Wesleyan University

Wesleyan University, along with Amherst and Williams colleges, is one of the historic "Little Three," a trio of prestigious liberal arts schools in New England. Founded in 1831 by Methodists, it has about 3,000 students -- most of them women; they tend to be thoughtful, independent, progressive, and politically aware. Academics are generally characterized by small classes and professors who actively engage with students in programs like the social and political sciences, psychology, and the visual and performing arts. Wesleyan has a generous financial aid policy that offers most students from families that earn under $60,000 a year an aid package with no loans. It's not just affordable, it's also famous: Wesleyan claims composer Lin-Manuel Miranda, director Michael Bay, and the band MGMT among its alumni. Producing these talented artists requires a stand-out arts program, which Wes has. The Center for the Arts hosts free musical and theatrical events, and has three of its own art galleries. Here's another fun fact: It has a student-run farm that grows more than 80 varieties of vegetables and herbs and hosts two festivals -- a Pumpkin Fest in the fall and a May Day in the spring -- for the community every year.