Stanford, CA
#1 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#5 in National Universities
Stanford University’s pristine campus is located in California’s Bay Area, about 30 miles from San Francisco. Stanford offers a wide range of student organizations, including the Stanford Pre-Business Association and Stanford Solar Car Project, which designs, builds and races a solar car every two years. The Stanford Cardinals are well known for the traditional "Big Game" against Cal, an annual football competition that awards the Stanford Axe—a sought-after trophy—to the victor. Stanford also has successful programs in tennis and golf. Only freshman are required to live on campus, but students are guaranteed housing for all four years and most choose to remain on campus. Greek life at Stanford represents approximately 10 percent of the student body. more
$47,940 Tuition and Fees 6,999 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
University of Michigan--Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI
#2 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#27 in National Universities
The University of Michigan boasts one of the best college towns in the country: Ann Arbor, only 45 minutes from the city of Detroit. Freshmen are guaranteed housing but are not required to live on campus. Nearly 20 percent of the undergraduate student body is affiliated with Greek life at Michigan, which contains approximately 60 fraternity and sorority chapters. If Greek life does not sound appealing, there are more than 900 other student organizations from which to choose. The Michigan Wolverines have many traditions: Their colors are maize and blue, their widely known chant is "Go Blue!," their stadium is called the "Big House," and their football program, known for its fierce rivalry with Ohio State, is one of the most storied teams in college football. more
$43,476 (out-of-state), $13,856 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 28,312 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
University of California--Berkeley
Berkeley, CA
#3 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#20 in National Universities
The University of California—Berkeley, often referred to as Cal, is situated overlooking the San Francisco Bay. Typically, 95 percent or more of incoming freshmen at Berkeley choose to live on campus. There are more than 1,000 student organizations, ranging from political groups to a hang gliding club and everything in between. Berkeley also has a thriving Greek life with dozens of fraternity and sorority chapters. The California Golden Bears, Berkeley’s athletic teams, compete in the Pac-12 Conference and are known for their traditional arch rivalry with Stanford University. more
$40,191 (out-of-state), $13,509 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 27,496 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
Georgia Institute of Technology
Atlanta, GA
#4 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#34 in National Universities
Georgia Tech, located in the heart of Atlanta, offers a wide range of student activities. The Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, an NCAA Division I team, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference and have a fierce rivalry with the University of Georgia. Since 1961, the football team has been led onto the field at home games by the Ramblin' Wreck, a restored 1930 Model A Ford Sport Coupe. Georgia Tech has a small but vibrant Greek community. Freshmen are offered housing, but aren't required to live on campus. In addition to its campuses in Atlanta and Savannah, Georgia Tech has campuses in France, Ireland, Costa Rica, Singapore and China. more
$32,404 (out-of-state), $12,212 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 15,142 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
University of Illinois--Urbana-Champaign
Champaign, IL
#5 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#44 in National Universities
The University of Illinois is located in the twin cities of Urbana and Champaign in east-central Illinois, only a few hours from Chicago, Indianapolis and St. Louis. The school’s Fighting Illini participate in more than 20 NCAA Division I varsity sports and are part of the Big Ten Conference. The university boasts the largest Greek system in the world, and almost a quarter of the student body is involved. It’s not hard to find something to do on campus with more than 1,000 student organizations, including professional, political and philanthropic clubs. All freshmen are required to live on campus. more
$31,320 (out-of-state), $15,698 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 33,368 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, MA
#6 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#7 in National Universities
MIT is located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, across the Charles River from downtown Boston. Only freshmen students are required to live on campus, but about 70 percent of students choose to remain on campus during their four years. MIT offers housing in one of the coolest dorms in the country, commonly called "The Sponge," designed by architect Steven Holl. The MIT Engineers boast more than 30 NCAA Division III teams, and their mascot is a beaver, which MIT chose because of its "remarkable engineering and mechanical skill and its habits of industry." Each class designs a unique ring called the "Brass Rat" that is revealed during sophomore year, a tradition that dates back to 1929. more
$48,452 Tuition and Fees 4,527 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
Johns Hopkins University
Baltimore, MD
#7 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering (tie)
#10 in National Universities (tie)
Johns Hopkins University has four main campuses in and around Baltimore. The Homewood Campus, located next to the eclectic neighborhood of Charles Village, is the primary campus for undergraduates, and three other campuses house various graduate schools. Hopkins also has three additional campuses for its School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) in Washington, D.C.; Bologna, Italy; and Nanjing, China. The Hopkins Blue Jays compete in the NCAA Division III Centennial Conference, but they are perhaps best known for their consistently dominant men’s lacrosse team, which competes in NCAA Division I competitions. Freshmen and sophomores are required to live in on-campus residences. There is a sizeable Greek community with a membership of more than 1,000 students. more
$50,410 Tuition and Fees 6,524 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
University of Texas--Austin
Austin, TX
#7 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering (tie)
#56 in National Universities (tie)
Everything is bigger in Texas, as the saying goes, and it holds true at the University of Texas—Austin, one of the largest schools in the nation. The school has one of the biggest Greek systems in the country, two of the largest student publications and more than 900 clubs and organizations for students. The UT—Austin sports teams are notorious competitors in the Division I Big 12 Conference, supported by mascot Bevo the Longhorn. The UT Tower, a lofty campus structure, is lit in the school’s burnt orange color after notable sports achievements and glows a ‘#1’ when a team wins a national championship. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, and may choose to live in downtown Austin, situated about a quarter mile away. The vibrant city is known for its music, food, outdoor activities and nightlife, and students can travel for free on the capitol Metro buses with proof of ID. more
$34,676 (out-of-state), $9,806 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 39,619 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
Carnegie Mellon University
Pittsburgh, PA
#9 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#24 in National Universities
Carnegie Mellon University, founded by industrialist and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie, is located in Pittsburgh, which offers dining and entertainment options as well as professional sports teams including the Penguins (hockey), Steelers (football) and Pirates (baseball). Only freshmen are required to live on campus, but the university guarantees housing for all four years, and the majority of students choose to remain on campus. Nearly 20 percent of the student population is affiliated with Greek life, which consists of more than 20 fraternities and sororities. The Carnegie Mellon Tartans compete in NCAA Division III competitions, and the Kiltie Band, which sports full Scottish regalia, performs at every home football game. more
$52,040 Tuition and Fees 6,454 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
Virginia Tech
Blacksburg, VA
#10 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#74 in National Universities
At Virginia Tech, a former military institute with its background in the sciences, students are encouraged to “invent the future.” Students are known as Hokies, a term that was the original rally cry when the school was known as the Virginia Agricultural and Mechanical College and Polytechnic Institute. Sports teams, also known as the Hokies, compete in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference, and the school mascot is the HokieBird. Virginia Tech is settled in Blacksburg, a typical college town full of restaurants, bars and clubs. Students account for more than half the total residents in Blacksburg, and they dominate the town's public Blacksburg Transit bus system, which is free for Hokies. On campus, students can go bowling, play pool or try out video games in the BreakZONE. There are also more than 600 clubs and organizations, including a large Greek system of more than 50 fraternities and sororities. Freshmen must live on campus, which puts them in close proximity to the school’s renowned dining facilities. Students can order steak and lobster at Virginia Tech’s West End Market, or grab a meal from on-campus chain restaurants, including Au Bon Pain and Pizza Hut. more
$29,371 (out-of-state), $12,852 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 25,384 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
North Carolina State University--Raleigh
Raleigh, NC
#11 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#92 in National Universities
North Carolina State University, also known as NC State, is the largest four-year college in the state. As such, students have a surplus of choices, from more than 100 programs to major in to more than 400 clubs and organizations to join. The university has a large Greek community that fields more than 20 percent of the student body. For other extracurricular activities, students can check out annual events in Raleigh, such as the North Carolina State Fair and Winterfest. Freshmen are not required to live on campus, though about 80 percent choose to. On the sports fields, NC State is known as The Wolfpack and competes in the NCAA Division I Atlantic Coast Conference.
NC State has a variety of academic departments that serve graduate students, too, including a highly ranked engineering school that's particularly well known for its nuclear and biological/agricultural engineering programs; an education program; and the Jenkins Graduate School of Management. Notable NC State graduates include former White House Press Secretary Robert Gibbs and Olympic swimmer and gold medalist Cullen Jones. more
$26,399 (out-of-state), $8,880 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 24,111 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more
University of Florida
Gainesville, FL
#12 in Environmental / Environmental Health Engineering
#50 in National Universities
The University of Florida is about two miles away from downtown Gainesville, a college town bolstered by the school’s nearly 50,000 students. The Florida Gators sports teams compete in the NCAA Division I Southeastern Conference, and are supported by mascots Albert and Alberta the Alligators. The Gator football team, which competes in Ben Hill Griffin Stadium — commonly called the "The Swamp" — is particularly notorious. The team became the namesake of popular sports drink Gatorade in 1966, after freshmen Gators experimented with the novel beverage. The annual Gator Growl, held each Homecoming weekend, has been called the largest student-run pep rally in the world. About 15 percent of students are involved in the school’s 60-plus fraternities and sororities. Freshmen do not have to live on campus, though about 80 percent opt to do so. All students can partake in Gator Nights, held every Friday, which offer free late-night entertainment and a free “midnight breakfast.” more
$28,666 (out-of-state), $6,389 (in-state) Tuition and Fees 35,043 Undergraduate Enrollment SAT, GPA and more