Lehigh University

Lehigh is a private research university with especially strong business and engineering programs. But if those topics aren’t your speed, you can take your pick from more than 100 degree programs. The university spans 1,600 acres in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, and gives students easy access to Philadelphia and New York City.

Undergraduates can participate in research and other projects sourced through the school’s new Lehigh360 site, a searchable database of interdisciplinary projects that was launched to democratize access to high-impact learning opportunities outside of the classroom. Feeling adrift? Don't worry: Resident advisors are called Gryphons after the mythological beast tasked with guarding gold — which, at Lehigh, refers to their fellow students.

Greek life plays a prominent role on campus, and athletics, too, are a significant part of the university's culture. There are 26 NCAA Division I teams, and Lehigh's football team — the Mountain Hawks — has longstanding rivalry with its counterpart at nearby Lafayette College. Every year, Spirit Week brings the school together for a series of events, including "bed races" in which student "jockeys" race in beds pushed by teammates. Keep an eye out for Clutch, the school's emerald-eyed mountain hawk mascot.

The school does have a high sticker price, but 50% of its current students receive some form of financial aid. Grads tend to do well in the labor market — a few years after leaving, the median salary tops $100,000.