Hamilton College

Students at Hamilton College, as the liberal arts school loves to point out, study whatever interests them individually. Thanks to an open curriculum, the roughly 1,800 students aren't bound by a strict track of courses and prerequisites. That doesn't mean there aren't specific requirements to earn a degree in one of the over 40 majors offered at Hamilton, though. The college emphasizes strong critical thinking and communication skills, so all students have to complete three writing courses. Writing and oral communication centers are available to help students with these skills. Students also work with advisers to develop personal education goals, a task made possible by the college's high faculty-to-student ratio. Hamilton is one of a limited number of colleges that pledge to meet all of a student's demonstrated financial need. The college has increased its financial aid budget significantly in recent years to its current level of around $44 million. Despite Hamilton's small size, students can participate in more than 200 student groups, encompassing interests from beekeeping to conspiracy theories to sports. Every spring, students participate alone or on relay teams at HamTrek, a triathlon that calls for swimming 21 lengths in the pool, biking nine miles, and running five kilometers. The college encourages students to spend at least one semester off campus, and about two-thirds of students do so through study abroad programs or internships. Hamilton has a graduation rate of 93% -- 5% higher than schools with similar demographics -- and alumni make an average of $59,000 within five years of graduating, according to PayScale.