NEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle’s winning run in the English Premier League came to an abrupt end when goals from Thomas Souček and Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave West Ham a surprise 2-0 win at St. James’ Park on Monday. The Hammers rose into 14th place and the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui was eased. The London club has been inconsistent all season and Monday’s win was just its fourth in 12 league games. West Ham was worth the win in the end but the three points came courtesy of slack defending by the home side. Emerson whipped in an out-swinging corner after 10 minutes and, with Newcastle defenders rooted to the spot, Souček stole in to nod home the opener. Then eight minutes into the second half, captain Jarrod Bowen found Wan-Bissaka in the penalty box and he was left unchallenged and had time to fire an angled drive past Nick Pope. Newcastle brought on Harvey Barnes, and then Callum Wilson returned from a long-term back injury to make his first appearance of the season but to no avail. The defeat ended a three-game winning streak for Newcastle and left the Saudi Arabia-owned club in ninth place, four points outside the top four. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccerLUMPY, bumpy and hard to paint, it's hard to believe that wood chip walls were ever in Vogue. The bobbly finish was the wall covering of choice back in the 80s and is still a leftover relic in many homes today. Of course, wood chip was a popular way of hiding a multitude of uneven wall sins, so there's every chance that removing the paper will open up a brand new can of worms for you. And if you decide to take the risk, removing said wallpaper and then having the walls professionally finished can be costly – so it's no wonder so many of us are living with walls we hate. One DIY fan has a solution though, and it's surprisingly simple. Taking to Facebook, the savvy decorator shared: "So my house is covered in awful wood chip, and previous years I've just painted it when decorating. "Having got sick of plain painted walls, and not enough money to get all the walls plastered if I stripped it off, I had an idea. "I tried putting 3D brick effect paper over the woodchip," she explained, noting that the bumpiness of the walls only made the brick paper look more authentic. "Because you can slightly see the bumps from the woodchip underneath, it's actually given the brick paper more of a realistic look!! Win win," she raved. "I hope it helps any others cursed with the chip!!!" The pictures show the 'before' state of her walls, which had the classic rice pudding appearance of woodchip. In the 'after' pictures, her space is completely transformed with the brick-effect paper, which she found in stores including B&Q , and you really wouldn't know how lumpy the walls are underneath. B&Q sell GoodHome Pernay Grey Glitter effect Brick Textured Wallpaper for £26 a roll. It has "paste the wall" technology which means it is quick, simple and easy to install. It saves up to 30 percent time by applying the paste directly to the wall – there's no pasting table needed, no soaking time as it doesn't shrink; easy to remove, with no wall deterioration. It's also suitable for all living spaces, for utility/humid spaces (kitchen, bathroom) and for high traffic rooms, thanks to its vinyl coating that is washable and extremely durable. Even better, it's made using responsibly-sourced, forest-friendly paper. If you're looking for a cheaper alternative, B&M has Debona Metallic Brick Wallpaper for £10.99 a roll. And the DIY-er received stellar replies to her before and after pictures. "That’s brilliant, we have a lot of woodchip in our house and have always painted it... you have given me a great idea, thanks for sharing," replied one grateful fan. "Such a brilliant idea! Looks fab. You're a genius," someone else commented. Another commenter revealed they'd done the exact same thing in their home, to disguise the after-effects of a plumbing issue that ruined the walls. "I did my downstairs toilet in brick effect wallpaper as I'd had a burst pipe that flooded it and made a mess of the walls," they said. Others said they've decided against covering theirs and are removing it once and for all. "I'm doing old school, and stripping it bit by bit. I've no idea who first invented the stuff, but if they're still alive (which I doubt) they should be in prison for crimes against humanity," someone joked. Elsewhere, someone else was brave enough to admit to being a woodchip culprit back in the day. "I must confess, and will take my punishment like a grown-up, that I used it copiously in the 70’s, 80’s and even the early 90’s to cover up dodgy walls," they said. "So there are possibly a multitude of people out there that have cursed me over the years."
Rays asked to declare intention on stadium deal by Dec. 1NEW YORK (AP) — Police don’t know who he is, where he is, or why he did it. As the frustrating search for UnitedHealthcare killer got underway for a fifth day Sunday, investigators reckoned with a tantalizing contradiction: They have troves of evidence, but the shooter remains an enigma. One conclusion they are confident of, however: It was a , not a random one. They know he ambushed Thompson at 6:44 a.m. Wednesday as the executive arrived at the Hilton for his company’s annual investor conference, using a 9 mm pistol that resembled the guns farmers use to put down animals without causing a loud noise. They know ammunition found near Thompson’s body “delay,” “deny” and “depose,” mimicking a phrase used by . The fact that the shooter knew UnitedHealthcare group was holding a conference at the hotel and what route Thompson might take to get there suggested that he could possibly be a disgruntled employee or client, NYPD Chief of Detectives Joseph Kenny said. Police divers were seen searching a pond in Central Park, where the killer fled after the shooting. Officers have been scouring the park for days for any and found his backpack there Friday. They didn’t immediately reveal what, if anything, it contained but said it would be tested and analyzed. On Sunday morning, police declined to comment on the contents of the backpack, or on the results of the search in the pond, saying no updates were planned. Investigators have urged patience, saying the process of logging evidence that stands up in court isn’t as quick as it . Hundreds of detectives are combing through video recordings and social media, vetting tips from the public and interviewing people who might have information, including Thompson’s family and coworkers and the shooter’s randomly assigned roommates at the Manhattan hostel where he stayed. Investigators caught a break when they came across security camera images of an unguarded moment at the hostel in which he briefly showed his face. Retracing the gunman’s steps using surveillance video, police say, it appears he left the city by bus soon after the shooting outside the New York Hilton Midtown. He was seen on video at an uptown bus station about 45 minutes later, Kenny said. With the high-profile search expanding across state lines, the FBI announced late Friday that it was offering a $50,000 reward for information leading to an arrest and conviction, adding to a reward of up to $10,000 that the NYPD has offered. Police say they believe the suspect acted alone. Police distributed the images to news outlets and on social media but so far haven’t been able to ID him using facial recognition — possibly because of the angle of the images or limitations on how the NYPD is allowed to use that technology, Kenny said. Late Saturday, police released two additional photos of the suspected shooter that appeared to be from a camera mounted inside a taxi. The first shows him outside the vehicle and the second shows him looking through the partition between the back seat and the front of the cab. In both, his face is partially obscured by a blue, medical-style mask. Michael R. Sisak And Cedar Attanasio, The Associated PressWest Ham surprise Newcastle with 2-0 away win
Alector halts Alzheimer's trial as drug fails key goalNEWCASTLE, England (AP) — Newcastle’s winning run in the English Premier League came to an abrupt end when goals from Thomas Souček and Aaron Wan-Bissaka gave West Ham a surprise 2-0 win at St. James’ Park on Monday. The Hammers rose into 14th place and the pressure on coach Julen Lopetegui was eased. The London club has been inconsistent all season and Monday’s win was just its fourth in 12 league games. West Ham was worth the win in the end but the three points came courtesy of slack defending by the home side. Emerson whipped in an out-swinging corner after 10 minutes and, with Newcastle defenders rooted to the spot, Souček stole in to nod home the opener. Then eight minutes into the second half, captain Jarrod Bowen found Wan-Bissaka in the penalty box and he was left unchallenged and had time to fire an angled drive past Nick Pope. Newcastle brought on Harvey Barnes, and then Callum Wilson returned from a long-term back injury to make his first appearance of the season but to no avail. The defeat ended a three-game winning streak for Newcastle and left the Saudi Arabia-owned club in ninth place, four points outside the top four. AP soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/soccer
Stock market today: Wall Street hits more records following a just-right jobs reportTesla and X CEO Elon Musk spent over a quarter of a billion dollars to help get President-elect Donald Trump back in the White House, according to newly released campaign finance records. The billionaire tech mogul spent over $270 million of his own money through two super PACs that promoted Trump's candidacy and other Republicans, including one that appeared to refer to deceased liberal Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, according to filings released Thursday night by the Federal Election Commission. Musk spent roughly $240 million on his pro-Trump super PAC America. The PAC was created after Musk endorsed Trump in July, which made Musk the single largest political spender in the shortest period of time. Half of the PAC's money came in the final weeks of the election and in the weeks following the election, and by Nov. 25, the PAC only had $2 million left in the account, according to the FEC. Much of the money was spent on direct mail, canvassing and phone calls, the PAC's filing showed. The filing also showed a total of nine $1 million payments given to nine individuals labeled as "spokesperson consultant," which appeared to be the swing state voters that won Musk's controversial daily $1 million prize. Philadelphia District Attorney Larry Krasner sued the PAC in October contending Musk was running an illegal lottery in Pennsylvania. Common Pleas Court Judge Angelo Foglietta denied an injunction request a few weeks later after an attorney for the PAC testified that the giveaway wasn't random, despite Musk's claims that they were. The PAC also reported roughly $433,000 in legal bills paid to THE GOBER GROUP PLLC, according to the FEC. A new filing showed that Musk was the sole funder of a pro-Trump super PAC named RBG PAC, giving $20 million to the group in the final weeks of the election. The PAC used the initials of former Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg and ran online ads featuring women who claimed Trump would endorse potential national abortion bans. Trump has long boasted about his role in ending Roe v. Wade by taking credit for nominating three of the six conservative justices who voted to overturn the case in 2022. Clara Spera, Ginsberg's granddaughter, chastised the PAC in a statement to the Washington Post stating it "has no connection to the Ginsburg family and is an affront to my late grandmother's legacy." Earlier in the election cycle, Musk had written big checks to groups supporting House and Senate GOP, including $12.3 million to two super PACs supporting Senate GOP candidates, and another $1.3 million supporting other down-ballot Republicans, according to FEC filings. In all, Musk spent at least $273 million in support of various Republicans up and down the ballot at the federal level. Musk has been tapped to co-lead, along with Republican businessman and failed presidential candidate Vivek Ramaswamy, an outside advisory board called the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), which aims to cut as much as $2 trillion from the federal budget of what they called waste. The pair met with Republican leaders on the Hill Thursday to discuss their proposals including removing remote work options for federal workers.
Week in review
W aves OTT, the newest streaming sensation launched by Prasar Bharati at the International Film Festival in India this November, is continuing to make waves across the nation. With a diverse lineup of films, series, and legacy content, the platform has been delivering exciting new titles that cater to audiences of all tastes. The latest addition to its stellar collection is the much-anticipated comedy Kya Masti Kya Dhoom, directed by filmmaker Chandrakant Singh. Set to premiere on Waves OTT on 24th December 2024, this hilarious and heartwarming film is poised to be the perfect year-end treat for audiences. Starring an ensemble cast of renowned actors including Vijay Raaz, Sanjay Mishra, Johnny Lever, Abhishek Bajaj, Anant Vidhaat Sharma, and Manoj Joshi, Kya Masti Kya Dhoom promises a rollercoaster of laughs, chaos, and unexpected twists. The story revolves around two unlikely friends, Moolchand Patel and Booby Chadda, who are desperately trying to find success through any means necessary. In their quest, they inadvertently get caught up with a dangerous crime boss and an unwitting money lender, setting off a series of comedic events. The film skilfully blends elements of crime, comedy, romance, and technological mishaps as Moolchand and Booby’s schemes spiral out of control. As the chaos unfolds, they must navigate through a tangled web of mistakes, relationships, and wild surprises to save themselves — and their dreams. “Kya Masti Kya Dhoom” is not just a comedy, but a fun-packed adventure that delivers a perfect blend of humour, action, and heart. This mass entertainer is set to be a crowd-pleaser and an ideal way to wrap up the year with a smile. Don’t miss the premiere of Kya Masti Kya Dhoom exclusively on Waves OTT on December 24, 2024.Wireless Motorcycle GPS Navigator Market Outlook and Future Projections for 2030
Alex Ovechkin will miss the next 4-6 weeks with a fractured left fibula, the Washington Capitals . The Capitals captain and current NHL leading goal scorer suffered the injury during Monday night's win over the Utah Hockey Club. Ovechkin had a leg-to-leg collision with Utah forward Jack McBain and fell to the ice immediately. He tested the leg out with a brief skate minutes later, but later exited the game and did not return. Alex Ovechkin to the dressing room after this sequence 😩 — Brady Trettenero (@BradyTrett) The Capitals, who are second in the Eastern Conference with 28 points, will be without Ovechkin for the longest period of his career since he entered the NHL in 2005-06. The 39-year-old has only missed 35 games due to injury and other absences were due to suspensions and being in Covid protocol. Ovechkin's previous longest stretch of missed games was six due to an upper-body injury in November 2009. “Everyone’s bummed out,” said Capitals forward Tom Wilson, a teammate of Ovechkin's since 2013. “We were sitting there saying: ‘This is weird. Like, it’s unbelievable that he’s actually hurt.’ It’s one of those things where like, he’s going to miss games? I’ve been around a long time, and it’s new to me.” Ovechkin has had a red-hot start to the season and had scored five goals in his previous two games before the injury. His 15 goals this season puts him at 868 for his career, 26 behind the NHL record of 894 held by Wayne Gretzky. Many had believed Ovechkin could catch The Great One sometime during the 2025-26 season, but his play early on was changing minds to believe the record could be broken season. Now Ovechkin's pursuit for history will have to wait.Just about everyone dreams about cars they wish they could own, and there’s no better time than the holidays to make a list of vehicles you’d love to have in your driveway. The car pros at Edmunds rounded up five of their favorite dream-worthy vehicles. But rather than just list the most outlandish and expensive exotics, they focused on highlighting models that are expensive but not so pricey that it’d be completely unrealistic for you to own one one day. The vehicles are ordered in ascending order of price and include destination fees. Off-road trucks look fantastic and are extremely capable. What truck enthusiast wouldn’t have one topping their wish list? The king of the hill for 2025 is the F-150 Raptor R. The regular Raptor is already impressive, and the R takes it to the next level with a bonkers 720-horsepower supercharged 5.2-liter V8 engine, upgraded Fox dual-value shock absorbers, and massive 37-inch all-terrain tires. An R-specific grille and hood are also part of the R’s upgrades. Thankfully, the Raptor R isn’t all bark and bite. It also has plenty of features to make it a livable truck for daily driving. Standard features include leather upholstery, cooling front seats, a premium sound system, and a surround-view camera to help make this big truck easier to park. Starting Price: $112,825 Few sedans can match the Mercedes-Benz S-Class for opulence, luxury and prestige. This grand sedan showcases nearly every luxury, technology and performance innovation that Mercedes-Benz has concocted. Everything you touch inside is likely covered in leather, heated, or bathed in disco-worthy ambient light. A novel could be written about all of the S-Class’ luxury and comfort features, but one of the most notable is the E-Active Body Control system. It scans the road surface ahead and adjusts the suspension to deliver the best ride possible. The S-Class also boasts an extensive list of advanced safety features and has an augmented reality head-up display that projects images that appear to float in front of the car. For the ultimate S-Class, get the 791-horsepower AMG S 63 E Performance model. Starting Price: $118,900 Who needs a European exotic car when the Corvette ZR1 is just as capable? A sports car fanatic’s wish list wouldn’t be right without the ZR1. The new Corvette hit a record-setting top speed of 233 mph, making it the fastest car ever built by an American automaker and the fastest current production car priced under $1 million, according to Chevrolet. The top speed record was possible thanks to the ZR1’s turbocharged 5.5-liter V8 engine that cranks out a staggering 1,064 horsepower. Its carbon-fiber aero package kept it glued to the track by generating over 1,200 pounds of downforce at top speed. Chevrolet also says the ZR1 can accelerate through the quarter mile in less than 10 seconds. We expect the Corvette ZR1 to go on sale in early 2025. Estimated starting price: $150,000 Does your wish list include a big and powerful SUV? If it does, the Escalade-V should top it. The big Caddy roars like a muscle car thanks to its supercharged 6.2-liter V8 that churns out 682 horsepower and helps it hit 60 mph in just 4.4 seconds. The Escalade-V also boasts enormous 24-inch wheels and large Brembo brakes that help bring the three-ton SUV to a stop. But the Escalade-V isn’t only about brute power. It also has three rows of seating, plenty of cargo space and offers impressive tech like Super Cruise, a hands-free highway driving system, and an enormous 55-inch curved display that spans the dashboard. Starting Price: $161,990 What if we told you there was a car that could outpace almost anything on a drag strip, keep up with high-end sports cars on a racetrack, and be comfortable enough for daily errands? Well, if that sounds amazing, add the Air Sapphire to your dream list. The Air Sapphire is a high-performance electric luxury sedan made by Lucid, an electric vehicle startup. It’s one of the most powerful production cars in the world, producing an astonishing 1,234 horsepower from its three electric motors. Lucid says it has a top speed of 205 mph and can rocket to 60 mph in a mind-numbing 1.9 seconds. You can adjust the vehicle’s setting for exceptional track performance or simply provide a comfortable ride around town. Starting price: $250,500 Edmunds says Even if you can’t afford any of these vehicles, you can still picture one sitting in your driveway or imagine yourself cruising around town in it. And who knows, maybe holiday magic will give you the opportunity to own one in the future. ____ This story was provided to by the automotive website . is a contributor at Edmunds.Qorvo Inc. stock underperforms Friday when compared to competitors
NoneAlector halts Alzheimer's trial as drug fails key goal
Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport , situated on Saba, a small Dutch Caribbean island, holds the distinction of having the world's shortest commercial runway, measuring just 1,312 feet (400 meters) in length. This uniquely short runway can only accommodate small regional propeller aircraft, such as those operated by Winair, which connect Saba to nearby islands like St. Maarten. The airport's location is both stunning and challenging. Three sides of the runway end abruptly in cliffs that drop into the sea, while the fourth side is bordered by steep hills. This dramatic setting requires precise piloting and is unsuitable for larger aircraft. Operations at the airport began in the mid-1960s, thanks to political support, including backing from Juancho Yrausquin, a Netherlands Antilles Minister of Finance, after whom the airport was named. Despite its limitations, the airport plays a crucial role in connecting Saba to the rest of the Caribbean and supporting its small community. Flights to Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport on Saba from Sint Maarten are short, lasting only about 15 minutes. These flights use the de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft, which are specifically designed for Short Takeoff and Landing (STOL) operations. This design allows them to operate effectively in challenging conditions, such as Saba's exceptionally short runway. The aircraft can take off and land in tight spaces and stop quickly—qualities that are crucial when landing on the runway, bordered by cliffs and high terrain. Given the complexities of flying into Saba, only an elite group of pilots who have undergone specialised training are qualified to operate these flights, reports CNN . The challenging conditions require precise flying skills, making this a rare and demanding aviation route. Currently, Winair, based in Sint Maarten, is the only airline offering regular scheduled services to Saba, ensuring its vital connection to the wider region. The history of Juancho E. Yrausquin Airport dates back to 1959, when aviation pioneer Rémy de Haenen conducted the first-ever flight to the site that would later become the airport. He landed his aircraft on a rudimentary cleared area that had been chosen for the future runway. This historic event was witnessed by much of Saba’s population, marking a pivotal moment in the island’s connectivity and development. In 1998, the airport faced significant devastation when Hurricane Georges destroyed its terminal building. To support the island’s recovery and maintain the vital air link, the Dutch Government funded the construction of a new terminal. This modern facility was later dedicated to Rémy de Haenen, honouring his role as a pioneer in bringing aviation to Saba and helping establish the airport that now bears his legacy.‘Unemployed’ ex-president should apply for welfare benefits, Sheinbaum suggests
CHARLESTON, S.C., Dec. 05, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- As the holiday season approaches, it’s the perfect time to focus on winter wellness and thoughtful gifting ideas for health-conscious entertaining. Renowned Registered Dietitian Nutritionist, Mia Syn shares her top recommendations to help people feel their best while enjoying all the season has to offer. COMBAT HOLIDAY CONGESTION “So many of us look forward to holiday parties and quality time with loved ones,” says Syn, “But we often find ourselves battling sinus congestion from dry air, cold weather, or seasonal allergies.” Her go-to solution? The NEW Mucinex® Sinus Saline Nasal Spray, the first-ever saline product featuring a 2-in-1 nozzle with customizable spray settings. Consumers can choose the ‘Power Jet’ to tackle tough nasal congestion or the ‘Gentle Mist’ to clear everyday congestion and soothe your nose. With its dual-nozzle technology, Mucinex® Sinus Saline Nasal Spray helps relieve congestion caused by allergens, irritants, and colds. Available at major retailers, pharmacies, and on Amazon, you can find your nearest store at Mucinex.com. Direct link: https://www.mucinex.com/ Social Media Handle: Facebook: @mucinex IG: @mucinex_us HOLIDAY TREATS WITH A HEALTHY TWIST Syn also encourages swapping ingredients in traditional holiday recipes with better-for-you alternatives. “One of my favorite holiday ingredients is Almond Breeze Almondmilk,” she shares. Almond Breeze Unsweetened Original Almondmilk: Versitile, plant-based milk with zero grams of sugar. Almond Breeze Extra Creamy Almondmilk: Perfect for its deliciously creamy texture with less sugar and fewer calories than dairy milk. 1 Almond Breeze Almondmilk Nog: A rich holiday classic free of eggs, dairy, and lactose, boasting just 70 calories per serving. “Santa might even prefer Almond Breeze with his cookies this year!” jokes Syn. Direct link: www.AlmondBreeze.com Social Media Handle: Facebook: Almond Breeze Instagram: @AlmondBreeze Twitter: @AlmondBreeze SKINCARE MUST-HAVES FOR WINTER Cold, harsh air can wreak havoc on your skin, causing dryness and accentuating fine lines. "Nobody enjoys that itchy, uncomfortable feeling that winter brings," says Syn, a skincare enthusiast. "That’s why I turn to Mediheal—a trusted name in Korean skincare that’s been raising the bar for years." Mediheal’s toner pads have become a hit on social media, especially on TikTok, where users are swearing by their magic. Leading the charge are two fan-favorite products: Madecassoside Blemish Pads : A viral sensation in the U.S., these pads are proven to reduce blemishes, dark spots, and uneven skin tone. Clinical results show a 16% improvement in skin texture and tone within just four weeks. Collagen Ampoule Pads : Mediheal’s #1 bestseller in Korea, these pads instantly boost skin elasticity by an astonishing 106% in just one swipe. They also reduce fine lines by up to 33%, making them an anti-aging powerhouse. "Mediheal’s toner pads are absolute game-changers," Syn adds. "They’re versatile, targeting multiple skin concerns, so there’s something for everyone." With a diverse lineup of toner pads and skincare products designed to tackle winter skin woes, Mediheal cements its place as the ultimate go-to for glowing, healthy skin—even in the harshest seasons. For a limited time, the Madecassoside Blemish Pad, Collagen Ampoule Pad and Vitamide Brightening Pad will be available in festive holiday packaging—perfect for gifting to loved ones or treating yourself this season! Direct link: Mediheal Amazon Website Social Media Handle: Facebook: @Mediheal US Instagram: @mediheal_us TikTok: @mediheal_us Twitter (X): @medihealus About YourUpdateTV : YourUpdateTV is a property of D S Simon Media. The video included and release was part of a media tour that was produced by D S Simon Media on behalf of Almond Breeze, Mediheal, and Mucinex. Media Contact: Michael O’Donnell D S Simon Media 212-736-2727 modonnell@dssimon.com A video accompanying this release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/74283b19-564e-43c4-a467-440c7d109074
TORONTO — Canada's main stock index rose Friday, helped by strength in industrial stocks, while U.S. markets also posted gains to end the week. The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 53.60 points at 25,444.28. In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 426.16 points at 44,296.51. The S&P 500 index was up 20.63 points at 5,969.34, while the Nasdaq composite was up 31.23 points at 19,003.65. Markets ended the week on a calmer note, almost two weeks after the election of Donald Trump in the U.S. set investors on a rally. The S&P 500 ended the day within about 0.5 per cent of the all-time high it set last week. “It just seems like more of the same, that the market’s still in a pretty positive setting coming out of the election,” said Greg Taylor, chief investment officer at Purpose Investments. This week also saw the latest earnings from semiconductor giant Nvidia, which beat expectations but weren’t enough to impress markets. Nvidia made a small gain Thursday and was down more than three per cent Friday. The Dow outperformed its U.S. peers again Friday, rising one per cent, while the S&P 500 was up 0.35 per cent and the Nasdaq gained just 0.16 per cent. Taylor said markets have been undergoing a rotation not just away from the big tech names and into other sectors, but also within the tech sector, and into areas like software. “We’re certainly seeing the broader market ... starting to do a lot better post the Trump win,” he said, adding it’s “just a nice way to end the year,” which was largely dominated by gains in the major tech names because of artificial intelligence. Target’s earnings miss earlier in the week prompted the retailer’s stock to drop, but Taylor said the market has been taking that news as company-specific rather than as an indicator of consumer behaviour. “In some situations, you’d say that’s a negative sign of the economy,” he said. In contrast, Walmart's earnings this week were strong, as was its forecast. Bitcoin continued its meteoric post-election rise, hovering around US$99,000, according to CoinDesk. The Canadian dollar traded for 71.54 cents US compared with 71.63 cents US on Thursday. The January crude oil contract was up US$1.14 at US$71.24 per barrel and the January natural gas contract was down 19 cents at US$3.29 per mmBTU. The December gold contract was up US$37.30 at US$2,712.20 an ounce and the December copper contract was down four cents at US$4.09 a pound. -- With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published Nov. 22, 2024. Companies in this story: (TSX:GSPTSE, TSX:CADUSD) Rosa Saba, The Canadian Press
Devendra Fadnavis was sworn in as the new Chief Minister of Maharashtra in a grand and colorful ceremony at the Azad Maidan on Thursday evening. Eknath Shinde, leader of the Shiv Sena, and Ajit Pawar, leader of the NCP, took oath as Deputy Chief Ministers. Here’s a look at the political careers of the CM and DyCMs. Devendra Fadanvis Devendra Fadnavis, the political stalwart who rose from humble beginnings to become a key figure in Maharashtra politics, was on Thursday evening sworn in as chief minister – a position he has held twice before. During his previous tenure as Chief Minister, before the 2019 elections, Fadnavis famously recited the line “Mi Punha Yein” (I will back), which became both a widely celebrated and critiqued tagline. However, the political landscape shifted dramatically after the elections when Uddhav Thackeray parted ways with the BJP. Fadnavis then allied with the NCP’s Ajit Pawar, and both were sworn in as Chief Minister and Deputy Chief Minister, respectively, in a government that lasted less than 80 hours. Fadnavis faced ridicule over his “Mi Punha Yein” remark during the Maha Vikas Aghadi (MVA) government’s tenure. In 2022, Eknath Shinde led a split in the Shiv Sena and formed a new government with the BJP. Although many expected Fadnavis to return as the CM, he was appointed Deputy Chief Minister instead. After a challenging political journey of five years, Fadnavis has finally reclaimed the Chief Minister’s position. From being a corporator and mayor in the Nagpur Municipal Corporation to becoming the Chief Minister of the state, Fadnavis has had a distinguished political career. Fadnavis began his political career as an active member of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP). At 22, he became a corporator in the Nagpur civic body and its youngest Mayor in 1997 at age 27. In 1999, he was first elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly from the West Nagpur constituency, where he was re-elected consecutively for two terms. Later, he won the elections from the South West Nagpur constituency four times. Since 1999, he has represented Nagpur in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. Eknath Shinde From a Shiv Sena rebel in 2022, veteran politician Eknath Sambhaji Shinde went on to acquire the image of a doer and man of action as chief minister in a short span of two-and-a-half years when he headed the Mahayuti government in Maharashtra. Shinde, who had no prior political background, began his political career in 1980. After working for some time in organisational roles for the Shiv Sena, he was appointed to various constitutional positions. He won his first election as a corporator in the Thane Municipal Corporation in 1997, followed by his appointment as Leader of the House in 2001. In 2004, Shinde was elected to the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly. A year later, he was named the Thane district head of Shiv Sena. Over the years, Shinde's popularity grew, leading to his re-election to the Assembly in 2009, 2014, and 2019. During his tenure in the Legislative Assembly, Shinde held several significant roles. From 2014 to 2019, he served as the Minister for Public Works and Guardian Minister of Thane district. In 2018, he was appointed the Leader of the Shiv Sena in the Assembly. In 2019, he assumed additional responsibilities as the Minister for Public Health and Family Welfare, as well as the Minister for Urban Development and Public Works. He also briefly served as the acting Minister of Home Affairs later that year. A turning point in his political career came in June 2022, when Shinde, along with several MLAs, moved to Surat, Gujarat, sparking a political crisis in Maharashtra. This led to Uddhav Thackeray's resignation as Chief Minister. Shinde subsequently formed a new government in alliance with the BJP and NCP and was sworn in as the 20th Chief Minister of Maharashtra in June 2022. On December 5, 2024, Shinde took oath as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, further cementing his role as a key figure in the state's political landscape. Ajit Pawar Ajit Pawar, who has long aspired to become the chief minister but finished second five times, has once again been appointed as the Deputy Chief Minister. This marks the sixth time as the deputy chief minister, setting a unique record. A stalwart of Maharashtra politics, Ajit Pawar is a seasoned leader renowned for his administrative expertise, sharp political instincts, and strong grassroots presence. Over his political career, he has served as deputy chief minister under Chief Ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Devendra Fadnavis, Uddhav Thackeray and Eknath Shinde. Despite speculations about facing challenges in retaining the Baramati constituency during the assembly elections, Ajit Pawar was re-elected for the eighth consecutive time with a significant majority. His re-election solidifies his position as a key figure in Maharashtra politics. In 1991, Ajit Pawar contested the Lok Sabha elections for the first time and became the Member of Parliament (MP) from Baramati. That same year, following the assassination of Rajiv Gandhi and the subsequent political changes at the Centre, Sharad Pawar was appointed as the Union Defence Minister. After Sharad Pawar resigned from his position in the Baramati Assembly constituency, Ajit Pawar contested the by-election and was elected as the MLA for the first time. Since then, for the past 35 years, he has been consistently elected from the Baramati. While in government, Ajit Pawar has handled key portfolios such as finance minister, water resources minister and rural development minister. He has also served as the guardian minister of Pune. After the fall of the MVA government, he served as the Leader of the Opposition in the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly for a year.Color Star Technology Regains Compliance with Nasdaq Minimum Closing Bid Price RuleBELLEVUE, Wash.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec 5, 2024-- Smartsheet Inc. (NYSE: SMAR), the AI enhanced enterprise grade work management platform, today announced financial results for its third fiscal quarter ended October 31, 2024. The section titled "Use of Non-GAAP Financial Measures" below contains a description of the non-GAAP financial measures with a reconciliation between GAAP and non-GAAP information. The section titled "Definitions of Key Business Metrics" contains definitions of certain non-financial metrics provided within this press release. In a separate press release issued on September 24, 2024, we announced that we have entered into a definitive agreement ("Merger Agreement"), to be acquired by Blackstone and Vista Equity Partners. A copy of the press release and supplemental materials can be found on the "Investors" page of our website at and on the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, website at . Additional details and information about the terms and conditions of the Merger Agreement and the transactions contemplated by the Merger Agreement are available in the Current Report on Form 8-K filed with the SEC on September 24, 2024. Given the announced transaction, we will not be hosting an earnings conference call nor providing financial guidance in conjunction with this press release. For further detail and discussion of our financial performance, please refer to our third quarter 2025 Form 10-Q for the quarter ended October 31, 2024, filed today with the SEC. To supplement our condensed consolidated financial statements, which are prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP, we use certain non-GAAP financial measures, as described below, to understand and evaluate our core operating performance. These non-GAAP financial measures, which may be different than similarly titled measures used by other companies, are presented to enhance investors’ overall understanding of our financial performance and should not be considered a substitute for, or superior to, the financial information prepared and presented in accordance with GAAP. Investors are encouraged to review the reconciliation of these non-GAAP measures to their most directly comparable GAAP financial measures. A reconciliation of the non-GAAP financial measures to such GAAP measures can be found in the accompanying financial statements included with this press release. We believe that these non-GAAP financial measures provide useful information about our financial performance, enhance the overall understanding of our past performance and future prospects, and allow for greater transparency with respect to important metrics used by our management for financial and operational decision-making. We are presenting these non-GAAP financial metrics to assist investors in seeing our financial performance through the eyes of management, and because we believe that these measures provide an additional tool for investors to use in comparing our core financial performance over multiple periods with other companies in our industry. We define non-GAAP operating income as GAAP operating loss excluding share-based compensation expense, amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets, one-time costs associated with mergers and acquisitions, lease restructuring costs, and litigation expenses and settlements related to matters that are outside the ordinary course of our business, as applicable. We define non-GAAP net income as GAAP net income (loss) excluding non-recurring income tax adjustments associated with mergers and acquisitions and the same exclusions that are used to derive non-GAAP operating income. We define basic non-GAAP net income per share as non-GAAP net income divided by weighted-average shares outstanding ("WASO"). We define diluted non-GAAP net income per share as non-GAAP net income divided by diluted WASO. Diluted WASO includes the impact of potentially dilutive securities, which include stock options, restricted share units, performance share units, and shares subject to our 2018 employee stock purchase plan. There are a number of limitations related to the use of these non-GAAP measures as compared to GAAP operating loss and net income (loss), including that the non-GAAP measures exclude share-based compensation expense, which has been, and will continue to be for the foreseeable future, a significant recurring expense in our business and an important part of our compensation strategy. We use the non-GAAP financial measure of free cash flow, which is defined as GAAP net cash flows from operating activities, reduced by cash used for purchases of property and equipment (inclusive of spend on internal-use software) and principal payments on finance lease obligations. We believe free cash flow is an important liquidity measure of the cash that is available, after capital expenditures and operational expenses, for investment in our business, share repurchases, and potential acquisitions. Free cash flow is useful to investors as a liquidity measure because it measures our ability to generate excess cash beyond what is required for our operations. Once our business needs and obligations are met, cash can be used to maintain a strong balance sheet and invest in future growth. There are a number of limitations related to the use of free cash flow as compared to net cash from operating activities, including that free cash flow includes capital expenditures, the benefits of which are realized in periods subsequent to those when expenditures are made. We define annualized recurring revenue, or ARR, as the annualized recurring value of all active subscription contracts at the end of a reporting period. We exclude the value of non-recurring revenue streams, such as our professional services revenue, that are recognized at a point in time. We use ARR as one of our operating measures to assess the strength of the Company’s subscription services. ARR is a performance metric and should be viewed independently of revenue and deferred revenue, and is not intended to be a substitute for, or combined with, any of these items. Both multi-year contracts and contracts with terms less than one year are annualized by dividing the total committed contract value by the number of months in the subscription term and then multiplying by 12. Annualizing contracts with terms less than one year results in amounts being included in our ARR calculation that are in excess of the total contract value for those contracts at the end of the reporting period. The value of subscription contracts that are sold through third-party resellers, wherein we do not have visibility into the pricing provided, is based on the list price. We use average ARR per domain-based customer to measure customer commitment to our platform and sales force productivity. We define average ARR per domain-based customer as total outstanding ARR for domain-based subscriptions as of the end of the reporting period divided by the number of domain-based customers as of the same date. We define domain-based customers as organizations with a unique email domain name. We calculate dollar-based net retention rate as of a period end by starting with the ARR from the cohort of all customers as of the 12 months prior to such period end (“Prior Period ARR”). We then calculate the ARR from these same customers as of the current period end (“Current Period ARR”). Current Period ARR includes any upsells and is net of contraction or attrition over the trailing 12 months, but excludes subscription revenue from new customers in the current period. We then divide the total Current Period ARR by the total Prior Period ARR to arrive at the dollar-based net retention rate. Any ARR obtained through merger and acquisition transactions does not affect the dollar-based net retention rate until one year from the date on which the transaction closed. The dollar-based net retention rate is used by us to evaluate the long-term value of our customer relationships and is driven by our ability to retain and expand the subscription revenue generated from our existing customers. Smartsheet (NYSE: SMAR) is the modern enterprise work management platform trusted by millions of people at companies across the globe, including over 85% of the 2024 Fortune 500 companies. The category pioneer and market leader, Smartsheet delivers powerful solutions fueling performance and driving the next wave of innovation. Visit to learn more. Smartsheet announces material information to its investors using SEC filings, press releases, public conference calls, and on its investor relations page of the company’s website at . Subscription $ 273,703 $ 232,470 $ 786,328 $ 659,993 Professional services 13,168 13,448 39,939 41,396 Total revenue 286,871 245,918 826,267 701,389 Subscription 41,445 34,258 115,216 101,009 Professional services 12,291 12,780 36,693 38,948 Total cost of revenue 53,736 47,038 151,909 139,957 Gross profit 233,135 198,880 674,358 561,432 Research and development 63,477 58,257 189,514 172,805 Sales and marketing 127,854 137,920 383,315 382,685 General and administrative 45,155 38,153 124,489 109,654 Total operating expenses 236,486 234,330 697,318 665,144 Loss from operations (3,351 ) (35,450 ) (22,960 ) (103,712 ) Interest income 8,272 6,976 24,934 18,040 Other income (expense), net 47 (790 ) (593 ) (1,381 ) Income (loss) before income tax provision 4,968 (29,264 ) 1,381 (87,053 ) Income tax provision 3,644 3,164 1,057 8,602 Net income (loss) $ 1,324 $ (32,428 ) $ 324 $ (95,655 ) Net income (loss) per share, basic $ 0.01 $ (0.24 ) $ 0.00 $ (0.71 ) Net income (loss) per share, diluted $ 0.01 $ (0.24 ) $ 0.00 $ (0.71 ) Weighted-average shares outstanding used to compute net income (loss) per share, basic 139,007 135,189 138,287 133,868 Weighted-average shares outstanding used to compute net income (loss) per share, diluted 142,668 135,189 141,306 133,868 Share-based compensation expense included in the condensed consolidated statements of operations was as follows (in thousands, unaudited): Cost of subscription revenue $ 2,983 $ 3,164 $ 9,055 $ 9,980 Cost of professional services revenue 1,485 1,777 4,734 5,602 Research and development 17,763 17,220 54,036 52,263 Sales and marketing 14,453 17,462 45,472 55,505 General and administrative 9,151 10,024 29,827 30,099 Total share-based compensation expense $ 45,835 $ 49,647 $ 143,124 $ 153,449 Current assets: Cash and cash equivalents $ 454,281 $ 282,094 Short-term investments 306,640 346,701 Accounts receivable, net of allowances of $5,335 and $6,560, respectively 200,436 238,708 Prepaid expenses and other current assets 69,840 64,366 Total current assets 1,031,197 931,869 Restricted cash 18 19 Deferred commissions 156,724 148,867 Property and equipment, net 39,139 42,362 Operating lease right-of-use assets 29,693 39,480 Intangible assets, net 20,635 27,960 Goodwill 141,477 141,477 Other long-term assets 4,408 5,445 Total assets $ 1,423,291 $ 1,337,479 Current liabilities: Accounts payable $ 1,128 $ 2,937 Accrued compensation and related benefits 74,840 77,453 Other accrued liabilities 37,309 30,534 Operating lease liabilities, current 15,288 16,040 Finance lease liabilities, current 255 216 Deferred revenue 556,320 568,670 Total current liabilities 685,140 695,850 Operating lease liabilities, non-current 23,936 33,100 Finance lease liabilities, non-current 279 455 Deferred revenue, non-current 4,095 1,785 Other long-term liabilities 696 434 Total liabilities 714,146 731,624 Shareholders’ equity: Preferred stock, no par value; 10,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued or outstanding as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024 — — Class A common stock, no par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 139,302,943 shares issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2024; 500,000,000 shares authorized, 136,884,011 shares issued and outstanding as of January 31, 2024 — — Class B common stock, no par value; 500,000,000 shares authorized, no shares issued and outstanding as of October 31, 2024 and January 31, 2024 — — Additional paid-in capital 1,621,429 1,468,805 Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) 196 (146 ) Accumulated deficit (912,480 ) (862,804 ) Total shareholders’ equity 709,145 605,855 Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity $ 1,423,291 $ 1,337,479 Net income (loss) $ 324 $ (95,655 ) Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to net cash provided by operating activities: Share-based compensation expense 143,124 153,449 Depreciation and amortization 21,121 20,008 Net amortization of premiums (discounts) on investments (6,059 ) (8,746 ) Amortization of deferred commission costs 50,328 38,439 Unrealized foreign currency (gain) loss (577 ) 684 Non-cash operating lease costs 7,513 9,450 Impairment of long-lived assets 3,237 1,448 Other, net 5,495 3,089 Changes in operating assets and liabilities: Accounts receivable 33,770 16,541 Prepaid expenses and other current assets (5,576 ) 1,060 Other long-term assets (1,039 ) (1,401 ) Accounts payable (1,665 ) (997 ) Other accrued liabilities 6,656 4,100 Accrued compensation and related benefits (5,483 ) 2,021 Deferred commissions (58,185 ) (58,705 ) Deferred revenue (9,952 ) 25,439 Other long-term liabilities 262 278 Operating lease liabilities (10,544 ) (12,326 ) Net cash provided by operating activities 172,750 98,176 Purchases of short-term investments (235,421 ) (375,387 ) Maturities of short-term investments 281,965 281,900 Purchases of property and equipment (1,437 ) (2,097 ) Proceeds from sale of property and equipment 53 28 Capitalized internal-use software development costs (6,549 ) (7,850 ) Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 38,611 (103,406 ) Proceeds from exercise of stock options 10,957 1,330 Taxes paid related to net share settlement of restricted stock units (14,896 ) (1,644 ) Proceeds from contributions to Employee Stock Purchase Plan 14,403 15,664 Principal payments of finance leases (141 ) — Repurchases of Class A Common Stock and related costs (50,000 ) — Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (39,677 ) 15,350 Effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 379 (248 ) Net increase in cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash 172,063 9,872 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at beginning of period 282,442 223,757 Cash, cash equivalents, and restricted cash at end of period $ 454,505 $ 233,629 Cash paid for interest $ 43 $ — Cash paid for income tax 7,655 9,471 Accrued purchases of property and equipment, including internal-use software 1,081 1,264 Share-based compensation expense capitalized in internal-use software development costs 2,355 3,283 Right-of-use assets obtained in exchange for new operating lease liabilities 558 1,684 Right-of-use asset reductions related to operating leases 2,832 4,451 Purchases of fixed assets under finance leases — 693 Loss from operations $ (3,351 ) $ (35,450 ) $ (22,960 ) $ (103,712 ) Add: Share-based compensation expense (1) 46,842 50,170 145,511 154,919 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (2) 2,308 2,701 7,320 8,117 Lease restructuring costs (3) 40 1,934 3,359 2,051 One-time acquisition costs 10,525 — 10,525 — Non-GAAP operating income $ 56,364 $ 19,355 $ 143,755 $ 61,375 Operating margin (1 )% (14 )% (3 )% (15 )% Non-GAAP operating margin 20 % 8 % 17 % 9 % Net income (loss) $ 1,324 $ (32,428 ) $ 324 $ (95,655 ) Add: Share-based compensation expense (1) 46,842 50,170 145,511 154,919 Amortization of acquisition-related intangible assets (2) 2,308 2,701 7,320 8,117 Lease restructuring costs (3) 40 2,142 3,359 2,258 One-time acquisition costs 10,525 — 10,525 — Non-GAAP net income $ 61,039 $ 22,585 $ 167,039 $ 69,639 Non-GAAP net income per share, basic $ 0.44 $ 0.17 $ 1.21 $ 0.52 Non-GAAP net income per share, diluted $ 0.43 $ 0.16 $ 1.18 $ 0.51 Weighted-average shares outstanding; basic 139,007 135,189 138,287 133,868 Effect of dilutive securities: Shares subject to outstanding common stock awards 3,661 3,232 3,019 3,653 Weighted-average common shares outstanding; diluted 142,668 138,421 141,306 137,521 Net cash provided by operating activities $ 63,528 $ 15,146 $ 172,750 $ 98,176 Less: Purchases of property and equipment (414 ) (702 ) (1,437 ) (2,097 ) Capitalized internal-use software development costs (1,232 ) (3,035 ) (6,549 ) (7,850 ) Principal payments of finance leases (89 ) — (141 ) — Free cash flow $ 61,793 $ 11,409 $ 164,623 $ 88,229 View source version on : CONTACT: Smartsheet Inc. Investor Relations Contact Aaron Turner Contact Lisa Henthorn KEYWORD: WASHINGTON UNITED STATES NORTH AMERICA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: SOFTWARE DATA ANALYTICS FINANCE ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE DATA MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL SERVICES TECHNOLOGY FINTECH SOURCE: Smartsheet Copyright Business Wire 2024. PUB: 12/05/2024 04:07 PM/DISC: 12/05/2024 04:06 PMNone
Why Seahawks are searching for short-yardage success amid playoff push
As well as being enjoyable and relaxing, reading has been found to have a number of benefits for our mental health. Reading is a great way to keep your brain active and engaged, which can slow the progress of Alzheimer’s or Dementia. When you read a book, you have to remember a range of characters and their names, backgrounds, and motivations. This helps to improve your short-term memory recall, which has also been proven to help stabilize your mood. Reading a great novel or a well-written article is a good way to distance yourself from your worries, and reduce stress. It is also a great way to expand your vocabulary and improve your writing skills. Being able to articulate exactly how you feel can make you more confident, and boost your self-esteem. Regardless of what your interests are, books and magazines are great sources of entertainment. Local libraries often have a wide selection of books in a variety of genres, that you can read free of charge. If you don’t live near a library, there are also many sources online that allow you to download ebooks for free. Five Kenosha County high school seniors have been named National Merit Scholarship semifinalists this fall. More than 1.3 million juniors in about 21,000 high schools entered the 2025 National Merit Scholarship Program by taking the 2023 Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying of Semifinalists examination, which is an initial screen of program entrants. The National Merit Scholarship Corp. announced the semifinalists, including: VanDixhorn said it felt “pretty good” to be named a semifinalist. “I definitely had to put in some work to get there,” he said. He has been taking classes at Trinity International University in addition to his high school classes at Christian Life, and will earn a bachelor’s degree in mathematics this year along with graduating high school. After both graduations, he plans to get another major and is still exploring career options. “(Professor Paul Bialek) has helped me since I was 10, basically, and I’m super grateful to him. Also, CLS definitely helped me a bit back when I was taking classes here, so I’m grateful there,” he said. “And then my mom. I was not choosing what classes I was taking. It was all my mom, so I got to give credit there.” In his free time, VanDixhorn plays violin and previously ran cross country. Weigand of Shoreland Lutheran High School posted a perfect score in the examination. “I was definitely surprised,” she said. After graduation, she plans to earn degrees in music performance and computer science. “(Earning the scholarship) would mean that I worked hard to get both the money to help pay for college and the academic recognition,” she said. While in high school, Weigand has been involved in theater, the robotics club and orchestra, where she plays the bassoon. Krumrie said he was “very excited” when he found out he was a semifinalist. “This really ends up being the summary of all the work that I’ve put in throughout the years,” he said. After graduation, he hopes to attend the University of Notre Dame to study finance. At St. Joseph, Krumrie plays soccer, runs cross country, serves as the student council president and also started a sales and marketing club to raise money for the school’s athletic association at basketball games. “I think everyone at St Joe’s has been very supportive and very encouraging over the past several years,” he said. “I think that’s what makes St Joe’s so special is a sense of everybody coming together and helping each other achieve their goals.” Pisano, who attends Westosha Central High School, said she was excited when she found out she was a semifinalist. “I knew I had a decent chance because of my PSAT score but it was still a nice surprise,” she said. After graduation, Pisano plans to attend the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Outside of her studies, she runs cross country and track, is on the wrestling team, and is involved in student council, National Honor Society, geography club and the Spanish National Honor Society. Burnett, a Westosha Central student, was surprised by the news. “I knew I had done well on the PSAT, but wasn’t aware that this scholarship was available to me in the first place,” he said. “I was excited, and still am to hopefully move forward to be a finalist.” After graduation, Burnett plans to attend college. Outside of class, Burnett is involved in band, cross country, track, church choir and has played piano for 11 years. “Being a finalist would mean finally seeing a lot of hard work I’ve put in over the years pay off in a tangible, meaningful and prestigious way,” he said. According to the NMSC, to become a finalist, a high school official must submit a detailed scholarship application that provides information about the semifinalist’s academic record, participation in school and community activities, demonstrated leadership abilities, employment and honors and awards. A semifinalist is required to have an outstanding academic record throughout high school, be endorsed and recommended by a high school official, write an essay and earn SAT or ACT scores that confirm the student’s earlier performance on the qualifying test. Out of the 16,000 semifinalists, 15,000 are expected to become finalists. National Merit Scholarship 2025 winners will be announced in the spring. The 2024-25 school year has kicked off at colleges around the United States—and the number of students at campuses nationwide is growing. Undergraduate enrollment was up 2.5% in the spring, the second consecutive semester of growth, according to the National Student Clearinghouse Research Center. As enrollment stabilizes following the coronavirus pandemic and more students pursue degrees than have in years, Stacker compiled a list of the best colleges in America using Niche's 2025 rankings. All four-year schools in Niche's database were considered. Niche ranks colleges using various factors, including academics, admissions, finances, and student life. The list includes institutions public and private, from West Coast research colleges to East Coast liberal arts schools. There's also a fair share of sprawling state schools as well as religion-centric universities. These colleges offer pioneering programs in sciences, entrepreneurship, and even bagpipe performance. While some members of the list may be best known for athletic achievements, many so-called football schools are making rapid advancements in education, producing a number of Rhodes scholars and collaborating with tech industry giants. Of course, some have cool perks that few others do, including an on-campus ice cream factory or nuclear reactor. While the Ivy League is considered the cream of the crop when it comes to American colleges, that's not necessarily the case with this list. Keep reading to see which school grabbed the #1 spot. You may also like: Preschool is popular, and more school districts are adding it - Location: Columbia, South Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 27,389 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 64% - Graduation rate: 78% - Six-year median earnings: $44,900 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The Columbia campus is the flagship of the University of South Carolina system and offers over 350 degrees. It holds particular sway with literature lovers, featuring a collection of more than 1,200 Ernest Hemingway works and an expansive store of Robert Burns pieces as well. - Location: Philadelphia - Undergraduate enrollment: 12,505 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 80% - Graduation rate: 78% - Six-year median earnings: $68,800 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Drexel University was founded in 1891 as the Drexel Institute of Art, Science and Industry. In 1983, it was the first university in the U.S. to require students to use personal computers, available to them through an innovative partnership with a major computer manufacturer. Undergraduates can take advantage of the school's co-op program, which allows them to gain up to 18 months of full-time, paid work experience. - Location: Auburn, Alabama - Undergraduate enrollment: 24,135 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1 - Acceptance rate: 44% - Graduation rate: 81% - Six-year median earnings: $48,800 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Auburn University is an institution entrenched in history. After opening its doors in 1856, the school closed during the Civil War to serve as a hospital. It became the first land-grant university in the South and today is a world-class institution across the sciences, arts, and other disciplines. - Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,737 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1 - Acceptance rate: 22% - Graduation rate: 93% - Six-year median earnings: $96,100 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Babson College is big on entrepreneurship. The school offers programs specializing in women's entrepreneurial leadership, family entrepreneurship, and retail supply chain management. Babson has also expanded to Miami and San Francisco. - Location: Salt Lake City - Undergraduate enrollment: 21,291 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 89% - Graduation rate: 65% - Six-year median earnings: $53,000 - Two-year employment rate: 90% The University of Utah was commissioned in 1850 when the newly arrived Mormon community decided to create a university for their new home, then called Deseret. The university maintains recognition of and connection to the Ute Indian Tribe, on whose ancestral home it is located. Ahead of the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics, the university made several changes that students still enjoy today, including expanding student housing and upgrading on-campus health care facilities. You may also like: In some school districts, it's the end of the snow day - Location: Stillwater, Oklahoma - Undergraduate enrollment: 18,265 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 71% - Graduation rate: 65% - Six-year median earnings: $46,500 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Oklahoma State University was founded as Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College almost two decades before Oklahoma became a state. OSU is one of only five universities nationwide to have become a Sun Grant Center , using regional resources for research and education on sustainable energy. - Location: Bloomington, Indiana - Undergraduate enrollment: 34,665 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1 - Acceptance rate: 82% - Graduation rate: 81% - Six-year median earnings: $47,700 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Indiana University Bloomington's name is instantly recognizable to college sports fans, who know it as home of the Hoosiers, men and women who perform nationally in soccer, basketball, swimming, and other sports. Old Crescent is an area on campus that is home to historic buildings that display architecture from the late 19th and early 20th centuries, including Gothic and Jacobean styles. - Location: Vestal, New York - Undergraduate enrollment: 14,402 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1 - Acceptance rate: 42% - Graduation rate: 83% - Six-year median earnings: $61,600 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Binghamton University is one of 64 universities making up the State University of New York system, and one spot on its 10-person governing council is reserved for a student selected by peers. For nature lovers, the campus is hard to beat. It includes a preserve with hiking trails, and rock climbing, kayaking—and winter sports are a day trip away. - Location: Portland, Oregon - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,404 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 30% - Graduation rate: 80% - Six-year median earnings: $42,200 - Two-year employment rate: 88% Reed College is not for those who want a traditional academic experience. The university forgoes grades in lieu of a pass-fail system, and there is no dean's list or honor roll. Classes tend to be small and invite close collaboration between professors and students. - Location: Rochester, New York - Undergraduate enrollment: 6,425 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1 - Acceptance rate: 39% - Graduation rate: 90% - Six-year median earnings: $61,200 - Two-year employment rate: 92% The University of Rochester is home to the storied Institute of Optics, the first optics education program in the nation. Its school of music also has an impressive legacy and was established by industrialist George Eastman, founder of Eastman Kodak Company. You may also like: How to keep your personal data a little more private while pursuing higher education - Location: Golden, Colorado - Undergraduate enrollment: 5,201 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1 - Acceptance rate: 58% - Graduation rate: 82% - Six-year median earnings: $84,900 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The Colorado School of Mines boasts strong ties to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, National Institute of Standards and Technology, and U.S. Geological Survey. Located in the Rocky Mountains, it provides one of the most intriguing recreational atmospheres for a college, with numerous trails and ski areas nearby. Mining is not the only specialty emphasized, as the college also has programs in economics, biochemistry, and applied mathematics and statistics. - Location: Miami - Undergraduate enrollment: 26,106 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 19:1 - Acceptance rate: 64% - Graduation rate: 69% - Six-year median earnings: $46,300 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Florida International University is split into two campuses, one in west Miami-Dade County and another along the waters of Biscayne Bay. The latter is home to a prestigious, hands-on marine biology program. Over half of the student body is Hispanic, making the school one of the most prolific for undergraduate degrees among that demographic. - Location: Clemson, South Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 21,741 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 43% - Graduation rate: 85% - Six-year median earnings: $52,400 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Clemson University is located in the Experimental Forest, with 17,500 acres reserved for education, research, and demonstration to foster an understanding of forest management. As a land-grant institution, Clemson encourages students and faculty alike to give back to the local community through their research, including on topics such as irrigation and youth bullying. - Location: Storrs, Connecticut - Undergraduate enrollment: 18,397 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 55% - Graduation rate: 83% - Six-year median earnings: $58,400 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The University of Connecticut's nationally ranked sports teams—especially in basketball—are a huge draw for students and alums. The school's relatively rural setting leads to a strong culture and plenty of on-campus activities, with over 450 clubs and a popular Greek life scene. This vibe is on display during the annual Spring Weekend, a pre-exams carnival that started in the 1940s. - Location: San Antonio - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,482 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 31% - Graduation rate: 76% - Six-year median earnings: $54,900 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Trinity University has historically ranked high for its undergraduate research, undergraduate engineering program, and schoolwide innovation. It's widely considered the best small college in Texas—backed up by Niche's #1 ranking in that category —and among the best small colleges in the U.S. You may also like: Largest college campuses in the US by acreage - Location: Washington D.C.· - Undergraduate enrollment: 10,332 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 - Acceptance rate: 49% - Graduation rate: 85% - Six-year median earnings: $69,600 - Two-year employment rate: 92% In addition to top-tier academics, George Washington University boasts unique internships and myriad service opportunities. GW has more than 475 student organizations that cater to a variety of student interests and experiences, and 2 in 5 undergraduates study abroad. - Location: Hamilton, New York - Undergraduate enrollment: 3,112 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 12% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $63,600 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Located in the quaint village of Hamilton in upstate New York, Colgate University is an oasis away from the bustle of the big city. Highlights on campus include the Longyear Museum of Anthropology and the Picker Art Gallery, with a focus on 20th-century paper works, photographs, and paintings. Colgate has over 200 clubs and organizations. - Location: Saint Paul, Minnesota - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,110 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1 - Acceptance rate: 28% - Graduation rate: 88% - Six-year median earnings: $47,600 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Though the backdrop of the Twin Cities provides plenty of plush scenery, Macalester College encourages study away experiences to develop scholarship, internationalism, multiculturalism, and service to society, with nearly 60% of students taking part. The college has a commitment to sustainability, with the residential EcoHouse serving as a live-in laboratory. - Location: East Lansing, Michigan - Undergraduate enrollment: 37,492 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1 - Acceptance rate: 88% - Graduation rate: 82% - Six-year median earnings: $53,600 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Michigan State University was the first school in the country to be named a land-grant institution under the Morrill Act in 1862. Today, that tradition of agricultural focus is still alive: MSU has one of the only environmental journalism programs in the nation as well as an organic farm overseen by students. - Location: Williamsburg, Virginia - Undergraduate enrollment: 6,887 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 33% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $58,500 - Two-year employment rate: 94% William & Mary's law school is the oldest in the U.S.—dating to 1779. The college also has several improv comedy groups, and Jon Stewart happens to be an alum. The Christmas season is widely celebrated on campus, with the school president dressing up as Santa Claus at the annual Yule Log ceremony. You may also like: Coalition maintains undocumented kids have a right to attend public schools - Location: Lewiston, Maine - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,712 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 14% - Graduation rate: 93% - Six-year median earnings: $59,200 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Known for the 19th-century buildings on its historic quad, Bates College could be the prototype of a small New England college. Students can study in conjunction with schools such as Columbia, Dartmouth, and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute. Those who are inspired by movement can see professional performances at the annual Bates Dance Festival. - Location: Piscataway, New Jersey - Undergraduate enrollment: 34,667 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 66% - Graduation rate: 84% - Six-year median earnings: $57,900 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Rutgers University–New Brunswick is woven into the New Jersey landscape, with five campuses around the region. The school was named after Revolutionary War Col. Henry Rutgers. It is particularly well known for its Graduate School of Education, and students can also pursue studies at the Center for Advanced Infrastructure and Transportation and New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station. - Location: Poughkeepsie, New York - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,436 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 19% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $54,600 - Two-year employment rate: 93% This former women's college is one of the better-known liberal arts schools on the East Coast. Vassar College boasts its own ecological preserve along with several historic buildings. Also appealing: Students receive an average financial aid award of $51,508 , with the school meeting 100% of demonstrated need. - Location: Amherst, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 22,920 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 15:1 - Acceptance rate: 64% - Graduation rate: 83% - Six-year median earnings: $51,400 - Two-year employment rate: 94% The University of Massachusetts Amherst is the flagship of the UMass system and includes the tallest academic library in the world, the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. Under the Five College Interchange, students can take courses at nearby Smith, Mount Holyoke, Amherst, and Hampshire colleges. Besides typical offerings, UMass Amherst also allows students to design their own majors through the bachelor's degree with individual concentration program. - Location: Cleveland - Undergraduate enrollment: 5,907 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 27% - Graduation rate: 86% - Six-year median earnings: $74,600 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Case Western Reserve University is known for its excellent social work and nursing schools. Located in the heart of Cleveland, Case Western has affiliations with many city businesses, and students can register for courses at the Cleveland Institute of Art and the Cleveland Institute of Music. You may also like: 6 hidden (and not-so-hidden) factors driving America's student absenteeism crisis - Location: Orlando, Florida - Undergraduate enrollment: 41,098 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 26:1 - Acceptance rate: 41% - Graduation rate: 76% - Six-year median earnings: $45,400 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Colloquially known as "Space University," the University of Central Florida has strong ties to the U.S. space program at the nearby Kennedy Space Center. The school was founded as Florida Technological University with an explicit focus on STEM education. Though its curriculum has since expanded, today the university is still involved with nearly 700 NASA projects. - Location: Middletown, Connecticut - Undergraduate enrollment: 3,006 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 14% - Graduation rate: 93% - Six-year median earnings: $54,700 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Wesleyan University's 316-acre campus in the middle of New England has educated Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bill Belichick, and Michael Bay. For almost 100 years, Wesleyan has had a thriving theater program, and since 1995 it has provided full tuition to students from Asia with the Freeman Asian Scholarship Program. - Location: Clinton, New York - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,026 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 12% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $60,200 - Two-year employment rate: 91% All Hamilton College students live in residence halls to foster community. They study with an open curriculum and can skate on Sage Rink, the second-oldest college ice arena in the country. Venus Williams, Tina Fey, and Hillary Clinton are among the renowned figures to speak on campus. - Location: Columbus, Ohio - Undergraduate enrollment: 42,360 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 53% - Graduation rate: 88% - Six-year median earnings: $46,100 - Two-year employment rate: 94% The Ohio State University is notable for its aerospace engineering program and investment in research. Students have been at the forefront of electric vehicle technology, and the school maintains a collegiate campus feel within the big city of Columbus. - Location: New Orleans - Undergraduate enrollment: 8,231 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 11% - Graduation rate: 87% - Six-year median earnings: $61,700 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Tulane University has a strong bond with the city of New Orleans, particularly after Hurricane Katrina. Its medical and law schools are some of the oldest in the country, and students rank among the happiest in the nation, according to The Princeton Review. You may also like: For a second year, FAFSA will again be delayed - Location: Amherst, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,898 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $65,000 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Amherst College is repeatedly recognized as one of the top liberal arts schools in the country. Students can take advantage of an open curriculum with no core requirements. Amherst is home to the Beneski Museum of Natural History and a 500-acre wildlife sanctuary. - Location: Pittsburgh - Undergraduate enrollment: 19,291 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 49% - Graduation rate: 84% - Six-year median earnings: $53,900 - Two-year employment rate: 94% The University of Pittsburgh comprises 16 schools and colleges that offer over 650 degree and certificate programs. The school boasts an internship initiative that helps students gain real-world experience in their fields. Founded in 1787, it was a log cabin before becoming a top-five supporter of National Institutes of Health research. - Location: Haverford, Pennsylvania - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,419 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 14% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $60,700 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Haverford College emphasizes discussion and debate with seminar-style classes, and 98% of students as well as 40% of faculty live on campus. The school is known for students' input on the honor code, hiring committees, and budgets and also features an arboretum. - Location: Raleigh, North Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 23,828 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1 - Acceptance rate: 47% - Graduation rate: 85% - Six-year median earnings: $52,500 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Located in the Research Triangle, North Carolina State University is a leader in education about textiles, agriculture and life sciences, and engineering. The school has helped launch hundreds of startups that have received $1.7 billion in venture capital and get thousands of patents approved, leading to 600-plus consumer products. - Location: Minneapolis - Undergraduate enrollment: 29,057 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 75% - Graduation rate: 84% - Six-year median earnings: $51,900 - Two-year employment rate: 94% The University of Minnesota has a sprawling campus in the Twin Cities, and Bob Dylan was briefly a student. Twenty-five Gophers have won a Nobel Prize, and three faculty have earned a Pulitzer Prize. Others invented GORE-TEX and K-rations, and the school is a leader with its Stem Cell Institute and Tucker Center for Research on Girls & Women in Sport. You may also like: The best computer science universities in Asia - Location: Blacksburg, Virginia - Undergraduate enrollment: 29,569 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1 - Acceptance rate: 57% - Graduation rate: 86% - Six-year median earnings: $62,500 - Two-year employment rate: 96% Virginia Tech has its own power plant and is also a leading center for automotive research with its Transportation Institute. The school will open its Innovation Campus—a space dedicated to startups, public agencies, and corporations that is six years in the making—in 2025. - Location: Villanova, Pennsylvania - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,087 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 23% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $77,900 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Located just outside of Philadelphia, Villanova University is centered in the Augustinian tradition. Its business school consistently places near the top of rankings, and its men's basketball program is accomplished as well. The college provides faith-based learning as well as service experiences, including the largest student-run Special Olympics in the world. - Location: Winston-Salem, North Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 5,391 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1 - Acceptance rate: 21% - Graduation rate: 90% - Six-year median earnings: $63,800 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Studying abroad is a focus at Wake Forest University, where 3 in 5 students take classes overseas. The campus has its own charms, too, with its stunning architecture and natural beauty. Innovation Quarter is a center of collaboration with 90 health care, research, technology, and other companies, including many in health care, research and technology. - Location: Santa Barbara, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 22,793 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 20:1 - Acceptance rate: 26% - Graduation rate: 86% - Six-year median earnings: $55,300 - Two-year employment rate: 91% The Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics is a centerpiece of the University of California, Santa Barbara. As much as 70% of the student body gets around the scenic campus by bike, attending classes in esteemed buildings such as the Institute for Social, Behavioral and Economic Research. - Location: College Station, Texas - Undergraduate enrollment: 51,150 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1 - Acceptance rate: 63% - Graduation rate: 84% - Six-year median earnings: $58,000 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Texas A&M University is one of six senior military colleges in the U.S., and the Corps of Cadets prepares those students for leadership and organizational management roles. The school also hosts the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library and Museum and has maintained a long partnership with NASA. You may also like: They thought graduation was near. Instead, these immigrant students were pressured to transfer. - Location: Tampa, Florida - Undergraduate enrollment: 30,097 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1 - Acceptance rate: 44% - Graduation rate: 74% - Six-year median earnings: $43,500 - Two-year employment rate: 91% The University of South Florida earns high marks for its research and innovation and has top graduate programs in industrial and organizational psychology, criminology, audiology, and more. USF is also one of 18 Tillman Partnership Universities, which offer an array of veteran-specific support services. - Location: Madison, Wisconsin - Undergraduate enrollment: 33,838 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 49% - Graduation rate: 89% - Six-year median earnings: $56,200 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The University of Wisconsin is a hub of innovation where vitamins A and B were discovered. It is also known for its Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Center and on-campus nuclear reactor, which is used for research and teaching. Few college events are as iconic as Jump Around at Badgers football games. - Location: Bethlehem, Pennsylvania - Undergraduate enrollment: 5,624 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 37% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $81,900 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The P.C. Rossin College of Engineering and Applied Science is a centerpiece of academic study at Lehigh University, which is nestled in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley, not too far from Philadelphia and New York City. Students at the engineering school went on to invent the escalator and first implantable artificial heart and found Packard Motor Car Company. - Location: College Park, Maryland - Undergraduate enrollment: 28,069 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 45% - Graduation rate: 89% - Six-year median earnings: $62,900 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Located just outside of Washington D.C., the University of Maryland, College Park is a top public research institution. In 2016, the school became the first Do Good campus, equipping students to become civic-minded and lead nonprofit causes and social innovation. The college ranks highly for its programs in quantum science, artificial intelligence, and climate change. - Location: Coral Gables, Florida - Undergraduate enrollment: 12,570 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 19% - Graduation rate: 84% - Six-year median earnings: $60,100 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Don't let the proximity to South Beach and stories of partying fool you; the University of Miami is a leading center of academic study. Miami has top-flight programs in oceanography, medicine, and climate change. And yes, the main campus in Coral Gables is located near the beach. You may also like: Demand for sustainability, AI, and equity and inclusion courses are on the rise globally among prospective business students - Location: West Lafayette, Indiana - Undergraduate enrollment: 36,484 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 16:1 - Acceptance rate: 53% - Graduation rate: 83% - Six-year median earnings: $55,100 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Twenty-seven astronauts attended Purdue University, including Neil Armstrong. The school also boasts America's first university-owned airport, which provides the perfect setting for an elite flight school. The Online Writing Lab has set an industry standard in grammar and style, too. - Location: Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 9,575 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 17% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $72,500 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Boston College hosts a famous Arts Festival as well as a plethora of dance competitions. The Carroll School of Management is a top business program, and BC is also a top Jesuit, Catholic and liberal arts institution. Founded in 1863, it was the first school of higher education to operate in Boston. - Location: Tallahassee, Florida - Undergraduate enrollment: 29,579 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 17:1 - Acceptance rate: 25% - Graduation rate: 85% - Six-year median earnings: $46,400 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Florida State University is a preeminent research university, a designation earned from the state, with four international study centers. It has taught a number of Rhodes scholars and offers esteemed instruction in criminology and criminal justice, education, and motion picture arts. Bonus: FSU has its own circus . - Location: Brunswick, Maine - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,845 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 9% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $65,500 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Bowdoin College trumpets its cooperative environment with dozens of areas of study. Students focus on brainstorming with faculty, working in teams, and welcoming difficult questions. Graduates are frequently employed by Google, the U.S. government, financial institutions, and hospitals. Another perk: SAT scores are optional for admission. - Location: Lexington, Virginia - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,887 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 17% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $76,100 - Two-year employment rate: 94% One of Washington and Lee University's hallmarks is its small class size and access to faculty. The school, the ninth-oldest in the country, dates to 1749 and offers a small but outstanding law program. Additionally, it is the only leading liberal arts college in the country with a nationally accredited undergraduate business program too. You may also like: What difference does it make if you are involved in your student's school and its activities and events? - Location: Athens, Georgia - Undergraduate enrollment: 28,823 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1 - Acceptance rate: 43% - Graduation rate: 88% - Six-year median earnings: $50,500 - Two-year employment rate: 92% The University of Georgia's business school was the first of its kind in the South, and it remains a top institution in the field. The College of Environment and Design also consistently ranks among the nation's best and confers degrees in landscape architecture, historic preservation, urban planning, and environmental design. In athletics, UGA is all about football. - Location: Davis, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 30,673 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 11:1 - Acceptance rate: 37% - Graduation rate: 86% - Six-year median earnings: $58,200 - Two-year employment rate: 91% The University of California, Davis offers more than 100 majors. For those interested in pursuing medical studies, UC Davis has a renowned program with hands-on training in a teaching hospital. Research is a major part of the fabric of the school, which received over $1 billion in external research funding for the third straight year in 2023-24 . - Location: Wellesley, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,316 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 14% - Graduation rate: 90% - Six-year median earnings: $60,800 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Wellesley College, known as the best women's school in the world, emphasizes civic engagement, and a young alum holds a spot on the board of trustees. The Albright Institute, Davis Museum, and Wellesley Centers for Women offer educational and exclusive programming to the community. Students can also cross-register for classes at nearby MIT. - Location: Seattle - Undergraduate enrollment: 29,226 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 - Acceptance rate: 48% - Graduation rate: 84% - Six-year median earnings: $57,700 - Two-year employment rate: 91% If the picturesque campus in Seattle isn't enough to entice you, the University of Washington has strong networks with Boeing, Amazon, and Microsoft. The school is also investing heavily in its health sciences program and is known for its research in education, public affairs, and business. - Location: Middlebury, Vermont - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,835 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 13% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $58,200 - Two-year employment rate: 87% Middlebury College is recognized for its environmental studies program, which began in 1965 as the first of its kind in the U.S. The school committed to taking action on climate change with its Energy2028 initiative to use 100% renewable energy sources by the end of that year. It also owns its own ski area, the Middlebury Snowbowl. You may also like: Community schools work to boost student performance by meeting their non-academic needs - Location: Medford, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 6,635 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 - Acceptance rate: 10% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $75,800 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Tufts University students have a variety of activities at their disposal, including with the Geological Society and popular a cappella groups. Its art collection features works from Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol, and the university has partnerships with Harvard, MIT, and more. - Location: New York City - Undergraduate enrollment: 3,091 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1 - Acceptance rate: 9% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $57,900 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Located across the street from Columbia University, Barnard College offers the same privileges to its students. The Barnard Center for Research on Women and the Athena Film Festival are two celebrated resources on campus. A center for teaching and learning, which opened in 2018, has given the school its own distinctive hub. - Location: La Jolla, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 32,138 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1 - Acceptance rate: 24% - Graduation rate: 88% - Six-year median earnings: $59,900 - Two-year employment rate: 89% The University of California San Diego is one of the top research universities in the world and received $1.73 billion in funding for fiscal year 2024. UC San Diego boasts renowned faculty, including 16 Nobel laureates throughout the school's history. Students are also focused on civic engagement and public service. - Location: Champaign, Illinois - Undergraduate enrollment: 33,813 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 45% - Graduation rate: 85% - Six-year median earnings: $61,500 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign counts dozens of Nobel and Pulitzer Prize winners among its alumni and faculty. The school offers one of the largest public university libraries in the world, with more than 15 million volumes and 24 million other items. It is highly regarded for its leading research in technology, agriculture, and government policy. - Location: Austin, Texas - Undergraduate enrollment: 38,591 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 13:1 - Acceptance rate: 31% - Graduation rate: 88% - Six-year median earnings: $58,200 - Two-year employment rate: 93% University of Texas at Austin students can take advantage of the McDonald Observatory, one of many prestigious facilities at this state school. The campus has a wealth of museums, from the LBJ Presidential Library to the Blanton Museum of Art, and you might even catch Matthew McConaughey at a Longhorns football game. Outside of campus, students can partake in the capital's cultural institutions, such as South by Southwest and Franklin Barbecue. You may also like: When it comes to using AI, nursing students trust themselves to use it correctly—but not their peers or administrators - Location: Irvine, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 27,932 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 12:1 - Acceptance rate: 21% - Graduation rate: 87% - Six-year median earnings: $58,400 - Two-year employment rate: 90% The University of California, Irvine is consistently one of the top-ranked public universities in the country. It has a particularly well-regarded medical program and supports research and innovation across disciplines. The school is also another that houses a nuclear reactor on campus. - Location: Davidson, North Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,927 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 17% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $58,900 - Two-year employment rate: 88% Davidson College, just north of Charlotte, North Carolina, is known for its tight-knit community, which comes together for events including flickerball—a variation of touch football created on campus in 1951. The Farm teaches students about sustainable growth and provides them with fresh produce. - Location: Swarthmore, Pennsylvania - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,625 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $56,700 - Two-year employment rate: 85% Swarthmore College has several sustainability initiatives, with the goal of becoming a zero-waste campus by 2035. The 300-acre Scott Arboretum is a highlight of the 425-acre grounds, located 11 miles from Philadelphia, and the Peaslee Debate Society is among the popular extracurricular options. - Location: Williamstown, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 2,146 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 - Acceptance rate: 8% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $59,000 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Fraternities no longer exist at Williams College, but more than 1 in 3 students participates in intercollegiate sports. Nearly everyone engages in clubs or activities, and the school has an exclusive program with the University of Oxford. January is dedicated to winter study, when students pursue one single subject on a pass-fail basis, conduct research, land an internship, or travel. - Location: Notre Dame, Indiana - Undergraduate enrollment: 8,953 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 13% - Graduation rate: 96% - Six-year median earnings: $78,400 - Two-year employment rate: 95% The University of Notre Dame combines Catholic and intellectual pursuits in a leading school known for its theology and philosophy departments. The college is a top undergraduate teaching institution and research center, and the Raclin Murphy Museum of Art and the DeBartolo Performing Arts Center provide insightful programming. The campus also has more than 60 chapels. You may also like: Best colleges for LGBTQ+ students in 2024 - Location: Berkeley, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 30,824 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 11% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $64,700 - Two-year employment rate: 88% Often considered the top public university in the country, the University of California, Berkeley has many Nobel Prize winners among its alumni and faculty and has produced the most Peace Corps volunteers—almost 4,000. With many important projects emanating from the Space Sciences Laboratory, and a history of entrepreneurship, students often become leaders in their fields. - Location: New York City - Undergraduate enrollment: 28,354 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1 - Acceptance rate: 12% - Graduation rate: 87% - Six-year median earnings: $61,900 - Two-year employment rate: 91% New York University has more international students and those studying abroad than any school in America. It draws creatives and filmmakers to its chic campus centered in historic Greenwich Village. The school offers a range of unique courses , from its Center for Disability Studies to classes on injustice, disaster nursing and emergency preparedness, and the New York Underground. - Location: Atlanta - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,022 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 11% - Graduation rate: 90% - Six-year median earnings: $66,000 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Emory University is internationally known for its liberal arts colleges, graduate and professional schools, and academic health care system. The Goizueta Business School is consistently ranked as one of the nation's best. The Carter Center, created by former President Jimmy Carter, offers internships and lectures throughout the year. - Location: Gainesville, Florida - Undergraduate enrollment: 31,017 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 10:1 - Acceptance rate: 23% - Graduation rate: 90% - Six-year median earnings: $56,000 - Two-year employment rate: 92% The University of Florida hosts the most powerful supercomputer owned by a college in the country, and all students are taught about artificial intelligence. Accelerate at Sid Martin Biotech is a business incubator affiliated with the school, and UF Innovate offers other research- and innovation-oriented programs. - Location: Boston - Undergraduate enrollment: 16,278 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $67,400 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Northeastern University is regularly considered one of the best colleges for co-op and internship experiences. It has 13 campuses in the U.S., Canada, and the United Kingdom and 3,500 employer partners around the world. Fields of study include robotics research and chemical imaging. You may also like: Just one-third of students say college is worth the cost - Location: Chapel Hill, North Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 19,939 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 9:1 - Acceptance rate: 17% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $55,600 - Two-year employment rate: 94% The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill's medical programs, particularly in dentistry and pharmacy, receive high praise. The school prides itself on teaching, research, and public service as well as carrying on a storied history and tradition; it opened in 1795. - Location: Los Angeles - Undergraduate enrollment: 20,185 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 12% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $74,000 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Located in southwest Los Angeles, the University of Southern California has a network of over 480,000 living alumni for making connections in Hollywood and elsewhere. George Lucas and Robert Zemeckis are just some of the directors to attend the School of Cinematic Arts. The Spirit of Troy marching band is one of the best in the nation. - Location: Claremont, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,380 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 10% - Graduation rate: 91% - Six-year median earnings: $72,900 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Located 30 miles east of Los Angeles, Claremont McKenna College, despite encompassing only 1 square mile, has plenty on campus to keep students busy, including the Athenaeum, which hosts a variety of speakers four nights a week. This small school has close student-faculty bonds, as about 75% of students engage in research with faculty. - Location: Charlottesville, Virginia - Undergraduate enrollment: 16,523 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 19% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $61,200 - Two-year employment rate: 94% The University of Virginia is a public school that earns high marks for its business program and hospital. The college has counted $2.76 billion in research proposal activity in 2024, with the Data Science Institute and Biocomplexity Institute and Initiative anchoring that area. - Location: Atlanta - Undergraduate enrollment: 16,207 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 14:1 - Acceptance rate: 17% - Graduation rate: 93% - Six-year median earnings: $79,100 - Two-year employment rate: 95% Centered in Atlanta, the Georgia Institute of Technology has a top-ranked undergraduate engineering program. It produces the most women and underrepresented minorities with engineering degrees in the nation, and the Institute for Robotics and Intelligent Machines breaks ground in autonomy, medical robotics and human augmentation, and collaborative robotics. You may also like: Public schooling is best in these US cities - Location: Boston - Undergraduate enrollment: 17,734 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 14% - Graduation rate: 89% - Six-year median earnings: $65,300 - Two-year employment rate: 93% Located in one of America's busiest college cities, Boston University offers a mix of big city buildings and intimate brownstones. It stands on accessible education and prioritizes research, artistic creation, and professional practice. The school is also home to the Boston Playwrights' Theatre and easily accessible from most parts of the city by public transportation. - Location: Claremont, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 1,739 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $58,100 - Two-year employment rate: 90% Despite its small size, Pomona College—one of five Claremont Colleges—has more than 250 clubs and organizations, and 94% of students live on campus for four years, creating a tight-knit atmosphere. Near Los Angeles in a bucolic mountain setting, students enjoy skiing and beaches, including the annual Ski-Beach Day. The school also has an art museum and eight music ensembles. - Location: Pittsburgh - Undergraduate enrollment: 6,858 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 11% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $83,600 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Carnegie Mellon University students study topics including brain science and driverless vehicles, with the latter pursuit having begun four decades ago. It is commonly recognized for its premier computer science, business, and engineering programs and boasts a highly respected drama program. It is one of the only schools to offer a degree in bagpipe performance. - Location: Princeton, New Jersey - Undergraduate enrollment: 5,540 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 6% - Graduation rate: 97% - Six-year median earnings: $74,700 - Two-year employment rate: 87% Ninety-six percent of students live on campus at Princeton University, which is in downtown Princeton and a short train ride to New York City and Philadelphia. Noted for its economics and engineering departments, Princeton also thrives in modern sciences such as plasma physics, and a quantum science center has been in the works for years. Eating clubs are at an intersection of social life and tradition. - Location: Chicago - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,563 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1 - Acceptance rate: 5% - Graduation rate: 96% - Six-year median earnings: $68,100 - Two-year employment rate: 92% The University of Chicago has been instrumental in pioneering various cancer treatments, discovering new dinosaur species, and proposing the existence of black holes. The school hosts Frank Lloyd Wright's Robie House, a National Historic Landmark and part of a UNESCO World Heritage inscription. The school also has a long tradition of nurturing successful improv comedy troupes. You may also like: FAFSA complications impact college-related decisions for 79% of first-gen applicants - Location: Saint Louis - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,445 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 12% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $70,100 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Students at Washington University in St. Louis come from over 110 countries, and 8 in 10 undergraduates pursue multiple majors or minors. WashU received $978 million in sponsored support in 2023 for medical, environmental and energy, innovation and entrepreneurial, plant science, and other research. The university also has nine libraries and its own art museum. - Location: Claremont, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 906 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 13% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $88,800 - Two-year employment rate: 89% Harvey Mudd College focuses on engineering, science, and math, offering real-world experience through its Clinic Program. Students regularly engage in elaborate pranks . Ski slopes are less than 30 minutes away, beaches less than an hour, and the desert 90 minutes. - Location: Ann Arbor, Michigan - Undergraduate enrollment: 31,319 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 18% - Graduation rate: 93% - Six-year median earnings: $63,400 - Two-year employment rate: 94% In 2023, the University of Michigan produced 580 inventions and 25 business startups. U-M regularly lands among the schools with the most research volume, has a top academic medical center and multiple renowned graduate programs, and scores well in affordability with its financial aid. Michigan Stadium is the largest in the country with a capacity for 109,901 fans. - Location: Ithaca, New York - Undergraduate enrollment: 15,735 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 8:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $77,200 - Two-year employment rate: 93% For decades, Cornell University has been vital to space exploration to Mars and advancements in agriculture and farming. Though centered in Ithaca, Cornell has several facilities in New York City and two programs overseas. Gatherings at ice hockey games are full of traditions , and they can be followed by a trip to the Cornell Dairy for ice cream. - Location: Los Angeles - Undergraduate enrollment: 31,763 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 9% - Graduation rate: 92% - Six-year median earnings: $60,700 - Two-year employment rate: 89% The University of California, Los Angeles offers more than 140 majors and receives over $1.6 billion annually in competitive grants and contracts. The perfectly situated campus is regularly used as a filming location and hosts several large gatherings throughout the year, including the JazzReggae Festival. Bruins athletic teams have won 124 national championships—the second-most all-time. You may also like: Where graduation rates for students with disabilities are improving - Location: Houston - Undergraduate enrollment: 4,150 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 9% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $65,400 - Two-year employment rate: 92% An oak tree-lined sanctuary in the middle of bustling Houston, Rice University is consistently ranked near the top of lists that gauge students' quality of life. Rice has been a leader in artificial heart research and other sciences and maintains a close partnership with NASA. It was modeled after English universities, with eight residential colleges. - Location: Pasadena, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 982 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1 - Acceptance rate: 3% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $85,900 - Two-year employment rate: 89% The California Institute of Technology is home to the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, the Einstein Papers Project, a seismological laboratory, and an international observatory network. Every Halloween, students combine their interest in sciences with recreation, smashing pumpkins from the top of Caltech Hall. The student body is famous for its pranks. - Location: Durham, North Carolina - Undergraduate enrollment: 6,435 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1 - Acceptance rate: 6% - Graduation rate: 97% - Six-year median earnings: $84,400 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Duke University's law and medical schools regularly rank near the top of lists, and the Levine Science Research Center—one of the country's largest single-site interdisciplinary research facilities—is impressive too. Duke University Chapel is a center for campus events and religious services, and Cameron Indoor Stadium offers a premier sporting environment. - Location: Washington D.C. - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,187 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 12% - Graduation rate: 96% - Six-year median earnings: $93,500 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Georgetown University, the nation's oldest Catholic and Jesuit university, is home to the largest student-run business in the world, The Corp, and the oldest continuously running student theater group, Mask and Bauble. Its business school launched the Venture Lab for students to incubate ideas and startups. Located in Washington D.C., students are connected to a bevy of internship opportunities with private businesses and local, state, and federal governments. - Location: Evanston, Illinois - Undergraduate enrollment: 8,794 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 97% - Six-year median earnings: $69,000 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Northwestern University's journalism program has a century-long tradition of producing quality reporters. The school's business and materials science and engineering programs are also highly regarded, while research remains its backbone—with $2.6 billion in revenue from patents and intellectual property licensing. Located outside of Chicago, Northwestern combines suburban tranquility with a big-city feel. You may also like: Laws and loopholes still perpetuate school segregation across America - Location: Baltimore - Undergraduate enrollment: 5,644 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 1:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 94% - Six-year median earnings: $73,200 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Johns Hopkins University is one of the preeminent schools for studying medicine. For 44 consecutive years it has led U.S. colleges in research and development spending, and it counts 29 Nobel Prize winners among its associates. The school also runs programs in conjunction with NASA, and the Spring Fair is one of the largest such gatherings in the nation. - Location: Nashville, Tennessee - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,082 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 93% - Six-year median earnings: $69,000 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Vanderbilt University is one of the world's most innovative institutions. From 2014-2023, it launched 61 startups and had 593 patents and 923 licenses issued, and the Center for Technology Transfer and Commercialization continues to break ground. Vanderbilt was ranked #1 by The Princeton Review in students' quality of life and is also known for its medical center and music school. - Location: Providence, Rhode Island - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,189 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 7:1 - Acceptance rate: 5% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $67,500 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Brown University is well known for its open curriculum, which encourages creative thinkers, intellectual risk-takers, and entrepreneurial problem-solvers. The Carney Institute for Brain Science and the Institute at Brown for Environment and Society provide unique perspectives to important fields of study. The university values its relationship with Providence, and more than 420 students work or volunteer every year in the city's public schools. - Location: Hanover, New Hampshire - Undergraduate enrollment: 4,457 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 6:1 - Acceptance rate: 6% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $75,500 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Dartmouth College allows students to customize their academic schedules. This Ivy League institution has an abundance of centers for arts and culture as well as various technology and science institutes. Each year, it hosts a Winter Carnival and a Powwow celebrating Indigenous history. - Location: Philadelphia - Undergraduate enrollment: 10,412 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 5:1 - Acceptance rate: 7% - Graduation rate: 96% - Six-year median earnings: $85,900 - Two-year employment rate: 91% Researchers at the University of Pennsylvania—including more than 5,000 faculty at 195 centers and institutes—have a budget of $1.37 billion in 2024, focusing on medicine, technology, business, and science. Penn was founded in 1740 and has four undergraduate and 12 graduate schools, including the distinguished Wharton School. Its arts and culture and Philly attractions are nearly limitless, and then, of course, there's "Ben on the Bench." You may also like: Room scans and eye detectors: Robocops are watching your kids take online exams - Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,516 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 4:1 - Acceptance rate: 3% - Graduation rate: 98% - Six-year median earnings: $89,700 - Two-year employment rate: 89% Harvard University, which dates to 1636, was the first college in the American colonies, and it remains a bastion of success. The school has educated eight U.S. presidents and in 2022 earmarked $100 million to address its history with slavery . Harvard has over 450 organizations and offers 42 varsity sports, the most in the country. The Harvard Lampoon humor magazine has been entertaining (and infuriating) students for almost 150 years. - Location: New York City - Undergraduate enrollment: 8,263 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1 - Acceptance rate: 4% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $83,300 - Two-year employment rate: 89% Columbia University is located on the Upper West Side of Manhattan in New York City, near a variety of parks and landmarks. The students form a melting pot, with 17% from international locales and 13% from domestic small towns. Campus media outlets such as the Columbia Daily Spectator, WKCR, and Bwog captivate readers and listeners throughout the city. For decades, students have started protests that have made national headlines. - Location: Stanford, California - Undergraduate enrollment: 7,761 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1 - Acceptance rate: 4% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $94,000 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Located in Silicon Valley in Northern California, Stanford University has strong bonds with tech giants such as Google, which was founded by Stanford students. It has seven schools and is known for its acclaimed education, engineering, law, and business programs; theater and music groups; and the Solar Car Project . The university also has a storied athletic program, and its athletes have won hundreds of Olympic medals . - Location: Cambridge, Massachusetts - Undergraduate enrollment: 4,601 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 3:1 - Acceptance rate: 4% - Graduation rate: 95% - Six-year median earnings: $104,700 - Two-year employment rate: 94% Students and researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology are always on the cutting edge of modern technology. Among the highlights of this school are the Haystack Observatory, Media Lab ( designed by alum I. M. Pei ), and MIT.nano. MIT has acres of stunning scenery, from quiet Cambridge streets to the futuristic layout of Simmons Hall, and a striking public art collection. - Location: New Haven, Connecticut - Undergraduate enrollment: 6,594 - Student-to-faculty ratio: 2:1 - Acceptance rate: 5% - Graduation rate: 98% - Six-year median earnings: $83,200 - Two-year employment rate: 92% Thirty percent of the Yale University student body hails from abroad, creating a diverse mix on the neo-Gothic campus nestled in downtown New Haven. Yale has 14 residential colleges and is known for its law, art, nursing, drama, environment, and divinity schools, among others. Founded in 1701, it has many revered traditions, including Class Day , which features prizes and awards, ivy, churchwarden pipes, hats, and more. Story editing by Mike Taylor. Copy editing by Robert Wickwire and Lois Hince. Photo selection by Clarese Moller. You may also like: The education requirements for the fastest-growing health care jobs Weigand Krumrie VanDixhorn Pisano Pisano Burnett Burnett Get our local education coverage delivered directly to your inbox. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items.Reports of Southwest Airlines DEI program demise appear greatly exaggerated