships. The result of all that real-world learning: Babson grads tend to stand out in the job market. The list of ventures started by alums is impressive, including brands like Gerber, Home Depot, and Zumba Fitness. The suburban Boston campus draws an international crowd. About 80% of undergraduates live on campus in one of 18 residence halls. Sports are an extremely popular pastime; Babson has 22 Division III teams, as well as more than 25 club and intramural teams. Monthly parties at Knight Auditorium and the annual spring concert, with headliners such as Kesha and Big Sean, also help students blow off steam.